“Excellent,” replied Lee, nodding his head. “I admire your professionalism. So then, once you pay half, the ship usually takes about six weeks to arrive. The balance would be paid upon delivery.”

“You would be willing to do that?” asked Jack. “To expose your organization in such a manner prior to the down payment?”

Lee smiled and said, “I was getting to that.” He paused to pay the waiter cash for the meal and waited until they were alone again before continuing. “We would meet in Thailand, where it is only a short journey to the Burmese border. There are certain security precautions that would need to take place in Thailand first.”

“Such as?” asked Jack.

“Nothing serious. If you are being honest about doing business with us, you would have nothing to fear. It will be made clear to you only then.”

Jack shrugged and said, “I’m easy to get along with.” The goddamned lie detector! He hid his fear and replied, “That would be an important first step, something I could assure my colleagues about, but without knowing the identity of who we would be working for, I doubt that they would give any serious consideration to the matter.”

“And why not?” asked Lee, making no effort to hide his frustration and anger. “What I am offering is almost full access to our organization.”

“My colleagues are well-connected on an international basis. There have been times when certain groups found themselves in competition with each other — competition that resulted in bloody conflict. We agreed on a system to maintain peace by having disputes handled through an arbitration-type process.”

“Wise and sophisticated approach,” commented Lee.

“I like to think it is civilized, but how can we do that if we do not know who is the boss of who … and who is in control of which area of the world? At least I should know the name to be able to make certain recommendations to the arbitrators in the event it becomes necessary to avoid conflict.”

“I still don’t think The Shaman will —”

“It would be most unfortunate,” continued Jack, “to create a war amongst associates who thought someone was infringing upon their territory, when in fact, it could be simply that they were both doing business with The Shaman, a mutual friend. Furthermore, my colleagues may have other business ventures and could use The Shaman’s influence. Our commissions would be even greater.”

Lee was silent for a moment and said, “I will convey your thoughts. If you meet the security precautions I have spoken of, perhaps he will be agreeable.”

“I would not wish to be involved with an organization that did not take security seriously. I would expect nothing less.”

“I suspect The Shaman will make his decision after you arrive in Thailand and undergo certain security checks,” said Lee.

Jack smiled and said, “Not a problem. I love Thai food. However, I will need time to take care of some business before we leave. When would you propose we go?”

“Would a couple of weeks be satisfactory?” asked Lee.

“Sounds fine,” replied Jack, while helping Laura on with her jacket. “And for how long?”

“It is a long flight. It will take us a day to get there. I would suggest we take time to relax and get to know each other a little more once we are there. I think you should count on being gone at least two weeks.”

“Sounds perfect. We’ll be in touch with you in a few days.”

“There is one other matter we need to discuss,” said Lee, taking a folded piece of paper from his wallet. “I have talked to you a great deal about my organization, most of which I know Mister Goldie had already told you. What we have not discussed, however, is the price I have been authorized to give you for the safe delivery of your first ton.”

“I thought that would be negotiated when I received a sample of the product to ensure purity,” replied Jack.

“I can assure you,” replied Lee, while pushing the piece of paper across the table towards Jack, “that the product is the most pure you would find anywhere in the world. The skill of the people working in the labs is derived from a science that goes back centuries.”

Jack accepted the piece of paper and looked at the numbers. “Pure or not, this is absurd! I’m not paying that! You’re at least 20 percent above market rate. Maybe more. For a shipment that large, I expect it to be far less.”

“It is reasonable for the first delivery,” replied Lee. “Perhaps after that we can adjust the price more to your satisfaction.”

“That is not acceptable,” said Jack, shaking his head. “The amount we discussed is plenty large enough to rate a twenty percent reduction, not addition.”

“I am sorry. I was told there was no negotiation on this first transaction. Take it, or leave it.”

Jack threw the piece of paper on the table and said, “Then you have wasted my time.”

“You already possess a great deal of information about us,” said Lee. “You know what we are capable of.”

“You think you are capable of ripping me off? You are wrong. We have nothing further to say to each other!”

Lee stood stone-faced as Jack and Laura left the restaurant.

Da Khlot waited patiently, without emotion. It was ten-thirty at night and the sun had long since set. Ideal time to kill.

30

It was seven o’clock the following morning when Rose pushed the buzzer on the intercom and waited outside for an answer. Moments later, Natasha responded.

“Rose Wood,” she said. “I work with Jack.”

“I know,” she replied. “He’s not here yet, but called an hour ago to say you would be coming. He didn’t come home last night. I guess Laura didn’t, either.”

“I know. May I come up?”

Rose pushed the button on the elevator and watched silently as the door closed and heard the hum of the cables as she ascended. She went over the phone call she had received last night from Jack, telling her that he and Laura had met with Lee. He said they didn’t want to go home last night after the meeting. He told her that he and Laura would be spending the night in the penthouse suite. He was hoping Lee would contact him.

Rose sensed there was something else. His voice seemed edgy and nervous. He isn’t the type to scare easy. So why? Perhaps fearing bad guys might follow him home to his wife would explain his fear. Or is there something else?

She was familiar with Jack’s personal file. Married less than two years — roughly the length of time Rose had been married to her first husband before he had been killed at a crosswalk by a hit-and-run driver.

She remembered the agonizing pain she had felt. In the initial months it had never let up. If she could have even gone thirty seconds without thinking about it, she would have felt some relief. Her doctor had prescribed medication. It made her brain feel fuzzy and did little to block her pain. She slept sporadically and only then through sheer exhaustion. Eventually time helped her cope with the grief enough to carry on.

Then there was the driver. Witnesses obtained the licence plate number, but were unsure about his face, except to say he was balding, with a horseshoe ring of black hair. The owner of the car matched the description and had four previous convictions for impaired driving. The judicial process lasted three years, during which time the driver racked up another impaired charge. Those three years to Rose seemed like an eternity. Then the driver was acquitted. After all, positive identification was in doubt. Maybe some day I’ll tell Jack I know the difference between the law and justice. I’ve done my share of skating on thin ice. But I’ve also lost the love of my life and I know how that feels. Not something you would ever want anyone you loved to have to go through.

She tried to smile as Natasha answered the door and invited her inside. An attractive woman. Young, bright, enthusiastic. So much in love. So much to lose.