(Author’s note - This story is fiction. It involves the British High Commission in Valletta, Malta. None of the characters who appear in the story, exist outside the author’s imagination. The current British High Commissioner is described as a very able diplomat with a long track record of success in the work she has done. The fictional High Commissioner is also able and female, but beyond that, nothing should be regarded as being in common between the two women. No one lives at the High Commission in real life. It is an administration building only. The fiction described here is very different from reality, but I hope you enjoy the story.)

It had been several months since the last deployment and the 48th was getting a bit restless. Hanging about on exercise or doing training was not what they were meant to do, so it was no surprise when Beryl and Amber were called to the Colonel’s office one morning.

When they had arrived, and had completed the ritual of saluting and being asked to stand easy, and then sit down, the Colonel had an open file in front of her with the usual Top Secret in red stamped across it.

“I have a deployment that will I think suit you two. It is not without its dangers, but it is what the 48th was created to do.

You have been asked because you are both fluent Russian speakers.

We have been asked to obtain information from a Russian multi-millionaire who owns a super yacht. Incidentally, he speaks very good English.

We are informed that he will be cruising through the Mediterranean for a month or six weeks starting in about a month’s time, and will be mooring in Malta for two or three weeks. The yacht is so big, that it has to be pre-booked to one of the few mooring bays that are large enough.

“You, Beryl will be travelling on a diplomatic passport as a temporary third secretary at the British High Commission in Valletta. Your name will be Susanna James, and we have created a biography for her. It is in the folder. Learn it. The normal occupant has had to return to Britain temporarily for pressing family reasons.”

“You will not be expected to actually do the work of a Third Secretary, but it will allow you to attend the many social events organised by the various Embassies and High Commissions.”

“The magnate whose name is Sergei Sokolov, will be invited to these soirees and balls when he is in port as a friend of the Russian President.”

Amber, you will remain nearby listening to the output of the various bugs that Beryl will be deploying. Beryl, your role is to get as close to Mr. Sokolov as you can by flattering and seducing him. He is known to like pretty girls and if you can pump him for information during pillow talk then the idea is to forward information to Amber.

“It is not known where the yacht will be going after Malta. It is possible that you will be pressurised to stay on the yacht and travel as a companion to Mr. Sokolov until he gets bored with you.”

If there are imminent signs of the yacht’s departure then you must leave. Leave down the gangplank if you can, but dive overboard at night if you are watched. They will assume that you have drowned if you are out at sea, but your tracker will allow you to be picked up. If that fails then you are competent to swim for a mile or so.

“If it is necessary, you are authorised to kill the target or any of his crew to facilitate your escape, but killing him may actually make it more difficult to escape, so only do it as a last resort.”

“As a third secretary, you will not be expected to have a lot of expensive clothes, but you will need one dress for evening with the necessary accessories, and a couple of well made but revealing swim suits. You will have a credit card to allow you to buy these things in Malta or in London.”

“You will fly out on separate flights tomorrow from Gatwick, and Beryl, you will have a room in the High Commission, and Amber, you have a room booked in a bijou hotel near the High Commission for as long as it is needed.”

“Both of you have an open ticket for your return. Malachite has some extra toys for you I believe, so your next port of call will be the workshop.”

“I wish you both the best of luck. I don’t expect to see you for perhaps two or three months.”

Beryl and Amber saluted their Commanding Officer, turned on the spot and marched out holding a fairly thick folder marked ‘For your eyes only’.

Malachite had been busy, and had a series of sachets and pills that could easily be concealed in a handbag. One pack had a leaflet that had to be read before use, the other contained a pack of tablets that counteracted the effects of GHB and Rohypnol, (the date rape drugs), and some more Sildenafil (Viagra), Tadalafil (Cialis) pills to help their intended victims maintain an interest.

“It says that there is GBH and Rohypnol in here. Why do I need them?”

There will be competition for your target's attention. You may need to dull the enthusiasm of other girls who are intending to push you out of the way.

Beryl laughed. “What is funny?” Amber asked.

