"She was one of the most beautiful, flamboyant women of her time, to all appearances, a carefree, hard-charging party girl. She was also one of the most lethal assassins to operate between the wars, an utter mercenary, with loyalty to none. "No one really knew her origins. Some said she had grown up in the Orient, the child of East meets West. "She was fluent in English, French, German and Russian, speaking all equally well and accent free. The consummate chameleon, she was able to penetrate the highest echelons of society and gain the trust of her targets, a number of whom she took to bed. Asked about the men she killed, she is rumored to have said, "I gave them the best deaths they ever had." "At some point, she must've come under suspicion. For the longest time, all we knew is that she suddenly went dark. It is believed she used those incredible talents of hers to create a new identity that allowed her to hide in plain sight. But that could simply be wishful thinking. Those were dangerous times; people disappeared--especially people in her line of business--and when they did, the reasons were usually capture, imprisonment, death. "The records surrounding her activities were sealed. Then, they were conveniently lost. Hidden, perhaps? To protect ... what? Someone's secrets? Embarrassments that could bring down cabinet secretaries? "Those records have finally come to light and the truth they tell will indeed have consequences. For now, it suffices to say that she was indeed an operator of the highest caliber, a truly dangerous secret agent. We can also finally say, with all confidence, that she was our agent, and that, thanks to her, we gained invaluable intelligence. She saved hundreds of lives at the risk of her own. We owe her our deepest gratitude. "To her and those like her, we raise a gimlet of praise." Maj. R. J. Wilkes ---------------------- Hope you enjoyed the story. Thanks for looking! SuSoleil