Early Motion

‘You know I thought we agreed my organization was handling this for the better of both your

interests?’ Claire said into the speaker.

‘When will this happen, so far all we see from our end is endless weekly calls like this one,’ a

voice from the speaker said in an annoyed tone.

‘Then you are not going to like the answer, it's the same as last week's one.  We have a root, Mr. Yang, but we need to know if he is the main root or just a branch off of the main. Also how many branches of branches there are on this root system.  Once we have that we can move.  But, as I have previously explained, you have to move all at once, cut off the supply to the tree, the head of it all if you will.  Once it is starved of food or in this case, information, it dies, but you must strike at all or most of the key roots at the sametime.  This cuts off the flow of vital information, creates confusion and in the panic to re-establish control, mistakes are made that will expose the roots we didn’t know about allowing us to kill the entire organism.  That is what we are waiting for, but on that front I have good news,’ Claire explained.  ‘My agents have managed to attach themselves, in various ways to the people importing the rubies, that in turn had led to this,’ she added then the send button.  ‘I’ll give you a few moments to decrypt the image.’

'Very nice, impressive,’ came responses.’  ‘How many agents do you have?’ came a question.

‘Now, now, that would be telling,’ Claire answered with a smile on her face.  See knew both sides although seeding control to her still wanted to find out as much about her and FORCE as they could, it was all part of the game. She respected them for it, but offered nothing.  ‘I will tell you I think it's time we made the spider run around a bit and check its web, that should give us the final strands we need.  People think they're secure until they're not, then they make mistakes, panic is a partner in the next phase.  Shall we say the same time and day a week from now for another update and please gentlemen don’t panic, your secrets are still safe,’ she added and ended the call.

‘Antsy bunch,’ Susan Janus said from the other side of the desk.

‘I can understand it,’ Claire smiled.  ‘I hope they realise that just because we can make their misdoings go away does mean I will make them vanish.’

‘A little leverage for the future.  That’s a bit of a dangerous game, especially with some of these characters,’ Tina Samuels chimed in.

‘Power used to be about guns and people, those are old ideas, Mr. Yang is about information, that’s the new power.  His problem is he wants too much of it and it would appear all to himself and now he has awakened the dragon, can he adjust to the wind from the dragon's wings or will it sweep him away,’ Claire mused. 

^^^

It was a long ride to Namkham, especially in the back of a truck Toyota Dyna Ano 77, but it was the best way to go undetected so Tami made the most of it as the truck drove along,

using sacks of rice as a seat and pillow. ‘ At least there is a cover to keep me dry and hidden,’

she thought.  

^^^

Claire’s next call was decidedly more pleasant and informative. 

‘Many of the ladies, some of them buyers, some of them wives or mistresses of the buyers have

taken a liking to my spa.  We have moved ourselves about so that Salon agents are running my

places, except for Mai Trang she has come across something to do with shipping and stolen cars

or that is what it seems on the surface, she’s digging deeper,’ Yen Chau said.

‘How did this happen?’ Claire inquired.

I assigned her to surveillance on the upcoming shipment from Cara, seems there’s something about a Tong running part of the dock where the ship had to dock due to space and they like to have a cut if something is good, fish is not good, but she got involved in a way only Mai can,’ Yen answered.

‘Fill me in,’ Claire rescinded her voice light and excited.

‘Men or boys pretending to be men like many things, but cars and women are near the top.  Mai has the cars and well she is a woman, beautiful in a non classic way, but she is sexy and well can be anything from cute to smouldering when she wants.  Mai seems to have the ability to turn it off and on at will, and she seems to know just what to activate for the occasion.’

Claire had to agree, Mai was not the most classically beautiful agent, but she had “it” as well as all the requisite skills and an amazing body.  ‘Small time punks, seems a waste of time, there must be more?’ Claire said.

‘Much more. This Tong runs that dock, but they also seem to have many legitimate companies, all in the refrigeration transportation business, shipping, trucking and those are tied to other bigger companies from outside Vietnam.  I just finished her report, it makes for interesting reading on many levels as she’s been active, very active ingratiating herself to get deeper into this, if you follow,’ Yen said.

'Say no more,’ Claire mused.  ‘I’ll print it on fireproof paper.’

‘Even that may not be enough,’Yeni said and hit send.

'How are the others doing?’

‘Very easy to get the men interested, you know all that takes and they like to brag, especially

when told how amazing they are.  The women buyers, well compliment Salon treatments do

seem popular with them, extra special treatments, like the ones we used to give ICE agents, only

not lethal, well not yet anyway, They go away refreshed and never suspect a thing.  All that is in

my other report I just sent,’ Yen explained.

‘How about you and Mr.Yang?’ Claire said after a pause.

‘He’s invited me to go on vacation with him to an island off Cambodia, Song Saa, private and isolated,’ she said

There was a long pause at Claire’s end before she spoke.  ‘They’ll be no running away from him

there or,’ and for this she paused again.’You being able to run away.’

‘I appreciate the concern, but I’m a big girl, not like I haven’t faced situations like this before,’ Yen

said trying to calm Claire’s concern.  ‘Really for a spy, you wear your heart in your sleeve,’

she added.

‘Only for the people I care about.  This situation is so big and so complex, it's like nothing I’ve ever taken on before.  Who knows what he’s capable of!’

‘And the same can be said for me,’ Yen answered.  

Claire loved her confidence and frankly, she knew what Yen was capable of, still she worried but masked it.  

‘I will talk to you in 10 days, when I come back.  I have everything I need, Tina sent everything I requested and a few special items, thank her for me,’ Yen said and the call ended.  

^^^

Mai stopped at the office at the end of the pier.  She got out of the car on the far side of the

building entrance, a cinder block structure of no redeeming character, built solely for function,

with one door for entrance and another for exit, to a cacophony of smart ass remarks about her car,

mostly asking her if she wanted them to wind of her car before she left.  Those remarks stopped

as she came around the car towards the entrance where her deriders, five of them leaned against

or lounged in chairs against the structure, changing to stares and open mouths.  

Mai walked past them, pulling off her sunglasses as she strode freezing them in place with a

look and smile.

‘I’m here with paperwork for my shipment,’ she said to yet another young tuff who looked up from

his phone with a face that read unwanted interruption on it.  

He looked at the paperwork, picked it up and went inside a small office emerging a few seconds

later.  

‘$2000.00 American dollars,’ he said.

Mai knew instantly what was happening, a shakedown, she turned around and walked briskly out

the door back to her car as they laughed, the two from the office joining the others as they mocked

her.  Mai now knew who the leader was. They insulted her and told her go get the money from

her husband.  Their attempts at humour or belittling were poor, Mai had four older brothers, she’d

heard it all.  She slowly opened the car door when finally one of them said what she’d been

waiting for.

