Tuesday, August 30, 2022

Fourth Dance

He closed his phone, looked up and smiled at her.  ‘We’ve been congratulated on a job well done,

rare praise.  They said you did an excellent job in particular. I have to agree, you were superb in every

aspect, one more than the other,’ he breathed his thumbs hooking into the sides of her bikini bottoms

as he rolled over to be closer.  

Camryn Peters, TRIDENT agent really wasn’t in the mood for sex, which was saying something.

‘Well sex with you anyway,’ she thought, even as she rised her hips to allow the removal of her bottoms.  She reached around and undid her top and rolled toward him, the action freeing her.

‘This won’t be long, but if I pull him onto me maybe this time I can climax if my nipples rub against his body,’ she questioned as he inserted and pushed inside her.  

Camryn, like all experienced women, knew how to delay him, distracting tongue curls inside his mouth, about his neck delayed a little as she worked herself into arousal, her imagination aiding her.  Her hips turned slightly changing the motion for her as she pushed against his chest, her areola just brushing his hard chest as she worked.  She kept him at bay until she was too close to turn back, he thrust and jabbed, she mechanically worked him, her only thought was to get him finished so she could be released in more ways than one.  

Camryn let him think he was great, she knew he'd think it anyway.  Her orgasm was deverting. She acted like it was fantastic and that settled it, she hoped.

‘Didn’t even get a kiss for the effort,’ she thought a while later as they packed to leave, Camryn still nude because of the heat.

Camryn sat at her vanity doing her makeup when she caught sight of him in the mirror walking towards her, his stride telling her all she needed to know.  She schooled her face and continued working as he kissed the back of her neck then started to come round the sides.  She feigned a reaction, but wished he would leave her alone, she did not like being treated like a sexual punching bag, a term female agents used for male agents who just assumed they were there for a fringe benefit to them.  He continued to advance then stopped as she smiled, turned in her chair and looked at him.


‘Why did you stop?  Things were just starting to heat up.  Here let me see if I can find the issue? Ah, here it is silly of me not to have spotted it right away, but even sillier of you, perhaps the proper word is foolish for you to have not spotted it in the first place,' the sexy spy femme stated.

She pulled a clear, nearly invisible four inch quill about the thickness of a human hair from his neck.

'Mascara Quill. My applicator brush is the launcher.  You gave yourself away with that phone call.  This was a basic mission, in spite of the fake roadblocks you threw up to make it look more complicated.  Really, did you think I’d fall for them, then the final straw, the congratulations call.  We never get those.  You should have killed me, all those chances, all those times and you threw them away, so you could have me,  You just couldn’t help yourself, sex was more important than the mission and look what happened.  That’s why I stayed naked while doing my makeup, a double temptation I knew you could,’t resist.  I nude woman doing her makeup.  I could feel your hardness from across the room.  I knew you’d want one more time, kill me then.  One time too many baby and now the tables are turned. 

‘Don’t try and talk, it's impossible.  I suspect you’re a FORCE double agent, you’d think with all that training from both sides you’d be better in bed!’

Camryn finished her makeup, got dressed and returned.  ‘I ask you to zip me up, but you know, immobility and all.  Oh, I just wanted you to know, that quill is fatal, slow but fatal.  Here let me adjust your head so you can see me walking away.  Enjoy the view, sugar.’


Camryn made a call for a body pick up and left the resort.  She explained the situation and the higher ups agreed.  She was on a flight to her next assignment within the hour, arriving late and checking in she showered, and went to bed. 

She was awakened by the buzz of her phone, a text message from HQ, a courier would be bringing by the details on her mission.  She had time to order breakfast and enjoy it in her well appointed suite.

The courier arrived at the appointed time.  Camryn had just finished dressing and fixing herself up.  She scanned him over at the door and invited him in, accepting the manila envelope as they sat down in the living room.  

‘Seems fairly straight forward.  Do you really need an agent of my experience for this?  This seems much more suited to a rookie agent, something to build confidence with little risk,’ she said.

‘I just deliver the envelopes, I don’t get to pick the assignments,’ he responded.  

‘True enough, it was just an observation.  I ordered an extra breakfast, perhaps you have time to join me?’ she smiled, saw his eyes and held out her hand a smile forming on her face.  ‘It will still be there when we’re hungry for something else.


Camryn emerged from the bathroom just as he was getting out of bed and coming around.  She slipped into his arms giving every indication she wanted again and kissed him.

‘A woman can tell you,’ she smiled.

‘Tell what?’ he answered, cupping her ass.

‘When your lover is holding back, not giving you his all.  You held back your skill, you are not a courier.

