“That ... that is so sick.”

“I know.”

“We don’t have enough evidence to nail them for smuggling. As far as the courts would allow, all we have is mere association with the people we do have evidence on.”

“I know, but ...”

“A UC will take time to gain their trust.”

“Who said anything about gaining their trust? That is definitely not part of the UC I have in mind.”

“So I take it there was a reason why you didn’t mention this plan to Connie?”

“I wouldn’t recommend you tell anyone about it.”

Laura sighed. “Okay ... how, where and when?”

“How ... is we kidnap them. Where ... is outside their apartment building. When ... is right now.”

Oh, man ...

chapter thirty-four

Jack and Laura drove over to the Russians’ apartment building and parked where they could watch the front entrance.

“Curtains are still pulled,” said Laura, as she scanned the penthouse suite with binoculars. “Still sleeping.”

“We’ll wait. I’d better call Bien and tell him we can’t make lunch.”

Or dinner either, if we end up in jail, thought Laura.

Jack used his cellphone and called Bien’s hotel. The switchboard put the call through and Bien answered the call on the first ring.

“Bien, it’s Jack, I take it I didn’t wake—”

“Any news?” asked Bien. “Connie ... did she find something?”

Jack grimaced and said, “I’m sorry, she didn’t find anything concrete yet.” He heard Bien’s forlorn sigh and continued, “But there are plenty of leads to follow. Laura and I are working on something now. That is why I’m calling. We won’t have time to meet you today for lunch ... I don’t know about supper.”

“That is okay,” replied Bien sadly. “I wasn’t able to sleep last night. All I can do is think about ....” Bien stopped and said, “I have a bad headache. I will try to sleep or maybe go for a walk. If you have news, please call me. Otherwise I will call you when I have rested.”

“Bien ... hang in there. Laura and I are working on this. We are doing everything possible.”

Not everything, Bien thought, as he hung up the phone.

The hours ticked by slowly for Jack and Laura as they waited in anticipation of what they were about to do.

At one o’clock, Laura sighed and said, “The blinds are still closed.”

Jack glanced upwards and nodded to indicate he heard, but his mind was brooding elsewhere. Today, two more men may go free for allowing children to be sexually exploited, abused ... and in this case, murdered. Free ... just like you, Douglas Henry.

Jack tried to wipe the image of his father from his mind, but it seemed the harder he tried, the more the image persisted. Funny, I don’t even want to say he’s my father ... even in my thoughts I prefer to use his first and middle name ... but he is my father. Even worse, I’m a policeman and still can’t arrest him without someone willing to come forward. Victims ... remaining silent ... allowing the continued exploitation of other children. How many would have been saved if only one had the courage to come forward earlier and put a stop to it?

“What about going up there and just hauling them out?” suggested Laura, interrupting his anguished thoughts.

Jack shook his head and said, “They’ve got video in the lobby. If this goes sideways ...” Jack decided not to end that sentence. It wasn’t necessary to dwell on that possibility. The image of his father returned. How many died like my sister Bonnie? Or did some prefer the needle over the bottle?

Douglas Henry ... you are able to spend your final days in perverted pleasure, knowing you are still able to inflict pain and anger on your own son—I wish there was life after death and a hell waiting for you ...

Jack felt relieved when Laura once again interrupted his thoughts. “What if it does go as planned,” she asked. “Then what happens to us?”

“Saving Linh is more important.”

“I wasn’t meaning that we shouldn’t. It’s just that with you ....” she glared at Jack and added, “never mind.”

“With me what?” asked Jack, as he took his turn with the binoculars.

“The ideas you come up with.”

“You don’t like this idea?” he asked, while refocusing the binoculars. “You’d rather yank out their fingernails?” Even for you, Douglas Henry, I would not do that. You are like a rabid dog. You should be destroyed—without feeling. Feeling anger would only make you happy.

“No, torture is not an option I would use,” said Laura. “Although I have to admit, the idea has occurred to me, only I’d remove another part of their bodies.”

“Sometimes I fantasize, too ... about a lot of people.”

“You’re a man, I bet you do. Telling Connie she has buns of steel. Do you undress all women with your eyes?”

Jack smiled, despite how he felt. “I prefer to use my fingers—”

“Jerk.”

“And there is just one woman I save that for.”

“Oh.”

“Trust me, Connie has never entered my fantasies. Besides, that is not what I meant when I asked you what you meant about my idea.”

“It’s good. That’s why I asked. What if this does work? Do you have a story to explain it all to everyone else? One that would keep us employed? Not that it matters, if we find Linh alive, it will be worth it.”

“Hadn’t really thought that far ahead yet. But—the blinds have just opened!” said Jack, passing the binoculars back to Laura.

Bien stepped through the doorway into the Sacred Phoenix and looked around the restaurant. He was immediately hailed by Dúc.

“I’m glad you made it,” said Dúc, while gesturing for his two brothers to make room while Cuóng hurried to obtain another chair.

Bien nodded and said, “So is it true? Is the food better here than ... our last hotel?”

Dúc laughed and said, “That hotel was truly a nuisance. The room service was totally inadequate. As you can see, we were all released—I should say, vacated, from that hotel this morning. I have been told by my lawyer that it is unlikely that I will ever have to return to that hotel, although the bill for it will be expensive. And you, my friend? How does it go? You still look upset. Will you have to return to that hotel?”

“I was not charged with any crime—but I am very tired,” said Bien truthfully. “I did not sleep last night.”

“Perhaps with a better meal in your stomach and some wine, it will help you to relax. Today, it will be my treat.”

It was three o’clock before Moustache Pete and the Fat Man walked out the front entrance of their apartment building and sauntered down the sidewalk. They each carried telescopic umbrellas, but kept them closed. The darkening clouds were only threatening at the moment and the Fat Man held his umbrella by the cord on the handle and swirled it in an arc as he walked.

Moustache Pete was the first to notice the dark car pull up to the curb a short distance ahead of them—and the attractive woman who stepped out from the passenger seat as they approached.

The man driving the car also got out and walked toward the rear of the car just as Moustache Pete and the Fat Man were about to walk past.

“Police!” the woman yelled, while pointing a pistol at Moustache Pete’s face. “Don’t move!”

Moustache Pete and the Fat Man’s mouths gaped open and they saw the flash of a badge in her other hand.

“Both of you, put your hands up!” yelled the man behind them.

Moustache Pete and the Fat Man both turned to see a second gun being pointed at them. They put their hands up and Moustache Pete asked, “What is this about? What have we done?”

“You fit the description perfectly,” said the woman, “of two men who clubbed and robbed a man in an alley just two blocks from here.”

“It wasn’t us,” said Moustache Pete, glancing at the Fat Man, who let out a big sigh and began to smile.