The Orion Assignment by Austin S. Camacho Page B

two things, sexual compatibility and lack of possessiveness, constituted a sporadic match made in heaven.
    Claudette had collapsed onto his chest for the final time, panting and glistening with sweat, when she got around to asking him, “What brings you to town, lover? Are you here for the air show?”
    â€œBasically,” he answered, pulling a sheet up over them. “I’m working on a private project. Got to meet a man and get some information.”
    â€œIs it confidential?”
    â€œNot really,” he said. “How about you? You freelancing the air show? Now that we’ve got the preliminaries out of the way, I ought to know what ground rules we’re playing under.”
    â€œDon’t you trust me?” Claudette asked, nibbling his shoulder. “Actually I’ve got a pretty sweet setup this trip. First, I’m working for General Dynamics as a consultant.”
    â€œMeaning spy, right? You attend the trade shows to gather information. You keep the company up on what the competition is doing, and who’s buying what from whom.”
    â€œYou’d be surprised what a stuffy old exec might tell a pretty girl,” she said. “You should know that I’m also being paid by the Chinese. I arrange sales between them and the U.S. Very tricky right now.”
    â€œA glorified gunrunner,” Morgan said, stroking her back. “Just like the guy I’m here to see.”
    â€œSo why don’t you tell me, darling?” She smiled intohis eyes, her body relaxing under his touch.
    â€œNo reason.” He pushed a pillow up against the headboard so he could sit up. “His name’s Raoul Goulait. He might know when a certain shipment of weapons gets shipped.”
    â€œYou’re meeting a man to find that out? A man? Have you forgotten that information is my business? I traffic in gossip for a living.” She pressed her face into his body, kissing his stomach. “And I know this man Goulait. He is a premiere smuggler with a lot of experience behind him. Whoever put you on to him is pretty deep in the underworld.”
    â€œMy new business partner.” He said, returning to rubbing Claudette’s back.
    â€œMmmm, that feels good. Your partner, eh? What’s his name?”
    â€œFelicity.”
    â€œA woman?” she rose up to stare up at him. “Well she can’t be as much fun as I am. Should I be jealous?”
    â€œNo. We don’t sleep together.”
    â€œShe must be an idiot.” Claudette nipped at his muscular stomach. “But I bet she’s the reason you’re here. Whose shipment are you trying to hijack?”
    â€œHijack? Did I say hijack?”
    â€œPlease,” Claudette said, her eyes rolling. “At least show me that much respect.” She bit a little harder into his chest.
    â€œOw! All right! Some guy named Ian O’Ryan if you must know.” His response was light and playful, but as he dropped the name, he felt his bed partner stiffen, as if an icy breeze had just blown through the room. “Oh, you know him.”
    â€œOh, Yes, I know him. The man’s got Papa Doc’s eyes and a black Irish heart. You should stay away from him.”
    â€œOn the contrary,” Morgan said with a grin. “I’d like to meet the man. Could you introduce us sometime?”
    â€œYou stay away from him.” Claudette’s eyes werepleading. “He goes right off the scale on my danger meter.”
    â€œDon’t worry. I can take care of myself. Let’s forget all this for a while. Here, get dressed and we’ll go check out the show.”

    This is how Morgan came to be browsing about the great arms bazaar late in the afternoon with this beautiful industrial spy on his arm. Le Bourget airport is not a major attraction most of the time. Hanging onto the northern edge of Paris, it is often overlooked by sightseers and tourists. However, it is world famous in certain