‘Of course I am, just nervous I suppose, you are quite an agent.

'And you’re the second TRIDENT agent to try this evening.  I had no idea I was that popular, she smiled. 'Well, actually I suspected I was, you should have suspected something as well, but I'm glad you didn't as it gave me the opportunity to deposit my Red Reduction Lipstick, a quick, effective and very satisfyingly applied muscle relaxant.  You can consider it our goodbye kiss darling.  But, as a memento of our brief but enjoyable time together I'll leave you with this gift,' she smiled as he slipped from her arms to the floor.  


'Expensive, but you're worth it sugar.  My Pearl Strand Snake activates with motion  so stay still honey.  Easy you think. for a well trained agent which I'm sure you think you are!  But no man has ever escaped its embrace.  You see the pearls are shaped to deliver maximum stimulation. Your snake is coiled by my pearls, as is the rest of you. one twitch of your encircled python activates mine and I assure you mine is far more lethal.  I'd love to stay and watch you climax again and again even as you're crushed by my pearls  but I have to keep moving it seems.’

This time she waited a while before making a call, time for her pearls to work.  She had her assignment, a FORCE male by the name of Dylan Forrest.

‘WOW, he is hot, “A”,game required girl,’ she thought, her mind turning on how to get him.  ‘If FORCE wants to play this game with me, maybe it's time I played on their side for a while.  That should give me all the advantage I need.’ 

Camryn rather liked the location she was sent to, the resort was exclusive, but most of all secluded, it meant they wouldn’t be disturbed, she had time to work and enjoy it.



She checked in, looked the suite over, picked her point of contact and went over in her head how she finished him.

‘He’s going to play it cool.  I know he’s a TRIDENT agent, but he’ll have to act as a FORCE agent and from past encounters, they are a confident and cocky bunch, really no different from TRIDENT males, just better trained, which this one won’t be.  So getting him into bed is not an issue.  Once he’s in my playground, well there are two choices: quick or slow.  The sex won’t be great lets toss that out the window.  However, the best way to catch him is a lead up to sex without the actual act.  Get him thinking with his other head then strike just at the point of contact, yes.  That view is boring, staring at a wall for a while does not thrill, but that ocean view is to die for and so am I.  If I ensnare him this way we can both see the ocean and I can use the waves as a rhythmic counter.  Should make for some interesting dialogue.  Yes, perfect,’ she thought.  

Aaron Travis comes into the suite, the vision of a woman just completing a stretch, pulling her legs up in a tuck position.  

‘Hello,’ Camryn said, her voice hungry as she looked at him.  ‘Your picture in the mission dossier must have been taken in poor light, because in person you are much better and that’s saying something.  You must be a new agent, lucky me, all the other girls will be jealous,’ she smiled before supplily and smoothly getting to her feet.  ‘I can tell from my perspective, at least, that I’m going to enjoy our assignment together.’


That would have been enough to melt most men into her arms, it had in the past, but this time it didn’t

work as Camryn had expected.  He smiled and walked toward her, then right past her, barely having

time to retract her arms, but she could not escape the thought that she looked foolish.  He picked up

the dossier she had left on a table by the chair in the seating area and smiled.

‘They really did a good job on this, totally convincing,’ he said as he turned to her.  I hope I can call you Camryn.  My name is Travis Garret.  I’m a FORCE agent.  This dossier is fake, FORCE intercepted the real one.  They sent me to get you to safety, the real TRIDENT agents are coming for you, they won’t be here until later today, so we have some time for me to explain what’s been going on.’

‘We’re going to do role play, ok, I’m good with that.  Let’s pretend we’re agents on a mission, in a fantastic tropical location, we do the mission and now we’re going to get to know each other.  Sounds like a Bond movie,’ she smiled.  ‘I hope you’re as good as he is with the ladies.’

‘Oh wow, this is going to be harder than I expected,’ he sighed.

‘The harder the better.  Hey, cheesy one-liners are part of the game,’ Camryn added moving to him.  

‘Where is your suitcase, you need to pack, we need to go,’ he said brushing by here and into the bedroom.

‘Well at least he’s in the right room, small victory for me,’ she thought, moving after him.

‘You said they wouldn’t be here until much later, we have time, then we can leave,’ she honeyed from the doorframe, her body tilted and displayed perfectly.

Travis stopped and looked at her, Camryn knew she had his attention.  ‘Do you know what they’ll do to you when they get here?’ he asked.  ‘Yes there are two of them, perhaps you’ve heard of them, Mah and Khan?’

Camryn’s eyes widened.

