“Thanks, honey. I am now shaking hands with my favourite team. I would suggest that we take Mister Lee up on his offer for dinner. I need to buy a fresh shirt for the occasion as well. We should give everyone a fresh start, don’t you agree?”

After hanging up, Laura took a deep breath and slowly exhaled before looking at Lee and saying, “I want lobster. Lots of it. Scallops, too. And take off the ski mask. You look silly.”

At eight o’clock, Jack and Laura accompanied Lee to the Five Sails restaurant in the Pan Pacific Hotel. Laura ordered scallops as an appetizer and then dined on Atlantic lobster. Jack ordered roasted breast of pheasant while Lee contented himself with a meal of pan-seared Alaskan sablefish.

Neither Jack nor Laura discussed what had happened earlier in the day and tried to keep the conversation light.

As they were finishing their meal, Jack noticed that Lee’s hand still shook as he sipped on a glass of Chardonnay, “Kang, you have hardly eaten. Was the fish not to your satisfaction?”

“It was fine, thank you. I have simply lost my appetite. So much has happened so fast. My mind is still reeling.” Lee noticed Jack’s appetite appeared to be fine and asked, “Didn’t today’s events spoil your appetite?”

“I thought you were a little rude,” replied Jack.

“You describe what I did as simply rude?” asked Lee in surprise.

“Perhaps I am being needlessly finicky,” replied Jack. “I have been in your position before where such measures were taken, but you could have offered a sweatsuit. I was rather chilly.”

“Oh, honey,” said Laura. “Quit being a wimp. The two martinis you had as an appetizer surely must have warmed you by now.”

“A sweatsuit? That is your only complaint?” asked Lee. “Didn’t you find the whole ordeal stressful?”

“Business often is,” replied Jack.

“Your ability to … handle business is remarkable,” said Lee.

“You appear to have done well for yourself, also,” said Jack. “Perhaps we should see if there would be an advantage for us to go into business together?”

“Absolutely,” replied Lee. “We should talk later. Perhaps I can call you early next week.”

“That would be fine,” replied Jack. “Although, I must admit, if the long hours we put in today are normal, then I should decline such a partnership. You may have noticed that Laura gets a little upset when I do not come home on time.”

Lee smiled and said, “I have noticed that.”

“I did find today stressful,” admitted Laura. “I would suggest we not do that again.”

Lee lowered his voice and said, “Not as stressful as it was for Arthur Goldie.”

“Oh?” replied Jack. “Did he have a bad day?”

“I have heard,” said Lee, “that he had a bug infestation. One was apparently found inside the collar of his jacket.”

“I see,” said Jack. “Bet he didn’t find that funny,” he added, glancing at Laura.

“Certainly no laughing matter,” replied Laura, seriously, frowning at Jack.

Jack speared the remaining piece of pheasant with his fork, smearing it around in the creamy risotto and wild mushroom sauce before taking a mouthful. “Will Mister Goldie be quarantined?” he asked, after swallowing.

“Quarantined?” replied Lee with an evil grin. “No, I’m afraid the bug he caught was fatal. It is fortunate that I avoided any contamination. You have my gratitude.”

“Ah, I didn’t really do anything,” replied Jack. “I would have handled it myself, but I am new to Vancouver and was afraid you might get the wrong idea. I did not want you to think that my organization was attempting a hostile takeover, if you know what I mean.”

“I understand perfectly,” replied Lee. He studied Jack closely for a moment and said, “You are a shrewd and knowledgeable businessman. You opened my eyes about someone I thought was a friend. The bug was only part of the evidence of his utter lack of loyalty. I am told that he had surrounded himself by an enemy common to us both.”

“An enemy who wears uniforms?” asked Jack.

“Yes, their colleagues are known to do so.”

“But you told me Goldie’s condition was fatal?”

“It was. His experience was similar to yours, except he did not survive.” Lee glanced at Laura and said, “I have come to the conclusion that underground parkades are dangerous to everyone’s health.” He smiled at Jack and added, “He was not provided with a sweatsuit, either.”

“I see,” said Jack.

Lee raised his wineglass in a toast and said, “Today, although discouraging in nature, was ultimately successful. You are responsible and I am indebted to you.”

Laura clinked glasses and thought, You have no idea how responsible …

28

Da Khlot and Sayomi were summoned to meet The Shaman. They bowed at the entrance to his den before entering and standing silently as he gazed out his window at a clump of bamboo. Eventually he turned, waving an arm in the direction of his computer as if to explain it, and said, “We have to go back to Canada.” He pointed his finger at Sayomi and said, “Go alert the flight crew and tell them we will leave Sunday morning at nine.”

Da Khlot remained standing and watched as The Shaman’s eyes followed Sayomi’s figure as she left the room. Even a shaman cannot resist her beauty. But she is still a whore …

“There is a serious matter to attend to in Vancouver,” said The Shaman. “Mister Lee did not choose wisely for the candidate he named as his successor and enthusiastically supports a new candidate. I am concerned that Mister Lee may be blinded by his rush to correct his error or perhaps by his desire to return home. Either way, Mister Lee’s error in judgment and his rapid decision to correct the situation causes me considerable distress. Mister Lee will be provided with a test to give to the new candidate. Should the candidate fail, I believe it would be prudent to sever ties with everyone concerned. Therefore, your services may be required.”

“The special suit?” asked Da Khlot.

“No. This will require your personal touch in regard to the new candidate. What Mister Lee is unaware of, is that the results of the test will … gravely … affect him, as well. Understood?”

Da Khlot nodded. If the new candidate was not suitable, both Mister Lee and the candidate would fall within the familiar category. To keep you is no benefit. To destroy you is no loss.

On Monday morning, Rose was sitting at her desk when Jack called from home.

“Guess who bought Laura and me dinner Friday night,” he said.

“Goldie?”

“No. His boss. Kang Lee.”

“The Enabler?”

“The one and only. We dined at the Pan Pacific. Don’t worry about expenses because he picked up the tab.”

“That’s unbelievable! How? Fill me in.”

“I took a chance on bypassing Goldie and went straight to Lee. Met him Friday afternoon in his office. The meeting went well and he offered to buy us dinner, so we accepted.”

“Incredible! You must be a hell of a talker. This guy potentially could be one of the biggest organized crime figures in North America … and you just waltzed into his office? I never would have believed it. Did you talk business?”

“Very little. I think he was basically feeling us out. He said he would call me early this week to get together.”

“This is astounding. Was Goldie at dinner, too?”

“No, it was only the three of us. Actually my timing may have been lucky. By coincidence, it sounds like Lee and Goldie have had a falling out.”

The alarm bells sounded in Rose’s head as she recalled the assistant commissioner’s words in describing Jack. The Coincidental Corporal … “Oh, really? Tell me why you would think that?”