Code Name Orchid

Prologue

     Chantelle left the table at the restaurant and walked down the short hall to the ladies restroom. It was her night off from her new job working at a classy upmarket bar. Two of her workmates had suggested they go out for dinner to welcome her to Washington after her recent move from Canada.

As she stood in front of the mirror tying her hair back with a clip she became aware of a woman standing beside her washing her hands.

"You should wear your hair out, it will suit you better," said a voice which sounded vaguely familiar.

She turned to her left. A tall slim woman wearing a black skirt and jacket, and with long brunette hair gave her a smile. Chantelle stared at her for all of three seconds before recognition set in. A chill ran down her spine and suddenly the room felt ten degrees colder. "It's you!" she gasped.

The woman gave her an amused look. "Of course it's me. Who else would I be?"

"But you're the assassin the police are looking for!" Chantelle clapped a hand over her mouth the moment she realised what she had just blurted out.

"Are you sure?" the woman kept smiling.

"W-Well, I'm not completely sure," Chantelle stammered.

Actually she was completely sure. The last time she had seen this woman was at a hotel in Vancouver. She had served her a drink in the hotel bar, then the woman had gone up to a guest's bedroom and murdered him. It was all over the news the next day, but then a month later in a bizarre twist it had been revealed that the woman was a professional assassin and was married to the police detective in charge of finding her who claimed he had no idea who or what she was. The media had had a field day with it, and the detective had lost his job. Chantelle could even remember her name, Hannah Richards. And now here she was staring into the face of this cold blooded assassin who had killed God knows how many people, although she didn't look like a cold blooded killer. She actually looked quite nice.

"Don't worry, Chantelle, yes I remember your name from Vancouver," Hannah's face turned serious, "You're perfectly safe, no one has taken a hit order out on you."

Chantelle, frozen to the spot, gaped at her speechless.

Hannah kept eye contact for a few seconds, then burst out laughing. "You should see your face," she laughed, "I'm messing with you, but seriously, you can't tell anyone you saw me, or...."

"Or-or what?" Chantelle stammered.

At that moment the bathroom door opened and two women walked in chatting to each other.

Hannah leaned over and whispered in Chantelle's ear, "Don't look so worried. We'll see each other again soon." She turned and walked out of the room.

I hope this was interesting enough for you to keep reading.
If so continue to Chapter 1, but please vote first.