“This is like a James Bond film. We visit ‘M’ and then go to ‘Q’ where his new toys are treated with disdain by 007.”

“I hope you don’t treat these ‘toys’ as you put it, with the same disdain.”

“No, of course not ‘Q’, but the giggles had set in.”

“You can stop that now. Sergeant Major will do nicely, or Malachite if I like you!”

“I also need you to attend the medical centre, Beryl. They will insert a tracker under your skin. This will not be visible to any fixed scanner, but will broadcast your location only when your phone is running a particular chat program and the phone is held near the chip.”

“When that is done, I suggest you head up to London and use that credit card to buy some sexy clothes for hot weather.”

You can use the card to pay for a room for each of you in Gatwick. I understand that your flight is quite early tomorrow morning, Amber. You can have a leisurely start tomorrow, Beryl. Your flight is not until the afternoon. It may be the last restful night you have for a while, if all goes as planned, that is.

The two women packed their civilian clothes carefully. Ordinary, comfortable clothes for the journey to and from Malta and more exotic garments for the stay there.

“Are you going to take much party wear? Amber?”

“No, just a few items. I will need some more swimwear, but that is all. I don't know if it can be said that you will get all the fun, but I hope so.”

As they travelled up to London they discussed what to buy. I cannot get anything too expensive. I need to appear to be a junior Third Secretary just starting out on a career in the Diplomatic Corps. I think a nice simple knee length cocktail dress in something slinky like wild silk.”

“I think you would be pushing your luck with wild silk. Try an artificial fibre, that can be washed by hand and will dry in minutes. “

You need to appear young, naïve and gullible, an ingenue, in fact.

“OK, you are such a spoilsport, but you are right. Cotton print it is, from a department store, but I may be able to get something that shows a lot of cleavage and something light enough to blow up in a breeze to show my thong.”

“OK, I will allow that. You are there as man bait, so you have to put it out somehow.”

“So a trip down Oxford Street for the dress and then a raid on Victoria Secrets for the rest.”

“I might even buy one or two bits for myself, but I will keep an eye on you. It is the British Tax payers money that you are spending pampering yourself.”

“True, but any job needs the tools to go with it, and a bikini made of gold string and very little else is part of the job, don't you think.”

“I saw a string bikini advertised one time where there were more than 20 ways of taking it off, The only problem was remembering how to tie the strings together again so it still covered the important bits.”

I think the deep gold colour of Amber suits you, so I suggest that we look out for a cocktail dress in Amber, then choose the shoes and other accessories afterwards.”

“I am not sure about the amber on this occasion. In hot weather the colour might show sweat marks and if you are just wearing a thong there might be some leakage after a night of passion.”

“You are right of course, amber is better for a cooler climate. I definitely would not want a wet patch or even a dried patch there. It is a bit of a giveaway.”

The two women just talked about ordinary things for the journey on the Tube, and emerged at Oxford Circus station, and hit the dress shops in the various department stores.

She looked at a range of dresses for women who were barely out of their teens with bare arms and shoulders. They also had an obvious cleavage which was combined with a very raised hem. The dress she eventually chose was brilliant at displaying a her assets. It wasn't amber, but was black.

Amber had queried the use of black in a hot climate.

“It will not be hot when we are there, just warm. I might need a shawl if it gets chilly.”

“I don’t think you would ever wear a shawl with that even if it was chilly. I don’t know what would show if you were caught in a rain shower.”

“It would probably show everything.”

“On your own head be it.” You are the one aiming to seduced a multi-millionaire.”

The dress had narrow straps over her shoulders, and the upper part of her breasts were obvious. The dress tapered to her narrow waist with a full skirt that stretched to mid thigh, and no further. Getting in or out of a car decently would be a logistical exercise but her mind said, 'in for a penny, in for a pound'.”

The two pairs of black thong and bra sets completed the outfit.

The 4” stilettos in patent black added to her height, and the black tights made it clear that she was either a very high class hooker, or a junior diplomat out to make a marriage with a much more senior diplomat.

