business operations separate from the government or Oscar.
Larc set up Will Staton as the owner of the Pawn Shop. Will was a scrawny black man whom Larc had bested in Oscar’s first year of operation. Larc and Will had become good friends over the years and the other Spiders respected Will.
Terris Orba was Larc’s choice as the front man for the shipping company. Terris was a tall redhead who had been part of the bandit gang with Will. He was garrulous and a personable fellow. People would probably give him shipping contracts just to shut him up. His eyes missed nothing, though. All the time he was talking, his eyes were roving over everything in sight. Terris had provided valuable information on bandit gangs for Larc over the years. People had a tendency to ignore Terris because his mouth was always going.
Colonel Gregor was at his desk when a Private came in with a message. He took the message and dismissed the soldier. The note was from Oscar Dalek requesting the Colonel’s presence at his room in the Palace Shadow, an upscale inn not far from the Palace. He requested the meeting to discuss the shipping needs of the Red Swords. The Colonel told his Sergeant that he would be out for a while and left the Royal Palace. The note seemed innocuous enough, but the Colonel did not want to advertise the meeting. Colonel Gregor took the long route and entered the inn from the rear. He would have access to the stairs without passing through the inn’s main salon. Oscar’s note indicated a room on the third floor and he started up the steps. Before he reached the second floor, the Colonel heard a laugh that he recognized, Duke Nelson, the King’s Advisor, was coming down the stairs. The Colonel quickly backtracked and slid into the hallway that led to the kitchen. Duke Nelson came down the stairs escorting a young girl with auburn hair and left by the rear door. The Colonel regained the stairs and hurried to Oscar’s room.
Colonel Gregor knocked on the door and Oscar opened the door and let him in. “Duke Dalek, you wished to speak to me about a shipping contract?” The Colonel looked around the room as Oscar closed the door.
“Colonel, how good of you to come.” Oscar signaled and Larc appeared from the wardrobe. “I think we’re safe here, Colonel.”
The Colonel sighed and sat in one of the chairs. “I didn’t want to be seen coming in. It is quite unusual for a Colonel to be summoned from the Palace by a freight executive. Someone might think that I was receiving payment for directing business your way.”
Oscar sat next to the Colonel. “I understand, but if you are concerned about it, you needn’t tell anyone the purpose of the meeting.”
“I didn’t, but your note could have been read by anyone.”
“Not unless they opened the envelope,” stated Oscar.
The Colonel’s face grew dark. “There was no envelope. Just the folded note. It would seem that someone is checking up on me. If it’s the Intelligence Task Force, I can live with it. If it is someone else, I have to know.”
Larc joined the group. “My people aren’t going to find out much inside the Royal Palace, Colonel. I’m Larc Gart and I’ll be heading the Spiders.”
The Colonel shook Larc’s hand. “Alex speaks very highly of you, Larc, and that is an excellent recommendation as far as I’m concerned.”
“All of this highlights the need for a way to get you two together in the future,” added Oscar. “You can’t be coming to the inn whenever you want to meet and Larc can’t march into the Royal Palace.”
“I rent a room above the Sword and Shield and eat breakfast and dinner there practically every day. Perhaps you could get a man employed there,” suggest the Colonel.
“Consider it done,” stated Oscar. “Larc will appear there the first day that we have someone in place and indicate who the person is. Is there any particular information Larc should be looking for other than the book bandits?”
“Nothing
Larc set up Will Staton as the owner of the Pawn Shop. Will was a scrawny black man whom Larc had bested in Oscar’s first year of operation. Larc and Will had become good friends over the years and the other Spiders respected Will.
Terris Orba was Larc’s choice as the front man for the shipping company. Terris was a tall redhead who had been part of the bandit gang with Will. He was garrulous and a personable fellow. People would probably give him shipping contracts just to shut him up. His eyes missed nothing, though. All the time he was talking, his eyes were roving over everything in sight. Terris had provided valuable information on bandit gangs for Larc over the years. People had a tendency to ignore Terris because his mouth was always going.
Colonel Gregor was at his desk when a Private came in with a message. He took the message and dismissed the soldier. The note was from Oscar Dalek requesting the Colonel’s presence at his room in the Palace Shadow, an upscale inn not far from the Palace. He requested the meeting to discuss the shipping needs of the Red Swords. The Colonel told his Sergeant that he would be out for a while and left the Royal Palace. The note seemed innocuous enough, but the Colonel did not want to advertise the meeting. Colonel Gregor took the long route and entered the inn from the rear. He would have access to the stairs without passing through the inn’s main salon. Oscar’s note indicated a room on the third floor and he started up the steps. Before he reached the second floor, the Colonel heard a laugh that he recognized, Duke Nelson, the King’s Advisor, was coming down the stairs. The Colonel quickly backtracked and slid into the hallway that led to the kitchen. Duke Nelson came down the stairs escorting a young girl with auburn hair and left by the rear door. The Colonel regained the stairs and hurried to Oscar’s room.
Colonel Gregor knocked on the door and Oscar opened the door and let him in. “Duke Dalek, you wished to speak to me about a shipping contract?” The Colonel looked around the room as Oscar closed the door.
“Colonel, how good of you to come.” Oscar signaled and Larc appeared from the wardrobe. “I think we’re safe here, Colonel.”
The Colonel sighed and sat in one of the chairs. “I didn’t want to be seen coming in. It is quite unusual for a Colonel to be summoned from the Palace by a freight executive. Someone might think that I was receiving payment for directing business your way.”
Oscar sat next to the Colonel. “I understand, but if you are concerned about it, you needn’t tell anyone the purpose of the meeting.”
“I didn’t, but your note could have been read by anyone.”
“Not unless they opened the envelope,” stated Oscar.
The Colonel’s face grew dark. “There was no envelope. Just the folded note. It would seem that someone is checking up on me. If it’s the Intelligence Task Force, I can live with it. If it is someone else, I have to know.”
Larc joined the group. “My people aren’t going to find out much inside the Royal Palace, Colonel. I’m Larc Gart and I’ll be heading the Spiders.”
The Colonel shook Larc’s hand. “Alex speaks very highly of you, Larc, and that is an excellent recommendation as far as I’m concerned.”
“All of this highlights the need for a way to get you two together in the future,” added Oscar. “You can’t be coming to the inn whenever you want to meet and Larc can’t march into the Royal Palace.”
“I rent a room above the Sword and Shield and eat breakfast and dinner there practically every day. Perhaps you could get a man employed there,” suggest the Colonel.
“Consider it done,” stated Oscar. “Larc will appear there the first day that we have someone in place and indicate who the person is. Is there any particular information Larc should be looking for other than the book bandits?”
“Nothing
Similar Books
