Davy showered and changed into navy blue shorts along with an open-necked, short-sleeved light blue shirt. He sprawled across a sunbed on the balcony and relaxed. Angie stayed in the room; he raised his voice to talk. "Tomorrow we find that woman."

"Fine."

The following morning, after breakfast, they hired a Shogun four-wheel drive and went in search of Joan's hotel. It took over an hour to find. Without hesitating, they strolled through reception. A table on the raised terrace but near the swimming pool gave them a good vantage point.

Davy sat and read a newspaper, pausing to stop a waiter. "Could I have a large San Mig and one fresh orange, please?" The drinks arrived, and he sipped his while reading and watching. With a peep over the top of his paper, he saw and heard Joan ushering her trio of brats to the poolside. He did notice that her bikini had a problem containing her ample bosom. Other women expressed their disapproval as they berated their partners for staring.

Davy made eye contact as she sat on a sunbed, put on a pair of sunglasses and began reading a book. Her children ran off, screaming to the play pool. She took off her glasses, turned and winked at him. This could almost be pleasurable, he decided, once he got rid of the kids. She was not that old, thirty-five, perhaps.

"Time we made a move," said Angie as carried the remains of her drink across to where Joan lay. "Mind if we join you?"

Joan "Suit yourself."

Davy followed placing his drink on the table next to Joan.

Angie remained standing.

"Fancy a drink?" Davy asked. "I know it's early, but what the hell, you're on holiday."

"Yes, please; a large Bloody Mary with ice."

Davy beckoned to a waiter. "How about you, Angie?"

She shook her head. "I'm driving and have a migraine coming on."

"Why don't you go back to the hotel and rest?"

Angie glared at him. "That's a great idea. I'll see you at dinner tonight at eight; don't be late." She strolled away as if in a mood.

"You should go and see if she's okay," said Joan.

"I really can't be bothered. These days she's always the same." He had finished his drink and ordered another two.

"Are you trying to get me tipsy?" asked Joan. A hint of wickedness formed her smile.

"Not in the least, you're a married woman." His eyes scanned his surroundings. "Not a bad hotel, this. Great that the bar is next to the pool. What more could a man want?"

After a few more Bloody Marys, Joan told him her life story. She had married at sixteen and soon discovered that her husband's idea of overtime was sleeping with her best friend. While he played away, she did the same until he left.

The waiter arrived with their drinks. Davy gave him a twenty Euro note and told him to keep the change.

"And the three children?"

"My second husband." She yawned, closed her eyes, and was asleep in seconds.

From the pool, her three children appeared. "Let your mum rest. She's tired after the journey and taking care of you lot. Do you fancy playing the game machines?"

"Mum told us not to talk to strangers," said Tommy.

He lowered his head to their level. "I'm not a stranger. Remember, I helped your mum at the airport, and the machines are over there in the lounge. You can return to your mum at any time."

Armed with a pocketful of coins, Davy fed the machines and they played. He even had a go on the space invader, allowing Tommy, the eldest, to win every time.

At first, the chase was low-key and consisted of a few drinks and computer games with the children. Having read the signs, he knew he'd soon receive an offer he dare not refuse.

***

After six days of fooling with Joan, she asked, "Do you have to go? I've arranged a babysitter for the kids, so I can have a night out on my own. You could lie to your wife."

"It's short notice. Tell you what, I'll give Angie a ring and explain that I'm babysitting."

Joan laughed.

Davy left and made his telephone call. Angie said nothing and slammed the receiver into its cradle.

Joan was ready to leave the poolside when he returned.

"Damn," said Davy. "I don't have a change of clothes, and I need a shower."

"You can have a shower in my room and your clothes will do. The kids can stay in the hotel's children's club for a little longer; they're happy there."

Game, set and match, thought Davy. Here's where the work begins.

Joan opened the door and led the way into what was a spacious room. She tossed her beach bag into the corner and opened the dividing doors to another bedroom. After a quick look, she shut and locked them from her side. "Are you ready for a shower?" The sparkle in her eyes lit up her face.

"You first," said Davy.

"Together might be good."

He laughed and pulled her onto the bed and explored her mouth with his tongue. At the same time, he ran his hands over her body skilfully removing her bikini bottoms. She moaned as his tongue touch moved from one nipple to the other. She tore at his clothes while the tricks learnt from the girls came into play. Out of control, Joan was a willing pupil and responded to his touch. Davy held her on edge. She arched her back, whimpered and begged him to stop. He didn't; she screamed.

Naked, Joan lay exhausted by her experience. "Where did you learn to fuck like that?"

He smiled. "Practice."

She giggled. "I've had a few men, but most of them, fuck me, have a fag, and fall asleep. You make me want more."

Her pulse rate returned to normal as she swung herself off the bed. "Time for a shower."

