The Art of the Arms Deal

By James Vesping

Meet Clarence and Bill: arms dealers of the 21st century. They can sell you the right weapons for the right price, if you're willing to put your morals aside for just a little while. But sometimes, even the sweetest deals come with great risks. Stuck with a lot of hot, stolen munitions, they find themselves drawn into the more dangerous world of arms dealing, where the customers are armed to the gills and the wrong move gets you killed. For the promise of a big payout, how much would you risk?

• Language: English
• Publisher: James Vesping
• Release date: Oct 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005777111

James Vesping

James Vesping is a former network technician, having worked in both the private and the government sector. He has worked in software and web development in both professional and hobbyist capacities, including several simulation projects for popular sandbox games. In 2015, he began writing novels as a hobbyist, which turned into a full time job by 2017. You can find him on the web at JamesVesping.com.

Book preview

The Art of the Arms Deal

by

James Vesping

Copyright 2020 James Vesping

Cover art Copyright 2020 James Vesping

All rights reserved.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Clarence took a deep breath, then slowly let it out, hoping that the sweat accumulating across his body wouldn't give the wrong impression. Breathe. Relax. It's not the first time military hardware has traded hands. He reached up and adjusted his tie, then slicked his hair back, feeling into a sudden well of confidence from his own thoughts. They might call it illegal arms dealing, but what's legal in this world? Those who have the gold make the rules and weapons are worth their weight in gold. He glanced up at the clock, noting that his client was starting to get late – real late. Did he find a better deal?

Were you followed? a male voice asked from behind Clarence, momentarily startling him.

By who? Clarence mumbled back, glancing behind himself to see a scarred man – a representative of the mercenary unit he was trying to sell to.

Anyone. You know how this business is, the scarred man replied, moving over to sit at the chair across from Clarence. I took in a few sights, delayed my meeting a bit. Keeps people on their toes.

Clarence lifted an eyebrow. Why would anyone care about our business?

The scarred man leaned forward and narrowed his eyes. UN's cracking down – haven't you heard? Too much surplus American hardware leaking out into the world. Piracy is at an all time high. Doesn't take a rocket surgeon to get what they think about our business.

Clarence pursed his lips as he thought for a moment, considering his words. Well, we do sell products made by rocket surgeons, so-

Don't get smart with me, the scarred man dryly remarked, sitting back and folding his arms. And besides, it's surplus rocket surgery anyways. Unless you're telling me you have access to new build stuff, to which I'd call bull.

Right. Straight to business. Clarence cleared his throat and grabbed his briefcase, causing the scarred man to reach for his waist.

Easy. No sudden movements, the scarred man whispered, lifting his chin up toward Clarence's briefcase.

Clarence paused for a moment, then shook his head. He slowly brought the briefcase up and set it on the table, then flipped open the latches. He twisted it around and let the scarred man look inside as he opened it up, showing off the various brochures and papers within.

You're not good at this, are you? the scarred man asked, relaxing his body. Assassins are all over now. I hear even spies are getting involved with mercenaries now.

Not my monkeys, not my circus, Clarence replied, pulling out a few pages from