Ten New Captions

 

Seventh Dance

‘Even the building looks dull,’ Julie Low sighed as she walked inside the lobby, a drab series of brown tile

shades only reinforced her statement, not even a few potted plants could help the dullness lift.  ‘I suppose

it's the perfect cover, after all an assassin would probably die of boredom before getting to their target or

have trouble finding them in all the drab colour schemes she saw walking about.  ‘Someone needs to tell

these people there are other colours beside earth ones,’ she thought.  

'I wonder if his colleagues even suspect what he does on the side.  Probably not, to keep this well hidden he must be good or he has something so that balances the ledger, perhaps even tilts it in his favour.  Accounting humour 101,’ she added as the elevator opened and she got on with other people, each participant either punching their floor number as they passed in or asking for someone to do it. She was first in and at the back asked for a number, her eyes scanning about.  ‘Always be aware.’  She remembered that from her training and updates to it, but this was her first real mission, she was both nervous and thrilled, not a good combination.  

Off at the 16th floor she turned left and headed down the hall passing, what else, brown wood doors along the way on either side.  ‘This whole place is a 1950’s time capsule, frozen in amber, if the amber was brown.’

She reached the door, Halloway/Greting and Partners, Chartered Accounts.  She pulled it open and inside entered the reception area, again in need of an update to something from this century and greeted the receptionist with her fake name.  Sarah Highland, Bering Sea Containers, I have an appointment with Mr. Rawson,’ she said with a smile on her face that gave the area a much needed boost of light.  

The receptionist, an older woman in her late 50’s or early 60’s picked up the phone then carefully entered the extension as she eyed the woman.  

‘He’ll be out in a moment, have a seat if you wish,’ she answered in a flat voice.  

She decided to stand, but picked her spot, away from the door so when he appeared he got the complete picture as would she.  His eyes met the backside of her tight black leather pants, his greeting turned her around, but she did it slowly for his benefit.  She could tell instantly he was not disappointed and neither was she at what she looked at.  He was younger than her by some, fit with a handsome but not hard chiselled face, brown eyes, what she called autumnal coloured brown hair with dashes of lighter hues mixed, a little above six feet in height.  She smiled as he called her name, her hand forward for a firm and pleasant handshake. From there she was taken inside the office and guided to a corner office, smaller than she expected, but still a corner office.  She took note of his mannerisms as they went, polite, respectful, easy conversation and excellent manners as he let her enter first and held her chair for her.  Some people might have found it old-fashioned, even patriarchal, but she took it as good manners and nothing else.  

‘Good to put a face to a voice, I’m sorry I always find this part a little awkward, what do you prefer as an honourific?’ he asked.

‘You can call me Sarah if you want or should you feel it's too soon for that, Miss Highland.  Now it's my turn to ask that same question.’

‘I’m the informal type, Ramsey will be fine,’ he smiled.

‘Then it's only fair you call me Sarah.  There awkwardness out of the way,’ she smiled and looked about the room.  Diplomas and certificates of specialisation in certain areas filled the wall behind him along a few football pictures.  ‘You played football?’ she asked, getting up to look at the pictures closer as she walked around his desk.

‘Many years ago, wrecked my knee, that was it. Anyway it allowed me to pursue my dream of becoming an accountant rather than just another footballer,’ he laughed.  

‘Manchester United’s loss is my gain.  Never would have found you if you’d gone on to fame and fortune.  Funny how things turn out, what looks like disappointment turns into an opportunity. I suppose in some instances the other way round could be true as well,’ she said, staring at him in the team picture.  ‘Two way number 9, in behind the striker,’ she added, giving the picture then him a look.

‘How did you guess that?’ Ramsey asked,  surprise and something else in his voice.  

‘Your size, physique, demeanour, you understand the game, football and life.  You took a disappointment and made something of it, shows you understand attack and defence and how one can turn into the other.  You still play I suspect, Sunday League mostly for fitness.  I bet you can run  circles around the others, all midfielders have incredible stamina,’ she added then returned to her seat.  ‘I trust you have time to review the files and come up with a plan based on requirements we need,’ she said sitting down, one leather leg smoothly crossing over the other.  

He recovered quickly from the distraction and they dove into the business plan.  She was impressed with his analysis and suggestions, all of it would save the fake company a great deal of money.  Some of it was just this side of the law, but never over it.  His understanding of each country's tax laws, their trade partnership agreements, rules for capital expenditures, deferments and other areas was extremely impressive.  

‘I can see why you come highly recommended.  Your name should be on that door outside,’ she complimented.

‘Titles are not important to me,’ he responded. 

He’d said it for a reason, he wanted her to say the obvious question, she didn’t.  Instead she counter attacked.

