Vedrana and Eva waited in the chateau’s bar at the appointed time.

“Are you ready for your first mission?” Eva said.

Vedrana stared at the mahogany wood paneling. She remembered reading somewhere that the wood was so popular it was almost extinct. The United States had classified the wood as an endangered species.

“Vedrana, you seem out of sorts. Are you up for the mission?” Eva said in a concerned tone.

“Of course.”

“You’d better be ready. I’ll drive you when I feel you’re up for the mission. Tell me, are you ready?” a voice asked.

Vedrana glanced in Blanka’s direction. She hadn’t even sensed the woman was close.

I need to avoid making simple mistakes, Vedrana admonished herself.

Blanka gave Vedrana a skeptical look.

“Repeat the plan,” Blanka said.

“Tomáš Rybár is the magistrate of the local township. Eva and I will meet the magistrate at his villa. He is expecting the company of two beautiful young women. I will distract Tomáš with my charms. He is known to let alcohol get the better of him, so I’ll slip him some of this,” Vedrana said while fishing a small vial out of her bra. She held it up for Blanka. “When he awakes, he will think he drank too much and passed out. Meanwhile, we will look for the flash drive.”

“Remind me why the flash drive is so important?” Blanka chided.

“It contains information we need,” Vedrana said.

“And what is Eva’s role in this?”

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Eva started to say something, but Blanka held up a hand to silence her. “Let Vedrana answer.”

“She will replace the key?” Vedrana said.

“Close. As mission lead, you not only need to be aware of what you are doing, but aware of every member of your team. Eva will fetch the verification device from behind a potted plant in the Magistrate’s study. The device is easy to use, but she needs to hurry, since the drug that the Magistrate consumes will wear off in minutes. It’s a low dose that will make him disoriented. It will help sell the story of him being drunk. You also left out the part where you need to be nearby when he wakes. Eva will be busy planting the decoy,” Blanka said.

Vedrana pushed down a feeling of revulsion.

I just need to let this pig of a man think he is having his way with me while I play along, giving Eva enough time to switch the device? Vedrana thought. I can and will do that—I will not disappoint Madam Dahlia in her time of need.

Blanka made Vedrana and Eva go over the plan two more times before it satisfied her. Their already limited time was slipping away.

#

An hour later, Blanka pulled up to the villa that the Magistrate was assigned on the outskirts of Zakopane, near the edge of the Tatra Mountains. The sun was setting in the western hemisphere, and golden rays of light shot out between breaks in the clouds. Vedrana was wearing a black dress cut so high that much of her legs were visible. It was much too cold for the attire, but it was sexy. Eva wore a similar dress; it was dark blue. She wore bright red lipstick, which was a contrast to Vedrana’s look of no makeup.

“You girls look ravishing, but don’t let the bastard touch you,” Blanka said as the girls got out and she sped away into the fading sunlight.

“You must be the Magistrate’s dinner companions,” a female voice said.

The girls looked in the voice’s direction. A small middle-aged woman with short-cropped black hair examined them.

Vedrana nodded.

“Come, follow me,” the woman urged.

Vedrana and Eva followed the woman into an enormous chateau. Vedrana counted at least twelve servants on the way to the magister’s study. As she entered the villa, Vedrana made a mental note of each entrance and escape route. Eva made some similar calculations. The furnishings looked worn and well used. The villa couldn’t escape its nature any more than Vedrana could escape being who she was: a natural-born predator and killer. The magister’s study was elegant. It contained pieces of artwork and antique furniture.

“Welcome, and thank you for the honor of visiting me in person. It is so rare that people as young as yourselves still pay attention to the old ways,” a middle-aged man said.

“The magister, I presume?” Vedrana said.

“Come,” he said. “Join me for a cocktail.”