LITMIR.BIZ

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me?” asked Laura, portraying anger.

      “Do not be offended,” Ramirez replied. “Cali can be a dangerous city. I have many bodyguards. It was no inconvenience to ensure that no danger came to you. As you are my guests, I feel it is my responsibility.”

      Jack studied Ramirez’s face as he spoke. Subtle intimidation or a need for absolute control? Likely both.

      Ramirez dismissed any further comments from Laura simply by turning to Jack and saying, “You will call Carlos now.”

      “Now?” asked Jack.

      “Yes. Here, with me. You will say that I will be with Laura in Palmira tonight. Tell him that you will meet him in front of the church at the main plaza in Palmira at eleven o’clock. Say you are in my house and do not have time to talk now, so he cannot ask many questions.”

      “There is no need for me to meet him,” said Jack, feeling a rush of acid to his stomach. “I can simply phone him.”

      “No,” said Ramirez. “You will meet him. He will be less suspicious then. Many of my men are already in place.”

      Jack and Laura exchanged a look. Each thought the same thing. A simple plan has just become complicated and dangerous.

      “In front of a church in a plaza,” said Jack. “It does not sound like a good place. Lots of people could get hurt or he might escape.”

      Ramirez smiled and shook his head. “We will not kill him there. His car, a Mercedes, it is bulletproof and heavily protected. Personally, I prefer my Land Rover. It also has such protection but is more suited for the roads in Colombia.”

      “Where do you intend to do this?” asked Jack, feeling irritated that Ramirez could be so casual about planning a murder.

      “You will take him to a villa on the edge of the city. It is a good spot. The driveway to the villa goes over a small bridge. When he enters the villa, I will have a truck block the bridge. More men will be inside the villa and also in a shed outside. He will not escape once he is over the bridge.”

      “I think I should come to Palmira as well,” said Laura.

      “Definitely. I intend for you to come,” said Ramirez. “You will leave your car here and all three of you will come with me,” he added, while getting up and walking around his desk to face Jack. “Call Carlos now!” he ordered.

      Ramirez watched closely as Jack dialled, and then he placed his head close to the phone so he could listen. Out of the corner of his eye, Jack saw Laura move closer to the desk, her hand within grabbing distance of a thin knife used as a letter opener.

      “Carlos! This is Jack.”

      “What news do you have for me?” demanded Carlos. “Tell me where the pig is!”

      “I am a short distance from him now,” said Jack, looking at Ramirez, whose face indicated a rise in blood pressure. “I do not have time to talk. He will be with the lady in Palmira tonight. I do not have the address now. I will meet you at eleven o’clock in front of the church at the main plaza in Palmira and show you where he is.”

      Carlos let out a tirade in Spanish that Jack did not understand. He felt his muscles contract as the rage showed on Ramirez’s face.

      Carlos then said, “Si, amigo, we will meet in Palmira!”

      Ramirez stepped back when the call ended. His face was contorted in anger and he reverted back to his Spanish tongue as he let loose with a barrage of obscenities while looking at Jack.

      Laura turned her back to the desk but put her hands behind her and picked up the letter opener. Two bodyguards in the room ... if I can take out Ramirez while Jack and Damien jump the other two ... oh man!

      Ramirez then spun toward Laura and said, “I am sorry, Laura. For what I have said. I hope you do not know such Spanish words.”

      Laura smiled sweetly and said, “I’m ashamed to admit that I haven’t learned Spanish.”

      “That is okay. I am ashamed of the words I just spoke,” replied Ramirez. “It is unbelievable what he said he will do to me with ... a stick.” Ramirez paused momentarily, then said, “Very barbaric. I do not understand such rage. I thought he and I had an agreement. He is a lunatic.”

      “He really is,” said Damien in agreement.

      Ramirez looked at Laura and said, “Do you know that he always wears a little green tam? He pretends he is a soldier. He is not. He is just a lunatic.”

      Laura let out a deep breath. She then thought of Rellik with his stringy red hair and chipped front tooth. How could Ramirez understand such rage? Perhaps if he had a brother and knew Rellik, he would understand. Carlos isn’t the only lunatic who should be put down!

      Laura gently laid the letter opener on the table and stepped away when Ramirez said that they would have dinner now.

      On their way to the table, Laura whispered to Jack, “Think maybe you should call Jean-Louie? Have them pull us over when we leave? Ramirez isn’t going to let us take our car but if we let Jean-Louie know, then...”

      “Not a chance. We’re this close to Carlos. I’m not going to let him slip through my fingers now. You stay close to Ramirez. He’ll be protected. He’s not the type to risk his neck.”

      “Yeah, he’s really different than you. Probably smarter.”

      Jack chose not to respond.

      The dinner, consisting of a main course of garlic buttered prawns and wild rice with mushrooms, would normally have tasted succulent. Neither Jack nor Laura felt like eating. The anticipation of tonight’s activity did not seem to affect Damien, who was pleased to accept a second helping.

      “Tell me, Jack,” said Ramirez, “Damien said that you are not with his club, but that he has hired you for your knowledge of money.”

      Jack nodded.

      “What would you propose that I do as an investment strategy for your country?”

      Jack took his time to chew and then swallow a prawn before replying, “I would presume that a man of your calibre would already own a bank someplace — perhaps in the Grand Caymans?”

      Ramirez smiled and said, “Perhaps more than one.”

      “Your official business is inspired by leather. Shoes, jackets ... correct?”

      “Yes,” Ramirez replied, then looked at Damien and said, “Officially, of course!” then laughed.

      “Then,” said Jack, “I would propose you open a chain of such stores in Canada. You could get a tax break by borrowing money from your own banks while paying yourself interest. Naturally, the paper trail would be hidden through different companies so that the government would not know you owned the banks. On paper, it would appear normal that you would send large amounts of money back to the banks as well as to shoe or leather distribution companies in Colombia.”

      “Your government would give me a tax break?” exclaimed Ramirez.

      “If you have to borrow money to invest in a company in Canada, it is expected that you would deduct such an expense from your cost of doing business. On paper, you would say that you are selling a large volume of expensive leather goods. You would only send a few high-quality and expensive items for show. The rest would be of a very low quality. Practically worthless. Once these cleared customs, the poor-quality merchandise could be destroyed. As long as large amounts are being imported, it would appear that they are being sold and money is being sent back to order more and pay for loans.”

      Ramirez beamed, then looked at Damien and said, “You have picked your people well.” He then glanced at Laura and added, “Very well.” He raised a glass of Pinot Blanc. Everyone followed suit and gave a silent toast.

      “Perhaps,” said Ramirez to Damien, “some

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