‘Pedal your toy car out of here.’

She slipped on her sunglasses, looked up and smiled.  ‘Tell you what I’ll give you $4000 if you

can beat me in a race.’

After a small silence and a long laugh from them they saw she was serious.  They leader spoke

up.  ‘Do you know Ha Long City?’

‘Of course I have several businesses here,’ Mai answered.

‘Out of the harbour, across the bridge onto the expressway to Hanoi then first exit north into the

hills for 25 kilometres, right across the bridge is the gates to my home, you beat us there you win,

we win you better have the money,’ he stated flatly.

Mai reached into her bag and pulled out a giant roll of money and waved it back on forth.. ‘Those

are yours,’ she said, pointing at the BRZ, Lancer and Golf GTi and smiling before getting into her

car, they scrambled to theirs.  Mai programmed the directions into her GPS and swung in behind

them as they left the parking lot.  

Mai let them take the lead, she tagged in behind the BRZ as they sped along the service road

and onto the on ramp and then across the bridge the speed increasing as the quartet weaved

and dodged the slower cars, the sound of car horns filling the air.  Mai came hard up on the back

of the BRZ, pushing very close the touching as she saw the on ramp sign for the main highway,

she made a quick adjustment of the traction control, slid into the curve of the road and shifted up

into forth, took the inside and shot past the BRZ came in front them over to the far side of the road

and by the Lancer, out of the curve and onto the highway and up shift into 5th, a swing as she

was side by side with the GTi and the big boss.  She looked over, caught his attention, gave him

a smile and blew him a kiss and went ahead, shifting into 6th and flying out of sight.  When they

finally pulled up at the gates Mai was there waiting for them.

The Lancer driver flew out of his car and toward hers, angry at having lost, but more angry at

having lost to a woman.  Mai stepped toward her car.

‘Open that hood bitch!,’ he barked, attempting to shove her aside.

Mai took the motion of his and kept it going, placing him in a hammer lock, using the point of her

shoe on the back of his knee then driving her knee into his forehead as he fell forward, the recoil

knocking him backward off his feet and to the pavement.

‘No one touches me or my car without my permission,’ she said with an air of control.

‘Fast and Furious,’ the leader said coming up to her.  He motioned to his pack to remove the guy.

‘That’s some car, can I have a look,’ he asked.

‘Toyota Yaris WRC 380 horsepower, inline 4 cylinder turbo, direct injection, 6 speed hydraulic

shift, wide body, all wheel drive with adjustable front and rear slip differentials, just over 1200

kilograms, restrictors removed. It will make 280 kmh at max.  You guys never had a chance, but

then again I wound it extra tight before we started,’ she smiled at him and he back at her. ‘You

want to drive it up,’ she said holding out the keys and glancing her head at the gates.  

‘Go back to the docks and get this ladies goods ready, take my car as well,’ he said, tossing the

keys.  

Mai knew exactly where the rest of the day and possibly night was going to end and she was

fine with that, if that’s what it took.

^^^

‘I wish you would stop saying his name, it makes me laugh every time, it sounds like someone

from a old Hollywood gangster movie,’ Alice said with a small laugh as they drove along the

Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge.

‘You know I owe him a great deal of money and he’s not the most patient man when it comes to

that,’ he said.

‘You need to relax Chen, he hasn’t come after you yet, I suspect because he wants to keep that

marker until he needs to use it, that’s the point you need to start worrying, we’re not there yet. 

In fact this is going to be an interesting meeting, I suspect Mr. Jimmy Luk is not all he’s cracked

up to be and we can use that, you just have to let me handle the entire situation, are we very

clear on that,’ Alice said turning her head sideways and looking straight into his eyes.

‘Oh yes,’ he said without hesitation.

‘Jimmy Luk,’ she said and laughed again as the car came off the bridge and the GPS gave

instructions as Alice guide the Audi R8 Spyder down a series of narrow streets until Chen told

her to stop outside what appeared to be a old series of tenements dating back to the Portuguese

territory days.

‘These place has seen better days,’ Alice remarked, trying no to get dust or

something worse on her outfit.

‘The inside is not much better.  He likes it that way, the regional government doesn’t bother him,’

Chen said as he held the door open for her.

The inside unfortunately matched what Chen had said.  It was clean, in a loose use of the word,

but the kinds of people who came here, came not for the decor, but to gamble, illegally, away from

the government licensed casinos.  Winnings weren’t reported and no one came under

surveillance or suspicion, hence Chen’s involvement.  

There two hallways that diverged from the anteroom the two occupied, both led to double

swinging doors.  Chen nervously led the way down one, Alice noticed a coat room that had an

opening to the other hallway.  The ladies washroom was on the side they walked down, Alice

having no compunction to use it or even see it. Chen waited for her to catch up then nervously

knocked a few times, rather lightly on the door and stepped back.  It opened a crack then closed,

then opened again, Chen stepping in, then being pulled in by two clenched fists, Alice took two

very quick steps coming up beside him.  She could see a man in a chair, his back to the edge of

the bar off in the distance, the poor light making him hard to make you but Alice knew it had to be

the aforementioned Jimmy Luk, then he spoke.

‘It's too early even for you Chen. Perhaps I wasn’t clear the last time,’ he said and Alice saw his

head nod and she stepped into action. 

The man holding Chen went to slap him, Alice’s hand shot up stopping it, she stepped in front

and looked slightly up at him.  The Countess of Hamilton smiled nervously, doing her best to

look a little scared before her shoe jabbed just below his knee causing it to buckle.  As he fell

down a sharp rap from her fist slammed into his Adam’s Apple then a knee into his balls.  Alice

smiled, placed a hand softly on the back of his neck and pushed him over his body falling in a

curled and defeated ball of pain to the floor.  

Alice strode forward as a second thug, seeing what had happened rushed at her launching into

a spinning back heel kick that she elegantly avoided with a graceful bend backward much like

she was being dipped by a partner doing the tango.  Alice came up on the other side of him,

delivered a punch to his kidney then a double chop to his collarbones, the twin snapping of the

bones bouncing off the walls, he joined his compatriot on the floor..  Alice looked over her

shoulder to witness another man coming at her, she about caught the swinging arm of him and

used the momentum to throw him to the floor, his left arm outstretched, she braced it against her

leg and thrust it back breaking it at the elbow so it swung uselessly like a pendulum, a kick with

the sole of her heel careened his back, off the floor and him into unconsciousness.  

‘Your establishment definitely needs to work on its hospitality skills not to mention its security

personnel, but we can discuss that later,’ Alice said as she took a shaken Chen by the hand and

walked toward the bar.  ‘Chen wants to pay his marker in full,’ Alice smiled as her fingers dashed

across the keys of her phone and Jimmy’s pinged a few seconds later.  ‘Your money,’ she said.

