Sexpionage

by Lesley E. Hal

  I reluctantly gave Jordan my undivided attention. I knew he would have a few choice words for me later by the way that he’d called me out. “Sorry,” I mumbled as I nervously shifted in my seat.

  Once he was satisfied, he picked up where he left off. “Jim, I’ll give you the final details before you leave along with an address and precise instructions that you are to follow to the letter.”

  “Not a hair on her beautiful head will I harm,” Jim said as he rubbed his hands together. “You know I have a weakness when it comes to the ladies.”

  Jordan shook his head in response. “Now getting back to Easter; he has a crew of four besides himself. After a short briefing, Snake is the one that he placed in charge of transport and that’s where we’ll come in. On the way to the Louvre, we’ll switch in the van. The crew that will emerge to do the deed will be us plus Delilah.”

  “This sounds safe enough, but what about Johnny and Tony? They were at Easter’s the night Snake and Bianca met with him,” Seven questioned.

  “Easter has them on as the hired muscle for when the exchange is made with The Collector. You know as well as I do, that their big asses wouldn’t work for this type of job.”

  Seven didn’t see anything funny about the situation. “The Collector is going to more than likely kill Easter. Tony and Johnny don’t deserve the same fate, Jordan. They’re our friends, for crying out loud!”

  Jordan quieted her down. “You’re right. He is going to take Easter out and anyone that is with him the night the drop is made. When Easter arrives at the exchange point, we’re going to create a diversion to get them out of there. That will leave Easter to go on his own which he will without question, because he’s a fool and desperate. What that diversion will be is still being worked out, but don’t worry; we will have it under control.”

  “And if you don’t?” she questioned.

  Jordan ran his hands over his head and face. “Then plan B it is. We go in guns blazing and take The Collector and his men out. Only thing, I won’t get the satisfaction of him seeing me reclaim my family’s honor, but that’s just something that I will have to live with.”

  Seven stood and paced back and forth. “I don’t know, Jordan. This was supposed to be foolproof. I can’t stand to think of what may happen. Nor am I ready to handle the what-ifs, if things go wrong.”

  Jordan walked over to Seven and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Remember Hawaii? This is a cakewalk compared to that. Easter is an idiot. He runs on emotions. Being in this line of work, you all know just as well as I do, that letting feelings dictate your next move is the kiss of death. It’s all about strategy. Get it together. We can’t afford for you to be on some PMS-type shit.” He patted her on the back as he gestured for her to sit back down. “Not today.”

  We stayed in Hong Kong for a little less than a week and was off to Paris bypassing U.S. soil altogether. Jordan said he’d accomplished what he’d come for, but I don’t know what my purpose was for being there. I just think he loved seeing me jump through his hoops and like a trained seal, I did it every time. Even if that meant leaving my friends in a tropical paradise.

  Chapter 37

  Easter’s Plan

  Later in the week, Snake met up with Easter at 10 Place de la Concorde, which was the address of the luxurious Hôtel de Crillon in Paris. This was now where he called home since the previous residence was destroyed when Easter decided to go on a mini killing spree. The four sentinels, who were left in charge of his safe while he entertained Giovanna at the Opera, met untimely and gruesome deaths. Snake was led to the Batailles meeting room that looked more like a sumptuous banquet hall instead of the Louis XV suite that he was currently staying in.

  The little man with an ego the size of the Empire State Building stood before the hand-selected crew to go over a few final details. Wearing a suit made out of the fabric that was patterned after a picnic table, Snake suppressed his laughter, which was a hard task within itself.

  “Snake!” He stretched his stumpy arms out as far as they would go. “Good to see you, my friend.” Easter moved as though he were modeling the monstrosity he wore as he talked. It took every ounce of resolve that Snake had not to lose it in a cackling fit. “Meet another good friend of mine, all the way from Russia, Novikov.”

  “At last, we meet. I’ve heard good things.” Novikov shook Snake’s hand.