She chose a bikini in a metallic finish that might have been called 'Old Gold'. The label warned that the bikini was not suitable for swimming as the fabric would stretch. Washing instructions made it clear that the bikini should be washed in a lingerie bag with a non-bio soap solution and then should be dried flat.

A second bikini was a little more modest, and was suitable for swimming! Both women thought that it would look good when worn topless.

“If I still had my male body I would fall for you myself. You look good enough to eat. You will have your target Russian and his crew drooling over you.”

“I shall have to make sure I am wearing the washable bikini if I have to wash off the drool.”

Beryl gave her a gentle swipe on Amber's shoulder. “I didn't mean that as you very well know!” She bought a more modest one-piece costume with her own money.

The journey down to Gatwick airport on The Gatwick Flyer train was uneventful and they were soon in neighbouring rooms in a three star hotel at the airport. They said their goodbyes, and settled down for the night. Beryl would have to get up at about 4am to get through passport control and Customs, whereas Amber could get up at her leisure, have a good breakfast. Then there was time to use the bag drop for her hold luggage before reaching the departure lounge. The body scanner would have shown up the weapons she was carrying, so she showed her military pass, Diplomatic Passport, and orders in a closed room and the body and luggage scans were avoided.

When Amber arrived she got two texts, as well as the usual one where the local phone network welcomed her to Malta and listed all the things she would be charged extra for.

One was from Beryl saying that she had arrived safely, and the other was from the High Commission saying where she should pick up the car for the journey from the airport to the High Commission.

A pleasant young man, called Jerry was waiting beside his car which carried CD plates. He opened the door for her and loaded her bags into the boot.

“You are the new third secretary”, he said as if certain of the response.

“Yes, this is my first overseas posting. I hope it doesn't show too much.”

“I don't know if it shows, and even if it does, there will be lots of people willing to help. You will certainly be an asset at the various parties held in Valletta by the different Embassies and the High Commission. The diplomatic corps is short on pretty girls unless they are the daughters of diplomats, and then they are definitely not available to the likes of me.”

“Thank you for the compliment, but I am here to do a job. Nothing will get in the way of me doing it.”

“That is fair enough. I know you are here to get a good report and make your mark in the Diplomatic Service. I would do the same in your position. But I hope it is not all work. I hope you have some time for a bit of play.”

“I am sure I will.”

“When we get to the High Commission I am required to deliver you to the Defence Attaché who will be looking after you it seems.”

“Do you know why you would be working for the Defence Attaché?”

“You are pumping me. If I knew why I was working for the Defence Attache I certainly would not tell you.”

“OK. I act as a sort of News broadcaster for the High Commission. People ask me who I have driven, and why they are here.”

“Sorry. I cannot help you this time. Your fans will have to be disappointed.”

“I can see that I am going to have to keep an eye on you.”

“I hope you don’t. It will cramp my style.”

“So there is an ulterior motive for coming here. Do you want me to list the eligible bachelors?”

“I think we are drawing up to the High Commission in Ta'Xbiex. The list of bachelors will have to wait.”

“OK I will just park, and then will take you and your luggage up to ‘his nibs’.”

“Why do you call the Defence Attaché ‘his nibs’?”

“I don’t. All the senior people here are called ‘his nibs’ as they change fairly regularly and it is sometimes difficult to remember who is occupying which post.”

“Is the High Commissioner described as ‘her nibs’?”

“Yes, of course.”

Jerry unloaded the car, and Beryl had to wait a minute until he had parked, then he carried the bags and guided Beryl through the cool corridors to the office of the Defence Attaché.

She was asked to sit in an outer office by the Defence Attaché’s secretary, but within a minute or two she was guided into his office which overlooked the sea front.

The Defence Attaché was dressed in a suit and tie, but the name plate on his desk said Colonel Graham.

“Susanna James, I understand.”

“Yes sir.”

“I am told that you are a Third Secretary in name, but that you will have no responsibilities. You will come and go as you please, but all the diplomatic social functions should be made available.”

