“It is,” Curt said. “It’s called a Glock. It’s a very good weapon. It’s the preferred handgun with the militias.”

“Is there anything particular that I should know about it?” Yuri said. He released the magazine catch and slipped it out. He glanced at the bullets and counted them.

“You just point it at your brother-in-law and pull the trigger,” Curt said. “The gun does the rest.”

Yuri laughed. He slipped his finger within the trigger guard and pointed the gun at his refrigerator. “Bang!” he said and jerked the gun as if it had recoiled. He laughed again before placing the gun on the coffee table.

Curt and Steve relaxed and sat back in their seats.

“There’s something else in the bag,” Curt said.

“There is?” Yuri questioned. He reached down and retrieved the package. He pulled out a cellophane bag that seemed to be filled with black hair. The corners of Yuri’s mouth drew up into a half smile. He thought it was some kind of joke. “What the hell is this?”

“It’s something we picked up in a costume store on the way over here,” Curt said. “It’s a beard.”

“What on earth for?” Yuri asked.

“It’s to make a point,” Curt said. “The gun is only for an absolute emergency. We don’t want you using it. Stay away from your brother-in-law and take your phone off the hook. Don’t talk to him. When you go out, make sure he’s not around and wear the stupid beard. If he happens to come around, don’t let him in. Just get rid of him. The problem is, that if you use the gun, it’ll bring the police, and if the police come here and start snooping around, Operation Wolverine goes down the toilet. If that happens, Steve and I and the PAA troops are going to be very unhappy. Am I making myself clear?’

“Don’t worry,” Yuri said with a wave of dismissal. “I’ll only use the gun to avoid being killed myself. It’s more to just make me feel safe.”

“That’s what I was hoping,” Curt said.

“After all,” Yuri added as he tore open the cellophane package, “Operation Wolverine is just as important to me as it is to you. The last thing I’d want to do is something that would interfere with it.”

Yuri pulled out the fake beard and held it up against his face. “How do I look?”

“Ridiculous,” Curt said.

Yuri laughed and put the cellophane and the beard back into the paper bag.

Curt stood up, and Steve and Yuri followed suit. Curt stuck out his hand and Yuri shook it enthusiastically.

“So what time Thursday night?” Curt asked.

“As you wish,” Yuri said. “It will be ready when you want.”