‘You stand no chance against them, two Eunuchs, impervious to your beauty, charms and sexual tricks, they specialise in killing female agents.  I can see by your face you have heard of them and I for one do not want to see anything happen to a very stunningly beautiful woman that you are,’ he said.  ‘But you seem set, so there’s only one thing to do,’ he added, then pulled out his Ruger Mk IV.

Camryn flinched, she thought about running but knew that would be futile, she had played the wrong hand and lost.  Travis walked back to her, she turned nervously to face him, then she watched the gun get put in a dresser drawer and the next thing she knew his arms were very gently pulling her to him.  

She expected him to kiss her, which he did, but on the forehead, then tenderly down to her cheek around her next and up the other side.  She felt his hot breath and moist lips about one ear then the next collowed up with soft nibbles to her neck, her breathing shortened a little before he pulled back lightly kissed her lips, a few more followed before she became aware she was not exactly holding up her end of the romance, she course corrected quickly becoming a full partner.  

After a while their bodies inched to the bed and they helped each other free of clothes.  She half expected him to be insistent immediately, but he deferred, perfectly adjusting so as not to take him, yet.  

Camryn soon found him exploring her body, touching and caressing her as his kisses covered her calves, back, shoulders, thighs and every other place.  Her soft breathing a purr of pleasure as he worked, his hands slipping under and up her torso, soft palms and skilled fingers stroking her nipples to delightful responsive hardness.  Travis was unhurried he kissed her neck and ears listening to her koo and sign in delight.  Her arousal was building, another few minutes and she’d climax from this touch, she hoped it would happen.  Instead, he lightly nipped down her back and to one side softly then slowly rolled her over, her eyes wide as he came up on her for kisses, long, wet and full of promise.  Her hands cupped his firm wonderful ass and femininely pulled indicating she was ready.  Travis ignored the request, his mouth closing on one nipple while several fingers toyed with the other.  Camryn was in heaven, his lips sucked and swayed, his teeth, like angel wings danced across her attention points and his tongue caused her to gasp with each fiery brush stroke.  Multiple techniques boiled her passion, her back arched, a low breathy moan escaped, her body stilled for a second then convulsed, her audible pleasure filling the room as her fingers played in his hair.  She settled, his tongue touched her several times, her body flinching in pleasure, a second more demanding pull of his shoulders went unanswered as his mouth plunged downward.

Her body jumped a little as he played about the edges before slipping inside.  Camryn’s head turned slowly from side to side then arched back as she became absorbed in pleasure, the pulsing of delight shivering her.  She desperately wanted him inside her, fingers tightened on strands of hair trying to brace her body against the constant sensory overload his tongue was unleashing on her.  She turned her hips from side to side, but could not escape the snake coiled around her clitoris.  

An endless torrent of pleasure flooded her, she rose and fell, snapping her hips involuntarily as pleasure poured forth.  It was relentless, insane joy and it filled every corner of her body, until she stilled only to be spasmed in a series of aftershocks, his tongue coursing her for several minutes until she was gasping for air.  

Travis worked his way up, hot tongue and wet kisses finding a receptive partner, her arms slithered around him as she pulled him to her.  He did not try to enter her, even as she shifted and opened to receive him, she wondered why, then realised he was letting her rest, they rolled into their sides and kissed, arms caressing each other.  Camryn was in heaven, it had been a long time since any man had respected her that much.  Female agents always gave their all to each other, even enemy agents, that was wonderful in its ways, but this was exceptional.  

They kissed for a long time, her hands slipped around his wand.

‘So hard,’ she smiled and guided his tip inside enough to hold it.  Camryn had the perfect position to spring her trap.  She tensed but did nothing as he rolled her onto her back, a position no female agent wants to be in, on top for control and dominance, was the rule.  She tried to roll them back, a motion that was interpreted as working him in.  That complication was followed by another, he did not thrust in.  ‘He’s waiting for me to swell a little and work him in, rather than force himself on me.’  Conflicts abounded, she was still for a moment, a moment she thought was too long, except his lips on hers took away the awkwardness and nature soon took over, her hips undulated and she took in his wonderful appendage fully.  

They found their rhythm instantly, his motion and position delightful as they lay together, his forearms keeping her free to move underneath him.  Camryn moved her hips but she was so enthralled with him she was sure she was not giving anything near her best then she felt something.  It started way away, like feeling a train coming down the tracks, you can’t see it or hear it, but just that breath of wind that grows with each passing second.  Her orgasm was like that, coming from deep, deeper than anything she had felt before.