“Yes Sir. That is about it. I think further knowledge is on a basis of what one needs to know.”

“I will, of course follow orders, but I am not keen on being kept out of the loop.”

“I can sympathise with you, Sir, but you would need a security clearance of a Brigadier or higher, for me to be able to discuss my deployment with you, so please accept my apology if you feel ‘out of the loop.’ “

“Does the High Commissioner have the clearance needed for you to talk openly about your deployment?”

“My briefing was that there are several things that I can say to her that I cannot say to anyone else in Malta, but that the primary reason for my deployment is to be kept secret. If she demands to know, then she can contact a particular Brigadier in the MoD who will answer her questions.”

The Colonel rang through to his secretary. Please bring Miss James’ lanyard through here.

The secretary brought the lanyard with Beryl’s assumed name and ‘Third Secretary’ in small capitals underneath.

She looked suspiciously at Beryl’s dress which was modest by Beryl’s standards.

“I believe, Sir; that I should warn Miss James that she needs to be more modest in her dress whilst employed here.”

“I can say this, because you will see later anyway. I need to be dressed much more provocatively than this in the weeks to come.

“So you are not what you appear to be.”

“That must be a matter for you to decide. I cannot confirm that or deny it, but my reporting to the Defence Attaché may give you the impression that my being here has something to do with the Armed Forces, and I can add that anything to do with me being here or the job I have to do is covered by the Official Secrets Act.

“Then I shall keep my counsel.”

“That would be for the best.”

“One further thing. I believe that you were informed that I will need to attend as many social functions as possible in the weeks that I am here. I will need a male member of staff to escort me to the various functions or a couple who will ‘adopt me temporarily’ as a visiting niece or granddaughter, but not worry if I disappear. Have you some ideas as to who might suffice?”

“Normally the invitation list to diplomatic functions does not stretch very far down the staff hierarchy and certainly not to Third Secretaries. What do you need?”

“Please do not take umbrage at me being foisted on you. I will do everything I can to avoid problems for the High Commission or the High Commissioner and her staff, but my position here represents a unique opportunity to do something very important to maintain Britain’s position in the World, and I would ask you to tolerate me gracefully.”

“I appreciate that, you have said as much as you can, and yes, I will tolerate your presence here, and help as much as I can.”

“I need to be introduced to as many foreign diplomats and their senior staff as possible. I appreciate that my lowly status here does not put me far up the pecking order but it is a vital part of my deployment for that to happen.”

“I think I need to introduce you to the Commissioner or her Deputy. I wonder if you could attend the diplomatic functions as the guest of one of them, a cousin or niece for instance.”

“Please show Susanna James to her room, Sarah. I am going to contact the High Commissioner and discuss your needs with her and I will get back to you today.

“Thank you for your time Sir. I have my own means of reporting to London when needed.”

“Very well.”

Beryl, now Susanna was lead down various corridors to a fairly unimpressive door in an anonymous corridor.

“This is your room. I hope you will be comfortable. The cafeteria provides three meals a day for residents. It is on the top floor. There is a gym on the floor below.”

“Is there any provision for swimming?”

“Only the beach, I regret to say.”

“No problem. The beach will be fine.”

“I am sorry that you give all the signs of disapproving of me.”

“I don’t disapprove of you. I disapprove of the government putting young women into danger on some harebrained idea dreamed up with National Security as a goal.”

“If it is any help. I have been trained very well to do what I do. It is not a normal idea of a day’s work for a young woman, but what I do, I do well.”

“Very well. I will trust your judgement. I shall wish you well in whatever venture you are about to undertake.”

“Thank you for that … Maureen, is it?”

“Yes, Maureen.”

Maureen returned to her duties and Beryl settled down to sorting out her room, by checking it for bugs both the insect variety and the electronic versions.

She found neither, and unpacked with care, and decided what else she needed for her wardrobe.

Her phone rang about half an hour later.

“The High Commissioner wants to meet you.”

“Very well. Where and when?”

“Now, in her office here.”

“I will be down in five minutes.”

