“No,” replied Jack. “I got to thinking that you shouldn’t be out here alone at night and started walking to catch up to you. Are you okay? Bet you could use a drink?”

“I’m okay. Think I could use a couple.”

“Do you want me to call the police?” offered Goldie, bringing out his cellphone.

A diamond embedded in Goldie’s front tooth sparkled as he spoke. It served to remind Jack further about the discrepancy in life between people like Goldie and Melvin.

“No police!” snarled Jack. His response drew the action he hoped for. A surprised look crossed Goldie’s face and he glanced knowingly at Wang.

“I mean, it’s okay,” Jack added, pretending to gain his composure. “It looks to me like he learned his lesson. Thanks, anyway.”

As Goldie and Wang turned to leave, Goldie overheard Jack say to Laura, “Have you got a jackknife in your purse? I’m going to cut his nuts off.”

“Hang on, honey, I’ll look,” replied Laura. “Sorry,” she replied a moment later.

“Guess I’ll stomp his brains out instead.”

“Oh, honey … don’t,” pleaded Laura. “You’ll get blood all over your pants and someone is liable to call the police. Besides, he might have AIDS. Come on, forget about it. I want a drink.”

Goldie and Wang’s mouths both gaped open as Jack and Laura held hands while casually browsing in store windows as they sauntered away.

When they were around the corner, Jack turned to Laura and said, “Keee-ai? Is that what you call discreet surveillance?”

“I’m sorry,” she replied. “He scared me. I acted without thinking. Next time I’ll scream like a little girl or pretend to faint.”

“Too late to act that way around these guys now. Don’t worry, it worked out.”

Laura snickered and said, “Did you see them turn around and the looks on their faces when you asked me for a jackknife? By the nod you gave me, I presumed you wanted me to go along with it.”

“I did. Imagine what they think of us. Goldie is bound to be curious.”

“Curiosity killed the cat.”

Jack paused, remembering Winston.

“I’m sorry,” said Laura. “Stupid thing to say after what you had to do.”

“Forget about it,” replied Jack. “By the way, I saw a syringe lying on the sidewalk.”

“That’s what he threatened me with.”

“Bastard deserves to have his nuts cut off.”

“That would be cruel,” said Laura seriously. She thought about it for a moment and added, “I could see him being euthanized, but not tortured.”

“Euthanize him!” exclaimed Jack with a laugh. “You mean, whack the son of a bitch!”

Laura frowned and replied, “Well, yes, but euthanasia sounds nicer.”

Goldie and Wang weren’t the only persons to hear Laura’s yell and see her response. Kang Lee looked out the open window of his car and gestured for Goldie and Wang to join him. His thoughts were on Laura. He would never forget her face. Beautiful, but dangerous. Like a Western version of Sayomi … Where did she learn to fight like that?

14

“What was that all about?” asked Lee through the window as Goldie and Wang walked up.

Wang gestured with his thumb and said, “The guy lying curled up on the sidewalk tried to rob that couple who just walked away. Or at least, he tried to rob the lady.”

“Interesting lady,” noted Lee.

“They’re customers in my club,” replied Goldie.

“Better hope they don’t say much,” offered Wang. “Not good for business.”

“They didn’t seem all that concerned,” mused Goldie.

“Enough of that,” said Lee, sounding irritated at the chatter. “I feel like sushi. There’s a place I want to try called Azuma. On Denman near Comox. Meet me there. I have other business to attend to after.”

Moments later, Jack received a call from Sammy who said, “Sounds like Wang is back in his car. Got somebody with him. No idea where they are or where they’re going … hang on … they’re both laughing about something. Want to stay on the line and see if we can hear where they’re going?”

“I think he’s with Goldie,” said Jack. “Sure, I’ll hold.”

A few minutes later Sammy reported that the car was shut off and he heard Goldie and Wang leave. “Want me to hold the phone close to the speaker and play back what they were laughing about?” asked Sammy.

“Go ahead.”

Jack heard the recorded sound of a car and Goldie saying, “You see how that chick dropped that guy? Man, he hit the ground like a rotten tomato!”

“It’s where she nailed him that makes me cringe,” replied Wang. “I almost feel sorry for him.”

“I didn’t feel sorry for him until her boyfriend was going to cut his nuts off. Then I would have felt sorry for him!”

Laughter was heard and Goldie continued, “Did you hear what that woman yelled?”

“Sounded like karate.”

“She moved so fast I wasn’t sure what she did, but I think she kneed him in the nuts or something.”

“You say they’re customers of yours?”

“Just lately. Haven’t seen them before this week.”

“Better not screw up her order. Especially if the boyfriend finds a jackknife.”

Sammy then came back on the phone and said, “Don’t know what that was all about, but that was basically it. I’ll call if anything else crops up.”

Norimaki sushi rolls did not appeal to Goldie, but he ordered them, anyway. He did not like any sushi for that matter, but had decided that these were the least unpleasant. At the moment, any complaints from his taste buds had taken a back seat as he watched Lee’s face for a response to the suggestions that he and Wang had made. When the response was not immediate, Goldie added, “The two of us have talked about it. We would not be in competition with each other. Both products would have different distributors.”

Lee slowly chewed a mouthful of eel while he thought of a response. Eventually he swallowed and turned to Goldie. “So,” replied Lee quietly, pointing the ends of his chopsticks at Goldie’s face, “You think it would be easy to add cocaine to your portfolio?”

Goldie nodded and said, “I’m often approached by my people. It is a highly enriching commodity.”

“A commodity for which we cannot offer protection,” said Lee. “Has it been that many years ago that you forget what that is like? Do you not remember how you felt, sitting in a hot and steamy customs office in Burma? Your clothes soaked with the sweat of someone who believed his life to be over?”

Goldie was silent as he recalled that fateful day.

“Operate within the confines of protection,” continued Lee. “We have been over this before. Our organization cannot guarantee your protection in South or Central America.”

“I know, I know,” replied Goldie. “It’s just that it is so damned lucrative.”

“Are you not making lots of money? And much more so, if the doors to eastern Canada open, allowing easy access to places across the border like New York. Why take the risk of investing money in a climate that is not secure?”

Goldie sighed. “Perhaps you’re right,” he added, begrudgingly.

“Of course I’m right,” replied Lee. “Besides, it is my understanding that Satans Wrath controls most of the Canadian market for cocaine. They would demand you deal through them. With that would come more risk.”

“That is precisely why my idea is more logical,” said Wang, catching the sudden glare he received from Goldie. “What I proposed does not require import. Quite the opposite.”

Lee shook his head and said, “What you propose is farming.”

“It is not farming,” protested Wang. “Hydroponics. B.C. is providing the best marijuana in the world. Why shouldn’t I get a cut of it?”

“It is still farming, is it not?” replied Lee. “Indoors, perhaps, but still farming. With that comes land for the buildings and an army of people to manage the crops. Deliveries are both bulky and smelly. Such operations last only a matter of time before gaining police attention. With your army of farmers, how do you ensure obedience or loyalty? How long before one of the hoodlums you employ turns on you?”