Page 126 of Once a Hero

The bathroom door opened. Beatrice walked out in a tee shirt and a pair of capris. Her wet hair was wrapped up in a towel.

She must have heard the last bits of the their conversation. “Mr. Buchanan was his uncle.”

Stella looked stunned. “The arms dealer who sold weapons for Molyneux so she could fund her terrorism?”

“How did you figure that out?” Jake asked.

“It was easy.” Beatrice produced the bag she had brought into the room. Inside was a small wooden box.

“Is that a puzzle box?” Jake asked.

“Not just any puzzle box. It’s a Japanese puzzle box or himitsu-bako,” Beatrice said. “This box is one of the original puzzle boxes from the Kanagawa prefectures, and made by local craftsmen in the late nineteenth century. That puts it in the Meiji era in Japan. Benjamin wants it, and I decided to get it for him.”

“Go on,” Stella said.

“819A said this box belonged to his dead uncle. How, I do not know.” Beatrice studied the box. “We talked a bit more after the dance, and he was very sad that his uncle was dead.”

“Yeah, but that wasn’t us.”

No, it wasn’t an FBI’s operation. Jake had heard about it. It had been the work of several private groups, including the security forces of a Middle Eastern kingdom whose family members had been threatened by Buchanan, working with a private organization who had been targeted by Molyneux several years prior.

“So you just talked. That’s why it took you a while to get up here,” Jake said.

Beatrice smiled at him. “Were you worried?”

Stella laughed. “I don’t think Jake wants you to do this type of stuff.”

“I was going to be at the conference anyway,” Beatrice said. “My brother wants this box badly.”

Stella nodded. “When I found that our paths were crossing, I made sure that the bureau paid for everything if she could help us get some information out of 819A.”

“Thank you for this nice suite,” Beatrice said. “And my plane tickets.”

“Sorry I couldn’t get you first class. No seats.” Stella returned to her laptop. “So it says here that someone is trying to reestablish Buchanan’s stronghold in Libya. Could it be 819A?”

“That makes sense.” Beatrice stepped closer to Stella, walking by Jake. “He’s living with the memory of his favorite uncle.”

Jake did everything he could not to reach out and hold Beatrice’s hand in front of Stella. He focused on the box instead. “Did 819A give you the puzzle box?”

Beatrice chuckled. “No. I negotiated the price down.”

“To what?”

“Nothing for you to worry about. Suffice to say that Benjamin would have to sell something to pay for it. He doesn’t have room for everything either.”

Jake had nothing more to ask about the box. He had met Benjamin in Charleston over six months ago. They had parted amicably after their rescue mission in Poland, but Jake wondered if he would ever see Benjamin again.

Or Beatrice.

Maybe he should calm down. When this conference was over, he might not see Beatrice again. He should be grateful for this opportunity to see her.

“Well, thank you, Beatrice. That was very helpful.” Stella closed her laptop. “Have a safe flight home tomorrow morning.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

“Tomorrow morning?” Jake asked. “You’re not staying for the last session?”

“There’s no reason to. Besides, I need to fly back to Charleston to deliver this box. My brother can’t wait to see it.”

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