Her breath slowed to nothing, only for a second, it seemed like forever, then the train rushed past and she was lost in joy.  She could not tell if she was moaning or screaming, every other sensory receptor was gone, all was pleasure, but she did feel Travis slip his arms around his shoulders and pull her tight to him, arching both of them up and he piston into her.  He held her tight as she wormed and snapped, refusing to release her.  She was panting from the pleasure as it ended then she arched her head back and moaned.

‘Oh, again, wonderful!’ she yelled.

Travis twisted and slithered his hips, driving into her as she shook, her body finally slumping forward, hot and lathered, her pupils dilated as she rested her forehead on his hips delivering wonderful aftershocks until they settled.

‘Give me a minute,’ she said as she futilely tried to move against him, her voice apologetic.  Instead he brushed the hair from her face and kissed her soft cheeks then embraced her.

After a few minutes her hips started to move.  They were in a sitting position on the bed.  Her cheek against his, her arms hugging the back of his head.


Camryn took him over the edge a minute later and again, five minutes after that, before they stopped and just held each other.  Travis swung forward and to his feet, Camryn’s legs instinctively wrapped around his waist as he carried them over to the bathroom, the motion stimulating them both again, but it had to stop.  He slackened his hold, at first she refused to release him.

‘Again Camryn, you have the perfect position, finish him and we can end this masquerade,’ she told herself even as she slipped free.

‘We need to take a quick shower and then leave,’ he said, she smiling at the prospect. ‘Separately,’ he added with a tinge of regret in his voice.  

‘You first,’ she frowned.

Camryn walked about, she knew where his gun was and moved it.  She contemplated for a second using it,  quick and easy, but she hesitated, blood and guts were not her thing, she was a more hands on girl and she had a thing for the victim walking willingly into the trap, her.  But she put the gun in a location she could easily get to should it come to that

He finished quickly and came into the room, his glistening body, still moist in a few places caused her heart to jump and other parts of her as well.  She took her bag and walked past, forcing her hand not to reach out and touch a certain part of him.  

She finished her shower, which she had to admit felt good. She sat down in the anteroom with her make up bag, she had just finished applying what would be her goodbye kiss when she heard the crash! 


Camryn grabbed the handle of her hairbrush, listened at the door then opened it.  Nothing, the noise was coming from the main room.  She moved silently to the bedroom door, it was closed, it hadn’t been before.  Another loud crash, this one a window exploded from the other side of the door.  Camryn slowly opened it and saw a nude Travis fighting another man she recognised as one of the eunuchs, which one she wasn’t sure of.  What she was sure of was that the other was lying between the veranda and the living room, his body impregnated with shards of glass, the last vestiges of life twitching out of him.  

 The door to the cabana had been bashed in, as had one of the french doors to the veranda.  Camryn could clearly formulate how the fight had gone down.  Both had tried to rush the bedroom door, Travis had caught one, tossed him and taken a series of shots, the broken table lamp on the floor where his head had been knocked against.  There was a cut on the side of just at the hairline, but not serious.  They had tried to get to the bedroom and he had stopped them.  

From that point she assumed the jumble of turn and tossed furniture was all parties, but clearly at one point one of the two had been knocked flat on his stomach, Camryn surmised it was was the rolling settee and from there Travis had tossed him over himself and through the window, that glass from above and below piercing him as him lay on his back.  

She was becoming aroused by the fight, not the remaining assassin, but by Travis, his nude toned form

dancing about, never an excessive or bullish move but pure fluidity, more like a female form than a male

one, but he was definitely male.

It was telling that the remaining assassin had no gun and a quick scan of the room revealed none and if they had indeed possessed them she would surely have used them right from the start, then it hit her, Travis was telling her the truth all along.  This was no game, all that had been happening was TRIDENT’s work, not FORCE’s, they actually were trying to save her, bit for what reason and why did TRIDENT want her dead, she was an excellent and up till now loyal one.  She could not reason it out now, the fight brought her back to reality and she stepped into the room knowing exactly what to do and it worked.  

Her presence, her nude presence had the effect she’d hoped for.  It distracted the remaining assassin as he caught her out of the corner of her eye, she stepped forward, hands carefully concealed behind her back until she was sure she was close enough to be accurate.  She feigned a fighting stance and made a lunge to him while tossing the handle of the brush toward Travis.  It was too late for the assassin to react, Travis’s arm caught it on the fly, the motion adding the momentum that allowed him to drive it deep into the assassin's ear.  He grabbed the head and slammed it down hard on a side table pushing all the way into his brain, the body went limp, the fight was over.  

