does not seem right to me,” said Ramirez, while scratching his chin and frowning. He looked at Damien and said, “I have heard that after we last met you went to Carlos to do business. Is that correct?”
“That’s correct,” replied Damien. “His prices were a little better than yours.”
“So why do you not still do business with him? Why come to me?”
“When he saw Laura, I think it gave him an idea. Obviously this was something he intended to do but had not yet figured out how, until now.”
“You have not answered what I asked! Why do you not work for him?”
“His price was cheaper ... but my instincts say not to trust him. He only thinks of himself. He wants to have Laura in the room with you when he and his men decide to attack. He wants her to stand in the window and give a signal. When I mentioned I was concerned for her safety, he threatened me.” Damien then clenched his fist on the table and added, “I will not be threatened ... by anyone!”
Ramirez appeared unimpressed and said, “But Carlos would know that I would not travel to such a ... rendezvous ... without protection,” said Ramirez.
“He thought if you believed that Laura was my woman,” said Damien, “so as to be discreet, you would not surround yourself with bodyguards.”
Ramirez did not respond and looked perplexed.
“You do not think that I would be worthy of such a rendezvous?” asked Laura mischievously.
Ramirez blushed, then chuckled and said, “For such a beautiful lady as you,” he said, “I would meet you in Carlos’s own bedroom.” Ramirez paused and added, “After he was dead, of course!”
Everyone laughed. Ramirez then excused himself from the table for a few minutes. When he returned, he asked, “Whose idea was it to rent a place in Cali — Maria’s Cabinas?”
“Mine,” said Jack. “I thought it would be convenient for you. I have not told Carlos about it yet.”
“So it is you who talks with Carlos?” asked Ramirez.
“Carlos wanted you to think you were having an affair behind Damien’s back. As it would appear that the situation does not involve me, it would be easier for me to converse with Carlos.”
“I do not think that he would dare try to do this so close to where I live. If he made a mistake ... the road back to Buga would become very long. I will pick another location. Palmira would be good. He will feel safer there.”
“Palmira?” asked Laura. “Where is it?”
“Cali, Buga, and Palmira ... think of it as a triangle on the map,” said Ramirez. “Buga is to the north and Palmira is to the northeast. All three cities join each other and are all less than an hour away. Buga belongs — no, used to belong — to Carlos. I enjoy the business in Cali. Palmira will be a good spot. He will not be so suspicious there.”
“I spoke to Carlos this morning,” said Jack. “I told him that tonight was the only opportunity. I was afraid that if we stalled, he might choose some other means. He is expecting me to call and let him know.”
Ramirez nodded and said, “The sooner we take care of this problem, the better it will be. Allow me a couple of hours to make some arrangements, then you can call Carlos.”
“I would prefer to call him from our hotel,” said Jack. “I could appear to be more open with him then. Perhaps you could phone me later and give me a location to tell Carlos?”
“The three of you will be my guests for dinner tonight. Seven o’clock. You will phone him after that. It will give me time to make preparations.”
Jack knew that the dinner invitation, like the call he was to make, was an order and not a request. He nodded in agreement and said, “Perhaps I will tell Carlos that you are having a party tonight. I’ll tell him that Damien is drunk or has passed out. Laura will say she has a headache and ask you to escort her home. He will understand.”
Ramirez smiled and said, “Very good, my new friend. Very good.”
For the next half-hour, the conversation around the table was light. Ramirez bragged about the abilities of his chef and the various paintings and statues he had acquired. Jack saw that his eyes frequently glanced in Laura’s direction and knew that something was on his mind. Soon it was revealed.
“Have you dyed your hair?” asked Ramirez abruptly, looking at Laura. “It is not real?” he added, sounding disappointed.
“My natural hair just has red highlights. I did dye it, just on the 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.
