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James woke with a knocking at the door.

“Yes, who is it?”

“It’s me James, Euroback.”

“Open the door, he’s gone to Monaco.”

The hotel in Monaco was nice, bigger rooms than the one in Paris, and the bar was more expensive, but James felt at home here. The place was owned by a Scottish racing driver, which explained the price of the drinks. Euroback came out of the adjoining room and looked carefully at James.

“Blowhard’s in the casino.”

“James we need you to go in there and infiltrate Blowhards’ gang.”

James stared at Euroback as if trying to read the next part of the sentence.

“If you get close enough you can steal the list back.”

James thought for a millisecond before saying “He knows me.”

“We’ve been friends for years, I know his wife.”

“What?” Euroback stared at James in total disbelief.

“Yes after I retired, Blowhard took me to his place in the country and we got to talking and well, now once a month we play chess together, he’s quite a good player you know.”

Euroback pressed a button on her cell phone, put the phone to her ear and left the room.

James ordered some tea from room service. “Yes, Earl Grey, thank you.”

Euroback came back in to the room.

“James there has to be a way for you to get that list back.”

James looked Euroback up and down, trying not to think about those sweet sagging brea…”We can get into his apartment here, I know the door man, he’ll let me in.”

“But James he keeps the list with him at all times and he’s not in his apartment.”

“He can’t stay in the casino all night, he has hemorrhoids.” James smiled “No magic bag for those babies.”

Euroback wasn’t too pleased that they had taken a taxi to Blowhard’s apartment, but James had explained that no matter how covert they were Blowhard would know it was the agency that had stolen the list back.

“Euro, what if he has made copies?” James asked.

“What do you mean James?”

“You know copies. A photocopier and maybe then that email thingy.”

Euroback was shocked, “Surely the agency had thought of that.” thinking hard to explain.

“It’s on special paper James, impossible to copy. Something to do with light reflection and refraction U said.”

“Me?” James was sure he had not said any such thing “Are you sure it was me?”

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