Camryn looked at him, she wanted him, then slipped inside the bedroom then the bathroom.  She emerged fifteen minutes later, much long than she actually needed, it was time to face the music.  He was sitting on the edge of the bed, dressed and ready to go.

‘Never move my gun, you could have gotten both of us killed and yours I can assure you would have been very painful and not at all erotic, like what you were planning for me, first in bed and then as we were going to leave.  I noticed the lipstick before you ran back into the bathroom, planning to give me a permanent goodbye kiss,’ he said.

Camryn started to try and say something, but he was against her before she could manage the words, fingers lightly touching her lips. 

‘I can understand why, but you see it now, don’t you?  And before you ask, I don’t know the reason, either you saw something, were told something or both.  Something that makes no sense to you, but TRIDENT is not taking any chances.  Maybe you mention something in passing to another and they put that piece with their piece and things spiral from there.  I don’t know, I’m just speculating, but the factual reality is they are not going to stop until you are dead.’

She nodded and they folded into each other's arms

‘Tell you the truth, you didn’t need your lipstick to give me a terminal goodbye, your kisses while we were together almost did the trick,’ Travis offered.

‘Then how about a hello kiss,’ Camryn suggested.  

Friday, August 26, 2022

Dance Card

‘She got under your skin in more ways than one,’ Claire smiled, barely able to contain a laugh.

‘Straight to the beatdown.  I love meetings like this,’ he said, his voice flat and straight lipped as Claire stared at him until he couldn’t hold it any longer and cracked.

‘You came up the most compatible for her, based on the data we have and the fact that you're an excellent agent.  She didn’t kill you, that says something,’ Claire answered.

‘At the time, she didn’t know who to trust and frankly I don’t blame her, the evidence supported both sides.  Either TRIDENT was trying to eliminate her or that we were and just making it look like TRIDENT was.  Virginia was caught in the middle, she couldn’t or didn’t want to trust us without confirming everything herself, but she also couldn’t go to TRIDENT if it was true, that would have been a death sentence.  I think by now, given my appraisal of her, she knows, but even with that knowledge, still stuck in no man’s land, sure of only one thing, TRIDENT is looking for,’ Ashton explained.

‘And she’s hiding, one needle in a world of haystacks, the odds are not in our or your favour,’ she replied.

‘She did tell she only had a few thousand in cash, everything else was cut off, even her passport.  She had money hidden in safety deposit boxes but even she knew TRIDENT knew of them and would be watching,’ Ashton explained, his tone suggesting this was going someplace.  

‘She needs a fake passport.  In that part of the world, what 15 grand would get you one, you said she had nowhere near that,’ Claire answered.

‘She did have this,’ Ash said, placing a ring on the table.  Yellow diamond, nearly flawless as far as our jeweller can tell.  12.5 carats, platinum and with a unique feature,’ he explained, then pushed the gem down.  From either end of the platinum at the top and bottom of the ring a needle appeared.



‘Where did you get it?’ Claire asked.

She traded it for a new passport to the only one in that area who could give her a fake good enough to never be questioned,’ Ash explained.

‘And you bought it back.  You do have it bad for her,’ Claire smiled.  ‘This, minus the spy function, has got to be thirty thousand easy.  How much would the passport be?’

‘Fifteen thousand is what she paid.  I respectfully refuse to say what it cost me, other than it was my own money, plus a little extra for intel,’ Ash offered.

Claire put her hands up, the gesture meaning for him to continue and she was fine with what he did.

‘Miss Wescott did not get any money for the ring, just the passport.  I have her new name and through our IT we have where she went.  

‘She didn’t kill you because if things turned out to be as you said, she needs someone she can trust to come and save her.  She left you a trail of breadcrumbs.  You both seem to have made a deep impression on each other.  Trust is a wonderful thing Ash, don’t let her down,’ Claire explained.

They both knew the meeting was over and he had card blanche to find her.  

^^^

‘I thought it best if you meet with me first, since we have some common ground on several fronts,’

Cindy said looking at Mason then at Hannah.  ‘First of all how is your mobility coming along, anything

we can do to help it along, you just have to ask?’



Hannah glanced at Mason then back to Cindy.  ‘We think about another week just to be safe.  I have better motion and range than before, but my workouts are not where I want them to be in terms of endurance,’ she answered.

‘Do I detect a desire to continue to be an agent,’ Cindy inquired.

‘Yes.’

‘Ordinary I’d be thrilled with that, a woman with your experience and obvious talents would be a fantastic addition to FORCE,’ Cindy answered.

‘I sense a huge but coming,’ Hannah said her voice trying not to sound either too alarmed or disappointed.



