“Judging by Oskar’s chop suey comment, it doesn’t sound like he plans on killing anyone in China,” said Randy.

“I agree,” replied Jack. “Still, we’ll need to have someone go to China to liase with them, as well as the LO. They will all be waiting in customs at the airport when the plane lands.”

“Do we draw straws?” asked Willy.

Jack looked at Randy. “Your call on this.”

Randy nodded. “I know the LO and the Chinese will have heavy security, but I think two should go.” He looked at Jim. “By the sounds of it, your services won’t be needed in China.”

“I agree,” replied Jim. “I might be of more use here.”

Randy looked to Tina. “You would fit in well, so you just volunteered.”

“Oh, great,” Tina said, smiling. “What if someone steals my ID and passport? I’ll be stuck there. Probably have to support myself by making tofu or opening a DVD burn shop or something.”

Randy grinned. “Willy, you go, too. I want the both of you at the airport before Oskar, Pike, and Stew get there.”

“Wee-hah!” chortled Willy.

“How hard would it be to have one of your men be the taxi driver for Oskar, Pike and Stew when they go to the airport?” Randy asked Pom. “Could it be done discreetly?”

“Easy to do,” said Pom. “Hotel here good. No tell bad guys.”

“Great. That takes care of Stew. As far as Jack goes, there will be enough of us left that we shouldn’t have a problem. Do you agree, Jack?”

“One hundred percent.”

“How long do you think it will take to check out the jade company?” asked Willy.

“I’m thinking only a day. I was told that once I did that, I could laze around for a day or two until everyone gets back.”

“Gee, he sounds like a really nice boss,” said Tina, sarcastically.

“Yes, I hear people are dying to work for him,” replied Jack. “After that, before returning to Canada, Stew and I are supposed to check out a company in southern Thailand and another one in Malaysia. The one in Malaysia is planning to build a huge tourist resort. The company in Thailand is said to be investing in green technology with biopolymers.”

“What are biopolymers?” asked Willy.

“Something made from living organisms. I don’t know much about it, other than it is better for the planet.”

“Where in Thailand?” asked Pom.

“A place near a city called Hat Yai.”

“That is on the border with Malaysia,” replied Pom. “It is not a good place.”

“Oskar said we would fly to an island in Malaysia called Langkawi, which is where the resort is being built. He said there is absolutely no danger in Langkawi, but that he and Pike would come along for a holiday. Hat Yai, back in Thailand, can apparently be done from there in a day trip. He said it had a bad rep and that Pike would go with us.”

“Sounds like we should keep our suitcases close at hand,” said Tina.

“You got it,” replied Jack.

Conversation stopped when Pom answered his phone. After a brief conversation he hung up and said, “Tomorrow, Ben Pike fly from Bangkok to Chiang Rai. He no get here before seven o’clock at night.”

“So if he is being brought to kill either Stew or I, at least our trip to the clothing factory in Tachileik tomorrow should be safe,” said Jack.

“We will still cover you to and from,” said Randy.

“For sure,” replied Jack, leaning back in his chair and stretching, “but tomorrow I think part of the team should stay and watch Oskar in case he does meet someone. I should mention that tonight, Oskar had Stew and I stand out on the restaurant patio where he took a picture of us. He acted like he was simply being friendly.”

“Think he had an ulterior motive?” asked Randy.

“The guy is a psychopath,” replied Jack. “Being friendly is only an act. I’m sure it was for a purpose.”

“Good enough,” replied Randy. “ So tomorrow, Jim and Willy, I’ll get you both to stay here and keep an eye on him, along with two from Pom’s team. Okay with you, Pom?”

“Okay me,” he replied.

“Tina, Pom, and one of his men will cover Jack and Stew,” continued Randy. He looked at Jack. “As an extra precaution, I would prefer it if you wore a wire. What do you think?”

“I agree,” replied Jack. “I hate doing it, but I figure it is more important to protect Stew in case something does happen.”

“For sure,” agreed Willy.

“Then it’s settled,” said Randy. “Tomorrow I’ll be the one to monitor the wire and will partner up with Pom in his car. Tina, you follow in your rental.”

“Got it,” replied Tina.

Randy looked at Jack. “Code word?”

“I’ll use pickle as a code word.”

“Pickle!” chuckled Randy. “Why not olive?”

“Because I was afraid you would think that was what I really wanted and run in with a jar of olives for me. No, if I think I need help, I’ll say something like, this is another fine pickle I’ve gotten into. You hear that, come in with your guns out.”

“We don’t carry guns. We’re in a foreign country, remember?” said Randy.

“I know, I meant Pom.”

“Speaking of which, Pom, can your team be armed in Tachileik?” asked Randy.

“Armed?” said Pom, looking at his arms.

“I mean carry guns. Can you go into Tachileik with your guns?”

“I no go there without one,” said Pom, looking seriously at Jack.

“I see,” said Jack. He looked at Jim and said, “Yes, I will definitely need to wear a wire tomorrow.”

“From what I hear, I don’t know if I’ll lend you one,” said Jim with a grin. “They’re expensive. I don’t want it coming back all shot up.”

“Thanks for the thought,” Jack said with a smile.

“And after tomorrow and China, then what?” asked Tina.”

Jack grimaced and shook his head. “I don’t know. Stew’s safety is top priority. We’ll have to play it one day at a time.”

“More like one second at a time,” replied Randy, sombrely. “The time it takes to snap someone’s neck.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

At ten o’clock in the morning, Jack and Stew were greeted by a Mr. Duwa in the lobby of their hotel. Mr. Duwa explained that he had a driver waiting outside to take them to his factory in Tachileik.

Jack and Stew got in the back seat of an older-model black Mercedes, while Duwa sat in the front. Jack said hello to the driver, who was a short, husky man with a face scarred with acne.

He grunted in response.

“His English no good as mine,” explained Duwa.

The one-hour drive to Tachileik was delayed briefly partway due to road construction. It was only at that point that Jack was conscious of a motor scooter that pulled up close to them, with the driver talking on a cellphone.

The scooter then roared by, dodging in and out past a grader on the road. Jack knew that it was one of the men from Pom’s team. He glanced out the back window of the Mercedes and did not see the two surveillance cars that he knew were following. It was a good sign. He knew the scooter driver had warned them. It meant the Thai were learning the art of surveillance.

The Mercedes crossed into Myanmar without a problem and minutes later, they pulled up to a large warehouse comprised of three levels.

The lower level contained rows of cardboard boxes packed with clothes.

“Here, ready for shipping,” explained Duwa, gesturing to a truck that had backed into a cargo bay, where workers started loading the truck. He pointed to another cargo bay where a truck was unloading bales of fabric. “Cloth come in here, go out there,” Duwal explained. “We handle much. If America or Europe want to buy, we can make.”

“That sounds good,” said Stew.

“We have lots of room to make more clothes, but need orders first,” said Duwa.

Jack and Stew followed Duwa up a flight of stairs, while the driver trailed behind them. The hum from hundreds of sewing machines greeted them before they arrived. The work area was a large, wide-opened expanse of workers. Piles of fabric and clothing were everywhere. Few of the workers cast so much as a glance in their direction, as they sat on hard, wooden self-adjusting stools, hunched over their work.