Above Ground (38 page)

“I don't like the idea of the three of you going back in,” replied Jean-Louie.

Jack shrugged and said, “We certainly felt welcome this afternoon, although it was a little uncomfortable when he said someone was watching. Partying with him will make him trust us more.”

“Besides,” said Laura, “I expect lots of people will be coming and going from the party. It wouldn't be the time for him to try anything serious, even if he was suspicious.”

“If he wasn't suspicious,” said Jean-Louie, “he wouldn't have four goons outside watching.”

Jack, Laura, and Damien arrived promptly at seven o'clock. Jack and Damien each wore slacks and a golf shirt. Laura wore an emerald green silk blouse and a white skirt. Her new high-heeled shoes were also an emerald green.

A servant nodded politely and gestured for them to follow. Ramirez was at a desk in his study. He was not unfriendly, but his demeanour had changed considerably since the afternoon. As they entered, he complimented Laura on her choice of shoes — and on which store she had purchased them in.

“You were watching me?” asked Laura, portraying anger.

“Do not be offended,” Ramirez replied. “Cali can be a dangerous city. I have many bodyguards. It was no inconvenience to ensure that no danger came to you. As you are my guests, I feel it is my responsibility.”

Jack studied Ramirez's face as he spoke.
Subtle intimidation or a need for absolute control? Likely both.

Ramirez dismissed any further comments from Laura simply by turning to Jack and saying, “You will call Carlos now.”

“Now?” asked Jack.

“Yes. Here, with me. You will say that I will be with Laura in Palmira tonight. Tell him that you will meet him in front of the church at the main plaza in Palmira at eleven o'clock. Say you are in my house and do not have time to talk now, so he cannot ask many questions.”

“There is no need for me to meet him,” said Jack, feeling a rush of acid to his stomach. “I can simply phone him.”

“No,” said Ramirez. “You will meet him. He will be less suspicious then. Many of my men are already in place.”

Jack and Laura exchanged a look. Each thought the same thing.
A simple plan has just become complicated and dangerous.

“In front of a church in a plaza,” said Jack. “It does not sound like a good place. Lots of people could get hurt or he might escape.”

Ramirez smiled and shook his head. “We will not kill him there. His car, a Mercedes, it is bulletproof and heavily protected. Personally, I prefer my Land Rover. It also has such protection but is more suited for the roads in Colombia.”

“Where do you intend to do this?” asked Jack, feeling irritated that Ramirez could be so casual about planning a murder.

“You will take him to a villa on the edge of the city. It is a good spot. The driveway to the villa goes over a small bridge. When he enters the villa, I will have a truck block the bridge. More men will be inside the villa and also in a shed outside. He will not escape once he is over the bridge.”

“I think I should come to Palmira as well,” said Laura.

“Definitely. I intend for you to come,” said Ramirez. “You will leave your car here and all three of you will come with me,” he added, while getting up and walking around his desk to face Jack. “Call Carlos now!” he ordered.

Ramirez watched closely as Jack dialled, and then he placed his head close to the phone so he could listen. Out of the corner of his eye, Jack saw Laura move closer to the desk, her hand within grabbing distance of a thin knife used as a letter opener.

“Carlos! This is Jack.”

“What news do you have for me?” demanded Carlos. “Tell me where the pig is!”

“I am a short distance from him now,” said Jack, looking at Ramirez, whose face indicated a rise in blood pressure. “I do not have time to talk. He will be with the lady in Palmira tonight. I do not have the address now. I will meet you at eleven o'clock in front of the church at the main plaza in Palmira and show you where he is.”

Carlos let out a tirade in Spanish that Jack did not understand. He felt his muscles contract as the rage showed on Ramirez's face.

Carlos then said, “
Si
, amigo, we will meet in Palmira!”

Ramirez stepped back when the call ended. His face was contorted in anger and he reverted back to his Spanish tongue as he let loose with a barrage of obscenities while looking at Jack.

Laura turned her back to the desk but put her hands behind her and picked up the letter opener. Two bodyguards in the room ...
if I can take out Ramirez while Jack and Damien jump the other two ... oh man!

Ramirez then spun toward Laura and said, “I am sorry, Laura. For what I have said. I hope you do not know such Spanish words.”

Laura smiled sweetly and said, “I'm ashamed to admit that I haven't learned Spanish.”

“That is okay. I am ashamed of the words I just spoke,” replied Ramirez. “It is unbelievable what he said he will do to me with ... a stick.” Ramirez paused momentarily, then said, “Very barbaric. I do not understand such rage. I thought he and I had an agreement. He is a lunatic.”

“He really is,” said Damien in agreement.

Ramirez looked at Laura and said, “Do you know that he always wears a little green tam? He pretends he is a soldier. He is not. He is just a lunatic.”

Laura let out a deep breath. She then thought of Rellik with his stringy red hair and chipped front tooth.
How could Ramirez understand such rage? Perhaps if he had a brother and knew Rellik, he would understand. Carlos isn't the only lunatic who should be put down!

Laura gently laid the letter opener on the table and stepped away when Ramirez said that they would have dinner now.

On their way to the table, Laura whispered to Jack, “Think maybe you should call Jean-Louie? Have them pull us over when we leave? Ramirez isn't going to let us take our car but if we let Jean-Louie know, then...”

“Not a chance. We're this close to Carlos. I'm not going to let him slip through my fingers now. You stay close to Ramirez. He'll be protected. He's not the type to risk his neck.”

“Yeah, he's really different than you. Probably smarter.”

