Chapter 41

Veronique and Kurt were at the dining table as well, all of them enjoying dinner together as was the informal custom when a mission was completed. The others were absent, working in the field and on assignments, which suited Wolfgang and Eva perfectly. They were few in any case, the field operatives Mozart used, and numbered less than a dozen men and women specialized in various activities such as surveillance, blackmail and extortion, physical coercion, and more. Kurt was an expert at surveillance while Veronique's many talents included kidnapping and interrogation. She was rather proud of her skills, as they all were, and rightly so; Herr Mozart's people were very good at what they did.

"What is this?" Mozart narrowed his old gray eyes, looking at the gift wrapped package Eva had placed on the table near him.

"It occurred to us," Eva smiled with a glance at Wolfgang, "that we don't know your birthday, Herr Mozart. And so we decided that today is as good as any other. Happy birthday."

"Happy birthday," Wolfgang echoed, lifting his wine glass in salute.

"Open it!" Veronique laughed, joining the toast with her own glass held high.

"My birthday is today as well," Kurt said with a grin as he caught Eva's eyes for a moment.

"Don't be spoiled, Herr Glauss," Eva said to Kurt, drawing a chuckle from the old man as he opened the package slowly. Mozart rather enjoyed the little games his underlings played with each other, it seemed to Eva, and in that way she thought him very perverse.

"If you're looking for a pay raise..." Mozart said glancing between Eva and Wolfgang, " ... this is a good way to do it!"

"What is it?" Veronique wondered.

"Cigars?" Kurt ventured.

"I have a new box, it seems ... Oh ... Very nice," Mozart said with a nod as he opened the rectangular wooden case. "A Makarov pistol. East German too. I used to carry one just like it."

The old man held up the box, showing everyone the black semi-automatic pistol with a long suppressor attached to the barrel. It was nestled snugly in a cut-foam enclosure covered with red velvet. Beneath the barrel and suppressor, in their own form fitted places, were two fully loaded magazines for the weapon. Inside the lid was afixed the original manufacturer's certificate, bearing the date and serial number, as well as the official seal of Ernst Thaelmann/Simson, the company that had produced the weapon in Suhl some thirty years before.

"Well done." Kurt nodded, looking at Wolfgang. "Your idea?"

"For the man who has everything." Wolfgang smiled.

"I wanted to get him something a little less practical," Eva said to Kurt and then turned her gaze on Veronique. "I was thinking lingerie, but I don't know your size."

"Why didn't you ask your husband?" Veronique retorted sweetly.

"Practical is always the perfect gift..." Mozart said, interrupting Eva before she could reply, " ... for a man my age. Thank you."

"Where did you find it?" Kurt asked.

"There are a lot of Makarov's around," Wolfgang shrugged.

"But very few examples like this," Mozart said with a genuine smile for Wolfgang and Eva. "You make me very proud. Both of you."