“Naturally.”
Now it’s Daniel’s turn to laugh; Ian can’t remember ever seeing Daniel really laugh spontaneously. “Well, I suppose we have even more in common then. I had a girlfriend once upon a time who used to drag me to these private parties, a club of sorts. Very interesting activities, I have to say, and I did enjoy myself.”
“Aha. We’ll have to discuss it further someday.”
“Indeed. Now we have something else to look forward to. I’ll be upstairs if you need anything.”
That night, as he lay in bed in Daniel’s guest suite, Ian reflected on the day’s events. A few hours after he and Daniel parted to work, they had dinner together, with Daniel’s wife, Olivia. All three of them were seated on one end of a vast stone table in the dining room, and Daniel had introduced Ian to his wife. They’d exchanged small talk about her father’s work, and her studies to be an architect.
Olivia was a beautiful young woman but Ian expected no less: Daniel had the looks and money—if not the winning personality—to ensnare any woman so why would he aim low? Olivia Girardi had beauty, charisma, and the smarts to keep a man like Daniel on a tight string. They seemed very well matched and happy to be with one another. Seeing them together made Ian yearn all the more for Ella.
It was just after they’d finished dinner that an awkward moment arose. Daniel reached over and grasped his wife’s hand. “Olivia, sweet… Micah told me you have Joseph’s number in Bangkok. True?”
The look on her face revealed a story: startled, embarrassed, and even a bit angry. She stuttered out a reply. “I have his new cell number, not a land line, but I haven’t spoken to him.”
Though his green eyes held fire, Daniel’s voice was as soft as melted butter. “That’s not why I’m asking, love. I need to speak with him. May I have the number?”
Seeing her hesitation, he was quick to reassure her. “I require information from him. If you prefer, you may place the call yourself. Okay?” He was still holding her hand and now he began to stroke it with his thumb.
She glanced nervously at Ian who only smiled warmly in response. “Um, okay. May I ask what this is about?”
“Nothing big. I’m just hoping he can put me in touch with people I need to contact.” It wasn’t exactly a lie, just a smooth understatement of his real purpose. “I’d like to place the call now,” he prodded, checking his watch. “It’s just about seven a.m. there and I can more than likely catch him before he becomes inaccessible. Make the call. Now.”
He left no room for argument. Olivia retrieved her phone from her bag, and in seconds, handed her husband the phone. As soon as the connection went through, Daniel stood and waved Ian into the office off the main parlor. He began to speak into the phone even before they reached the room.
“Sorry to disappoint, Joseph, but it’s her husband… Yes, that’s what I said. We’re married. Just so you know, she placed the call so I’m not in possession of your number… but I don’t need to tell you that I don’t appreciate her having it. However, that’s not why I called… I need information. May I put you on speaker? I’m with a friend whose interests are at stake. Very good.”
Ian hears a deep voice resonating throughout the office as Daniel gestures for him to sit while easing himself down into a chair.
“Okay. Let’s have the details.” Terse, cold, deadly: those are the adjectives that spring to mind upon hearing the bloodless voice on the other end of the line.
Daniel launches into a succinct explanation of the events. “I need to be put in touch with both cartels in as anonymous a way as possible. I’d like to hand them some of their potential enemies on a silver platter…”
A pause follows, filling the small room with a tense silence. “Why would either cartel desire such information?”
Daniel shrugged. “Why not? These men had a predecessor who was pissing off both groups. I figure they may want to nip it in the bud before it gets off the ground.”
“Small potatoes. These kinds of nuisances aren’t worth the lead to kill them. You’ll have to come up with something better.”
“We’re trying to avoid getting the red stuff on our hands, Joseph. My friend is not comfortable with it going that way,” he looks over at Ian as he communicates this information to Joseph.
“No one ever really is, except the psychos… but sometimes it’s what has to happen. It’s going to be an uphill battle to get the cartels interested in a few two-bit drug dealers moving in on their turf. Now, if the operation gets large, then it’s another story entirely. Right now, your best bet is to give me names and I can see to it for you at fifty per. Sending them to jail holds no guarantees nor does deportation. If these individuals are that hot to get your friend, then you have no choice but to get them first. It’s self-defense, pure and simple. That’s my best advice, Daniel. Barring that option, I can put you in touch with someone who can get you face time with the Colombians—I don’t know how far up the ladder. The Mexicans are more difficult to work with.”