  Snake played it off and smiled tightly. “No offense, Novikov; while I’m glad to meet who I’ll be working this job with, I need to get some fuel in this system first.” He rubbed his stomach for emphasis. “I’m hungry after such a long flight.”

  Novikov stepped back. “Don’t let me stand in your way. We have plenty of time to get acquainted after you’ve fueled your system, as you say.”

  Easter pointed in the direction of the extravagant buffet he had prepared for his meeting. There was a never-ending assortment of breads, a variety of egg dishes, bacon, sausages, casseroles, juices, fruits and cereals, hot and cold. The layout was fit for a king and knowing Easter, that’s exactly the image he wanted to portray. “Please, help yourself. There’s plenty to choose from. Why don’t you two go ahead, eat and mingle with the others while I tie up a few loose ends?”

  Snake extended his hand gesturing for Novikov to lead the way. This was going to be easier than I thought, he contemplated to himself.

  After everyone was done with eating and making small talk, Easter stood at the lectern and started the meeting that would place him in high demand, if the job was a success.

  “Palais du Louvre . . . ,” he stated louder than necessary, “dates primarily from the late sixteenth century and has since acquired many of the world’s most treasured pieces of art. To the right of the pyramid in the center of the main courtyard is where the water damages have occurred. This side and not the south, which faces the Seine River will serve as our entrance from the rooftop. There are multiple floors, which can make navigation confusing.” He passed out some maps with highlighted areas. “Here’s a copy of the official map and not the piece of shits that they hand out to tourists. This here is the real deal. I’ve highlighted evacuation points if the need arises, and for your sakes, I hope it doesn’t. There’s a lot of money on the line and we can’t afford to fuck it up.”

  Snake became unnerved. “What do you mean for our sakes? Easter, must I remind you that without our help, you’re fucked? Try and remember that instead of talking down to us like we need you when we all know it’s the other way around.”

  The others seconded Snake’s point by openly agreeing with him. Easter blushed red from embarrassment knowing he could never take Snake, who’d earned his name and rightfully so. He didn’t want the others, especially Novikov, to see him in any way other than a man who was in charge, but now that had been ruined. “Another opportunity like this will never present itself again.” Instead of showing fear, he decided by not addressing Snake directly may have saved him face. The uncomfortable stare down caused him to perspire. He took off the jacket to his suit, laid it on a nearby chair and loosened his tie.

  Without having to say anything else, Snake was pleased that his message had been received loud and clear. Snake ended the standoff with a slight nod of his head, relieving Easter of the hold his warning had on him.

  “We . . . we’re ddddeal-ing with . . .” Easter took a deep breath to calm his mounting stress that was brought on by being called out. “We’re dealing with a very important, and demanding man. For your sakes and mine . . .” His eyes met back up with Snake’s. “Let’s just get the job done without incident, okay.”

  Easter picked up the glass of cold water that was on the podium in front of him and nearly drained it empty. Once his thirst was quenched, he used the napkin to wipe the sweat from his brow. He knew from looking at their faces that he had lost his power and become one of them. The only difference was that he was the one with the plan. The best thing for him to do was to focus on the task at hand, but he’d be fooling himself trying to d
o just that. Easter wanted to be revered as someone to be respected, if not feared. It was bad enough that he suffered from Napoleon Complex. If he was honest with himself, he’d have no problem admitting that his issue with Jordan stemmed from his own insecurities about his shortcomings, and literally, at that. Jordan’s presence when he entered a room. His athleticism. The way women reacted to him. The way people around the world in this line of business considered him the one to call on if you wanted a job done. Why couldn’t his mere presence command that same effect on people? Easter tried extra hard to be seen as the world viewed Jordan Lei aka The Tarantula.