‘We come to the beginning of our conversation.  This is why I thought it best to talk to you first, alone, just the two of us.’

‘And away from your HQ, a nice safe neutral environment, an empty showroom condo,’ Hannah added.

‘You know as well as I do trust does not come easy in this business, we’re not sure of you at the moment just as you're not of us.  So neutral ground serves both our purposes.  But, to the question at hand.  I need you to not only explain, but convince me why you want to continue to be an agent, because this isn’t like going from Accounts Payable to Accounts Receivable in the same company, you’re going to the competition and old habits are hard to break,’ Cindy explained.

‘I didn’t choose what happened to me.  I still don’t know why.  I was an excellent agent, loyal, more than willing and capable of taking on any mission.  From your perspective the side I chose was wrong, fair enough, if our roles were reversed then I could say the same of you, in fact, before we go any further, why did you leave DOOM.  Yes, I know, but those are just rumours as we sit here on neutral ground,’ Hannah said not backing down.

Cindy didn’t consider for a second, she told Hannah the whole story, every detail and her reasons, she held nothing back.  

‘Let me add this.  Claire and I have had our disagreements, you would expect that.  I even think she wants it, even encourages it at times.  But, always and forever, that woman, who I love dearly, has been in my corner, no matter what.  Just like she’s in everyone else’s corner as well.  Loyalty is everything to her.  She will never send an agent on an impossible mission,  she will never turn her back on you.  If you don’t or can’t bring yourself to be an agent for FORCE then fine, you can walk away and nothing will be done to stop you.  If you decide in the future that you want to retire, for whatever reason, you can and you stay on the payroll.  When the day comes that you can no longer work as an active agent, you can choose to become a teacher, pass on what you know, leave a legacy if you will, then we can go forward, but know this Hannah!  You cross Claire or any member of FORCE and we will kill you,  

‘Loyalty works both ways.  I almost learned that the hard way.  One way streets are fine to get you from one point to another fast, but the thing is you never see the view from the other perspective,’ Hannah explained.

‘How much did Mason help you see that view?’ Cindy questioned.

Hannah was not upset or offended by the question as it came from some who had the same shared experience.  

‘He showed me kindness, compassion, encouragement when he didn’t have to.  I wasn’t going to die from what they did to me first go around.  He saved me from certain death in my second encounter.  He could have simply packed me off and I’d be questioned in these less than pleasant circumstances always wondering what my fate would be if I didn’t cooperate.  But, he didn’t, he healed me, but more than that.  He made love to me, not in any traditional sense or untraditional, in some of our more broadly defined encounters.  He caressed me, soothed me, made me calm, assured me everything was going to be ok, even when he wasn’t sure.  He spent every last ounce of his endurance and will to heal me, he never gave up.  It seems silly maybe but, honestly, for the first time in my life I felt connected to someone, enough to let myself go freely and trust,’ Hannah explained.

‘I want you to meet some other people, but you need to be prepared,’ Cindy explained and Hannah looked concerned.

‘No homework and practised  answers, just be you, from what I saw today, that will be more than enough.  What I mean is this.  You have to start feeling good about yourself and this will get you on the road.’

The Head of FORCE Curve Department slid an American Express Centurion Card across the coffee table.  

‘Mason said everything was taken from you.  Let them have it, you needed a new wardrobe anyway.  Go out and enjoy yourself, take Mason with you, men like to watch women try on clothes and they like to take them off later,’ Cindy smiled.  

^^^

‘Now this I did not expect, perhaps I should have.  Secret agents, secret passages, they go together I

suppose.  But I was never a fan of those formulaic high camp spy novels or movies, so I could see why

this would fly under the radar,’ Hannah remarked as they entered the tunnel, Mason leading the way.  

‘Again, I did not expect this,’ Hannah said as they emerged from a pantry door into a well appointed kitchen full of wonderful smells from bubbling pots and cooking meat and Alice Hamilton.

‘Since I know you eschew the use of titles unless required.  Alice Hamilton may I have the pleasure of introducing Hannah Fleming,’ Mason said.  ‘You can shake her hand, she won’t bite I promise or if you prefer, you just say pleasure to meet you Countess.

‘Stop it Mason.  Always the boy!  The girl is nervous enough.  Come follow me into the m

Library, I have tea and some wonderful sweets as well as others who would like to meet you,’ Alice

explained.

‘I didn’t know Mary Poppins worked for FORCE,’ Hannah whispered into Mason’s ear.

‘Don’t get on her bad side, this Mary Poppins won’t send you to your room for the afternoon, she’ll send you to your grave and I mean that,’ Lucas answered and Hannah wasn’t sure if he was serious or not.