Jimmy glanced at his phone, then at Chen.  ‘How did you get that amount?’ he asked.

Alice looked at him, he had been in a few scrapes in his life, but those had been a long time ago.

He had soft, manicured hands, his suit was too tight fitting and stylish to offer any freedom in a

fight.  No this was a man you had climbed up and was doing his best to leave the more vulgar

aspects of business to more vulgar men.

‘You don’t look pleased Mr, Luk?  I would think the otherwise should be true, after all what were

the chances of Chen ever being able to repay that debt to you or was that the plan all along,’

Alice smiled as she made herself a vodka/tonic.

‘Why should I look pleased, you have cost me three employees, who is going to compensate me

for that?’

‘Please Jimmy, don’t waste my time or insult my intelligence.  If those are the best ruffians you

can employ, you’re not half the businessman I think you are or could be,’ she said letting the last

words come out slower before she took a sip of her drink.  

‘Maybe I should hire you,’ he quipped back.

‘You couldn’t afford me.”

‘If I can’t how the hell can Chen, I know he doesn’t have that kind of money which means I should

be talking to you now that he’s all square and I never want to see him again,’ Jimmy said, giving

Chen a very nasty look.

‘Yes, you should listen to me and do exactly as I say, but you also need to be nice and respect

Chen.  There is money and there is power, sometimes they go together, sometimes they are

separate, each party brings something to the table.  I bring the money, Chen brings the power

and you Jimmy bring the information, both current and what is yet to be.  Here, have a drink, it

will calm you down while I explain and do me a favour and get rid of your entourage,’ Alice

explained as she slid a drink toward him. ‘Do you have an office we can talk in, your boys over

there are making much too much noise,’ she added.

Jimmy Luk looked at her, he had never met anyone like Alice.  Having seen what she could do,

he in truth wanted to see more, she was beautiful, confident and dressed stunningly, what he

wasn’t sure was if her next move would be against him, he knew enough not to want that, so he

picked up the drink and led the way to his office, Alice careful not to touch anything along the way.

‘Now this is much better,’ she said.  

The room was well and tastefully appointed, a drinks cabinet, a private bathroom. Jimmy had an

antique walnut desk, a leather sofa pushed up against one side, the walls painted a tasteful

white with a bluish tinge.  There were two chairs facing the desk and two more facing the sofa

with a mahogany coffee table between them. Alice chose a chair and nudged Chen into the one

next to her forcing Jimmy to the sofa and the low point, she had the advantage and meant to

continue to press it.

‘Curious thing about this room is the lack of pictures,’ Alice remarked then added. ‘Most private

offices of casino owners have plenty of pictures, usually autographed, of the owner or manager

with various celebrities, this office has none.  You don’t strike me as a shrinking violet type

Mr. Luk.’

Jimmy was dealing with a combination of curiosity, annoyed and still alarmed by this woman,

but also a fascination with her, he assumed most men shared the last so gave it the least regard,

but the annoyed was growing into anger.  Chen was way past any of those points but he hid it,

Alice was on his side.  

‘What do you make here a week? Must be quite a bit, I mean, not much on furnishings or

aesthetics in the main room, I’m sure the others are just the same.  You overcharge for the liquor,

but that’s to be expected because your quests can gamble in anonymity and you pay in cash,

no tax, so you must either be paying bribes to an assortment of people or you’ve done the smart

thing and they owe you money from gambling debts, I think the latter, you’re a smart businessman,

hence the lack of pictures, papers on your desk and I suspect ledgers in your desk.  It's all in your

head and for, let's call it life insurance purposes, on various thumb drives and very secure cloud

accounts,’ Alice said, taking a sip of her drink. ‘My goodness this is dreadful, yours must be the

same, ‘she said looking at them. ‘That I suppose was to be expected given the quality of the

spirits.  ‘Here let me make us new ones using better quality.’

Alice made the drinks while JImmy stared at Chen and he managed to not run for his life. He had

heard how Jimmy Luk dealt with people, some at high levels, he hoped it was too high to touch

but the longer Jimmy looked at him the less sure he became.  

‘You’re very bold Miss,’ he finally said.

‘Yes, but I have the body to back up my words,’ she said, bending down right before him glass in

hand, the view and gesture very effective.

One of Jimmy’s hands slipped along the bottom of the sofa cushion where it was met by Alice’s

finger.  

‘You watched the glass instead of the hand, a classic destruction.  If you want to push that button

I’m not going to stop you, but then you’ll never hear my offer,’ she smiled and kissed the need of

his nose, that slight action somehow enough to arouse his manhood, his finger reversed course. 

‘My name is Alice.’ she whispered then sat down and began.

‘I a few weeks the government is going to put up for auction a new casino license for Macau and

a very desirable parcel of land to build it on.  How would you like a ten percent stake in the

ownership and the day to day operations at a very generous salary. I will spare you your two

questions and answer them.  I want the ledgers and the books and everything else you have

either written down or in your head.  If it’s as good as I know it will be, a clean slate, a position of

power, a new start.  If you say no, I’ll rip your head open and take the information anyway then I’ll

give what’s left of you to the authorities so they can continue where I left off.’

‘You don’t understand…’ he stammered, truly scared by the change in Alice.

‘They don’t understand Jimmy, they don’t understand who they're dealing with and by the time

they do it will be too late.  You don’t need to worry about your life, no one will get to you where

we’ll send you for a little while.’ she added.

‘Prison.’

‘If prison is a tropical island with white sands, beautiful women and every other amenity you can

imagine, then yes prison.’

‘Can I go to prison as well,’ Chen asked.

‘Maybe another time, you’re stuck with me for a while,’ Alice replied, trying not to roll her eyes. 

‘You know what’s coming, one way or the other.  I wouldn’t rip your head open, you know, that’s

the Middle Ages talking, I don’t miss those days. But the others might, everyone has a sell by date

Jimmy the question is when is yours.’

Alice flashed fingers across her phone and Jimmy’s phone pinged again.  ‘Payment for your time

Jimmy, nice to see it coming in rather than going out.  I imagine they take a nice cut every week. 

Time and money Jimmy and you’re on the clock.  What’s it going to be?’

‘How did she know so much? Chen must have told her and where did he get it from, probably the

security apparatus.  Where did they get it from?  Could some of his people be informers or as

Alice said, he is being set up.  Did the people who owe him money somehow cut a deal.  It was

all madness with too many angles to explore with the exception of one and only they had

confronted him,’ his mind raced.

‘Full managerial control?’ he said finally.