  Jordan’s looks guaranteed him an easy stride in life unlike his own miserable existence. Easter was the polar opposite of everything that was him. Jordan would never have to find ways to compensate for his shortcomings; everybody loved him. No one was exempt from his magnetism and charm, not even men. Why did he have to have the full package? Was this God’s way of playing a cruel joke on him? If so, when was the punch line coming because he was tired of waiting for it. Since God had already forsaken him, he would make his own way to best Jordan. The only way he was going to gain respect was to be the one who crushed the spider since his small stature couldn’t be helped. When he learned of The Collector’s disdain for his nemesis, he practically signed his name on the dotted line without batting an eyelash to even consider the dire consequences that may befall him. Having an alliance in his mission to rid the universe of The Tarantula was motivation enough and all that mattered as far as he was concerned.

  “The exhibits,” he continued, “are well lit and labeled. There shouldn’t be an issue with nabbing the right pieces.” He handed out more papers that were in color of the intended pieces and their exact locations. “However, this isn’t the case with the paintings department. The departments and room numbers are clearly marked with signs, which I have also taken the liberty of duplicating on the papers that I’ve just given you. The collections are divided into eight departments, plus the Medieval Louvre, which we won’t be getting anything out of. These are spread over four floors, lower ground through the second floor and three wings. Our focus will be the Denon and Richelieu wings. Our benefactor is no longer interested in the initial pieces in the European collection that we discussed during earlier talks. So here goes . . . we are to acquire the following pieces only. The La Belle Ferroniere, the portrait of an unknown woman, Louis XVI in his coronation costume, The Virgin with Child and Birth of a Goddess. Four pieces for a crew of four. I will tell you which piece you are responsible for to avoid confusion at a later time. It is crucial that we acquire these pieces only. Our client has no need for the Mona Lisa or any other treasures housed there. Nor are you to take anything for yourself. I don’t have to remind you that these will not be easy to move without a buyer already on deck.”

  A black man who appeared to be in his late twenties with a low Caesar cut and goatee giggled softly to himself. Easter immediately felt that he was being made fun of.

  “Did I just tell a joke, Kirk?”

  “Just thought we’d be swinging by Napoleon’s Apartments.” Everyone in the room doubled over with laughter.

  Easter wanted to pull out his gun and instantly shut him up, but knew the job depended on every man that he had in the room. A replacement at this late date would not be feasible. Well, for that reason and having Snake to contend with, since this was after all, his “boy.” There were things that Easter admired about Napoleon like seeking power, war, and conquest to make up for his stature and he did so without apologies to anyone. “Ha! Ha! Ha . . . very funny.”

  Kirk stopped laughing when he glanced over at Snake and decided to apologize to put Easter at ease. “Sorry, dude. I just couldn’t resist. You know with—”

  “Power. Luxury. Opulence. Grandeur. Are just a few words used to describe myself and the man you make fun of,” Easter said, cutting him off as he pinned him with a deadly stare.

  Sensing something menacing beneath Easter’s penetrating scowl, he withdrew from saying another word and relented.

  “Now back to what’s important.” Just that quick Easter had regained control of the room by using what he’d learned about transference in psychology and judging from Kirk’s discomfited demeanor, it worked like a charm. “The address, which should be ingrained into your brains already, but just for the avoidance of mistakes, is Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France.” He watched as they took notes. “The coordinates that we’re working in are 48.860868° N, and 2.336655° E. If your Z Compass says different, then you’re going the wrong way, so pay strict attention, please.”

  “Are you sure that there’s going to be only two guards on duty with the repairs going on?” Snake stopped writing long enough to ask.

  “According to my sources, there will be only two guards for those particular wings of the building. So we’re talking about four in total. Not to trust sources completely, I’ve also done my homework by studying them for the last year. They’re pretty predictable which is why I chose four a.m. for us to strike. From what I’ve observed, it is around that time that they become indolent and do other things like, meet for extended smoke breaks and to goof around,” Easter explained.

  “Who are we up against? Old? Young? Buffed? Fat? This information is just as crucial,” Kirk, no longer in a joking mood, asked.

