CHAPTER 6
Warrant Officers Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor boarded the Lufthansa Airbus A350 and found their adjoining seats. The travel office had booked them in Premium Economy, a two-seat row, as per SOP so they could talk privately without a third seat companion to stifle their conversation.
On that subject, Brodie asked, “How do you feel about being naked?”
“Excuse me?”
“About being unarmed.”
“Oh… well, I’d rather be carrying. But… we’ll see if we need a gun when we get there.” She added, “Dombroski said we may be able to pick up some hardware from the defense attaché at the embassy.”
“Right. What if there’s only one gun available? Who gets it? You or me?”
“You.”
“Why?”
“You’re older. You need a gun.”
Brodie smiled, then got serious. “This is a murder investigation. We need to be armed.”
“Harry Vance was armed.” She reminded him, “He’s dead.”
Brodie had no response.
“He wasn’t using his head. And maybe he relied too much on his gun. We see this all the time.” She added, “A smart detective doesn’t need a gun.”
“That’s a stupid statement.”
“I know. But it sounds good.”
“We’ll ask for guns.”
“Let me ask.” She explained, “I won’t seem as psycho as you.”
They both got a laugh at that. So far, so good.
The preflight safety demonstration sounded more authoritative in German than it did in English. Takeoff was on time, and within five minutes of reaching cruising altitude Brodie had a scotch and soda in his hands, a nice intro to German efficiency.
Taylor had ordered a Riesling that the in-flight menu promised was “crisp with a stone fruit aroma and a luxurious palate.” Maybe there was something lost in the translation.
Taylor sipped her wine and said, “I’m dying of curiosity, Scott.”
“About?”
“Your female companionship. Or lack thereof.”
He replied, “I am currently unattached.”
“And before currently?”
This, thought Brodie, would be a normal topic of conversation with a male partner, even if the guy was an a-hole. But this topic with a female partner, or a past or present lover, had no upside. Maggie Taylor, aside from being his current female partner, had also been a near-miss in the bedroom.
“Scott? Anyone special?”
“They all start out special.”
She didn’t reply to that, and they sat in silence for a moment. Then Brodie said, “There was one. She taught at the Marine Corps University. She was interesting. We had a good time.”
