“I don’t even think we have an embassy in Myanmar,” said Rose.

“We don’t. I did some checking while on the ferry on the way back. There are resources there we can use. Both the Australians and the British have embassies there. When we’re done here, I’ll provide them with the contact names and information that Oskar gave me. Maybe they can do some checking for us.”

“And if you are expected to go to the countryside? What then?” said Rose.

“I’ll refuse. Maybe say I’m paranoid of malaria or something, although I do believe that my assignment in Yangon is legit.”

“Why do you say that?” asked Dyck.

“I didn’t get any bad vibes from Oskar over it. Everything he said made sense. He told me there was a rumour that Myanmar is dropping their export tax this year. He also said they are selling rice to North Korea and speculated that now might not be a good time to invest, but is thinking a little further down the road.”

“What are you expected to be doing there?” asked Rose.

“Oskar wants me to check in with the head honchos of the rice-exporting company and take them out for dinner. Simply schmooze with them to make contact. I think it will be safe, but I’ll avoid the rice paddies.”

“You will do more than avoid it,” said Rose. “I am telling you that you will not be going to the countryside.”

“No problem. I am only expected to be there for one or two nights. I have seen rice paddies before, so it is not like it would be a big deal.”

“Still, what makes you think that your trip there will be safe?” asked Rose. “The business could still be legit and Oskar may plan on having you killed after you send him your report.”

“I’m not finished. Oskar also didn’t care where I stayed or when I arrived. He said it was an easy assignment and that I would be going on my own. I am to fly from Vancouver to Bangkok and then catch a flight from there to Yangon. He suggested I spend one night partying with the people in Yangon, but also said I would likely need a day or two to recover from jet lag.”

“He never directed you to a specific hotel?” asked Rose.

“No. He left the hotel in Yangon and the flight details up to my own discretion. What he was explicit about, was what I was to do after. He wants me to be at the Imperial Golden Triangle Resort in northern Thailand on June 20. It is located in a small town called Chiang Saen. At that point he mentioned that I would be meeting up with someone from corporate security to assist me.”

“There we go,” said Laura. “Let the games begin.”

“Pike the Spike or Killer Rabbit?” asked Rose.

“I don’t know. The Imperial hotel will be our base of operation for a few days. He has booked me a room for five days, but says the timelines may change, depending upon how things go. I am only to book a one-way ticket from Bangkok to Chiang Rai and keep the return open. From Chiang Rai it is about an hour’s drive north to the Golden Triangle. He said I could arrange for the resort to pick me up at the airport.”

“Maybe he wants to leave your ticket open in case they have to exchange the seat for a casket in the cargo hold?” Laura said ruefully.

“Thanks for the thought,” said Jack, frowning.

“The Golden Triangle … where have I heard that before?” asked Dyck. “Didn’t it used to be a famous for drugs?”

Jack nodded. “It was notorious in the old days for being the main route to smuggle heroin for most of the world’s addict population. It is where two rivers meet, forming a triangle. On one side is Thailand, across one river is Myanmar, and across the other is Laos. Also, by river it is an easy trip into China. It is still a smuggling route, but currently plays second fiddle to Afghanistan.”

“Still dangerous, then,” noted Dyck.

“The Thailand part is not bad,” said Jack. “It has even become a tourist destination, so a cover team could blend in.”

“What is Oskar’s reason, or should I say his excuse for getting you to go there?” asked Rose.

“I am sure that some stuff is legit. He is meeting Mr. Yu to check out a company in a nearby city in China, but he also wants me to check out a clothing factory across the river in Myanmar and a jade-exporting company in Thailand that is also close by. He was more vague on those and said he didn’t have any details for me at this time.”

“Being vague could mean that is where he plans to have you killed,” said Rose.

“Possibly, but he also mentioned that another company in the south of Thailand would later be checked, as well as one across the border in Malaysia.”

“Maybe your whole trip is legit,” said Dyck. “All this could be a waste of time and it might be some other trip when he plans to kill you.”

“I’ve thought of that. If there hasn’t been a move made to kill me by the end of this trip, I could hurry things along by telling Oskar that my previous company has offered me a large incentive to go back with them. If Pike the Spike or Killer Rabbit are already there, I think Oskar would decide to terminate my employment abruptly.”

“I’m sure you could convince Oskar to want to kill you,” said Rose. “The more I think about what you are doing, the more I feel like killing you myself. How the hell can we protect you over there?”

“Rose, I’m not suicidal. Our base of operation will be mostly in Thailand. I have worked with the Thai police before. As long as I have a cover team from Canada to work with them, I feel pretty comfortable.”

“You might feel comfortable, I don’t,” replied Rose. “How many members do you want with you? Bearing in mind that we are under tight budget restraints.”

“Foreign police, probably Thai, will be handling things, but I would still like a least one trained operator from Canada to liaison with them. I would also like someone with their equipment in hand should we get permission for wiretap. From what I know of a lot of developing countries, their bugging equipment isn’t much better than two cans connected with a string.”

“Are you thinking of getting a wiretap there?” asked Dyck.

“If someone tries to kill me, I am hoping it would be enough to convince a judge in Canada to authorize it,” said Jack. “If that happens, I am hoping that wiretap used in a foreign country would be admissible in Canada.”

“Your plan is to arrest whoever tries to kill you and get them to wear a wire to implicate who they work for,” said Dyck.”

“Exactly, but we would still need a judge’s order to wiretap the phones or install room and car bugs. Without that, we may never find out who Oskar’s boss is, let alone get evidence against him.” Jack looked at Connie and said, “What do you think? If a judge in Canada approves a wiretap, would using it in a foreign country be admissible in B.C.?”

“Providing that authorization was given prior to any bugs being planted for you over there.”

“Those guys go by the book,” said Jack. “No worries there.”

“I wonder how you know that,” mused Rose. “Sounds like you have tried to corrupt them before.” Before Jack could respond she held up her hand and said, “Don’t even go there. Instead of two people going with you, I will see that you have a three-man cover team, plus someone who knows their electronics.”

“I’d like to pick my team.”

“It’s your neck, I think you should have a say in who you want,” said Dyck.

“I want a trained cover man in charge of security, along with two trained UC operators to assist.”

“UC is something I know little about,” admitted Dyck. “Is there a difference between a cover man versus a UC operator?”

“A cover man has been trained not only in surveillance, but also to monitor the undercover operative’s psychological well-being, as well as to provide physical protection when possible. Not to mention looking after administrative duties and reports connected to the investigation. The UC operator, of course, has a completely different role.”