^^^

Yen was enjoying the island, the water was warm and clear, the food and service excellent and

Mr. Yang had been kept busy with endless meetings that he did not talk about when he returned

sometimes late into the night or early morning.  

Today was another day like the others, he had gone off early in the morning, Yen had assumed

herself with a swim and workout and some yoga before a shower and a little sunbathing when

she heard the steps inside and turned her head.  

‘Well a red letter day, you’re home before it's dark,’ she smiled and got up walking across the

deck, through the doors and into the main living space just as he put down his laptop.

  

‘I want to thank you for this wonderful solo holiday, I’m having a great time, swimming, sunning

and the other, it's been fantastic, i needed a break to relax and unwind, recharge the batteries, so

to speak,’ she said disappearing into the bedroom, he not sure what was going to happen next

given the tone of her voice.  ‘The thing is I thought we would be relaxing together!  I think we need

to have a talk,’ Yen said, walking to the desk in the room pulling out the chair and swinging it

around.  He took the seat offered as Yen walked away towards the open doors, her hips dancing

her bum about in a hypnotic motion.  She turned around in the doorway and gave him a look that

said one thing.

Her eyes fixed on him, she came back to him and proceeded to remove his jacket. Yen fixed her

eyes and his as she loosened then discarded his tie with a casual toss, then one by one, top

down, she undid the shirt buttons.  Lee Gao could barely contain his excitement as she undid his

belt, then his button.  ‘You seem a little tense,’ Yen hummed as one of her hands brushed against

his member, she felt it quaver on her fingertips, she smiled then lowered her head into his lap,

her teeth gripping his zipper and slowly pulling it down, her mouth brushing against his now

pulsing cock.  Off came his shoes, socks and pants and shirt.  Yen reached over his shoulder,

picked up a pair of scissors, looked at them, smiled and brought them down around his

underwear cutting them at the side with one snip.  ‘There, that;s you,’ Yen purred, dropping the

scissors. ‘Now it’s just me.’

Yen hooked her thumbs into the sides of her bottom and shimmied slowly, very slowly as she

snaked them down her bronzed sunscreened form, then stepped out, reached behind, undid her

top and let it fall away.  ‘I can see I have your attention, lets see how long I can hold it.’

Yen lowered herself into his lap deftly pinning his erect knob between her legs and holding it

there.  ‘Let’s get down to business,’ Yen smiled and pulled out of lipstick, removed the top, then

proceeded to frost her lips while he watched in hungry fascination.  Yen knew she had him on

the edge.  She finished, slipped her arms around his neck and took her lips to his, her tongue

waiting for a few seconds before she gently pushed it inside his mouth  and moved it around. 

His hand cupped her wonderful ass testing whether he could lift her up and enjoin them.  Yen

slipped the heel points into the supports on the chair and held firm, her taut thighs squeezing

him gently.  Yen ran her nails up his sides as they kissed, she felt his rod pounding and yearning

to be encased inside her, slowly her hips began to rock back and forth, teasing his capture as

they kissed then she caught his tip, her motion pulled on it as his hands cupped her ass and

assisted. Yen drew forward, her nipples dancing about, his tongue licking and flicking about like

a snake until he softly closed about one and she gasped in joy tightening her arms and rocking

more forcefully as they came together.

‘Sometimes you have to drain a battery before you can recharge it fully,’ she panted.  

The words were barely out of her mouth when he exploded! Yen raced her hips faster as the

chair moved forward and bounced from the force of his thrusts, her stroke was wonderful, the

subtle eddies she added to her motion heightened his orgasm, she had to hold them upright. 

Yen quickly followed, her low moans and hot breath on his neck as he pushed into her to further

her enjoyment.  Yen kissed his neck as they finished and relaxed for a few minutes before he

cupped her small ass to support her and got to his feet.  Yen kicked off her shoes as he carried

her to the bed, her eyes fixed and the reassembled lipstick next to his laptop, his hard drive

copied and her software uploaded, she mused that you could mix business and pleasure,

five minutes later she confirmed that hypothesis.  

CAPTIONS

CAPTIONS

 

Captions

 

CAPTIONS

 

Fulcrum

 Claire needed to convince the other side. She had a few contacts, but nothing high enough up to make decisions.on the matter or to take it up the chain without someone finding out, but  she knew someone who did.  

Fan Li, the head of Mekong LLP, a consulting firm in Engineering, Management and Accounting was a profitable legitimate company, but was in reality a front for FORCE agents, their consultants leading a double life, one as experienced business consultants, the other as deadly femme fatales.  She was part of Claire’s executive team, a close confidant and the only person within FORCE who had the contacts they needed.

They met in Claire’s office over tea, where everything was laid out.  

Fan understood everything that needed to be done even as Claire explained it, even adding a few things in her mind for extra insulation from discovery.

‘Shouldn’t be too hard, I’ll start later this week, I just need to finish up an assignment I’m working on then I’ll make arrangements and fly to Zhuhai,’ she smiled taking a sip of tea.

‘Don’t take this the wrong way but no one is even sure where the main HQ is, they have offices and compounds everywhere,’ Claire asked.

‘Exactly, but that is only true from the outside looking in.  I know several people, all retired, but really there is no retirement from our type of work, doesn’t matter what side you're on.  Rather than go through current members, I’ll use the back door approach.  These people I’m speaking of have their own businesses now, some very large all with foreign sales for just the purpose as before, gathering information and intelligence, except this time it's under the guise of capitalism.  However, even the most competent spy sometimes needed the aid of a more competent consulting firm to set things up.  I undercharge for my services, as you know sometimes, I like to think of it as a delayed quid pro quo and now it's time to collect,’ Fan explained with a smile over the rim of the cup.

^^^

Fan had returned to Mekong LLP HQ, located in Macau to go over her files on who she would contact, in truth she had already settled on the person, a woman named Fei Ling Zhao who she knew lived in Zhuhai, China’s first Special Economic Zone.  The city was located right next to Macau.

Fan flew into Zhuhai as promised.  She kept herself as inconspicuous as possible, good looks attracted attention and being almost constantly on surveillance camera, standing out was not a good plan.  

Before she had retired Fei had been a very low level operative in Bangkok. Her cover was that of an export agent for the Fú (Good Fortune) Trading Company.  Bangkok was a sleepy assignment, so to fill her time and ingratiate herself to her masters in Beijing and gain more access to the city's business and political elite, she concentrated on her cover job and soon discovered she had a knack for it.  Money flowed back to Beijing making her overseers happy and rich, she knew, invites and access flowed her way from the city's tycoons, she also didn’t send all the money back home.  Beijing was over 3200km away.

‘It was a long way to see, especially if you're not looking,’ she used to say.

