Mountains of Dawn

"Edda is my right hand," Tanya said with a smile at Edda. "For once, I wanted her to relax and enjoy."

"Tanya, this is all so beautiful," Judith said. "Big house, nice furniture…even the china is beautiful." She fingered the flowered pattern on her dish's rim.

Tanya laughed. "It's all rented, Judith. House, furniture, dishes…all of it."

"I see. Wise move," Judith said.

Charles kept his gaze on Judith as if he were unable to glance away. "I hear you're an excellent shot, Judith. Busy winning medals. Is that short or long range?"

"Both," she replied. "I'm fast and accurate." She paused. "I believe it's because of my eyesight," Judith said. She scrunched up her face, squinting her eyes, and laughed. "I have 23/20 eyesight. I can recognize the target in front of me before anyone else does."

"Interesting," Charles said. "Do you practice much?"

Judith smiled up at Charles. "It's my hobby, or perhaps I should say, my obsession. I'm at the range whenever I have any free time."

"Pity you left the force. They need people like you." Charles took his seat at the table.

After a fairly long pause, Tanya turned to Judith. "Was action stressful for you, Judith?" she asked.

"Well-" Judith replied. "During times of real danger, I'm cool, almost a machine. My entire body is alert. But later, I question myself. I worry I may have hurt someone unnecessarily." She looked pensive. "I'm filled with self-doubt, in the aftermath."

Tanya reached across the table and patted her friend's hand. "Your new job should be less stressful for you."

"Hopefully," Judith said.

A delicious aroma drifted from the covered dishes. Edda lifted one and offered a huge plate of spareribs to Judith. "Help yourself," she said. "Are you in charge of Tanya's case?"

Judith carefully lifted the food onto her plate and passed the platter to Charles. "No," she replied. "Right now, there's nothing much anyone can do for her. The agency-the Invicta-is concentrating on the explosive. It's manufactured in Norway." She paused to help herself to some garlic mashed potatoes from a steaming tureen. "The agency wants to find out which companies sell directly to private citizens, and how much at any given time." She added a helping of roasted asparagus to her plate.

"Tanya, this food is marvelous," she said. "Lamb with mint sauce, too. Oh, boy, I'll never manage to eat all I'd like to eat, without busting!"