Episode 87: Familiar ground

Uncle Duong was looking forward to seeing his old friend Phuong but was also aware that he was being watched at all times, and didn't want to raise the ire of the Revolutionary council so had his intermediary contact Phuong at the Times under the ruse of a news story.  Phuong was still versed in the code that he has used as Uncle Duong's operative all those years ago and quickly agreed to meet at the designated location.

It had been many years since they had used the safe house, but Phuong would never forget his first assignment working for Uncle Duong and the enormous confidence he had shown in him as a young boy all those years ago.  He remembered that this was his stepping stone to his illustrious career as a double agent during the American War.

He expertly navigated the teaming streets of the Old City on his way to the safe house, and as always, true to his nature he wove his way in circles around the old city before moving toward his destination to ensure that he wasn't being followed.  His innate sense of convert operations had automatically kicked in and he instinctively sank into his undercover identity.

Phuong's scooter slowed as he passed by the safe house to see if he could sense anything untoward...

Parking around the corner he crouched for sometime in the shadows of the Bougainvillea that grew so plentifully at the corner of the street to observe the comings and goings of the house...he was not surprised at who arrived...

Episode 86: Missing

Bill and Phuong walked into the office together after meeting at the Star.  Phuong was glad to see Bill and had briefed him on everything that had transpired during his absence including the fact that John had arrived and was desperate to see him, but also that Lea had not yet arrived from London and now long overdue.  Bill had missed the call with Lea during the time he was held hostage and so didn't have a clear timeline for when she was going to arrive into Hanoi.

He was now very concerned for her safety and worried that her disappearance may be linked to his kidnapping.

John arrived soon after 10:00 am and asked to speak in private, but Bill knowing that the only privacy in Hanoi was to walk led John out the door of the office and onto the street.  John was confused, but followed.  Bill explained that to have any privacy they needed to be outside amongst the cacophony of street noise to be completely free of anyone listening.  

As soon as they had begun to walk the streets of the old city John asked Bill if he knew where Lea was?  Bill said that he did not, given that had missed her last call because he had been kidnapped around that time and wasn't clear on her timing...  Bill was feeling remorseful but was honest with John.  "Look, I've met someone here but didn't know what to say to her when she called me out of the blue and said she was coming for a visit."   You know how she can be...his voice trailing off. 

"She's a damn fool" almost he said a little too loudly, the concern dripping from his voice...

Episode 85: Dropped

The phone jangled loudly as John sat up and blearily picked up the receiver.  "John is that you?" the voice enquired at the other end of the phone, but John's brain was still a little addled from being woken in the middle of the night.  He reached for the alarm clock and noted that the time was 2:00 am

His croaky voice "Yes, John here" he replied, quickly recognizing Craig's voice.  "Listen, I think we've tracked Lea but it's a bloody mess..."his voice trailing off into static.  

"Craig can you repeat?" he pleaded

But the receiver continued to crackle before dropping...   Craig, Craig are you there?   Nothing but the buzz of dial tone

Shit! John exclaimed as he reached for his address book on the dresser, flicking through the names he quickly located Craig and began dialing the ancient rotary phone.  

He noted his heart racing as he quickly tried to dial Craig's number, but in his haste realized he'd dialed the wrong number and had to start again...his frustration rose as his fingers fumbled with the keys.

Episode 84: Morning light...

Mai rolled over to Anh's soft touch as she slowly kissed her way down her shoulder and cupping her breast breathed into her ear, Chào buổi sáng người yêu (Good morning lover).

Mai roused from her sleep they kissed passionately, their tongues circling slowly and the heat building between their naked bodies.  Anh rolled onto Mai and slowly made her way down to her breasts, her teeth softly biting Mai's hardening nipples.  With every passing moment Mai's breathing becoming more ragged in anticipation of the orgasm that was building deep within her.

Anh teasingly circled her hard clit with the tip of her tongue, flicking it in the Mai loved so much...

Mai gripped Anh's hair and pulled her mouth into her engorged and dripping lips, Anh angled herself up to slide two fingers deep inside Mai, and thrusting onto her g-spot drove her to a powerful orgasm.

Her pussy pulsated as she came hard all over Anh fingers and tongue.

Anh pushed her dripping fingers into Mai's mouth as she tasted her sweet juices just the way she liked it.  Anh slipped from between Mai's legs and kissed her tenderly, her sweet taste lingering on their tongues.

After regaining her composure Mai pulled Anh into a kneeling squat over her face.  Anh held onto the headboard as she felt the urgent thrusts of Mai's tongue into her soaking wet lips, before she inhaled her lips and rock hard clit into her mouth.  The pleasure of her suction was too much to handle as she exploded in a shattering orgasm into Mai's sweet mouth.

Moments later they both fell exhausted and totally satiated onto the damp sheets, their breathing still uneven...

Episode 83: Questioning

The door opened abruptly and Officer stepped into the room followed by another soldier.  Pointing at Alessio he demanded that he stand before being roughly ushered from the room.

Lea was isolated and alone but steeling herself promised herself not to cry.  The Officer sat across from her and stared into her face.  After what seemed like an eternity he said "What is the purpose of your trip to Thailand?"  

Lea noted her reflection in the officer's sunglasses.   "I'm actually traveling to Vietnam for work, I'm a journalist" she went on a little more confidently.  

"And you have proof of this?" he replied sneeringly

"Yes, my airline ticket is in my bag."  He thrust out his hand, she bent and retrieved it from her bag, and although still shaking she handed it to him.

