Locating a cupboard marked custodial closet, he dug through the shelves but came up empty. He returned to his desk and sat, the chair tipping too far back for his tall frame. Obviously, his desk and chair had been downgraded with other staff members before his arrival. Harry made a list of items on his mobile that he needed to survive his workstation: drill, screws, post, hand saw, and heater.

He rubbed his hands together, the friction warming his skin, then moved the heater to the top of his list.

The colonel’s door burst open. Two sergeants left after a quick salute to Harry. A tall, spare man with thinning hair occupied the doorway and assessed him.

Harry jumped to attention. “Captain Benson reporting for duty, sir.”

“Captain Benson, I hope I didn’t keep you waiting long.”

“No, sir.”

“Good. Good. Come in.” The colonel motioned with a tilt of the head toward his office.

Harry tucked his hat under his arm and followed the colonel inside. Several stacks of paper lay piled on the colonel’s desk. Across the room, an aerodynamic road bicycle hung on a special rack.

“Do you bike?” Horwith asked.

“Just for leisure. That looks serious.” Harry nodded at the bicycle.

“This little gem is made of carbon fibers to specifically fit my body and give me the most efficient performance. I had custom tubes and forks added that have a narrow profile to cut the wind and, hopefully, my time in next month’s race. You’re welcome to join me on my daily rides; there’s a group of us on base who belong to the local racing club.”

“Sorry, I left my bike at home.”

“A shame that,” the colonel said, giving his bicycle one last glance.

Colonel Horwith didn’t inquire about Harry’s last duty station or his time in the Middle East. Most peculiar. All Harry’s former commanding officers had gone over his credentials, drilling him for details. From what Harry gathered, Colonel Horwith had only one love, and that was bicycle racing. Over the next few days, the lax protocol on base puzzled Harry, until he stumbled across the reason: Glenkinnon was a sunset tour, meaning senior officers stationed here did not advance in rank. Because of that, the rigid discipline so prevalent on other bases had slackened.

The fourth day on duty, Harry glanced up from his desk to see Colonel Horwith and a number of junior officers depart for lunch, mounted on their bicycles.

Harry left his desk and wandered the building, checking each cubicle to assure himself that no one remained. Lifting his tools from his desk drawer, Harry applied himself to the pin-and-tumbler, a cylinder-type lock, on the colonel’s door. Lucky for him, the base’s security needed a serious updating. Click.