Da Khlot sat alone at another table and discreetly watched the threesome. This clumsy Western woman cannot even master the use of chopsticks? Lee said she was dangerous.… With his soft life, he would think a bird with a broken wing is dangerous.

Da Khlot turned his attention to Jack. The man perhaps could be difficult. He is tall and does not have the physique of so many Westerners … like that of a pot-bellied pig. No matter. Much bigger men have fallen. Da Khlot recalled some of the men he had killed in the past. Big men who towered over him in height and weight. They do not look so big when they look up at you from the floor. Their eyes wide and their brains confused as to why they are paralyzed. Size is no match for surprise, speed, and experience … nor is it a match for what The Shaman desires.

Da Khlot leaned forward to reach for a glass of water and his thoughts changed as he felt the pistol he had tucked in his pants. Ah, but tonight, there will be no such death for these Westerners. Their deaths will be a bullet to their brain. Lacking the skill of an artist — but effective just the same.

Da Khlot went over the plan again in his mind. Mister Lee was to give the Westerners the test when they finished their meal. Should they fail the test, Mister Lee was to go to the washroom. Da Khlot had already let the air out of one of the tires on the Westerners’ car. He would simply follow them out and shoot them both from behind. To appease Mister Lee, he said he would steal the woman’s purse and run away. A ruse to trick the police into thinking that Mister Lee’s dinner guests were simply the victims of a robbery. The ten-shot 9 mm Browning semiautomatic pistol provided by Mister Lee would ensure easy completion of his mission.

Mister Lee had volunteered to use his own people for the assassination, but The Shaman said he wished to arrange for a suitable replacement for Mister Lee in Intrinsic Global. As he was back in Vancouver, anyway, it would be prudent to use the services of Da Khlot.

What the unfortunate Mister Lee did not know was that he would not be allowed a second mistake in judgment. He would be killed first when he went to the washroom. Stealing the purse would not be necessary.

Da Khlot felt the presence of the scabbard holding the narrow-bladed dagger strapped to the inside of his left forearm. It was his weapon of choice. Silent and deadly. He would undo the button on his shirt sleeve and walk into the washroom behind Mister Lee. If Mister Lee should see him, Da Khlot would assure him that there was no rush and he simply wanted to ensure that he had received the correct signal. He had, after all, let the air out of one of the tires. There was lots of time. Then he would stab him in the throat and sever his windpipe. There would be no noise to warn the Westerners, who he would shoot immediately after.

As Jack and Laura picked away at the sushi, Lee carefully reiterated what Goldie had already said and explained that his organization controlled the safe delivery of tons of heroin through the Orient. Bringing a ton into Canada was not a problem.

“You do not have a problem clearing customs?” asked Jack.

“It is not as easy as other countries.” Lee frowned. “But we have made certain connections who are agreeable to business. Our objective is to expand to the eastern seaboard. Something we know you could assist us with.”

“So I would become an enabler,” said Jack. “Guaranteed a percentage of commission on who I recruit and on down the ladder to whomever they use.”

“Basically, yes,” replied Lee. “We guarantee safe delivery from the poppy fields in Burma … or Myanmar as some call it these days, to the docks in Vancouver. We act as broker to those selling, those buying, and keep the peace with everyone who is involved along the way.”

“Sounds too good to be true,” said Jack, sounding skeptical.

“I’ll say,” agreed Laura.

“I assure you, it is true,” said Lee earnestly. “From Burma and on through countries like Thailand or Laos and then on to shipping destinations in Vietnam, Korea, China, Japan … wherever the next available ship can be used.”

“And you work for someone called The Shaman,” said Jack.

“His identity is secret,” said Lee, solemnly.

“But surely not to me,” said Jack. “Not if I am going to be working for him.”

“I am sorry, but there is no need for you to know his name. You would be reporting to me.”

“If you think I am going to be turning over millions of dollars to someone I don’t even know, then you must take me for a fool.”

“I do not take you for a fool,” Lee replied earnestly. “You would be turning the money over to me. I would distribute it as agreed, just like others below you would distribute it up the ladder. There is no need for anyone to know the names of people they are not directly involved with.”

“How do I know that this isn’t all an elaborate scam?” asked Jack.

“Or perhaps you are really working for the police!” said Laura.

“I am not! If you wish to take me to the washroom and search me, I would not object.”

“Honey,” said Jack. “Do you mind taking him to the washroom and searching him? If I do it, someone may come in and question my sexuality.”

“Men’s or women’s?” Laura asked Jack.

“What?” replied Lee. “I don’t —”

“It’s okay,” said Jack, giving a quick grin. “Lighten up. All I’m saying is you must understand where I’m coming from. Everything you describe seems too good to be true. It is not just my money that is at risk. If I introduce my colleagues to take part, we are not talking millions, we are talking billions. Not chicken feed like one lousy ton.”

Lee’s face lit up and his enthusiasm showed in his voice when he said, “You can handle that much?”

“If I couldn’t, I wouldn’t say so.”

“I knew it!” beamed Lee. “You are the ideal man to be the enabler for North America. You have sources inside the police already. We have the same in customs. Join forces and we’ll be wealthy beyond belief.”

“Forget it,” said Jack. “This is all very interesting, but I must decline.”

“You’re not interested?” said Lee, in a panic. “Why not?”

“How do I explain to my colleagues in New York that I am working for someone I do not know? Then ask them to invest millions because of a deal someone I just met over sushi told me about?”

“You do not believe me,” Lee said, matter-of-factly.

Jack shrugged and said, “Let’s simply say my friends are a suspicious bunch of guys. If something were to go wrong, my death would be slow and painful. All this is just talk. I haven’t really checked you out. In fact, I’ve never heard of you before.”

“Because we are new to the North American market.” He turned partially in his seat and yelled, “Waiter! The check.” His eyes flickered to Da Khlot, who gave an imperceptible nod. It is time …

“It’s our turn to buy,” protested Jack.

Lee smiled and said, “I picked the restaurant, I buy. Next time you decide on the restaurant.”

“Sounds good,” replied Jack.

“Now, about our problem of trusting each other,” continued Lee. “What if I arranged a personal tour for the both of you … of your shipment literally from the ground up.”

“What do you mean?” asked Laura.

“You would be taken to a poppy field in Burma and follow the product from there to a laboratory and on to Thailand. At the moment, I do not know which country would be next, but when that time arrives, if you still have doubts, you could then follow the shipment to the designated port and watch it be placed on a ship. At that point, you would pay for half the shipment before the ship leaves.” Lee paused and said, “Incidentally, what is your preference for how payment is made?”

“My colleagues have a bank in the Grand Caymans. A few phone calls would have to be made, but the money could be transferred to wherever you like. Split and sent to multiple accounts if you prefer.”