"A good idea, but keep your hands to yourself or we might not leave the room. You're a seductress."

She laughed. "I enjoy sex, but I'm not sexy."

"Well, you are to me. Can't say I've enjoyed it so much for a long while."

For a moment, he pitied her.

She did not have a clue he was using her. He hoped she got away with taking a large consignment of drugs into the country..

When her kids returned, Joan got them ready for bed. Soon after, the babysitter arrived.

They went for a meal and a few drinks. Davy left her at the hotel entrance and grabbing a taxi, returned to his.

In bed and wide-awake, Angie waited for Davy, "Did she take the bait?"

"We have our courier. I suggest we swap cases when we take them to the airport."

Angie didn't want to but asked, "Did you fuck her?"

"What do you think? It's the job. Given a choice, I'd rather have gone to MacDonald's for a triple burger."

Angie collected the package. The carton weighed around four kilos and turned out to be much larger than envisaged. She placed it in a suitcase identical to Joan's. Where there were gaps, she filled with spare pillows stolen from the hotel. Apart from a label or two, the case was ready.

***

Davy supplied two labels and a length of red ribbon similar to the one Joan tied to the handles of her cases. For the rest of the week, he continued to satisfy Joan. He never stayed as her children demanded the adjoining door remained open. She reminded him of his youth when a quick grope behind the gas works was a success. Joan, with her poor education and limited vocabulary, made any intelligent conversation impossible.

On the day of their departure, Davy and Angie arrived in their hire car to collect Joan and her tribe from the hotel. He altered the position of the suitcases in seconds.

No one spoke. Joan and Angie stared out of opposite windows while the three children for once behaved themselves.

Angie and Joan remained silent. Davy commented he'd drop everyone at the terminal and return the car.

Tommy and Terry collected two trolleys and loaded them with relevant cases. Joan wanted to spend the rest of her holiday money in the duty-free lounge.

Davy, in a raised voice, stated, "Angie, my love, wait here while I return the car." With a wink and a smile, he left her standing outside the departure point.

Ten minutes later, he returned. "Where is she?"

"Her and those delinquents have gone through customs."

He laughed. "Stage one complete. Let's go for a cup of coffee and leave her to suffer those kids. The last thing I want is any more time pretending she's adorable or those kids of hers are part of the human race."

Nearby was a snack bar, used by the local cab drivers. The coffee was good, and for a few hours, they chatted and enjoyed each other's company.

When they boarded, Davy smiled at Joan and her boys, who sat in row five. His and Angie's seats at the rear of the aircraft gave them a rest.

Flight BA 246 was due to arrive at 1640 local time. He slept until the cabin crew woke him before landing.

Davy yawned, stretched his arms to full length and smiled at Angie. "Time for stage two."

Four flights landed in succession, along with hundreds of passengers who swamped baggage reclaim.

Davy stood next to the luggage conveyor and waited. He grabbed their two cases and strode with Angie through Customs. With nothing to declare, they walked through and remained in the arrival lounge for Joan.

"There must be someone important arriving," said Angie.

"Could be a film star or politician." He noticed Angie practised her royal wave to the camera

"They're not interested in us," Davy joked. "Time to make yourself scarce."

Joan and the mob arrived five minutes later. Davy, with a well-practised clumsiness, fell over his trolley and on to hers, scattering the cases. The kids laughed, did not move or give a hand. Davy completed the task.

What's the matter?" asked Joan, seeing his concern.

Unseen, he slipped a piece of paper into her hand. "Here's my phone number. Give me a ring, and we'll have a night out.

She smiled at him. "If you promise it will be worth my while."

He laughed. "See you."

Angie appeared on cue. "We're being paged. Ghashide's car is on a double yellow. Goodbye, Joan."

The news of a car startled Davy. He followed Angie. The cameras followed his every move.

Angie directed him through the concourse to the waiting car. At, which point, the driver placed the cases in the boot.

"How did they know we were on this flight?" asked Davy.

"I told them. Harman-Smith wanted evidence, so he told me to let him know."

He'd underestimated her, she was playing both sides.

The car drove at a moderate speed until it reached the back of the old gasworks at Nine Elms. Here it stopped. The driver left the vehicle and removed the red-tagged suitcase from the boot. In seconds, another car stopped, collected the package and with a screech of tyres roared away.

The driver resumed his journey, dropping them at Victoria Coach Station.

"What do we do now?" Davy asked Angie.

"Well, I'm going home, having a shower. You can do whatever you want."

"I'll contact Ghashide in the morning," said Davy.

"Okay. Give me a ring sometime tomorrow."

He watched her leave and agreed with himself she had one hell of a figure. Angie, like a dream in the morning, vanished. A few minutes elapsed before he turned and walked away.