In time she started Xīn Fú (New Good Fortune) Trading Company.  Both firms prospered and Fei was soon very rich, very well connected, both in Bangkok and Beijing.  She cultivated rising stars in the Ministry, insulating herself from hard line zealots and jealous rivals, she spread money about and when needed sweetened the deal with herself.  Her machinations kept her out of the eye of suspicion for her entire career.  The cruel fate of all female spies caught up with her in her mid forties, her masters thought her too old to be of much use in the alluring department and replaced her as a field agent bringing her back to Beijing where her assorted lovers clearly did not think that true at all.  She retired at 55, by then her business interests were established in the mainland as well and even in Macau and more importantly all her efforts inside the Ministry had bore fruit.  Her lovers occupied several of the highest positions and a couple of others had power in places it was useful to have.  Fei was free to run her businesses, pay her bribes, enjoy the fruits those bore and when her lovers wanted a more skillful woman, she was there, exerting power over them without them knowing it.  

David Jacobs, FORCE’s brilliant Head of IS had provided Fan with all she needed to make the contact.   He tapped into her company’s email and discovered Fei was looking at a new warehouse property.  It was a simple task to replicate an idea and pass for Fan as the rep for the realtor.  

Fan met her outside the warehouse, David again coming through by creating a loop in the security camera feeds taking away any chance of a hack from another party.  Fan kept her back to Fei as the woman called out, holding her mobile to her ear as a pretense until Fei was close enough that Fan turned and they shook hands, Fei immediately recognizing Fan.

Fan wondered why they have ever retired her, she was still stunning, both in beauty and fitness, certainly FORCE would have kept her as an active agent.  

        

‘It's good to see you again Wei, I would like to talk to you I could?’ Fan Li spoke, but Wei saw more in her eyes than her words and she followed her inside the warehouse.  

Fan made a detailed and full explanation of everything that had happened so far, what had happened with Claire and then what they needed from her.  Fan knew there was no danger of overloading Fei with information, she had been after all a spy and a very successful businesswoman, but more importantly and this Fan knew as well, she could see an opportunity. 

‘You’re my magic little talisman,’ Fei smiled. ‘Everytime you show up, fortune smiles on me.  The first time was when \i wanted to take my business to the next level and you showed up.  Tell me were you working for FORCE then, or was it still COIL at that time?’

‘It was FORCE, and no I was not working for them, that became a reality right after I had finished my project for you.  I went to relax and reward myself and well, if it wasn’t for this woman, ,my good friend now, I would have been killed.  I became a recruit that night,’ Fan explained.

‘And now you show up again, asking for my help, it seems our roles are reversed this time and now you’re the client,’ Fei responded, then added.  ‘How do you know you can afford my asking price?’

‘How do you know you can refuse my asking?’ Fan countered letting the comment sink in but not too far, it was merely meant as a tease and a way of establishing a mutual respect.  ‘When I worked for you before, I never changed you what I should have, you knew that, yet you never said anything so we both kept diū liǎn.  I admired you, the path you had chosen, you were tough, smart, ambitious and guarded.  Took me a little while to figure out the last part, but when I was doing up the finances, well let’s say, numbers don’t lie and they also tell good stories as did the letters of incorporation.  I see my work helped keep you safe.  I may have been young, but I wasn’t foolish,’ Fan stated.

‘No you weren’t, part of the reason I liked you,’ Fei replied.  

‘This warehouse space is very nice, but you know I think two would be better, so would priority dock and launch for ships, first truck access and no question documentation, both shipping and receiving, that by the way would include inspection,’ Fan said.  ‘How’s my price now?’

^^^

Everyone likes to show off their latest thing, the higher up you are the more audience you have and this was about as high as you could get.  The Asia Economic Innovation and Trade Conference brought together more than half the world's population as well as risen and rising economic powers such as China and Japan in the former and India, Vietnam and Indonesia in the latter so it was no surprise that high ranking members of the ruling Chinese Government were on hand for the official opening and the party afterward.  It was the party that Alice Hamilton was more interested in.  

The trip down the stairs to the convention room made Alice’s introduction for her.  She caught many eyes including the one she wanted to, then disappeared into the crowd catching a drink along the way and mingled with the throng of people.  

She chatted with people as she edged closer to the podium where speeches of welcome and self congratulation were going on.  The mic was passed to another dignitary for more of the same when a voice, in perfect proper Mandarin said. ‘Opportunities multiply as they are seized.’

He turned around expecting to see a Chinese woman, shock then a delightful surprise crossed his face.

‘To answer a proverb with one, ‘Opportunity knocks at the door only once.’

Alice continued in Mandarin, making small talk for a few moments before moving the conversation to an uncomfortable place.  ‘I hear through a mutual friend of ours that we have a common enemy, well more your enemy than mine.’

‘Perhaps we should talk more in private,’ he said and nodded toward the washroom. ‘Meet me in five minutes,’ he said bruskly and moved off.  She smiled and sipped her drink.

‘Your Mandarin is excellent, like a native speaker, perhaps too native,’ he said as Alice entered the deserted Men’s Washroom.  The Minister stood at the far end of the tiled room, urinals on one side, stalls on the other and the sinks behind him.  Alice could see he was a very handsome man, in his mid thirties well put together and in excellent condition. The fact that he was so young and in a high position within the state meant that Fei was a shrewd judge of talent and an excellent lover to keep him fascinated with her for so long.

‘Perhaps, but my Mandarin is rather old, from the 1730’s so of course it would seem a little strange to you,’ she answered seriously and he did not know how to take it.

‘Fei Wei Ling is a wonderful agent, but she has a nasty habit of looking out for herself and aligning her desires with people who can make that happen regardless of whether that is for the benefit of the state over her own plans,’ he said flatly.

‘You failed to mention she’s also a lover,’ Alice responded. ‘Ironic that the very thing you accuse her of you seem to have as well.  Let's be polite and call them interests as well and you put them ahead of the state also or perhaps you thought that your position within the state would allow you to abuse those interests.’

He had at least the courtesy to look embarrassed at the omission but adding. ‘What do you know of, my interests?’ 

‘You like to gamble.  When you visit Fei, it's only a short car ride to Macau and the casino’s, but you don’t like the big legal ones, too many cameras and people who might know you and question why a high government official is gambling and how can he afford the rather large sums he likes to wager.  So you go to the unofficial places and now you're in a spot of trouble and that trouble has become known to other people,’ Alice explained.

‘You are indeed very well informed,’ he said.

‘Excellent, then I presume I don’t have to explain what this is all about and what conditions need to be met by both sides so all of this can be resolved to everyone’s benefit and the past stays in the past,’ Alice said.

‘Fei explained everything to myself and my colleagues and after careful, very careful and very private talks, we are inclined to go along,’ he said.

