Linh watched as Pops leaned the bat up against the box and placed another X on the calendar. He stared at her intently before gathering up the hose and disappearing back out the passageway.

It was eleven o’clock at night when Natasha heard Jack arrive and the noise of his suitcase landing on the tiled floor at the front door. She was ready for bed, but he had called so she waited, watching the The National on CBC.

“Let me guess, don’t tell me your name,” said Natasha teasingly, before kissing him warmly on his lips. She stepped back and looked at him again. “I’m not sure ... maybe if I use a little more passion.” She kissed him again, taking her time and running the end of her tongue around his lips before stepping back.

“Now do you remember who I am?” asked Jack.

“I’ve certainly narrowed it down to a short list.”

“Really? How many names are on that short list?”

“Unfortunately, quite a few. Do you have any distinguishing marks or scars to jog my memory?”

“I can’t remember. Maybe if you allowed me a moment to take my coat off and undress we could find out.”

Natasha smiled and hugged him again. “I missed you. I’m so glad you’re back. Travelling to all these exotic places ... with another woman, I might add.”

“Speaking of Laura, you didn’t happen to buy her a certain bottle of perfume, did you? As a bon voyage present?”

Natasha furrowed her eyebrows and said, “No, I never ... ah, ha! Your allergies.”

“I did get you a little something,” said Jack, handing her a large plastic bag.

Natasha peered inside the bag. “A conical hat!” she laughed, quickly trying it on. “What do you think? Perfect for the rain we’re getting this time of year.”

“Looks adorable, but the outfit isn’t complete. There’s more. I just have to unpack it.”

Natasha followed Jack into the bedroom and watched him unpack.

“You must be exhausted,” she said.

“Managed to catch a couple of winks on the plane, but not much.”

“How did everything go? Earlier, when we talked, you said you were putting the father into jail with them.”

“Partly successful,” said Jack. “He learned that the two Russians and one of the Tran brothers likely know where Linh is, but that is all. Homicide will work through the night on it. Laura and I are meeting with them in the morning.”

“These guys are monsters,” said Natasha. “They should be ...”

“I know,” said Jack. “Let’s not talk about that now.”

“Sorry.” Natasha changed the subject and said, “I bet you’re glad that Jacob recanted your transfer.”

Jack paused and grinned. “Yeah, Jacob to you. God to me.”

Jack found the package wrapped in soft tissue paper and handed it to Natasha. She tore it open and saw the silk gown.

“Traditional Vietnamese gown,” said Jack. “I hope it fits.”

“It’s beautiful!” said Natasha. “Thank you,” she added, kissing him on the cheek. “Give me a minute in the bathroom to try it on. You finish unpacking.”

Minutes later, Natasha decided that the outfit looked really good on her. It was tailored to fit the curves of her body perfectly. She leaned into the mirror and re-did her makeup, before lightly tossing her hair with her hands.

“What do you think?” she asked, walking into the bedroom and giving a wave of her arms to show off her new outfit.

Jack didn’t respond. He was sprawled across the bed, sound asleep.

Connie glanced at her watch when she saw Jack and Laura walk up to her desk. It was eight o’clock in the morning. She stifled a yawn before asking, “What did you do with Bien?”

“We told him we’d meet him today for lunch. How did you make out?”

“Nada. Nothing. Most everyone in our office has been up all night and we don’t have a thing to show for it.”

“No third party connection?” asked Laura.

“Not a fucking one,” said Connie, angrily. She looked at Jack and said, “So now what the hell do we do? They’ll all be released in a couple of hours and we still don’t have a clue as to where she is.”

“At least now we know that Dúc and the Russians probably have a good idea as to who has her,” said Jack.

“So what?” said Connie. “After yesterday, they’ll all be too paranoid to go anywhere near where Linh is. Besides, they have no reason to. It’s not like we have a clue. If we do risk putting surveillance on them and they spot it—you both know what will happen.”

“You’re tired,” said Jack. “You’ve been up all day and all night.”

“Christ,” said Connie, dismissing Jack’s comment with a wave of her hand. “I even considered telling Dúc that the charges might go away and his money might reappear if he had something of value to give us.”

“They would figure that out pretty quick,” said Jack. “You’d be signing Linh’s death warrant. Not to mention that Dúc is involved with this. He has his own ass to protect.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“Go home, get some sleep,” said Jack. “It’s easier to think of a game plan when you’ve had a little shut-eye.”

“Yeah? Well you just had some. Do you have a game plan?”

“So you don’t have any surveillance planned on Dúc or the Russians?” asked Jack.

Oh, man ... I don’t like the sounds of this, decided Laura.

“No,” said Connie. “Like I said, we don’t dare chance it.”

“I agree completely. Just wanted to make sure.”

Connie glanced at her watch and said, “Damn it, I’m already late to talk to Isaac. He wants to be debriefed personally on this twice a day. So what are you two going to do?”

“Look for a new informant,” said Jack. “Maybe some way to get in through the back door.”

“Yeah, well ... good luck.”

Laura waited until they were in the car and looked at Jack and said, “I heard you in there.”

“Heard me what?”

“You’re pleased that they’re not being followed. I know you, it’s more than just not tipping them off. What’s up? What’s this about getting a new informant?”

“Two of them,” said Jack. “Moustache Pete and the Fat Man.”

“You can’t be serious. They’ll never turn! You ask them anything and Linh will end up in another Dumpster.”

“We won’t ask them anything. All we have to do is get them to tell us.”

“What, some kind of UC? The Trans didn’t take the bait with Bien.”

“A UC, but we keep Bien out of this.”

“How? You got an angle to get in with the Russians?”

“Yes.”

“Even if we do gain their trust ... I doubt that they would ever talk about it. Or if they do, they’re smart enough not to give away any details that would let us locate her.”

“That depends upon our approach,” replied Jack, giving a grim smile. “I think I figured out something from what Bien told us last night. The part about the Trans wondering why the Russians didn’t sell them the girls for more money.”

“I remember.”

“So why didn’t they?”

Laura paused and watched as a group of school children walked across the road in front of them. She glanced at Jack and said, “I don’t know. Maybe doing someone a favour.”

“These guys deal in human flesh ... children,” said Jack, gesturing to the group crossing the road. “They don’t do any favours unless there is something in it for them.”

“Such as?”

“Remember what we heard in Cuba when they were waiting to meet with the Arabs at that restaurant? The comment about an insurance policy?”

“Vaguely.”

“They talked about the incident at the airport and how they had to be careful.”

“Quaile.”

“No doubt. Then Fat Man made a comment saying that is why they carry insurance. He said that with the police, insurance is always good.”

“I don’t get it.”

“I think that is the reason they sold off the girls for less money. They want a pervert to have them. I think they know where Linh is, or at least know how to find out.”

“The girls are their insurance policy!”

Jack nodded. “If either of them gets taken down with anything serious, they’re going to use the girls as their insurance policy to walk away.”