Excerpt:

... Similar thoughts were flitting through Danielle's mind. When James first approached her to run the clandestine units within his department she'd jumped at the idea. She'd been an editor and then head of a publishing company for years and was looking around for something less dangerous. Like becoming a spy or an assassin...

***
...
Tatiana realised that a diversion was needed. She knew the perfect people to create a diversion, and just hoped that they weren't at the other end of the country somewhere. She also suspected that even if her friends were available, they would probably not be able to get to her in time. But it was worth a try.

Whipping out her cellphone she hit the speed dial and waited. The phone rang once, then twice, then a third time before a sultry female voice purred into her ear. "This is Marilyn, and my friends and I would just love to make your day."

"Cut the sales pitch, Marilyn, I got a problem," Tatiana hissed into the phone.

"So what else is new?"

"Don't be nasty. I need your help this time."

"What?!" Marilyn Miniature asked in astonishment. Tatiana had made it clear in the past what she thought of Marilyn and her troupe of midget strippers. Had she been a gambler, Marilyn would have bet that the sun would revolve around the earth before Tatiana asked her for anything.

"You heard me. Where you now, in DC maybe?"

"Yeah, we're in DC this weekend for the convention."

"Okay, I need a diversion."

"Tatiana, what the hell are you talking about?"

"Danni told me not to attract attention, but all the men here are staring again. I need a diversion other wise the meeting won't happen and ..."

"Oh, okay, I understand. You're out and about in one of those crazy outfits of yours and now you wonder why the whole world is staring at you."

"NO!!! I'm wearing proper clothes, nothing stupid. This is too important to fuck up. But the men are looking anyway!"

Marilyn Miniature, despite the antagonism between them, could actually sympathise a bit with Tatiana. She knew all too well what it was like to be the centre of unwelcome attention. And Tatiana certainly sounded sincere, though with her it was often difficult to tell. But this time she decided to give the crazy blonde the benefit of the doubt.

"Okay... where are you and what do you want me to do?"

"LaFayette Circle. Can you get here fast, like in the next five minutes?"

"Are you out of your mind? Do you know what the traffic is like in this crazy place?"

"Okay, okay, so how fast can you get here?"

"Dunno for sure... probably about 20 minutes or so."

"Shit! Okay, okay, just get here as fast as you can, then, I'll try to slow things down till you get here. Or maybe I'll call Percy, he might be faster."

"Percy?"

"You know, the short guy with the big hat."

"Oh, he won't be any faster, he's right here with me. Want me to bring him?"

"Yes!!"

"Okay, we're all leaving now."
...