‘Incline or not, there are no half commitments on this, once it starts it cannot be stopped until all is done,’ Alice explained.  In truth she knew she had the commitment she wanted, she just wanted to hear him say it.  

‘Fully,’ he said.

‘Now I am aware there is great risk on both your sides, your sides the greater risk,’ she smiled and walked toward him.  ‘If something were to go wrong and certain information got out, it could be very damaging to you and others so I have an escape plan for you, a bargaining chip to play in the case of, well let's call it, imminent disappearance,’ Alice explained and he got the point.

She reached into her clutch and pulled out her mobile, opened the gallery and began swiping.

‘How did you come by these two books? These have to be fakes, our historians have extensively researched all known avenues and concluded one is a myth and the other had all the mentions of these destroyed by the Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang as they violated The Huang-Ming Zuxun,’ he said with his eyes wide.

‘Those are two long stories, but I will tell you, because, the best kind of locked door is that which you can leave open.,’ Alice said, her Mandarin changing yet again as she took his arm in hers and smiled. 

CAPTIONS

 

Sorting it Out

 ‘Why am I here again,’ Alex Chase asked.  ‘I mean, not that I’m complaining, you always do it right, even if it is at twenty thousand feet,’ she added and saluted Claire with her glass.  

‘I just thought it would be good for you and I to spend a little time together, I don’t see you near enough,’ Claire explained, returning the salute.

‘Please, I practice deception for a career,’ Alex laughed.

‘Ok, the part about spending time with you is always true, you know that.  But, I thought you may want to see Yasmin again.  She just happens to be in town and well I thought you and she could meet up again, maybe go to lunch.’

‘Maybe get some information from her?’ Alex chipped in, with an unmistakable sarcastic tone.

‘She won’t know anything about this I suspect, but you never know, I do know she was just transferred to the region in question,’ Claire smiled.

‘She’s my friend, I won’t do anything to compromise her or her career and that includes prying for information,’ Alex stated flatly.  However, should she ask about why you’re here, well, then its all just off the record spy girl talk,’ Alex added.

Claire raised her glass again in salute.  

^^^

Claire’s jet came to a stop by the car awaiting in the tarmac, the stairs folded out and she and Alex glided down the stairs right into the open car, the door closed behind them and they were off from Dulles to the New Headquarters Building at Langley.  No one spoke during the car ride, Claire and Alex in the back seat looked out their respective windows.  It was only 30 minutes and the time passed quickly as did the ride to the main entrance, all security checks had been prescreened, 

‘It's good to know I’m still somewhat of an trusted soul,’ she said to Alex as they walked up the stairs and into the looby.  ‘This part however is unavoidable, doesn’t matter who you are,’ she added, placing her small leather satchel briefcase in a security box along with her shoes, Alex doing the same.  

They walked through the scanner, retrieved their belongings, a smile coming across Alex’s face and that of a familiar one.

‘Yasmin!’, Alex said a little louder than she had planned before quickly stepping into her friend's open arms for a warm embrace.

‘God, it’s great to see you again’ Yasmin Bennett said as they embraced.

‘I’ve never gotten that warm a reception,’ Claire smiled as the to broke apart.

‘Yasmin, my boss, Claire Baxter,’ Alex offered.

‘A pleasure to meet you Miss Baxter, Alex has told me about you, your exploits and well from what I picked up from loose chatter in the field, its an honour and well to be honest, a bit of a thrill,’ Yasmin offered with a firm handshake.  

Claire had heard this before, in part it was nice to hear, everyone likes a compliment, an ego boost if you will, the other part was not so nice, she thought it made her sound like a fossil, a woman of the past, but she chose to focus on the first part, both for her and the person offering the comment, so she smiled and thanked Yasmin.  

I’ll take you to Mr. Russo then you and I,’ Yasmin said. ‘Can have some fun,’ she said smiling at Alex.  

Yasmin started off, the other two followed, Claire knew better than to ask questions and Alex took Claire’s lead.  This was a courtesy call, Claire knew she didn’t have to do it, but it would be better all around if she did, these visits greased wheels which in turn kept information flowing and that helped everyone.  The meeting had been arranged with Tanner Russo, The Head of South East Asia Section.  That was his official title, he also dealt with other groups, namely Claire’s and a few others, but that was on a need to know basis and Claire was sure even Yasmin was clueless about the real reason she was here.  Claire had met Tanner several times before, they were the same age, once on a mission as while ago, they’d helped each other out and everything had worked out well for all concerned.  They other time was when she smoothed over the entire Yasmin/Alex escapade in Dubai.  

All three walked across a blue/white marble floor to the elevator, entered and rode it up to the fifth floor.  Yasmin exited and turned right, the others trailed after her, they past wood door after wood door, Claire knew this was director level frontage, a steel door usually lead into a large room of cubicles populated by analysts and other CIA drones, this was the level they were all trying to get to and especially, this one, the corner office, where Yasmin stopped.

‘I don’t have permission or clearance to enter, just you Miss Baxter, but on the plus side, I get to spend time with Alex,’ she smiled.

‘Should I meet you in the lobby later?’ Alex asked.

‘No sense, who knows how long this is going to be, these dick wagging sessions can go on and on.  Why don’t you just meet me at the hotel. Go and have fun, as much as you two can handle,’ Claire answered.

‘Seems like we’re getting the better deal?’ Yasmin said looking at the door with some unease.

‘All depends on who’s doing the wagging,’ Claire smiled and opened the door, she heard two sets of heels clicking away.

‘Claire Baxter,’ she said to a man in a blue suit behind a desk.  The anteroom was somewhat like a doctor's waiting room, non comfortable metal framed chairs, square table in a corner, with a spread of badly outdated and uninteresting magazines.  He looked at her and she back at him, her stare cold and impatient.  He was going to tell her to sit down, but her eyes said she was having none of that and that he better skedaddle inside and tell his boss she was here, which he did, not sure why he was doing it, but somehow it seemed the right choice.  

He returned a minute later, left the door open and motioned her in, he thought of saying something about Mr. Russo will see you now or you may enter, but left it at the silent gesture as being the one that would get him the least offense look or comment.  Claire gave him a warm smile to smooth things over as she passed by him, the door closing behind her.  

‘Corner office Tanner, long way from when we first met,’ Claire said, a warm smile coming over her face as she stepped across the carpeted floor to him.

‘See, I told you she was a hard ass, you owe me lunch, just like I said she’d bust my balls right away,’ Tanner Russo said to the other man in the room who was sitting on the sofa against the far wall where Claire had come in.  She had noticed him, but decided to establish herself and her relationship with Tanner in case he hadn’t disclosed it to this other man. 

The two exchanged a warm embrace, Tanner careful not to let his arms fall down around her waist.

