“You no help to take away job. Children go hungry, or have sex for money.”

“I know, which is why I came back to see if we could help. Do you have children working here?”

The man nodded and held up three fingers.

“Would you like it if one day your children became bosses? Making more money and perhaps not working so hard?”

The man stared at Jack and did not answer until someone shouted at him from the crowd, then he responded to that person before saying, “That will never happen. Why you talk like that?”

“I have already spoken to Mr. Duwa and told him that people in other countries will pay more money to buy your clothes if they think they are helping poorer people.”

“Children in Myanmar not rich like America,” said the man angrily. “They must work.”

“I know, but you’re not listening to me. What if enough extra money is paid for the clothing that the children would not have to work so many hours in the factory? What if there was money to pay for a teacher to teach the children at the factory so they could get better jobs and make more money? Maybe learn English like you do and get jobs in hotels or restaurants. Some of these children may end up being bosses here. Maybe one of your own children.”

“They would pay that much money?”

“That is what we want. For people in many countries, it is not that much more money because they get paid more. For people here, the difference means a lot.”

The man thought it over and at the crowd’s insistance, translated it to them. People who had been holding weapons looked embarrassed and lowered their weapons as they all talked amongst themselves.

Eventually the man turned his attention back to Jack. “When?” he asked. “When it happen?”

“I don’t know,” replied Jack. “I wish it were happening now. Fair trade is catching on in some parts of the world, but many more people need to be educated about it. It will take time. Measures have to be put in place to make sure the money reaches the right people.”

“What is fair trade?”

“Where richer people pay more money to people who are doing the hard work. To pay them what is fair. For people like you and your children. I have talked to Mr. Duwa about it.”

“He no here.”

“I know. You tell him that I will meet him tomorrow for lunch at the same place. I would like to talk to him again.”

The man nodded.

“Before we go, can I help you with the truck?” asked Jack.

“No … truck is okay,” replied the man, sounding puzzled.

“I thought maybe it had a flat tire,” said Jack, gesturing to the pipe the man was holding from the truck jack.

He gave a toothless smile and said, “I think whole building have flat. Maybe you can fix that.”

Rabbit heard the boarding announcement in the Hong Kong airport. He studied the picture of Jack and Stew on his phone again, before pushing the delete button.

Before he put his phone away, he smiled to himself.

Soon, Jack, I will be deleting you …

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Jack and Stew were barely out of the factory when their taxi pulled up and they got in. “Back to the border crossing,” ordered Jack.

“Man, you, you saved my life in there,” said Stew. His body was starting to shake and Jack knew it wasn’t from the air-conditioning.

“Not really,” said Jack. “They weren’t going to kill us. Bet there wasn’t a murderer amongst them. They are really just a hard-working bunch of people who simply needed reassurance that we weren’t there to hurt them.”

“Hurt them! Are you blind? Didn’t you see the clubs they were carrying? They were going to kill us!”

“No, that was for show to scare us. They’re basically nice people, but a little stressed over their situation.”

“Well if they wanted to scare me, they sure as hell succeeded. I don’t know what I would have done if you weren’t there. I’m going to tell Oskar that you deserve a medal.”

“Uh, please don’t mention the hot reception to Oskar. Say we saw some kids and that I made an arrangement to meet Duwa again tomorrow.”

“Why not? Man, you are one cool dude. Don’t be so modest.”

“We’re new on the job. If Oskar heard what really happened, he might be upset that we took a chance like that. I would feel much more comfortable if we left that part out.”

Stew looked at Jack strangely, but shrugged and said, “Okay, if you say so.”

Jack could see that Stew was still trembling and knew that if Oskar saw him, he would know that something happened. “Tell you what, Stew, I don’t see any rush to get back. Once we reach the border, maybe we should stop for a drink before going back to the hotel.”

“I think I could use one,” agreed Stew. He looked at Jack sideways for a moment and said, “You know, I really underestimated you. I think I owe you an apology.”

“How so?”

“Well, from a comment that Oskar made about you having asthma and not being into sports or anything, I sort of took you for being a little on the wimpy side. That’s why I really didn’t want you going in there alone. Boy, was I ever wrong.”

Jack smiled and said, “I have my moments.”

That night at the hotel restaurant, Oskar, Jack, and Stew were eating when Ben Pike arrived. He was a squat, husky man with a neck the same size as his head. His red hair was cut short in a brush cut.

Jack smiled to himself when he recalled Tom Donald, the first murder victim’s friend, saying that Pike walked like a gorilla. It was a good description. The man’s chest and arms were muscular and Jack had little doubt about Pike’s ability to silently kill a person.

Introductions were made and Jack could see Pike sizing them up. Pike was polite, but Jack caught the subtle sneer of disrespect on his face when they shook hands. My reputation for being a wimp has been passed along …

Early the following morning, Oskar, Pike and Stew met in the hotel lobby, while one of Pom’s men assumed his new role as a taxi driver and loaded their luggage into a hotel van to take them to the airport.

“I’ll bring you back some chopsticks,” Stew said with a smile as he shook Jack’s hand goodbye.

“Sounds good. See you in two days,” replied Jack.

Stew then took Jack aside and whispered, “You’ll stay out of Myanmar, right?”

“No problem. I’ll meet Duwa for lunch in Mae Sai and go over a few things, but that’s all.”

“Personally I think Pike should be with you. We don’t need him where we’re going.”

“I think Oskar wants to have a bodyguard to impress Mr. Yu. Don’t worry about me. I’m not the kind of guy to take risks.”

“After yesterday, I’m not so sure,” said Stew, shaking his head.

“Ah, they weren’t really bad guys. I knew that going in.”

“How?”

“I could feel it in my heart. I believe that people are basically good.”

Stew shook his head in wonder. “Oh, man, Jack. Be careful, will you? People might be basically good, but don’t be naive, either. There are some really bad people in this world.”

“Thanks, Stew Pot. I’ll try to remember that.”

Jack stayed at the hotel for the next four hours until the security team returned from the airport. They reported that Oskar, Pike, and Stew had boarded their flight, along with Willy and Tina, who had blended in with the other passengers.

“Now, back to Mai Sai?” asked Randy.

Jack nodded. “I’ve contacted Duwa and will be meeting him for lunch at the same place as yesterday. After that, I will be going to the jade factory, which is walking distance from the restaurant.”