‘Hannah Fleming this is Agent Lucas Bryce, Susan Janus, our number two and Tina Samuels, Head of Business Operations.  Everyone please have a seat.

Hannah could tell both women had been agents at one time.  Susan she was sure for a much longer period.  Tina was what TRIDENT called a Fall Flower, a woman who came to the game later in life, a welcome addition, but one you always wished had bloomed a little earlier, but then the paradox of that was the Silkworms, who always bloomed later in life, but seemed to never fade.  She was expecting the third degree from these women.  This was her second meeting, the adversaries seemed to be getting more on the other side of the table.  She wondered if she’d ever pass enough muster or maybe just be considered good enough to meet Claire Baxter.

Her fears about a stress interview were just that, fears, it never happened, they just talked, she even found herself enjoying it.  She wondered how much Lucas was enjoying it, three women talking, even Mason had wandered over to the extensive collection of books, she secretly wished he hadn’t and tried not to show her anxiety, then something caught her eye.  Lucas had reached into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out something she knew.

‘Where did you get that from!’ Hannah said in alarm.  ‘Is Joanne dead!’

The thread of the entire conversation and the demeanour of the entire room changed in an instant.

Lucas looked shocked as Hannah got to her feet, but Mason was at her side, his hand flipping into hers.  She closed around it, thinking nothing of it at the time, but later reflecting on how natural and reassuring it was, a friend at your side.

‘Answer me dammit!  Her voice rising more than she liked when he wasn’t as forthcoming as she thought he should have been

‘No, she escaped, she left this behind.  Wanted to get away as quickly as possible I suppose,’ Lucas said, not happy to relive his failure in front of others or to be yelled at.

Hannah regained her control.  ‘My apologies to everyone, but especially to you Lucas.  But in answer to your question.  Not a chance Jo left this behind.  This means the world to her.  It was her mentors, she wouldn’t let anyone touch it, ever!  She left this behind for a reason.  What did the message say?’

Hannah looked at the confused faces.  ‘She recorded a message on here. She had this compact modified to record a voice message, you need the password to activate it and you only get one chance, the message erases if you guess wrong.  Basically it's a cryptex, like in the Da Vinci Code, only it's electronic.  The code has to be either eight letters or numbers.  She left this behind for you Lucas.  My guess is that just in case what you told her was true, the message would tell you how to find her,’  Hannah explained.

‘Why, so she can trap me again!’ Lucas said, trying not  to sound annoyed.

‘You probably loved it.  Jo’s very seductive and sexy and the very fact that she left you alive when she easily could have finished you, tells me, you got under her skin too,’ Hannah answered.  ‘She’s a special lady, always planning steps ahead.  There’s a message in here for you, waiting, you may have the luxury of time, but she doesn’t and if I can help save my friend, yes even bad girls and those trying to reform, have friends,’ she retorted, seeing the look on Lucas’s face regarding her friend's comment.  ‘Think, she would have given you the word, without you even being aware of it.  Eight letters or a number sequence, she would have repeated it many times, more than was necessary though it wouldn’t have appeared awkward at the time.’

Lucas did secretly love it, but he kept that to himself as he thought.  He had to fight through the haze of her powder, he didn’t remember or couldn’t be sure of the accuracy, but his memory pushed through, then he heard it and that work triggered a clearing and he knew he had it.

‘Lavender,’ he said.

Hannah smiled.  ‘Makes perfect sense, it’s her favourite scent.  She took up a pen and paper making a small grid on the page as the others watched.

A

B

C

D

E

R

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

She wrote the letters and the corresponding number to that then slid it across the table to Lucas.

There’s the code for the compact.  Each number has to be entered correctly the first time, no do overs. 

If you screw up, the message is erased and you will never find her.’

Hannah got up, walked around the table and sat next to Lucas, the compact in front of them.  You push and hold the centre button down until you hear a click. Sorry I don’t know for how long, Jo said it was randomly generated so it could be seconds or minutes.  Once you hear the click, 

L

A

V

E

N

D

E

R

12

1

22

5

14

4

5

18

release the button and turn the top counter clockwise one segment of the design.  Then starting at the top, here, you push the small yellow enamelled dot the corresponding number of times for the letter, in this case 12 for the L.  Then clockwise to the next dot you repeat the process for the second letter and so on.  At the end it will play the message only once so I would have the recorder on my phone active.  Just my suggestion, but I would do this in a secure room by myself so that no one can interrupt you,’ Hannah explained and offered.

‘Good advice,; Lucas said and meant it.  