‘The only hard thing I remember was inside me, what was it 4 no five sensational times,’ she whispered into his ear then felt a little pulsing beat against her.  Claire broke the embrace and provided cover for Tanner to sit down and recover, the other person seeing nothing.

‘Claire this is..,’ Tanner started to say before Claire cut him off.

‘Incredible, you are the spitting image of, what would he be, your great grandfather, Clark Eddings.’

‘Claire, please,’ Tanner said in a pleading way.  

Claire just gave him a smile and turned her head back to the man who was clearly taken aback by this introduction, one he had not expected or even anticipated.

‘Did you know my GG?’ he blurted out.

‘His pictures on the wall at NSA HQ, he is a legend in the security services, but you know that.  I have a memory for faces, helps in this biz and you look just like him, even down to those glasses you’re wearing,’ Claire said leaning a little closer.

Tanner watched him buy this explanation and he was relieved because the truth was something he didn’t want to go into and something very few people had clearance for, he reminded himself to chew her out later for this, not that it would do any good he knew, Claire liked games and pushing the envelope.

‘Sorry I didn’t get your name, Tanner is sometimes too focused on business for pleasantries,’ Claire added, as she held out her hand and Tanner hoped to didn’t wander off into some cryptic explanation of what pleasantries meant to her. 

‘David Eddings,’ he answered, holding out his hand.

‘Pleasure,’ Claire answered.  ‘Now we’d better make Mr. Russo happy and get serious about business,’ she added walking over to a large table, pulling out a folder.  She waited for them to catch up to her before she opened and spread out the contents, Claire wanted to see eyes, facial expressions and body language as she dealt her hand. ‘I’m subtle when I have to be, blunt when needed, this is a when needed moment.  All of these people are on either the CIA’s or the NSA’s payroll, now before one of both of you jumps in with a no, let me say my piece and then you can deny, if you still believe it.’  Claire looked at both of them, she saw in their faces that she had her answer already, she pressed on.

‘This is the head of the snake from what we know so far, we’re still working on more.  This man, I’m sure one or both of you know his name, in fact all these names.  He recruited this person, who recruited this person and so on,’ she said, placing down the pictures as she went. ‘Now, to be clear, I have no issues with informants and well placed double agents, what I do have a problem with is when these agents go rogue.  Your guys and gals in these pictures have hooked up with this man Yang Zheng He, owner of Golden Valley Mining entered into a contract with the government of Myanmar to create a gem mine in Northern Myanmar along the China/Myanmar border.  All fine on the surface, Myanmar gets an economic boost, development, everybody makes money, except Mr. Yang decides his company’s not making enough off a lopsided deal, heavily tilted in his favour, so he began secretly selling the best gems to private investors, mostly in China, the best gems he’s pulling from his less than safely run mine and not reporting them to the Myanmar government.  Funny how his best customers turned out to be these people,’ Claire said tapping her finger in the pictures.

‘Ok, now my turn,’ Tanner said, taking the lead. ‘I see Miss Tamblyn has been busy.  We know she runs the ops for you there.’

‘That’s because I told you, remember, inter organizational cooperation,’ Claire interrupted.  ‘Mr. Yang contacted her, because she’s actually an excellent businesswoman, her import/export business, her cover, actually makes very good money.  She has contacts deep inside the Myanmar government, she told them what she knew and they trusted her and they told her they had suspected much the same but did not want to ruffle feathers with, well let's be truthful, their economic masters in China.  Now you can not tell me it's a coincidence that Mr. Yang sells his wares to people who just happen to be one either or both of your payrolls, something  else is going on, all of these people have interests in very specific industries and well nobody needs that many gemstones.  So what is going on, are you guys not paying enough to your contacts?’ Claire said looking at them.

‘It's a little complicated, I don’t know if..’ David started to say before Tanner cut him off. 

‘We can be honest with Claire, she’s earned that.  They all were assets, but as you have noted things have gone a little off centre, if you will,’ Tanner explained.

‘Way off, I’d say.  What happened, did they get a little homesick, sudden wave a patriotism wash over them, returned to mother?’ she asked.

‘Mr. Yang, he’s what you would call a Dark Water Man,’ Tanner said and left it at that. 

‘’Well, so China has Deep State actors as well.  This guy must have juice on some very high ranking people to get away with this. So he’s protected but that doesn’t answer the question of what he and these people might be up to.  He obviously picked them for a reason and I suspect had them pick other people he wanted as well.  It’s a large web and growing,’ she said.

‘We were hoping you could fill us in a little more, both of agencies have limited assets to draw upon,’ Tanner explained.

Claire looked at him, she knew him well, as some people said, both old and new testament well.  She went past the blank face and knew he was lying, she said nothing, this was not the time or the place for scoring points and measuring dicks, she already knew she was ahead on both counts, so she let it pass and just told them she would have her people dig deeper and keep them informed in return for that promise everything the two agencies had came out.  Most of it FORCE already knew, but some of it was new and interesting and helped fill in gaps.

‘You may want to be careful of this woman, her name is Htet Miang Cho, but she prefers to be called Honey.  Although she is Myanmar but is actually a chinese agent, that much we know.  Mr. Yang knows this but seems to tolerate her, most likely he flipped her, money is a strong motivator, now matter where you come from,’ David explained as he placed her picture on the table along with several others he drew from a folder.

‘Ex Chinese agents, dubious players, most likely business men and women, recruited because of their wealth and travel to other countries.  As far as we can tell all have been cut loose, we suspect because of conflicting interests, theirs and Beijing’s.’

‘I assume these are mine to take, just as what I brought are yours to keep,’ she said and got dual nods of agreement.  

They worked through lunch, Claire was careful what she promised and what she offered.  The balance of information was not equally distributed, FORCE had far more to give than get, so she played her cards close and did not play them all during the meeting.  It finally ended about 4pm, Claire said her goodbyes and left. She was driven back to her hotel, Alex and Yasmin had come and gone again, Claire knew she would see neither again until morning, which suited her fine.  

^^^

‘It was very nice of you to provide me with a keycard, else I would have had to pick the lock and that could have taken some time,’ Tanner said as the door closed behind him in Claire’s suite.

‘That would have taken to long and besides, this isn’t the warmest of attire,’ Claire responded as she emerged from the bedroom and leaned against the door frame. 

‘And I thought the outfit you had on today was designed to drive me crazy,’ he said.

‘If I remember, although my memory is a little hazy, it was a short drive that turned into a wonderful road trip,’ she smiled as they stepped toward and into each other's embrace, their lips ravenous for the other.

They kissed as Claire deftly undid his belt and pants then his shirt, their lips never parting.  He didn’t remember discarding the remainder of his clothes, but there he was picking her up, Claire’s long wonderful legs wrapped around his waist, ankles crossed to support her as she rocked her hips up and down to catch his granite pole in her embrace.

