Page 91 of Stuart Woods' Golden Hour

Two nurses wearing scrubs, surgical caps, and masks exited operating suite 2 and started walking toward him. When they noticed him, they paused, confused by his lack of medical attire.

“Do either of you speak English?” he asked.

The nurse on the left said, “We both do.”

“You are not supposed to be in here,” the man with her said.

Teddy held up his badge. “Special permission from the director. I’m security for the gunshot victim. Do you know which room she’s in?”

“Suite four,” the woman said, pointing at a set of doors farther down the hall. “But you cannot go in.”

“I’m not planning to. It’s not a problem if I stay in here, is it?”

“Not if you do not mind repeating what you told us every time someone sees you.”

He smiled good-naturedly. “That, I can handle. Can I ask another question?”

“Yes?”

“Is there a way to find out how the operation is going?”

“I can check for you.” She said something in Hungarian to her colleague, then entered suite 4.

The man eyed Teddy up and down. “You are English?”

“American,” Teddy said. “And so is the victim. The embassy sent me.”

“Ah, I see,” the man said, nodding.

Teddy gestured at the doors he’d entered through. “Is that the only way into this area?”

The nurse shook his head. “Is one more that way.” He pointed at the far end of the hall. “For, um…fire?”

“An emergency exit.”

“Yes. This.”

The female nurse exited suite 4 and rejoined them. “The bullet has been removed, and the nurse told me the doctor thinks she has good chance.”

“Did she mention how much longer it will be?”

“I did not ask this. But I think maybe thirty minutes to one hour.”

“And where will they take her then?”

“ICU. Is on same floor as this.”

“Thank you. I appreciate the information.”

Five minutes after Teddy hadheaded up to the surgical center, Dieter and his men arrived at the hospital.

As they’d been instructed, Rolf and Andreas remained in the lobby while Dieter headed deeper into the building.

He’d infiltrated medical facilities like this before. He knew if he wore the right outfit, he could go almost anywhere. He’d been a nurse and a janitor, but by far the most effective disguise was that of a doctor.

People had no problems approaching nurses or janitors to ask questions or request assistance. A preoccupied doctor, on the other hand, could go almost anywhere without being bothered.

He found a doctors’ changing room one floor up. A maledoctor had just finished getting into his street clothes and was closing his locker as Dieter entered. Dieter gave him a nod and continued to the next row to avoid conversation.

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