Page 104 of Stuart Woods' Golden Hour

By 8:30a.m.the nextmorning, Teddy and Vesna were in an industrial area on the outskirts of the city, at a precision tool shop.

The place was run by an acquaintance of Vesna’s named Otto. An older man with a sheepish smile and a disarmingly friendly demeaner, no one would ever suspect him of running a weapons supply business on the side.

Otto led them to a shipping container in the back lot and opened the door. Both sides of the container were lined with floor-to-ceiling shelves.

Otto gestured inside. “Have a look around. If you have any questions, just ask.”

Teddy and Vesna walked down the aisle that ran through the middle of the box, selecting items from the shelves. They reemerged with their weapons of choice and a few other items, like audio bugs, night-vision goggles, and sets of digital comm gear.

In Otto’s office, they settled the bill, then the old man said, “Can I tempt you with some coffee before you go?”

“We’d like nothing more,” Vesna said, “but I’m afraid we have a busy day ahead of us.”

“You are breaking my heart.” Otto placed a hand on his chest, then looked at Teddy. “Every time she visits, it’s rush, rush, rush.”

“She is a woman in demand,” Teddy said.

“Of course she is. It is because she is very good at what she does.”

Teddy glanced at Vesna and gave her a small nod.

“Before we go,” Vesna said, “we have something we’d like to ask you.”

“What is it I can help you with?”

“It’s a sensitive matter, and if you’d rather not answer, I understand.”

“Now I am intrigued.” He motioned for her to go on.

“What do you know about Braun Logistics and Security? More specifically, about its special projects group.”

Otto’s smile wilted to a flatline, and his eyes grew steely. “Have they offered you a job? Is that why you ask?”

“No. Nothing like that.”

Some of Otto’s tension eased, but his smile had not yet returned. “The most important thing I can tell you is to not get involved with them.”

“That’s something you and I can both agree on,” she said.

“I know Vesna’s reason,” Teddy said. “But I would love to know why you say that.”

Otto glanced at Teddy as if just remembering that hewas there, then the man turned his gaze to Vesna. “How much do you trust him?”

“With my life,” she said without hesitation. She leaned forward and put her hand over Otto’s. “He is one of the good ones.”

“You swear this?”

“I do.”

“I apologize,” he said to Teddy. “You know what this business is like.”

“Far too well,” Teddy said. “And there is no need to apologize. If it helps, our interest in BLS is the exact opposite of wanting to work with them.”

A hint of a smile returned to Otto’s expression. “Is that so? And how far are you planning on taking this ‘exact opposite’ interest?”

“To a satisfying conclusion.”

That hinted smile began to spread. “It may not be easy.”

---