A silver-blue Mercedes-Benz drove slowly up to a large, quiet two-storey house and stopped in front of the gate.
The driver rolled down the window and pressed a button on a small remote control. The heavy iron gate opened at once. The car moved inside, and the gate closed behind it.
A tall, well-dressed woman stepped out of the car. She was middle-aged, with smooth skin and sharp, watchful eyes. She wore a white lace blouse and a green silk cloth.
Under a tree nearby, a large Alsatian dog began to bark.
The compound was neat and well-kept, with flowers and trimmed grass. Beside the main house stood a smaller building used as a guest house. There were also boys' quarters at the far end.
"Tousie, you can take the rest of the day off," the woman said.
"Thank you, madam," he replied.
Tousie was both her driver and bodyguard. He was tall, strong, and serious. He walked away toward the boys' quarters, where he stayed with the cook and the houseboy.
John, the cook, came out of the kitchen as the woman approached.
"Take those things and put them in the storeroom," she instructed.
"Yes, madam," John said, beginning to unload the items from the car.
"Give me that one," she added suddenly, taking a small parcel from his hands.
John said nothing, but he had already seen what was inside. He understood more than he let on.
"Has anyone come looking for me?" she asked.
"Yes, madam," John replied. "One of the shop assistants brought a box. I've taken it upstairs. Madam from the shop called to say she will be here later, around six."
"Good," the woman said with a faint smile. "I'm going to rest. Don't disturb me. Wake me at five-thirty."
"Yes, madam."
"And prepare dinner for two. Emma will be joining me."
She entered the house and went straight upstairs to her bedroom. After switching on the air-conditioner, she lay down and quickly fell asleep. She was tired from the food and wine she had enjoyed earlier at the hotel.
Later in the evening, she woke up, had her bath, and came downstairs.
Emma was already seated in the living room.
"Have you been here long?" she asked.
"Not too long," Emma replied.
"Did John give you something to drink?"
"Yes."
"Good."
Emma placed a bundle on the table.
"I brought everything. One of the dealers came with money this afternoon. He will collect it tomorrow."
She handed it over.
"That's for one hundred grams," the woman said. "Let's go upstairs. We'll finish before dinner."
"John!" she called. "Put a bottle of champagne in ice."
"Yes, madam," came the reply from the kitchen.
Upstairs, Emma placed the items she had brought onto the bed. Among them were some men's clothes.
She locked the door.
From a wardrobe, the woman took out two masks, gloves, and aprons. She also brought out a small weighing scale.
Emma went to bring a folding table and two chairs from another room.
The woman entered the bathroom and opened a hidden cupboard beside the bathtub. She removed a plastic container with a glass bowl, a spoon, and several small polythene bags.
Then she brought out two parcels filled with white powder.
When she returned, Emma was already dressed in the apron, gloves, and mask. The woman did the same.
They worked in silence at first.
Carefully, they mixed part of the powder and measured out a smaller quantity.
"This one is for tomorrow," she said. "The rest is more important."
"How much are we sending?" Emma asked.
"One kilogram," she replied. "This will bring us a lot of money."
Emma nodded.
"This method has worked before," the woman continued. "It will work again."
They continued packing the powder into small bags with steady hands.
"Are you sure about the person we're using?" she asked.
"Yes," Emma said. "He's perfect."
They worked until the bags were filled.
Together, the contents measured exactly one kilogram.
They wrapped the packages carefully in several layers and sprayed them with strong perfume.
"This will confuse the dogs at the airport," she said.
Emma nodded.
"I'll prepare the suitcase with the clothes," the woman added.
"Will the usual person take it?" Emma asked.
"Yes. Everything is ready."
When they were done, they removed their gloves and masks and washed up.
The equipment and remaining powder were returned to the hidden cupboard.
They went downstairs, where dinner was already prepared.
The woman opened the champagne and poured two glasses.
They sat quietly, as if nothing unusual had happened.