Without another word, he stood and left the room.  

The soldier continued to glare at Lea, his distaste evident...

Episode 82: Starting afresh

Bill's first night back in his apartment felt strange, his dissonance stemmed from knowing that one of Mai's bodyguard was keeping watch on him but it was more than that, his apartment now seemed strangely foreign yet it was the same as it always had been...  

He lay awake, the sweat cooling his body with the movement of air from the overhead fan, but sleep evaded him.  He noted the first rays of light as they began peeking through the floor to ceiling shutters.  After showering he decided he decided to walk to the Star Cafe, although it still wouldn't be open he could use the walk to clear his clattering head.

As he emerged on Cát Linh Đống Đa he noted Mai's bodyguard in the shadows before heading toward the old city and the Star.  He was hoping that Phuong would be there to greet him and was looking forward to seeing his old friend.

Crossing Nguyễn Thái Học was always hazardous although at this time of morning he successfully dodged the ever burgeoning sea of scooters that used this main thoroughfare.  

As he turned the corner onto Nguyen Thien Thuat he saw Bin Dong, the Star's owner unlocking the cafe and greeted him with the familiar Chào buổi sáng Bin (Good morning Bin), Bin spun around, a large smile creasing his face when he saw Bill walk toward him.  

Yes, it was good to be back in familiar surroundings he thought...

Episode 81: Vindication

Although Uncle Duong had been pushed to the perimeter of the Revolutionary Council he was still considered a revered elder and when the kidnapping of the Australian journalist had surfaced with Anh as the chief suspect he drew a sharp breath.  He immediately put out word to his trusted network to ensure that his beloved niece was not involved.

As he watched the events unfold there was a sense of vindication "Mình thật sự đặt trọc cho tất cả để xem... (Her true self is laid bare for all to see) he thought to himself.   Though his operative network he also learned that Phuong was involved in some kind of clandestine effort to expose Anh, and although not common knowledge he smiled at the thought of his eager young lieutenant and the first role he had given him those many years ago to trail Anh and Mai in the Chợ Đồng Xuân.

With some admiration he noted the violence that had flared within the Chợ Đồng Xuân once Anh had been released, he recognized retribution when he saw it and had expected no less of Anh and her henchmen.

There was something more to this though, he could feel it and so asked his trusted advisor to contact Phuong and set up a private meeting with now prying eyes.  

He sighed and longed for the days of the American War and simple nature of a single enemy to fight... Ah, đó là những ngày (ah, those were the days) he reminisced...

Episode 80: Homecoming

It was late by the time Mai opened the front door to her house on Tây Hồ.  Quietly dropping her bags at the front door she slipped off her heels and let her dress fall from her shoulders as she softly tread down the hallway toward the bedroom, her nakedness warm and familiar in the humid evening air.  Without turning on a light she could see Anh's naked body stretched out on the bed in the moonlight as it seeped through the shutters by the bed and framed her athletic body in symmetrical lines.

Mai felt the familiar stirrings in her pussy as she watched from the doorway, her hand instinctively touched her hardening nipples.  Slowly rawing her fingers from her dripping pussy she put them into her mouth, and savoring the sweet taste which only heightening her sense of excitement as she crept silently toward the bed.  

Softly slipping the satin sheet from Anh body, she let her tongue slowly circle Anh's nipple, feeling it harden noticeably in her mouth as she traced it with the tip of her tongue.  Even in the darkness Mai could feel Anh's body begin to stir against hers, carefully lowering her body onto Anh's she felt the friction of her weight against Anh as she kissed her softly and felt Anh's mouth open and tongue reciprocate the slow, sensual kiss.

Anh spread her legs as Mai's thigh ground itself onto her hard clit and dripping pussy, quickly bringing her to a powerful and breathless orgasm.  Mai's was soaking wet as she inched her way up Anh's body and holding the headboard lowered her throbbing lips onto Anh's willing mouth and penetrating tongue.  She rode her mouth until she came hard, filling Anh's mouth with her juices.  Breathless Mai peeled herself from Anh's wet face, they kissed deeply to share her juices.

As the held each other in the darkness Anh whispered in an almost inaudible voice Tôi mất bạn nên tình yêu của tôi... (I missed you so my love...)  

Satiated they fell asleep in each others arms to the sounds of the quietly revolving overhead fan...

Episode 79: In the shadows

Alessio watched as the officer eyed them both suspiciously and noted that the soldiers closing in around them.  The officer demanded Alessio's passport, which he confidently pulled from his immaculate jacket pocket and handed to him, sensing trouble he pulled Lea into him.

Lea's tears continued to roll down her stained cheeks onto his jacket...  

Holding both passports, he barked orders to the soldiers around him and directed Alessio and Lea to follow him.  Taking Lea's hand Alessio confidently followed the soldiers through the crowded terminal to a nearby office where he directed them to sit.  He promptly left the room with their passports but left a soldier to stand guard on inside the room. 

The office was a small and airless 9 x 9 room, the overhead fan hardly moved the hot and tepid air as it slowly circulated overhead.   

Lea had pulled herself together and provided a half smile to Alessio as she continued to hold his hand tightly.  I'm so glad you came she said softly, a final tear glinting in the corner of her eye.  Alessio reached for his freshly pressed handkerchief and carefully dabbed it from her eye.  

He smiled and squeezed her hand in recognition, although deep down he felt a sense of foreboding as the soldier glared down at them...