The Honey Trap
By Bella Jane
Copyright 2012 Bella Jane
Smashwords Edition
Cover Image Copyright Jason Stitt, 2012. Used under license from Shutterstock.com
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Chapter 2 - Getting My Hands Dirty
Chapter 3 - The Next Assignment
Chapter 1 - The Operation
This was the part of my job I hated the most; deceiving my husband “It's an evening operation but I should be home in the morning”. I said truthfully, what I didn’t like was the lying by omission.
Jim knew the cover story; if he was ever asked about my work, he was to say that I worked in the fraud detection unit at the local council offices. He also knew that the truth was that I was based in the council building but I actually worked for the security services.
Jim was very understanding about the strange hours that I sometimes worked as well as the secrecy. I'm sure the curiosity must have been very frustrating at times, but he was clever enough to not ask what I did; apart from in the most vague of terms. The poor man also had to undergo a quite invasive vetting check before we got married.
Jim knew that I had actually recently changed roles; I worked in an intelligence unit for 5 years doing the background analysis before and after various field operations. Although I enjoyed what I did, I knew that in order to progress to the more senior levels, I had to have experience actually in the field. I therefore went through the application process and finally got accepted. Jim was concerned but supported me nonetheless.
Whilst I had a lot of background knowledge, what I didn’t have was the field-based skills and experience; I therefore had to undergo an intensive 3 month training period; spending a few weeks away from home as part of it.
Having completed the basic field training, I was now assigned to my first operational unit. We were based within a section of the building used by the local council, giving us the ideal cover.
I was of course the newbie in the team but they all seemed a nice enough bunch. Most were guys but there were two other girls, Suzie and Claire, both of whom were slightly older than me.
As usual Jim accepted my assignment that night without question. I on the other hand had grave doubts about what I was about to do.
My assignment for the evening was unfortunately to be a honey trap and decoy and was the first time where I was a lead operative. It was also the first time that I would be unfaithful to my husband; since my assignment, if successful, would involve me sleeping with the target.
I was very conscious of how dangerous this particular individual was; being a high-profile arms dealer. The two issues combined made me very nervous, something I think Jim sensed as he wished me good luck and kissed me goodbye.
At the office, we had our team briefing when we ran through the detailed plan and various contingencies. After that I changed into my outfit, a company taxi took me to the hotel where the target was staying. We had already established his routines and knew that he frequented the hotel cocktail bar where he would occasionally pick-up a girl. If all went to plan then I would be that girl tonight. My cover was that I was married (which was true and enabled me to leave my wedding ring on) but that my husband had cheated on me and that I was looking for someone to get my revenge with.
As you can imagine this assignment was not something I was comfortable with, I also wondered if I might have been more comfortable with the idea of just shooting him, but I knew that declining would have been a very bad career move.
If I didn’t do it then I knew that either Susie or Claire would have to. Susie and Claire were also both married and had done a number of similar assignments in the past; therefore my future in the unit would have been very short-lived, had I chosen not to do it.
For this particular operation I obviously couldn’t wear a wire since he would probably end-up undressing me and we couldn’t risk its discovery. Susie and Matt would therefore also be in the bar posing as a couple, equipped with listening devices to capture my conversation. We had also managed to bug his hotel room and tap into the hotel’s security cameras for the lifts and other areas.
My outfit had to make it obvious that I was looking for company; and was therefore a very short cocktail dress, which actually fitted very well but left little room for modesty. Whilst the general profile of the women he picked-up wasn't hugely specific, it was clear that I fitted it; slim, late twenties, caucasian, brunette.
My target entered the bar about an hour after me, with one of his bodyguards in tow. Apart from pictures and video, this was the first time I had seen him in the flesh. He was actually quite handsome, better than his pictures suggested. The slight swagger to his walk clearly advertised his ex-military background, reminding me just how dangerous he could be.
I was lucky, he immediately noticed me and approached the bar, choosing to stand next to my stool as he ordered. Planning really is everything; I had specifically chosen this seat with an empty one next to me and had deliberately finished my drink so that he would have an obvious opening line if the opportunity arose.
He ordered his drink and then, seeing my empty glass, obviously thought he would try his luck.
“May I buy you a drink?” he offered in a broad American accent.
Trying not to appear too eager, I looked him up and down and then smiled, “Yes, thank you”.
He immediately took the empty stool next to me, turning it slightly to face me. He introduced himself as Nic and I responded in kind, using my cover name, Hayley. Phase 1 complete, I knew that unless I really blew it, I should now be able to reel this man in.
Conversation started easily, and to be honest continued that way without a huge amount of effort on my part. I deliberately gave subtle body-language signals that I was interested and just waited for him to make his move.
Some while later, after a few drinks, I gently touched his shoulder while laughing at one of his jokes. He took this as an invitation to touch me in return, resting his hand innocently on my knee.