“Come to my office, and I will take you over and introduce you.”

Beryl, as Susanna, did a very quick check on her hair and make-up before skipping down the stairs to the Colonel’s office. She waved at Maureen who smiled at the unfamiliar gesture and slightly uncomfortably waved back as Susanna went straight through the open office door. The Colonel was waiting.

“Hi, Colonel or can I call you Uncle?”

“Are you in your new persona?”

“Yes. This is how I am when I am on deployment. Do you like my sundress? I am normally light, frivolous and smiley.”

“How do I get to be your Uncle?”

“I call all older men Uncle, if I would be charmed to take their arm on going into dinner or promenading.”

“We don’t do a lot of promenading here. Too busy.”

“Then I will call you Colonel if you wish, but Uncle William goes better with my role here.”

“I will decide later after we have met the High Commissioner.”

“Very well, Colonel. If you will excuse it, I will revert to my frivolous, girly self who is in need of a male protector who knows when to stop protecting me.”

“Come on then. You will find the High Commissioner very easy to get on with. You know that she should be addressed as ‘Her Excellency’ or M’am.”

Susanna chased as they walked down the main staircase to the High Commissioner’s work suite. Susanna chatted about the weather and how much she liked Malta, and touched the Colonel’s sleeve for emphasis on several occasions. By the time they had got down the staircase she was holding the Colonel’s arm. He was charmed by this delightful creature and left her delicately manicured hand on his sleeve as they passed through the outer office and were waved through the open door to the High Commissioner.

“Colonel, who is this charming young woman who you have on your arm.”

“This young woman is Susanna James. She is, I regret to say, disarming to an old man and although she is listed as a temporary Third Secretary, she is clearly nothing to do with being a temporary Third Secretary and is presently on deployment under orders from the Ministry of Defence.”

“How can I help?”

“M’am if I may be so bold. I can explain within the confines of my orders.”

“Please go ahead. Susanna, is it?”

“I am part of a covert visit here. The fact that I am not what I appear to be should remain between the Colonel, his secretary and you. I am to assure you that my visit is absolutely nothing to do with the functioning of the High Commission.”

“I need your assistance to be taken to as many of the diplomatic social functions as possible over the next three to four months. I need someone to introduce me to the people from the other Embassies and delegations and then leave me to do my job, which may involve me disappearing for periods.”

“I either need a senior officer at the High Commission who will be supportive, but not overly protective, or a couple who can introduce me as a cousin or niece who is on an extended visit to Malta.”

“I am not entirely clear about this and whilst I have some ideas, I have not seen anything to say you are who you say you are.”

“I have a card here which contains the scrambler phone number of a certain Brigadier in the MoD who can vouch for me.”

“The High Commissioner picked up the red scrambler phone and dialled the number. The rather gruff voice of the Brigadier answered and the High Commissioner and Brigadier exchanged a few words.”

“As you probably heard, the Brigadier commended you to me and asked me to extend the full facilities of the High Commission to you.”

“There really is no suitable bachelor on the staff here, so I think the best thing to do is for you to move in with me and my husband while you are here. You can be my niece and I can take you to the various functions I attend. Many of these will be for local people in support of ex-pats and various trade bodies and may not fit the bill for your orders, but that is what I do. It will be nice to have another woman with me as I am usually protected only by a local police officer who usually remains silent.”

“I shall be happy to join you, and thank you for the offer to stay in the High Commissioner’s Residence. I am qualified in close protection if that is of any interest to you.”

“I shall need some guidance over the clothes I shall need. I have only the basics with me, but I have an MoD credit card and the authority to use it.”

“You will need cotton or similar dresses. They should cover your shoulders for day wear and be knee or calf length. I can jot down a couple of shops in Valletta who will know what to provide if you say you are going on the daily tour with me.”

“Yes, please M’am. I will get on the job as it were, I always enjoy spending the Government’s money.”

“Come back for here at 6pm when I finish work. Bring your suitcase. My chauffeur will drive us home and I will warn the cook about you. By chance, it is the one evening this week that I am at home.”

