6. An Unexpected Visitor
"Knock knock," a female voice sounded from behind him.
"Jesus!" Bill exclaimed as he jumped from behind the workbench. He turned to stare at the intruder. "How the hell did you get in?"
Tess smiled at him. "Good to see you too, Bill. I knew I could expect a warm welcome." She walked toward the workbench and whistled in appreciation at the contraption that hung overhead. "What are you building?"
Bill followed her gaze to the Frigidaire refrigerator that was suspended in mid-air at the opposite end of the warehouse. The long piece of rope attached to it snaked through the ceiling rafters and ended underneath a heavy cement block near where he stood.
"A trap," he replied shortly. "Too many goddamn infected gettin' in lately. I wouldn't walk in that general area if I were you," he added, nodding toward a blue door that led into the adjacent building.
"You're getting pretty creative with these," said Tess, still staring at the setup. "A lot of work for a trap, though. Protecting a secret up in that castle of yours?" She looked back in the direction of Sammy's diner.
"To what do I owe this surprise?" Bill asked, ignoring her question.
Tess turned to face him. "I can't visit a friend once in a while?"
Bill glared at her from behind his magnification glasses.
"Okay, here's the deal," said Tess, skipping the rest of the formalities. "I need some explosives, C-4 to be exact."
"You're kidding," Bill said in disbelief.
"Can't say that I am," said Tess, leaning herself against the wooden table.
"What makes you think I have a bunch of C-4 just lyin' around?"
"You're using something awfully strong for those traps you've got all over town, and I know you save the good stuff for yourself, Bill. Anyway, I'm willing to trade for them. I brought you some toys you won't be able to resist."
Bill arched his eyebrows. "Big words, but you've got my attention."
Tess placed her pack on the table. She reached in and pulled out two silver pistols, along with a pair of extra magazines.
"That it?" Bill looked at the guns with little enthusiasm.
"Hold your horses," she said, digging for something else inside the pack. After a few seconds, she looked up in triumph. Tess held up two identical cylindrical suppressors and attached one of them onto the closest gun.
"Ever get tired of sneaking around, shooting arrows? This'll change your life, Bill."
Bill examined the suppressors. They were the real thing, and in great condition; a rare item even for him to find. He folded his arms.
"How much C-4 are we talkin'?"
"Ten pounds."
Bill laughed out loud. "That's funny, Tess. I never took you to be a comedian."
"Five pounds at the very least," Tess countered, anticipating his answer.
His laughter subdued into a look of sobriety. "Alright, I'll play. Say I had something close to what you're asking. There's no way in hell I'm gonna give it up for a couple of rusty lookin' silenced handguns."
Tess smiled. "I thought you might say that." She reached into her backpack again and to his surprise, pulled out an assault rifle. She clicked the folding stock of the gun into place and handed it to Bill. "A 7.62x39 caliber, semi-automatic AK47, lightweight polymer folding stock, built-in sight adaptor, and all around badass looking gun. Comes with five mags of forty-five rounds each. Easy to carry, easy to maintain. Satisfaction guaranteed."
Bill examined the rifle in his hands closely. It was a beauty. An all-black AK47 in excellent condition with enough fire power to stop anyone dead in their tracks, infected or human.
"This is serious," he finally said as he placed the gun on the table. "You sure you're ready to part with something like this?"
"Desperate needs, desperate times," Tess replied.
"What are you and Joel plannin' to do with all that C-4?
"I'm afraid I can't divulge. Our client is big on secrets."
Bill frowned at her words. "You're working with the Fireflies?"
Tess' smile faltered. Her features darkened at the mention of the militia group. "It's a one-time deal. A win-win, as Marlene likes to say."
"And you believe that?"
"You worried we can't handle ourselves?"
Bill grunted in disapproval. "I'm worried about my trading route. If you guys get your heads blown off, it'll take time to find a new guy that's not a complete idiot."
Tess' expression eased into a grin. "Why Bill, I think that's the sweetest thing you've ever said to me. So…we have a deal?"
Bill looked down at weapons on the table. It was a proposition he couldn't pass up.
"We have a deal," he replied. "But for the record, don't say I didn't warn you about the damn Fireflies."