Alice looked at him, gave a nod and he was off, up the stairs.  Alice waited a moment then said to Hannah.  ‘Where is he?  I watched you.  You were counting the foot falls, but couldn't make the exact calculatuon because he altered the number of stairs he took.  Oh, I’m not insulted and suspicious of you.  It's good to see sharp instincts in a young woman.

Hannah looked at little chaste for being caught but confused by the comment of a young woman from a peer, but let it pass.

Lucas was back in no time.  He had the information, but was not about to share it with anyone as Hannah was present.  Instead he made his goodbyes and left.

‘Now,’ Alice said.  ‘What do we do with you two?’

^^^

‘What are you thinking?’ Cindy inquired, breaking the ice around the table.

‘That this next batch presents an interesting dilemma for us,’ Claire answered, scrolling through the latest intel Jacob and his team had verified as valid targets.  ‘I know what I think but I’m more interested in what you think we should do?’

‘We always pick the agent that best matches the parameters of the mission.  I don’t think we need to change that criteria, they are trained in the basics and some a little more than that, depending on who you pick,’ Cindy answered.

‘I’m not picking anyone.  I’ll leave that up to her, she knows them best,’ Claire answered, as her fingers flew on her laptop.  ‘Appointment booked to see her.’

^^^

Tina Samuels simultaneously motioned Claire into her office while putting a finger in the air as she listened to a call on her mobile.  




‘That would be acceptable.  Send me the documents as requested and we can proceed.  Thank you,’ she said, concluding the call.  ‘Sorry for that, just the usual ironing out of details,’ she added, while looking at her laptop.  ‘You didn’t say what you wanted to talk about?’ Tina added, looking at the meeting scheduler.

‘You know I like surprises,’ Claire smiled and handed over a series of file folders that Tina took and opened.  A brief glance through brought the response.  ‘I don’t understand?’

‘I need your department's assistance on these missions.  All these targets are part of TRIDENT’s business network.  They may have some very minimal training but I doubt it, from past experience TRIDENT doesn’t train them.’

‘Whereas, we do,’ Tina answered.  ‘Why not just send regular agents?’

‘They don’t have the connection, perhaps the better word is background, that your ladies will have.  The shared business experience, the thinking mindset, Claire answered.  ‘You can say no if you want to or if you’re stretched at the moment.’

‘That’s not an issue.  Who do you want to use?  Tina asked.

‘Oh, not me.  This is your operation, you pick the woman based on the details in those dossiers,’ Claire responded.

‘Me!’ Tina answered, the surprise registering on her face and in her voice.

‘You’ve been on several missions with great success.  You know your staff best, who better?’ Claire answered and Tina did not counter.

Tina flipped through the dossiers.  ‘I will need a couple of days, how about Friday at two?’


^^^

Tina pulled the files from her safe and placed them on the coffee table in her office between the two chairs in the lounge part of her well appointed office.  She’d done a few missions for FORCE in her time.  Claire’s insistence that every person who worked for the organisation be trained had seemed excessive at first to her, but she came around to it after discovering she possessed a certain aptitude for aspects of it and to be honest she secretly craved more assignments.  

Claire arrived promptly at the appointed time and after a light hug and faux kisses they sat down to business. Tina picked up the first dossier of the target in question and a matching dossier of her choice for the woman.

‘All these women jumped at the opportunity.  You could have given me three times as many dossiers and I would have had to disappoint some.  My criteria for my selections was attraction to the target.  These are not field agents, that instinct of role playing would not be easy for them to master in a short time, so finding the target attractive is a definite help.  I thanked David and his team for the bonus pictures, they helped a great deal.  Next was compatibility of profession, lawyers to lawyers, analysts to analyst that combination, having something in common helps.  Finally, given the data available I had the candidates write a detailed explanation of how they would handle the mission.  So to start off:


Corrine Legault - Legal Affairs - International Licensing




Ky Duyen - Internal Control




Marika Numova - Asset Management




Nokthai Ranida - Trade Agreements 





Stacy Turner - Internal Accounting Control


Julie Low - International Tax Compliance


Tina Samuels - Head of Business Operations




'Couldn’t stay away, I see,’ Claire smiled. 

‘The office can get a little dull at times, a change of scenery is always welcomed and he is very attractive,’ Tina slyly smiled.  


XXXX

So a plethora of woman and choices for how they:


 Accomplish their mission


  What perils if any they face if any


Any other suggestions you wish to make


You can post suggestion in the comments or you can email me directly at 

barrie125ca@yahoo.ca


Thanks in advance.

Cheers,  Steve