‘I think it's time you drive home and fast,’ Claire added, her voice heavy and sexy.

He lowered her to the bed, Claire unlocking as she gently melded into the mattress, he doing as requested with one thrust she moaning in delight even as they rocked together in a frenzied dance for a very short time both exploding in joy seconds later, Tanner thrusting maddly, faster and faster with the pleasure she delivered, his back arching up and down, Claire holding on to his hips to keep his motion going while he became lost in pleasure, her action giving him an extended orgasm.  

She climaxed a short time after him, she knew it would be wonderful, it always was with Tanner, but even this took her surprise, stilled for a faction of a second then it hit her, a wave of delirious pleasure that twisted her on the mattress.  Her back arched, she tilted her hips up, hoping to envelop more of his manhood into her.  Tanner’s arms slipped under her ass, grasped and pulled her toward him as he pushed more of his staff into her, his timing, her desire for him, and how he held her quivered her entire form, the pleasure was almost too much, she barely remained conscious has his tool refused to cease inside her, each thrust crashing a tsunami of joy flooding her entire body until mercifully it died away, she hot, heart racing and shallow of breath.

Claire looked up at him, her hands trailing down his chest as he undid the buttons of the shirt.

‘That was incredible,’ he said and she smiled her total agreement.  ‘I’m a little scared of what will happen now,’ he added as the last button was undone and Claire rolled them over, free of the shirt and now on top.

‘Too scared to find out? she teased. ‘I can feel the answer is no,’ her hips churning around his stem as his hands crept up her stomach and cupped her wonderful breasts and soft purring sound escaping from her as he worked.  Claire swirled about changing in motion as she watched looking for the movement that worked.  She quickly found it and took the session in overdrive.  Her undulations twists soon felled his hands from her breasts, she didn’t mind, Tanner had done a wonderful job and she took it as a compliment that she could deliver this much pleasure for him.  Claire could feel his wand throbbing and quivering inside her as she pulled and stoked, a sudden gasp, an instant stillness, then a gigantic thrust and turn of his hips, followed by an explosion of pleasure and release.  She knew just how to prolong his pleasure, his hips arching and slamming against her mound as she wrung his essence from him, his hands cupped about her hips pulled weakly but Claire followed their lead and gave them the added strength them needed as she pistoned around him and in fervent action.  

He rested for just a second then following her leading motion pumped and rubbed inside her as his hand found renewed strength and began again caressing her nipples.  This was more than enough for Claire, she rose up on her knees and let the orgasm take her.  Claire’s body was seized in pleasure, she shook in joy, her incredible body nearly toppling over, only his guiding hands prevented it while they provided the base for him to turn her mound about his obelisk sending in even deeper in bliss, her moans filling the still space until she opened her eyes and looked at him in wonder, Tanner turned and thrust several more times, giving her sensuous aftershocks that left her weak.  His hands slid up her slim waist and pulled her down to him, she willingly falling against him as they kissed her arms slipping about his neck.  He was still, oh so very rigid inside her and both wanting more.  Each seemed to sense it and they began to slowly rock together, neither in a hurry.

They made love a few more times, each a different position, Claire on her stomach in an Entwined Crab which allowed them to kiss and gave full body contact, she revelled in the position as each could feel the pleasure they gave the other.  They concluded in a Janakurpara then collapsed into the bed, side by side they kissed lightly and smiled.

‘Do you get out into the field still,’ Tanner asked.

‘Why do you ask, oh, no, am I losing my touch,’ Claire asked.

‘You would still be incredible even if you have, which you most definitely have not.  Any more intense and I might not have survived.  No, just curious, I know I don’t, the desk is my field now, I just send others and hope they’ll come back.’

‘Once in a while I do sometimes. Most of my staff think it would be bad for morale if I ended up dead.  Not bad for me mind you, but moral,’ she smiled.  ‘But I know what they mean.  ‘I’m mostly a mother hen now, brooding a new set of chick to continue the fight. ‘The hardest part is getting them to be themselves and not trying to Claire 3.0 or some other nonsense.  But, they read the old mission reports, oh not just of me, but of their trainers or active agents in the field and think they can be just like that.  Getting that thought out of their heads is harder than teaching them the skills they need.  Do I miss it, yes and no, depends,’ she said, softly stroking his hard smooth chest. ‘You?’

‘The same,’ he answered, his voice tinged with a small trace of regret.

‘Well if it's any consultation, you behind a desk has not affected your performance on other areas,’ Claire said kissing his chest as she climbed on top, not for more sex, well not just now, but to talk. 

‘I know you handed me this whole mess because of geopolitics.  No, no, let me finish,’ Claire said putting a finger against his lips.  ‘I know who delicate this is, the eagle and the dragon, neither trusting the other, so why not let a third party do the work. I understand and even approve of it, but I will tell you I will not take sides, both parties will know what we do and why and both will get the same reports.  I’m the one taking all the risks, so I set the rules, any interference or, lets just call it extracurricular activities by either side and I’m out.  I want you to know that and I will make it clear to your counterparts in Beijing, both agree or no deal.  My only promise to the both of you is I will clear this up and bury anything that needs to be buried.  ‘I only trust you on this end Tanner, it's up to you to find select people you trust, also to tell me of people you don’t trust.  You and I both know this thing is bigger than just some mine in Myanmar, that’s why you were so tense during our meeting today.  You twist your left foot when you're cautious and you did it a lot today.  I take it that your briefcase contains the real intel and not the fake stuff you gave me today.  You don’t trust David, do you?’

‘He’s fine, even a straighter arrow than Clark Eddings, no he’s good, it's others, it's always them, the lower downs, people with a grudge, money issues, things that can be easily exploited.  We try to root them out, but with this, a person with cyberskills and intel, well he can get to people and data or they can get to data and change things, it makes the whole thing much more difficult.’

‘If I may, pull Yasmin Bennett into your orbit, she’s fantastic and completely trustworthy, make her your mole.  She knows if she knows anyone in the NSA who she can use as a mole.  I will work the other side to balance it out once I manage to find the right person inside Guoanbu.  You have to give me time to get this started and to see where it goes, who knows it all may amount to nothing if they choose not to cooperate,’ she said.

‘You think it could go that way?’ Tanner asked.

‘No, embarrassing secrets and staying in power and control are universal human traits, I think they will be onside right away.  Both of you need to learn that power used to come from money, one got you the other, now its information brings you both power and money, the snake has grown another head. And speaking of heads,’ Claire honeyed as her hands slipped between them.  ‘Is there no way to tire you out,’ she started to say then gasped as his pleasure spear penetrated her