Page 133 of Near Miss

The guy looked him up and down. “Why do people call you Dial?”

“Because when I’m working, I’m dialed in. You know, focused.”

The guy snorted and rolled his eyes. “Who sent you,Dial?”

“I got a call from a friend. Said you were looking for people.”

“What friend?”

“Dieter Mainz.”

The guy’s eyes narrowed. “Youknow Dieter Mainz?”

“I just said I did, didn’t I?”

“Hold on.”

The man disappeared into another room, closing the door behind him.

Henry “Dial” Sommers—aka Billy Barnett, aka Teddy Fay—took a seat on the only other chair in the room, and rolled his head over his shoulders, like he didn’t have a care in the world.

The truth was he did not know Dieter Mainz personally, but he knew someone who knew the German mercenary. That someone had made it clear to Mainz that his cooperation would go a long way in keeping him from being turned over to some very bad people he had pissed off.

Ten minutes later, the door opened again, and the man returned. “Come with me.”

He led Teddy through the building and into a large garage. Half a dozen men were hanging around the far corner, not talking to each other and looking like they were waiting for something. Two other men were standing next to a black Suburban that Teddy would bet was armored.

“Wait here,” his escort said, then jogged over to the two at the SUV.

A few seconds later, he waved for Teddy to join them.

When Teddy did, the guy said to the others, “This is Dial,” without his previous sarcasm.

“Thanks, Sammy,” the older of the two said. “That’ll be all.”

The escort—Sammy—nodded and left.

“I’m the Corporal,” the older one said. He didn’t introduce his friend. “I talked to Dieter. He said you’re good in a tight spot. Trustworthy.”

“Happy he thinks so.”

“Says you know how to shoot, too.”

Teddy nodded.

“I understand you did some contract work for the Agency?”

“Among others.”

“How long ago was that?”

A shrug. “A few years.”

“Why did you stop?”

“Did my job too well.”

“Dieter mentioned an incident in Rome.”

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