Page 109 of Stuart Woods' Golden Hour

“I take it that cloth over your eyes is related.”

“Very perceptive.”

“What happened?”

“I was sprayed in the face.”

Teddy’s expression turned concerned. “He maced you?”

“Not mace,” she said. “From the taste, I believe it was mint breath spray. Luckily, most of it hit my chin, or Iwouldhave killed him.”

“Were you holding a gun when you answered the door?”

“As one would in our circumstances. I did not, however, wave it in his face, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“I didn’t think you would, but I had to ask. Are you okay?”

“I do have fresher breath. Does that count?”

Teddy went down the hall and knocked on the bathroom door. “Kevin?”

A gasp came from inside, then Kevin said, “You’re alive?”

“Very much so. I understand you met my friend Vesna.”

“I expected you to be here, so when you weren’t, I thought…I mean, you should have told me someone else would be here.”

“Come on out, Kevin. Everything’s fine.”

Teddy returned to the main room and was getting a bottle of water from the refrigerator when Kevin entered.

“Welcome to Berlin,” Teddy said.

Kevin frowned. “I’d rather be at home.”

“And I’d rather be on a beach in Bali,” Vesna said, the cloth still over her eyes.

Teddy said, “Kevin, Vesna. Vesna, Kevin.”

“Hi,” Kevin said awkwardly. “Uh, I’m sorry about earlier.”

“For hiding in the bathroom?” Vesna asked. “Or attempting to blind me?”

“Oh my God. Did it get in your eyes? Are they okay?”

She removed the cloth and sat up.

“Do they look okay to you?” she asked, widening her eyes so the red was unmissable.

“I’m so sorry. I-I-I didn’t know who you were.”

“Do you mace everyone you don’t know?” Teddy asked.

“It wasn’t mace. It was—”

“Breath spray,” Teddy and Vesna said at the same time.

“We know,” Teddy added.

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