Extreme Instinct

As McCarter stepped through the arch, a soft beep was audible.

“No guns,” the second guard stated in halting English. “Leave it with us.”

“But this is a gun show,” McCarter stated in mock outrage.

Laying a hand on the MP-5, the guard stiffened. “No guns.”

“Excuse my partner, sir,” the first guard said smoothly. “The Norel weapons policy is for your own protection. There are far too many—shall we say—old friends who meet here, and in the heat of the moment…well…” The guard smiled tolerantly, spreading his hands in a classic Italian gesture.

Pretending to be annoyed, the members of Phoenix Force passed over their never-before-used weapons, and McCarter incredibly received a claim chit in return, as if they had just stored their coats at a restaurant.

“And how is the sheikh these days, sir?” a guard asked out of the blue.

“Still deceased,” McCarter replied, then added a smile that said the exact opposite was true.

The two armed men laughed and bowed slightly as they waved him forward.

One at a time, the Stony Man operatives walked through the weapon scanner. There was a brief moment of concern about the locked attaché case carried by Encizo, so he reluctantly opened it to display a double row of small bars of gold bullion. The guards probed for a false bottom, but found nothing and finally allowed Encizo through to join the other members of Phoenix Force.

It was clear that the guards were suspicious of that much rare metal being used as a payment, as diamonds were much more prevalent. They were lighter, smaller, easier to transport and could be smuggled inside a human mule if necessary. However, there was nothing forbidden about using precious metals; only narcotics were not acceptable as payment for the goods. Not for any ethical reasons, but purely because the quality of drugs was often too difficult for even a professional to properly ascertain.