“When would you like to see it?” asked Big Al.

“As soon as possible. I guarantee once I see it, we will be going into business with you immediately.”

Big Al nodded and said, “For this, I need to speak to my boss.” He glanced at his watch and said, “It is two-thirty. I will check with his security. If he sleeping, I will call him in the morning. If not, maybe I can take you to Casa Blanca tonight.”

Jack waited while Big Al strode to the far end of the bar and made a call. When he returned, he was all smiles.

“Good news, amigo. Not only is my boss awake, but he was on his way home and is not far away. He will be here in about twenty minutes.”

“Great, I’d like to meet him,” replied Jack, wondering if either Guajardo himself would show up, or one of the Carrillo Fuentes brothers.

Big Al frowned and said, “I am sorry, but I was told to meet him outside. I do not think he is ready to meet you yet. Maybe after we are in business for a year or two he would agree to meet you. I hope this does not offend you or Señor Damien, but —”

“I understand,” replied Jack. “We are in a business where we must be careful. To me it shows your boss is not careless. That is good. We would not want to do business with someone who was careless.”

“Then you are not angry,” replied Big Al. “And Señor Damien will not be offended?”

“Of course not.”

Big Al and Jack talked idly for the next twenty minutes before a screeching of tires out front and a wave from a bodyguard told them the boss had arrived.

“Please, wait here,” instructed Big Al, as he hurried outside.

Jack casually strode to the front door and looked out through the glass. Parked in the middle of the street were a row of four black SUVs. Bodyguards had stepped out of some of the SUVs and were watching everyone and every vehicle. Big Al had gone around to the far side of an SUV that was the third one down the line.

Moments later, the bodyguards leaped back in their vehicles and all four SUVs roared off.

Big Al smiled as he returned to talk to Jack inside the brothel.

“Yes, I am allowed to take you,” said Big Al, “but not when it is dark.”

“Not when it is dark?”

“My boss is concerned about … well, that is his orders.”

“Tomorrow then?” asked Jack.

“Yes. At twelve o’clock my men will pick you up at your motel and bring you to Juarez. Then you are to be blindfolded for the trip to and from Casa Blanca.”

“I understand, but Damien will be expecting to talk to me as soon as I see it. How long will it take?”

“Oh … maybe an hour and twenty minutes each way, perhaps twenty minutes to show you Casa Blanca and then return. I think three hours will be enough. I am sorry we need to pick you up so early, but a delivery is being made later in the afternoon and I was told to have you away from Casa Blanca before then.” Big Al paused and said, “Again I must apologize. It is not me who does not trust you. It is my boss who is —”

“It’s okay,” replied Jack. “Somebody else’s coke does not interest me. I do need to arrange a time with Damien to be able to tell him I have seen it with my own eyes. As soon as that happens, we’ll be in business.”

“Good, amigo. I will have you back in El Paso by three, so you can make whatever arrangements you wish after that.”

After Jack left, Big Al could hardly contain his glee. He believed he had orchestrated what would surely be one of the largest business opportunities the cartel ever had. Jack had guaranteed him that all he needed to convince Damien was to see Casa Blanca. That would take place in a matter of hours.

Big Al smiled to himself at what a shrewd businessman he was. He had impressed Jack … and now that business was guaranteed, it was time to impress Señor Damien. What better way to impress him than to give him a photo of Jack and himself surrounded by topless young women … along with the gift of a diamond-and-gold-encrusted Rolex?

Big Al glanced at his own watch. The time difference in Vancouver was an hour earlier. If he hurried, perhaps his men in Vancouver could purchase the watch first thing in the morning and deliver it to Señor Damien by noon …

chapter thirty-three

It was four o’clock in the morning when Jack was dropped off at the Armadillo Motel by one of Big Al’s men. Jack showered, changed his clothes, and then drove into El Paso. After driving down a few darkened alleys to assure himself that he was not being followed, he went to the hotel room Adams had originally booked for him to write his notes.

Verbal evidence given to an undercover operative, particularly if it could be quoted word for word, was vital when it came to court. Jack had a lot of quotes he had been memorizing and was anxious to jot them down before his memory faded. First he knew he needed to call Adams.

It was five o’clock and still dark when he called Adams at home. The phone was answered on the first ring.

“You okay? How did it go?” asked Adams.

“I think Lily’s alive!” said Jack excitedly.

“You found her?” gasped Adams.

“Not yet, but I will. El Pero and one of Big Al’s bodyguards kidnapped her and took her some place to use as a sex slave. I don’t have time to talk now. I’m at the safe house and I’ve got a ton of notes to write. I want to meet your friend this morning and show him a picture. He said he would check the alley every morning between eight-thirty and nine.”

“No problem, I’ll take you. A picture of who?”

“A bunch of Big Al’s guys, including the one who was with El Pero when they kidnapped Lily. The guy is a cop. I also got an admission from the two men who murdered Earl Porter. Those two, along with El Pero, are meeting me at the The Old Warehouse tonight. Hopefully we’ll be able to arrest them. Before then, I hope to find where Lily is.”

“Fantastic! Man, this is great!”

“Give me until seven-thirty to write my notes, then pick me up and I’ll fill you in on the details. Also grab my laptop from your office and I’ll download some pictures to show your friend.”

Jack finished his notes shortly after seven and decided to go down to the hotel coffee shop for breakfast. He found Adams already there.

“I’ve already had two cups of coffee,” said Adams. “I was waiting until seven-thirty like you asked.”

“I could use about a quart myself,” replied Jack. “Also breakfast … is there time?”

“If you make it quick. Traffic coming this way on the bridge in the morning is heavy. Going in should be light. I’ve got your laptop in the car, so you can download the pictures as I drive.”

Jack ordered breakfast and filled Adams in on all the details as he ate. When he finished talking, Adams leaned back in his chair and said, “I gotta tell you something. I was really pissed off when I was first told I had to work with you.”

“I noticed.”

“Yeah … sorry about that. But you have done one hell of a great job. I wish you and I could be partners permanently.”

“Thanks. I feel the same way.”

“I’m not trying to get mushy or anything, but I would really feel bad if something happened to you.”

“Not as bad as I’d feel.”

“Good point,” chuckled Adams, “but what I am trying to say is we could use some more manpower. Maybe it’s time for you to phone your boss and get permission to go to Mexico. Then I could go to my office for help.”

“Forget that. If Ottawa did give permission, our policy states it would only be after Mexico gave their permission, along with approval from various police agencies.”