LITMIR.BIZ

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pretense of enticing you.”

      “Ah,” said Ramirez. “That is most unfortunate. Highlights, as you say, is how I do prefer it. That is a secret that my enemies do not know. Perhaps, for me, that is a good thing. Come, I will walk you all to your car.”

      They walked to the front of the mansion and were just approaching their car when Ramirez said, “Jack, walk with me for a moment.”

      Jack, Damien, and Laura all raised their eyebrows at one another, then Jack did as instructed. Ramirez walked with Jack until he was just out of earshot and then said, “Laura. She does not really belong to Damien, does she?”

      “No, she doesn’t,” replied Jack.

      “I see her look at you sometimes ... like perhaps you are her boss? She does not look at you like a lover. Am I correct?”

      Jack felt uncomfortable. Ramirez was more observant than he had expected. He also did not want to put Laura into a position where it would appear that she was for sale. He replied, “She looks to me because she values my opinion. But you are right. She belongs to no man, although there have been men who have belonged to her.”

      Ramirez chuckled, then said, “Perfecto!” He smiled as he walked with Jack back toward the car.

      As they neared the car, Jack noticed a security guard answer his portable radio. Seconds later, he barked an order in Spanish. Another guard quickly levelled his M16 at Damien, who was leaning against the driver’s door of their rental car. A second guard pointed his weapon at Laura, who was standing a short distance away where she had been watching a gardener prune some rose bushes. Jack heard a noise behind him and knew that a third guard was covering him.

      Ramirez looked startled and the guard spoke to him rapidly in Spanish. The word policia was used as the guard gave a sweep of his arm to indicate the three guests.

      The eyebrows furrowed on Ramirez’s face and his dark eyes looked like black marbles. He looked at his three guests and said, “A man has climbed a tree just outside the fence to our property. He is watching with binoculars. My guards believe it is a policeman! You have come to try and trap me! Yes?”

      Damien’s hands were behind his back and he slowly used his fingers to feel for the door handle. My only chance ... keys are in the ignition ... if I can get it started ... keep my head down and crash the gate. Maybe the Mounties will try to run and distract them...

      Laura glanced around. No place to run ... gardening shears in this guy’s hand ... won’t stop an M16 ... oh, man! Elvis, I’m sorry.

      “A policeman!” Jack exclaimed, then let out a chuckle that he hoped sounded genuine. “This is great news!” He then whispered to Ramirez, while conscious of the end of a gun barrel nuzzling his back.

      Ramirez looked up, then said, “Of course!” He barked out a command and the guards quickly shouldered their weapons. He smiled and walked over to the gardener. A moment later, he bowed slightly as he handed Laura a freshly cut rose.

      Damien was the first to speak as he drove Jack and Laura through the gate and out onto the street. “What the fuck just happened?”

      “I said it was obviously someone who worked for Carlos. I suggested he show some affection toward Laura, so Carlos would think his plan was working.”

      “We can thank Jean-Louie for almost getting us killed,” said Laura angrily. “I thought he said he was going to keep the troops far back!”

      Jack expected Damien to voice his anger as well, but he remained strangely silent. Perhaps just thankful to be alive ... at least, for now.

      chapter thirty-seven

      Jean-Louie breathed a sigh of relief when Jack, Laura, and Damien drove out the gate from Ramirez’s driveway. Seconds later he knew his worries were not over. Two motorcycles, each containing two men, departed as well. They were followed by four SUVs that were all packed with men. It was soon apparent that Ramirez had ordered his three guests to be followed.

      Jean-Louie quickly conferred with his Colombian counterpart. Being naturally suspicious is one thing, but this many men? What the hell happened in there? Yet, if Ramirez wanted to kill them, he would have already done so.

      Jack saw one of the narcs in a car that was driving past them. The narc made eye contact with him and slowly gestured with his head to look behind them. Jack nodded that he understood and the narc disappeared in the traffic ahead.

      “We’ve got a tail,” said Jack.

      “Damn it,” replied Damien. “With all these strange streets and traffic, I’ve been too busy to notice.”

      “Think we should lose them?” asked Laura.

      “No,” replied Jack. “Ramirez is paranoid enough. Drive easy back to the hotel. When it’s clear, we’ll slip up the stairs and thank the narcs and Jean-Louie for heating us up. Also want to kick whoever was up that tree in the balls.”

      Jean-Louie was adamant. None of his people had climbed a tree or even left their vehicles. He slammed his fist on the coffee table and said, “We know that Ramirez’s grounds are infested with guards! Only a fool would do such a thing!”

      “Perhaps the fools were us,” suggested Laura.

      “What do you mean?” asked Jack.

      “Perhaps Ramirez made up the whole story, just to see our response.”

      “He is cunning,” said Jean-Louie. “That is one scenario I hadn’t considered.”

      Or perhaps a different police unit, thought Jack. He looked intently at Jean-Louie’s face and then asked, “Are there any other police units that could have been watching us?”

      Jean-Louie stared briefly at Jack, then replied, “No operational units that ... were in the vicinity of Ramirez’s estate without our knowledge. I am positive that the tree climber, if he actually existed, was not a policeman.”

      Jack and Jean-Louie briefly stared at each other. Now, without actually saying it, they each knew there was another police unit involved, but apparently not at Ramirez’s place.

      “I would suggest that you use extreme caution,” said Jean-Louie.

      Jack nodded, then said, “Thank you. I will.”

      “At first I was more concerned when so many men and vehicles appeared to be following you,” said Jean-Louie. “I was relieved when I learned that three of the SUVs headed northeast out of the city. The other SUV was last seen heading north. Right now there are only two motorcycles, each with two men who are hanging around the hotel here.”

      “Not totally unexpected,” said Jack. “We’ll do the tourist thing this afternoon. Buy Laura a new pair of shoes from his store. Maybe even lounge around the pool. Wouldn’t hurt to try and catch a few winks. I suspect this party we’re going to might last all night.”

      “I don’t like the idea of the three of you going back in,” replied Jean-Louie.

      Jack shrugged and said, “We certainly felt welcome this afternoon, although it was a little uncomfortable when he said someone was watching. Partying with him will make him trust us more.”

      “Besides,” said Laura, “I expect lots of people will be coming and going from the party. It wouldn’t be the time for him to try anything serious, even if he was suspicious.”

      “If he wasn’t suspicious,” said Jean-Louie, “he wouldn’t have four goons outside watching.”

      Jack, Laura, and Damien arrived promptly at seven o’clock. Jack and Damien each wore slacks and a golf shirt. Laura wore an emerald green silk blouse and a white skirt. Her new high-heeled shoes were also an emerald green.

      A servant nodded politely and gestured for them to follow. Ramirez was at a desk in his study. He was not unfriendly, but

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