“That’s awful.”

“It makes you think. I can put up with just about anything as long as we’re together,” she added, bringing her face close to his.

Jack felt her warm mouth linger on his lips. When she pulled away, he said, “I guess we really should remember to put things in perspective. You look around at our apartment, all the things we have ... but the really important things in life aren’t things.”

“Despite what goes on at work,” said Natasha, “we have each other. Enjoy life. Every precious minute. Speaking of which, I do have an idea that might help you.”

“Right now? You said I needed a break from work.”

“Something to make your work more fun.”

“I’m listening.”

“Would you still like to learn a few more words of Russian? We could start with the parts of the body,” said Natasha, with a grin. “Correct pronunciation and memory could be enhanced through a tactile approach.”

Jack smiled and said, “Now I know what you mean by making my work fun.”

Laura checked her watch. It was 1:45 in the afternoon and for the last five hours she had been sitting in a car with Jack. They were parked where they could observe the front entrance to the Russians’ apartment.

She glanced at Jack. Yesterday he had told her about the meeting he’d had with Quaile over his assessment. She had a sleepless night because of it. I know life isn’t fair ... but why do some people go out of their way to make it unfair?

She cleared her throat and said, “If you end up being transferred because of Quaile, then I’m putting in for a transfer, too.”

Jack looked at her and said, “Thanks ... I appreciate what you’re saying, but in the long run, that just means the bad guys win. You’re a real asset to the section. I’d really hate to see what it would be like if Quaile brought in his own minions.”

Laura sighed and said, “Oh, man ... I hadn’t thought about that. I know you’re right, but I still couldn’t work for a man like that. It’s barely tolerable with you as a buffer. I’d flip out if I had to deal with him directly.”

“I guess you have to do what makes you happy ... but don’t quit just because of me. Besides, maybe a break for me would be okay.”

“Don’t try and placate me,” replied Laura. “I know you better than that. This is your life.”

“Yours, too,” replied Jack. “Which is why I don’t want you to throw it away on my account.”

“I wouldn’t be throwing it away. I’d probably be saving myself from being arrested for homicide.”

Jack chuckled, turned up the radio and said, “Oh, one of my favourites.” He started drumming his fingers on the steering wheel while singing along to Billy Joel’s “You May Be Right.”

“I thought you liked classical?” asked Laura, more to save her ears than find out the answer.

“All depends on the mood I’m in,” replied Jack. “I basically like it all. Classical, country, rock ... anything but heavy metal or opera. One of my favourites is Dr. Hook.”

Laura saw him pause to pick up with the words on the radio and quickly said, “You’re awfully perky today—considering how you felt yesterday after seeing Quaile.”

Jack smiled and leaned back in his seat and said, “I get the point. Sorry. I think one of the most dangerous things I ever did was to try and sing karaoke in a bar one night. You’re right, though, nothing like a few hours of sleep to put life back in perspective.”

“Somehow I get the feeling that you did more than sleep.”

Jack gave Laura a sideways glance and said, “God help Elvis if he ever fooled around on you.”

“He’d only do it once.”

“Hey, that reminds me. Natasha said you told her she was a brave woman to marry me.”

Laura snickered, but didn’t reply.

“I told her you were a wench. Not to believe anything you say.”

“A wench! Is that what you called me?” said Laura, giving Jack a playful punch on the arm.

“Out of the car,” said Jack, seriously.

“I was kidding!”

“No. Our targets. Moustache Pete and the Fat Man.... They’re taking a walk.”

Laura quickly got out of the car and hustled down the street. She caught up to the Russians and kept pace with them from the opposite side of the street. She used a portable radio to keep in touch with Jack, who would reposition the car as they went.

“They just went inside a business,” radioed Laura. “Travel King. Stand by—I’ll do a walk past.” Moments later, Laura radioed again, “They’re just sitting down with a woman. Looks like they’re planning on taking a trip.”

Laura rejoined Jack in the car and they waited. Twenty minutes later, the Russians appeared and walked back toward their apartment.

“Do you think they knew the woman?” asked Jack.

“No, I saw them shaking hands, like an introduction.”

“Good. Let’s chance it and go talk to her.”

Jack and Laura introduced themselves to the travel agent and expressed their interest in the two Russians. Elaine introduced herself and said, “I’m not really supposed to do this ... but they’re flying out of Vancouver a week today. Their destination flight is the city of Liberia located in the northern part of Costa Rica.”

Matches the call on the pay phone, thought Jack. He glanced at Laura and saw her nod.

“From there,” said Elaine, “they’re taking about a forty-five minute taxi ride to the coast. A small town called Playas del Coco—or as us gringos call it, Coco Beach.”

“I know that place,” said Jack. “I passed through there on my honeymoon.”

“You should have booked it through me,” said Elaine, with a smile. “Anyway, I offered to get these two guys a rental car but they weren’t interested. They did ask that I book them each a room at Hotel Coco Verde, which I did. It’s walking distance to the beach and has a pool and a casino.”

“They asked for that specific hotel?” asked Jack.

“Yes. Actually I told them that the place has a reputation for a lot of prostitution. Men go there on conferences and sometimes book a prostitute to be with them for the whole time they’re there. These two didn’t care. They said they were meeting a friend who was going there and had already recommended it.”

“No indication of who their friend was?” asked Jack.

“They didn’t say, but when I was booking their flight, one of them told me that the date was good because it was two days before the guy arrived that they were supposed to meet. That’s all I know. They are there for a week and then are scheduled to return.”

Jack gave Elaine his business card and she promised to call him if there were any changes.

On their way back to their office, Laura said, “Our Russians have to be planning on bringing in cocaine. They’ve been checking the ports, wanting navigational maps—they must have a boat they’re using.”

“I sort of agree,” replied Jack. “Costa Rica is like the skinny end of the funnel for coke coming up from South America. As I recall, someone told me that Coco Beach is the first port of entry for boats coming into the country from the north.”

“Did you and Natasha stay at the Hotel Coco Verde?”

Jack laughed and said, “No. A small place called Villa del Sol. Actually it’s owned by a couple of French-Canadians. Nice people.”

“You said you sort of agree. Not completely?”

“If it was cocaine importation, why didn’t the bikers cut themselves in on the action ... or permanently cut the Russians out? That part still doesn’t make sense to me. Maybe it is cocaine importation, but there has to be something else. Something that scared our friend in Satans Wrath—and he doesn’t scare easily.”

“We’ve got to go down there,” replied Laura. “What chance do you think we’ll have with Quaile authorizing that?”

“Last week I would have said none,” replied Jack, “but after the number Bob did on him, I bet there won’t be a problem,” he added with a wink.

Jack’s meeting with Quaile was brief.

“I’ll okay it for you and Laura to go,” said Quaile, “but for the chunk you’re taking out of our budget, I can tell you right now ... you’d better get results!”