  Easter cleared his throat. “Two of the guards appear to be middle-aged, while two are young, maybe mid-twenties or so, if I were to make a guess. One muscular and the other is a bit out of shape. The two middle-aged men look to be in great shape, but judging the excessive rest breaks they take to smoke, with one having a chronic cough and the other nursing his knee, I don’t think we will have any problems subduing them, if it comes to that. The other two are more concerned with who has the most notches in his bedpost with the ladies to not be taken by the element of surprise.”

  A slender woman with catlike moves, the most piercing of bright green eyes and long dark hair, stood and stretched. “And how would you know what their conversations were about?”

  Easter’s eyes were glued to her voluptuous breasts, but his ego was offended by her asinine question. “Ever heard of a bionic ear? In this line of business, it would behoove you to keep abreast with the latest in technology. In case you didn’t know, beauty will only take you but so far.”

  Instead of responding to his dig, she focused on his staring, but didn’t try to cover herself like most women would have after being put down over their aesthetics. She embraced and encouraged his taking pleasure in her body. It’s how she achieved taking down her opponents—past, present and future. She caught every eye in the room on her which was to be expected, being the only female present. “This weapon . . .” She ran her hands over her shapely frame, making sure to accentuate her breasts. “. . . has a proven track record throughout history of overpowering men, no matter how great they thought themselves to be. Adam bit into that apple because of Eve. Sampson was set up by my namesake, Delilah. Hell, both Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony gave in to the seductive talents of Cleopatra. That was during the times of old, but men are still being brought down to their knees and near ruin behind the bewitching of a woman’s feminine wiles.” Delilah laughed driving Easter insane as the others looked on in amusement. “Clarence Thomas had us all trying to figure out the correct way to say the word harassment, when Anita Hill nearly cost him his seat on the bench. Tiger Woods caused uproar in the world of golf when his wife tried to beat him with a club after discovering that he was messing around with not one, but a harem of women. Jimmy Swaggart broke down on national television boohooing and carrying on with his ‘I have sinned’ speech” all because he couldn’t’ resist being tempted by the lure of a woman—even if she was one of the night, she was still a woman, nonetheless. Shall I go on?”

  Easter flagrantly wiped the drool that had begun to collect on the sides of his mouth. He loved nothing more than his revenge for Jordan, than a feisty and provocative woman who knew her power. “No, you’
ve more than proven your point, Delilah.” Although embarrassed yet again, he laughed and to his relief, so did the other men. “As I was saying, the guards shouldn’t pose too much of a threat. And Delilah, I know their conversations because I listened to them for over a year. Their top of choice has never really varied into much else.”

  Delilah sat down, giving Easter the ease of having satisfied her curiosity when unbeknownst to him, he had done anything but.

  Easter wrapped up the rest of the meeting with them making plans to go over everything in detail now that they had the logistics needed in order to pull the job off. He didn’t want to give out all of the particulars too soon. No way was he going to let what he’d done to Jordan on the Bangkok assignment be done to him.

  Chapter 38

  Three Days Later

  Back in Paris

  Meeting up with Jordan directly could have blown everything, so instead of a face-to-face or phone call, they had other communicating methods in place. Snake reclined on the king-sized bed in his suite at Hotel Britannique. After he turned on the computer, he plugged another device into it, and put on a pair of what looked to be regular reading glasses. The computer pulled up his Yahoo! account, but the glasses displayed Jordan on the lenses back at Le Meurice. Jordan was luxuriating in its Belle Etoile Suite with a rooftop retreat on the seventh floor. The suite had a private terrace that offered 360-degree views from Notre Dame to the Musée d’Orsay, and the Eiffel Tower, the Grand Palais and the Sacré Coeur were just a few of the sights that he could take in without ever leaving his room. As extraordinary as his views were, none were better than having Easter right in his sight. Thanks to the high-powered Celestron Edge Aplanatic SCT telescope, he had optimum spying advantage. If he wanted to simply take him out, he could, but where was the fun in that? Unlike Easter, he wasn’t the behind-the-scenes type, which equated to being a coward in his book. He took pleasure in being up-close-in-your-face and personal so there would be no mistake about who had sent them to meet their maker.