“Very much,” replied Carlos. “Face to face!”

“I would expect a fee to arrange this. Say $1 million in American?”

“You show me where he is and I will agree to that.”

“I also want your assurance that you will never come after me or my family again.”

“For this, you are my amigo.”

“Good. I am told he will only be in Colombia tonight. I have someone close to him. He fears you. He said he would never be taken alive.”

“I want the last face he sees to be mine!”

“I will know later where he is staying. My friend may be in a position to assist. I am told he always likes to take a shower after having sex. Perhaps my friend will signal when he is in the shower. Do we have a deal?”

“Si, Señor Taggart. We have a deal! How may I contact you?”

“I will contact you. I suggest you have people standing by. Time is of the essence. It will have to be tonight or early tomorrow morning.”

Damien left the shoe store and met with Jack.

“Went great,” said Damien. “They tracked down Ramirez and I spoke with him on the phone. He invited all three of us to his villa for lunch. I declined. It’s noon now. We need more time to get organized, so I said we would be there at two.”

“Excellent. Good work.”

“Everything okay out here?”

“Perfect,” said Jack.

Jack and Damien entered the hotel lobby just as Laura stepped inside the elevator. They caught the next elevator, and moments later Jack knocked on Laura’s door. He saw the movement as she checked the peephole, then opened the door.

Jack saw the look of concern on her face as she held her finger to her lips.

Damien, standing behind Jack, did not see Laura’s finger and asked, “You sneak out and rent a place to use?”

Jack grabbed Damien by the arm but was too late. Both men silently followed Laura inside the room.

Laura pointed to her pillow.

Jack saw the coin and picked it up. A Canadian penny!

Damien frowned and looked at Jack and Laura for an explanation. Jack used a piece of hotel stationery to write “We’re bugged.”

Damien briefly closed his eyes and slapped his forehead. His question to Laura was a serious mistake.

“So, I didn’t really hear you,” said Jack, while turning to face Laura. “Were you able to sneak out and rent a place without anyone knowing?”

Laura was startled but saw the slight nod of Jack’s head.

“Yes, I did,” she said. “Three of them. A place called Maria’s Cabinas.”

“Good,” said Jack somewhat loudly. “I feel bad not letting anyone know, but it is for our own protection. Jean-Louie may trust his people, but I don’t. If anything goes wrong and we need a safe place to hide, that will be it. You pay cash and use a fake name like I told you to?”

Laura took a deep breath and slowly let it out. She then replied, “You bet. How did it go with you? Did you connect?”

“Went smooth,” said Damien, glancing around the room and wondering if video had also been installed. “We’ve been invited to meet Ramirez at his villa at two.”

“I better let Jean-Louie and the narcs know,” said Jack, looking at Damien. “Why don’t you grab a table in the restaurant downstairs for lunch. Laura and I will pay them a quick visit and then come down.”

When the trio left the room, Jack turned to Laura and said, “I thought Elvis was still at home?”

“He is. I talked to him last night. He took the call on the first ring. He wouldn’t lie to me about that!”

“What the hell is going on?” growled Damien. “Who is Elvis?”

“Laura’s husband. Works Anti-Corruption,” said Jack.

“You’ve got to be kidding!” said Damien, looking at Laura.

“He’s a great guy.” Laura shrugged.

“Yeah? Well who are you working on?” asked Damien.

“Enough,” said Jack. “She’s solid. We wouldn’t have been warned if it hadn’t been for her husband. Someone is suspicious. You can bet they’ve got bugs in at Maria’s Cabinas and everywhere else they can.”

“I’m used to that,” grunted Damien. “Now you know how it feels. Shouldn’t change anything.”

“We’re in too deep to back out,” said Jack.

“Good,” said Damien. “Besides, what could really go wrong? All you do is make a phone call and we head for the airport. Let Ramirez take care of loose ends.”

Laura rolled her eyes and thought, What could go wrong? Oh man...

Jack and Laura both forced themselves to smile when Damien stopped at the guard house at the entrance to the Ramirez estate. One guard, carrying an M16A1 automatic rifle, checked their faces carefully while another guard used a telephone. Moments later, the electronic gate opened and they were allowed to proceed.

The estate was treed with a variety of pine, teak, and palm trees. The long driveway that eventually meandered up to the mansion was lined with palm trees. Jack and Laura caught glimpses of guards, with M16s slung over their shoulders, patrolling the grounds.

Jack grimaced. Jean-Louie was right. We’re on our own. He exchanged glances with Laura and Damien. He knew they were thinking the same thing. All we have is each other...

Introductions were made inside the front entrance to the mansion. Above their heads hung a chandelier that was slightly larger than a Volkswagen.

Ramirez was cordial, spoke excellent English, and his eyes sparkled when he met Laura. Jack guessed that he was about sixty years old. He was a tall, solid-looking man with grey hair that contrasted sharply with his dark skin. He had a long ponytail that made his balding head more obvious. Despite the heat and the humidity, he was dressed in a long-sleeved silk shirt and slacks. Leather sandals adorned his feet.

They were ushered out to the rear of the mansion, past an Olympic-sized pool where a bevy of young and beautiful women either lay on lounge chairs or cooled themselves in the water. Most wore thong bikinis and some had elected to go topless.

Minutes later, they took a seat in a gazebo and drinks were offered. Both Jack and Laura chose a Chilean Riesling, while Damien settled for a beer. Ramirez also chose the Riesling.

Conversation was light until after the waiter poured the wine and placed an Aguila beer in front of Damien. As soon as he had left, Ramirez looked at Damien and said, “So, amigo, you have brought ... your friends with you on this trip?”

“They’re acquainted with the business,” replied Damien. “Jack here is good with numbers.”

“Numbers?” asked Ramirez.

“I am like a gardener,” said Jack. “I know how to make them grow ... safely.”

Ramirez laughed, then raised his glass to salute Jack. As he took a sip, he paused to look at Laura and asked, “And you, my beautiful lady. Why is it that you are here?”

“Oh, I’m just here to help murder you,” said Laura.

Ramirez’s eyes widened and he spit wine from his mouth while signalling to a nearby guard who quickly dropped his weapon from his shoulder.

“Christ!” said Damien.

“Oh! I’m sorry,” said Laura, looking at Ramirez. “I take it that Damien has not explained that part to you?”

Ramirez gestured for his guard to wait while Damien quickly explained the situation. When he was finished, Ramirez looked at the three of them and said, “So ... this worthless dog, Carlos, he has hired a beautiful woman to lure me away to be murdered.”

Jack studied Ramirez’s face as he spoke. His words were calm, sounding matter-of-fact. His face revealed his true feelings. Despite his dark skin, there was a noticeable redness, and the tendons in his neck protruded slightly more than usual. He was clearly angered.