“No, on second thoughts I will get my driver to take you to the two shops and wait for you. You will have a substantial load by the time you are finished.”

“That is very much appreciated, M’am.”

“I don’t think, M’am is appropriate for a niece to call her aunt. What about Aunt Sophie?”

“I shall be delighted to call you Aunt Sophie.”

Twenty minutes later Susanna was walking into an upmarket boutique. The staff were very solicitous when they saw the High Commissioner’s car parked outside and the liveried driver.

Two hours later, Susanna was leaving the shop with five dresses in a variety of colours. All were were the required length and with covered shoulders. She also had new shoes and an extra handbag. A new cocktail dress in ochre silk also ‘spoke to her.’ It had a boned top with spaghetti straps, and the skirt flared out to show a lot of thigh. The personal assistant in the shop assured her that it was the sort of dress that wealthy Valletta girls of her age were wearing this season. That was enough to sell the dress to her. The high heels in a similar colour were added to the ever growing pile, together with appropriate underwear.

“I would never have got all this lot back to the High Commission.” Susanna said to the driver.

“It has been a pleasure, Miss. It is not often that I get the chance to see inside a shop like that.”

“Did you like what you saw?”

“I think they did a very good job dressing you for the sort of party that the diplomatic corps throw here. The number of girls and young women is very limited, and if you will allow me to say so, you will add to the attractiveness of the events.”

“I don’t mind you saying that at all. I never mind flattery as long as you mean it.”

“I do mean it. You will be turning heads, and the High Commissioner will have more opportunities to talk shop to the people attending these dinners and soirées, when they ask who her delightful young companion is and ask for an introduction.”

Susanna was quiet for the rest of the journey, and they left all her purchases in the car so Susanna just had to run upstairs and recover her suitcase and its contents.

The High Commissioner joined her at a few minutes past six for the short drive home. They talked dresses and shoes, and handbags and makeup.

“The High Commissioner, Aunt Sophie, laughed as they drove up to her Residence. It has been a revelation to me, I haven’t talked so much about clothes in ages. Depending upon your duties, I hope we may be able to do it again.”

“I hope so too, Aunt. I have enjoyed the afternoon, but then how many young women do not enjoy spending someone else’s money on clothes?”

“I am sure you are right, but I depend upon my dresser to keep my wardrobe in order. Records are kept of when I have worn each outfit, so it is not repeated. The Press notice these things!”

They were met by a liveried butler.

“Good evening Madam. I hope you have had a good day.”

“Yes, and cook may have told you that we have a guest staying with us for some weeks. As far as the staff here are concerned, she is my niece Susanna James.”

“If there is any speculation about her below stairs, then I hope you will quash it immediately.”

“I will M’am. I know that a single bedroom has already been prepared for Miss James.”

When they were seated in the private sitting room with a glass of wine, Susanna continued.

“My deployment’s primary function is to be introduced to as many people as possible from the Diplomatic Corps, Government and their guests. As a corollary to that I hope my presence will help you establish some extra links. Your driver certainly thinks so. I think he is just a bit enamoured of me.”

“I think we all are. You seem to have hit the ground running since you only arrived this morning. I have not seen my very effective, but rather crusty Defence Attaché , like that before. ”

“I like to think that I relate to people well. It is part of my personality, but also the role I have in the military.”

“I hope that at some point you will be able to tell me exactly what is going on.”

“If this placement goes according to plan then I think it will be readily apparent what has been going on. The alternative is not something that I dwell on.”

They were joined by Sophie’s husband for dinner. He accepted Susanna’s presence as just one of those quirks that went with his wife’s prestige posting.

He returned to running his online business after dinner as he rarely attended the constant round of social events ‘enjoyed’ by the Diplomatic Corps. The Ball that was thrown to celebrate the King’s official birthday was really the only event he attended.

Sophie had to return to work going through the mountain of officialdom from London and Valletta that arrived on her desk each day and would not be in bed before midnight. Susanna, on the other hand, was yawning by 10pm and excused herself.