‘You know what’s important to me? She said and waited until she knew it was off footed.  ‘Lunch. I passed a nice looking pub at the corner.  The Waterman, we should have lunch, say in an hour, meet me there.  I need to check in with my office, who knows, you may have to revise your plans.  The business plans I mean,’ she added looking embarrassed as was the goal.  

^^^

He found her in the crowded lunch time pub, their table in the back.  

‘I was right, I have some more data for you,’ she said, opening her hand.

‘No, no, I need to look at this here,’ she said.  ‘Plug it in and have a look.  I’ll get you a drink, I think you’ll need it.’

Ramsey read it all through, his face turning from red to white over the course of time.  He finished and pulled the stick out.

‘Now have a big drink and we can talk before you decide to run away.  But, I will warn you there is no place to run.  Oh, you can keep the stick, we have copies,’ she smiled.  

‘I suppose you’re here to kill me?’ he said, looking nervous.

‘If I was I wouldn’t be here, with all these people.  No, you really are confused, take another sip and I’ll explain, but if you decide to run, fine, just don’t go back to the office, she’ll be waiting, mostly because of me I’m sure.  

‘Whose she, Sarah?’ he asked, still not sure of his course of action.

‘My name is really Julie Low, honest.  Frankly I don’t know why the cover nobody knows me really.’

‘Don’t all spies have cover names for certain missions?’ he inquired.

‘Maybe, but I’m not a spy.  I mean I’ve been trained as one, have all the tools and tricks of the trade, but no, sorry to disappoint, I’m a tax specialist, like you.  I work for FORCE, but I assume you surmised that.  MBA in Finance, London School of Economics.  But, back to your question.  Your receptionist of course.  Bet she’s a temp, probably showed up in the last few days, flashes about the place, mostly your office, lots of trips the open door leans in when talking,’ Julie explained in a ticking off the boxes kind of way.

How do you know all this?’ he stammered.

‘Easy, I’m a Tax Specialist,’ she laughed.  ‘Seriously, It takes one to know one and that woman is way too attractive to be anything else.  Women like that aren’t temp receptionists, their way up the food chain from that and she’s lined you as her latest prey.  It’s lucky for you I showed up.  Another tigress in the jungle makes her work all the more difficult,’ Julie explained with a smile on her face.

‘Why not send a young beautiful woman, like in all the spy movies,’ he asked, 

Julie considered him for the moment thinking he might actually want that, like he was excited by the prospect.

‘Hate to disappoint you, but one, you're not James Bond or Matt Helm or even Maxwell Smart.  You're not a high value target in terms of that type of agent, who may have a harder time getting to you because and I know this is strange, but you might start to think what’s this young girl doing chasing me around, what does she want?  Your radar goes up, you get defensive and things don’t go to plan,  So, instead, they send an older woman, confident, she lets you know, in her own experienced way that only an older woman can do, that she’s fine financially, she just does this to keep active.  Maybe she mentions she does yoga, turns her ankle, wears age appropriate but still sexy clothing.  With her experience, she’s not even trying and she has you hooked, the rest is simple.  You think, well she can’t get pregnant, she has money, she knows her way around, why not.  The end result is you’re dead by whatever means she decides.  Older agents are older for a reason, they always win.  Tell me none or part of what I just said hasn’t happened?   

She waited.  ‘I take it your silence means I’m right.  

‘I did everything they asked, kept all the records and my tracks covered.  Before you ask, it was for the money, nothing else,’ he explained.

‘It sure wasn’t spent on clothes, that’s certain,’ Julie said.  ‘Anyway, that’s all out the window, she’s on to you now and if she is so will be others after she tells.  I’m afraid my cover blew it, she spotted me a mile away.  And before you ask, the simple answer is, it takes one to know one.  Anyway, you’ve been handed the Sir Alex extra time bonus, what do you want to do?  I’m just here to help or not, the choice is yours.’

‘There is no choice,’ he said.  

‘Not if you want to live,’ Julie answered.  ‘Now I assume you have all the records either on your laptop or stored in the cloud,’ she asked next and when he acknowledged she came round and slid next to him in the booth.  ‘Let’s get started then.

^^^

‘Our flight doesn’t leave until the morning.  I booked a hotel for the night,’ Julie said looking up from her phone.  ‘I just booked us a black cab, it will be here in a few minutes so drink up.’

‘We need to stop at my place so I can get some things.’

‘Not a chance sweetie, you’re a target now, not just from her, but others now that she will have alerted.  ‘Your in territory you don’t understand, lucky for you I do.  Let’s go.’

They were silent on the cab ride, not because she wanted to be, but because he was upset about not getting his way.  He still won’t come round even after she told him he would get all new clothes and when things settled down FORCE would recover his personal items.  