Tomorrow was the first day when she was attending a garden party with the H/C and she must look her best.

She was asleep by 11pm and was woken by her phone alarm at 6:30am with the sunshine streaming through her bedroom window.

The residence had a small outdoor swimming pool and Susanna did enough lengths for her to feel as if her muscles had had a workout.

Sophie was very easy to get on with, and she seemed to enjoy the female companion who had landed almost unannounced on her doormat. They talked, and socialised and sometimes danced with young men late into the evenings. Susanna became known by men and women and she began to be asked to events in her own right. She had an entourage of potential suitors, all of whom were gently discouraged.

Eventually one party on a beautiful summer’s evening, with a full moon and a starry night sky, she saw her target arrive with a small entourage of what can only be described as ‘heavies’.

Sophie noted the change in Susanna’s demeanour. The frivolous girl immediately took on the role of a hunter. Immediately ready to pounce. Ready to bite and draw blood.

Sophie thought to herself … I am glad I have never had to get on the wrong side of this young woman. I have never seen anyone change so dramatically so quickly. At one moment she was a charming girl, frivolous. The old lady ex-pats have been graced by her presence, and she has broken several hearts of eligible young men, but now she is a killer stalking her prey. I almost feel sorry for Mr. Sokolov.

The heavies knew what their boss liked, and one very soon came across and in a heavy accent asked if she would like to be introduced to Mr Sokolov, and of course she would.

Mr. Sokolov, (Please call me Sergei), indeed spoke very good English, and was charming and solicitous. Susanna recognised the skill he was using as a seducer, but accepted an invitation to dinner on his yacht the following night.

Sophie admitted that Sergi Sokolov did not have a squeaky-clean reputation, but Susanna assured her that this was work, so Sophie shut up on the journey home.

The next night Susanna dressed in her party outfit that was the temptress par excellence.

“Please do not wait up for me. These are my work clothes. I may appear as an ingenue. That is intentional. If I don’t reappear in the morning that is also intentional. Please don’t worry. I will reappear somewhere, sometime and when I do, it, will probably be fairly obvious. If I don’t reappear, then things have gone wrong, and I will be beyond your help anyway.”

Sophie was, indeed worried about this turn of events but knew that she had never been party to the whole of Susanna’s deployment. With difficulty, she kept quiet, and Susanna disappeared in a taxi for her dinner date.

She did not reappear that night or for about about two months.

The next time Susanna was heard of was from the island of Lesbos, where she was at Odysseas airport at Mytilene about to board a flight to Birmingham.

“How are you?”

I am fine. Tired and a bit grubby, but everything went well.”

“Do I find out anything about what you have been doing?”

“I will ask after I have been debriefed what I can tell you, but you may need to get a digest of the Greek newspapers. They will tell you pretty much what has happened.”

“Will you arrange for my clothes to be sent to my home base in Britain.”

“Yes, of course.”

“Where do I send them?”

“Send them to Sergeant Beryl Smith, 48 Commando, Bickleigh Barracks near Plymouth, Devon.”

“You are one of the Smiths!”

“I hope you have heard good things about us.”

“Yes, of course. I think you are all amazing.”

“Please let us meet up when I visit London.”

“I would like that. I will ask and will certainly come if I am allowed.”

“I must go now. My flight has been called. My contact in Valletta is already home and has been debriefed.”

Beryl was welcomed back after such a long absence.

She was faced with a team who were to debrief her.

We know from your reports sent via Amber, what happened until the dinner date on the Sokolov yacht.

“Mr Sokolov was a gentleman initially. The food and wine was amazing. I saw him try to add a white powder to my wine, and said so. I wasn’t angry and said that if he wanted sex with me, to say so. He smiled and was clearly embarrassed by me seeing him attempt of use date rape drugs.”

“It was my opportunity and I came over with my dominatrix behaviour. He was a very powerful man, but accepted my role of dominatrix surprisingly easily. As long as it was between us I was allowed to to tie him up and use various whips and bondage toys. I dressed in latex outfits that seemed to drive him mad with desire, but I was able to frustrate him until I ‘allowed’ him to have his way with me.”

“This continued for some weeks. He was under my control but it was clear that our sadomasochistic relationship was beginning to bore him, and I found that I was not required to share his bed for several nights.”

“He asked me politely if I would accommodate his Captain and First Officer. I had seen this before where discarded women were handed down the chain of command until they were available to any member of the crew. They would disappear soon after.”

“I was also aware that the yacht was preparing to leave Malta, and I had no idea where it was heading.”

“After we were underway, and I had had no means of escaping, I made a calculated guess that Sokolov was heading to the Black Sea and one of the ports on the Crimea coast.”

“I didn’t want to go there so I needed to take action.”

“The first thing I did was to go at three in the morning and disconnected the ultra-violet lamps that sterilised the tanks of drinking water. These lights were not visible normally, but the switch was labelled and had a neon light to show they were active. The neons remained lit even though the sterilisers were off.”

“After that I added a few grains of Legionella pneumophila bacteria to the tanks from the kit of disease organisms that Malachite had given me in sealed sachets. This would take up to a week to cause any problem, so the following morning I went to the kitchen and offered to help. One of Mr. Sokolov’s favourite dishes was Chicken in Aspic. The aspic jelly was cooling in a large jug and I was able to taste it with the chef’s permission. I was able to compliment him on the flavour of it, but failed to mention that I had stirred Salmonella bacteria into the cooling jelly.”

“That night the whole crew enjoyed Chicken in Aspic and by 4am they were having serious stomach problems and most were confined to their bunks or queuing at the toilets. The yacht became serious insanitary.”

“The yacht was mored with some difficulty in the port at Mytilene on the Greek Island of Lesbos.”

“The Greek authorities didn’t allow anyone on or off the boat, and the Yellow quarantine flag flew from the mast.”

“As soon as the crew were starting to get better, they went down with Legionaires disease, and some died, but I was well away by then.”

“Mr Sokolov was one of those who died, and even though an International Arrest Warrant had been issued for murder, embezzlement, prostitution, the supply of illegal drugs and money laundering, the Greek authorities did not allow the warrant to be implemented before the yacht had been decontaminated. Then it was seized by the Greeks. Those staff who survived were arrested, but most were released and deported in a matter of days.”

“The Russian authorities decided to cut their ties with the late Mr. Sokolov and his reputation post mortem was tarnished irreparably.”

“I was able to lower myself into the harbour and swam ashore. My credentials saved me from being arrested and here I am.”

“Sergeant, thank you for your report. Your reports submitted through Amber on Malta have been very valuable. The fact that your ‘host’ spoke on the phone in Russian and you were able to overhear and understand the conversations has meant that his whole network of corruption has been removed. A report was sent to the Russians and they have had a quiet but effective purge on the operatives who kept our target supplied with an almost infinite source of cash. They even sent their thanks, which is almost unheard of.”

“I am glad that I have been able to be of service, gentlemen.”

“We have submitted a request that you be commended for your deployment, even though it is difficult for it to acknowledged publicly.”

“Your thanks is enough.”

“Please attend the medical centre for a final check up, then you may return to your normal duties.”

Beryl was greeted warmly by the rest of the 48th and had to repeat some of what she had said in the debrief. The dresses from Malta arrived a week later and she had to put on a fashion show for the others.

The High Commissioner from Malta was in London several months later and phoned Beryl. They met at ‘The Square’ apartments where Sophie typically stayed when in London.

Later Sophie was asked who the beautiful young woman was, who almost floated into the building in a summer dress that seemed to be almost a part of her. She left a delightful aroma of a very expensive perfume everywhere she went, and turned heads of even elderly guests.

“Oh she is my niece. Beautiful isn’t she. When she left Malta she left a gap in the social circles of both the residents and diplomats. I had to field so many questions about where she went when she left so peremptorily.”

“What is her name?”

“She is called Beryl.”

“Isn’t that a type of gemstone?”

“Yes, both I and her employers think of her as a gem.”