‘Why don’t you take a shower, maybe it will improve your mood?  I’ll make us something to eat, the fridge is fully stocked and a drink if you like.  Go on, you can be mad at me all you want, 

that’s ok, I can understand it, but if we’re going to share one of those beds or depending on your stamina,

both, then I want you clean.  Oh, did I forget to mention the perks,’ Julie said coyly, putting down a bottle

coming round the breakfast bar and slipping into his arms.  ‘I told you earlier I was fully trained,’ she

smiled then took his mouth, her tongue toying and teasing inside as her head turned side to side just

long enough to feel his interest swelling below.  

‘I won't be long,’ he said in an anxious voice

‘It appears my kiss steamed your lips open or was it my tongue?’ she smiled, pulling his ear to her lips. ‘No you won’t long, no man ever is in my mouth,’ her hot breath scolding him as her tongue flicked about.  

He emerged even quicker than she expected wearing one of the bathrobes the hotel provided, she was next a trailing hand across his hips snagged for a second on his protruding member, she gave it a little extra attention as she walked by, picked up her bag and disappeared.  

Julie took her time, she wanted to be perfect and part of her just wanted to tease him a little. When she finally emerged and leaned against the frame his eyes lit up, he got up from the edge of the bed, opened his robe and moved toward her,

‘Easy there tiger, we have all night,’ she hummed, slinking into his arms, hers about his neck allowing

her to pull him close.  ‘I see no encouragement is needed,’ she smiled and added. ‘Well, maybe a little,’

as they kissed, their bodies coming together even more, Julie tilting and swirling her paradise about his

stem, making it even stiffer if that was possible, before she pulled away.  ‘Where is that drink, we should

toast our victory before we celebrate,’ she teased as turned her back on him and walked to the breakfast

bar, her ass shishing as she went.

‘Oh, I see, this was supposed to be a threesome all along.  Well count me in, you know what they say, two's company, three’s much more fun,’ Julie smiled as she looked at the receptionist by the suite's door. 

‘I’d ask how you found us but I don’t ask questions I know the answers to. Pity, we could have had a wonderful time together sweetie,’ she said, kissing him once more.  ‘Almost as good a time as I had last night,’ Julie said as she slipped her arms off him and walked over to the woman. 

‘I couldn’t have said it better myself,’ the receptionist said as they exchanged a light kiss.  ‘He looks a little confused,’ she added.

‘No doubt.  You see, Ramsey, Miss Stirling and I met several days ago.  Remember when I told you it takes one to know one.  She’s a retired agent, and older woman, remember I said that also.  Not a happy retirement either, especially when you're told at 50 you no longer have it for the field or the bedroom and are let go.  She takes contracts for a fee now, certain agencies use her talents when they don’t want to risk their own talent or don’t think it's worth their time to.  Personally, I think it's time very well spent.  She was contracted to terminate you, a task easily accomplished as you can see by my actions.  Don’t worry sweetie you’ll be able to move in a while.  My bodice is rather scratchy, a few simple rubs about your manhood injected my paralysing serum.  Anyway, I proposed an alternative, one that pays so much better.  We each get the data, Miriam, Miss Sterling has already negotiated a bonus deal for that from Trident on top of her fee for you.  But as an added bonus, she has drained all your bank accounts, both here and offshore.’

Julie walked over and took the second drink and brought it back to Miriam as they clinked glasses and took a sip.  

‘Would you unzip me please,’ Miriam requested.  

Julie took the drinks, set them done and moved behind the woman then slowly unzipped her dress as they stared at him.

‘You believed everything I told you, that was a foolish mistake.  I’d been here a few days before, been to your office, met Miriam, we each knew the other instantly, met and came up with this plan.  She told me she didn’t trust you even of your plan to run off with her and all the money from the offshore accounts.  She knew that would be her death sentence.  We just replaced your plan with ours, so instead of you two killing me, well,  the death sentence remains; it's just been transferred to you instead of her, which you planned all along. When I met you I didn’t trust you either.  Money over title, who wants that, one brings the other without all the hard work all the time.  Then when I described all the tricks Miriam would play to get you wrapped around her finger you never looked embarrassed or incredulous like most men would have.  You much too willingly gave up your phone, allowing me not only access to the files I needed, but I suspected you had planted a tracking program in your phone to contact Miriam to let her know our location.  Congratulations, it worked,’ Julie said as she finished with the zipper and pulled it off the shoulders where Miriam took over and slid it off.

‘My, my, why did they ever let you retire?’ she breathed, giving a soft kiss to the shoulder before leaving to put on her clothes.

‘Goodbye sweetie,’ Julie said, giving him a soft kiss.  Don’t worry you're in deadly hands among other parts.