Jack chose not to respond.

The dinner, consisting of a main course of garlic buttered prawns and wild rice with mushrooms, would normally have tasted succulent. Neither Jack nor Laura felt like eating. The anticipation of tonight's activity did not seem to affect Damien, who was pleased to accept a second helping.

“Tell me, Jack,” said Ramirez, “Damien said that you are not with his club, but that he has hired you for your knowledge of money.”

Jack nodded.

“What would you propose that I do as an investment strategy for your country?”

Jack took his time to chew and then swallow a prawn before replying, “I would presume that a man of your calibre would already own a bank someplace — perhaps in the Grand Caymans?”

Ramirez smiled and said, “Perhaps more than one.”

“Your official business is inspired by leather. Shoes, jackets ... correct?”

“Yes,” Ramirez replied, then looked at Damien and said, “Officially, of course!” then laughed.

“Then,” said Jack, “I would propose you open a chain of such stores in Canada. You could get a tax break by borrowing money from your own banks while paying yourself interest. Naturally, the paper trail would be hidden through different companies so that the government would not know you owned the banks. On paper, it would appear normal that you would send large amounts of money back to the banks as well as to shoe or leather distribution companies in Colombia.”

“Your government would give me a tax break?” exclaimed Ramirez.

“If you have to borrow money to invest in a company in Canada, it is expected that you would deduct such an expense from your cost of doing business. On paper, you would say that you are selling a large volume of expensive leather goods. You would only send a few high-quality and expensive items for show. The rest would be of a very low quality. Practically worthless. Once these cleared customs, the poor-quality merchandise could be destroyed. As long as large amounts are being imported, it would appear that they are being sold and money is being sent back to order more and pay for loans.”

Ramirez beamed, then looked at Damien and said, “You have picked your people well.” He then glanced at Laura and added, “Very well.” He raised a glass of Pinot Blanc. Everyone followed suit and gave a silent toast.

“Perhaps,” said Ramirez to Damien, “some of the shipping containers of shoes might contain a much more expensive product.”

“That,” said Damien, “would depend upon how expensive it is for me!”

Ramirez smiled and replied, “We will talk after dinner.”

At eight-thirty, a man arrived and stood quietly in the doorway. Eventually, Ramirez excused himself from the table to talk with him.

When Ramirez returned, he smiled as he sat down. “I have just been informed,” he said, “that Carlos's Mercedes, three vans, and two SUVs have left Buga on the road to Palmira. It is estimated that he has thirty men with him.” Ramirez paused to sip his wine and then said, “So many men. Carlos is a coward, is he not?” He added, “Does he think that I am Superman?” and laughed.

Jack, Laura, and Damien also laughed politely.

“Now,” said Ramirez, “we have one hour before we should leave. I recommend the dessert tonight. Grilled banana with a rum glaze topped with ice cream.”

“Sounds good,” said Damien.

“Ah, my friend,” said Ramirez, looking at Damien, “after tonight I will give you the best price I have given anyone.”

“That sounds good, too,” said Damien. “After dessert, let's discuss it further and I will call my men in Canada to arrange the details.”

Jack glanced at his watch and looked at Laura.
What will happen when I meet Carlos? One thing is for sure ... Damien will keep right on going — with me to thank for bargain prices!

Jean-Louie received the report that Ramirez's Land Rover, accompanied by three Hummers, was leaving the estate.

“What do ya think?” asked one of the narcs.

Jean-Louie didn't respond as he dialled Jack's cell.

“Hey, Jack! How are you, my friend? This is John calling from Canada. I hear you are out of the country someplace?”

“John! Good to hear from you,” replied Jack, relieved that the Land Rover he was in had tinted windows. “I am out of the country. Partying with a friend,” he said, smiling as he glanced at Ramirez. “They really know how to have a good time here. They're even providing limo service to the guests. How's it going up there?”

The call was brief, but when Jack hung up, Ramirez looked at him and said, “No more calls ... for any of you.”

Jack glanced at Laura and Damien, who stared ahead in silence. There was no mistaking the icy tone in Ramirez's voice. The remaining half-hour trip to Palmira was made in silence.

As they approached Palmira, Jack looked around and realized that their small convoy had become well spaced. None of the Hummers were in sight.

Ramirez watched Jack, then smiled and said, “You are observant, my friend. If Carlos has men watching for me to arrive in Palmira, it is better if he thinks I do not have security.”

Ramirez might have been right. At the outskirts to the city an SUV appeared to follow loosely behind them. It only took minutes for Ramirez's driver to lose him in traffic.

“The dog does not want to alert the chickens too soon,” observed Ramirez, wiping the palms of his hands together in anticipation. He looked at Jack and said, “They will rely on you to tell them where I have gone. We will park my Land Rover at the villa to bait the trap. I have another vehicle there too.”

Ramirez paused to take a call on his cell. When he hung up, he said, “Good! Carlos's Mercedes and two of his vans have been seen driving near the church.”

Jack realized that he was holding his breath and slowly started to exhale.
I almost feel disappointed that he showed up. Great time to think that this isn't such a good idea!

A short time later, they slowly drove past a row of buildings. Most were homes, with about half of them in darkness. Others had a few lights on, including the occasional porch light.

Some noise and a bustling of activity came from one building in the centre of the block with an Aguila sign above the door. The street had no sidewalks, but
a few people could be seen walking along the edges of the road. Just past the bar, the road turned to dirt. The Land Rover slowed and turned onto a single-lane bridge that spanned a creek, marking the entrance to a driveway.

The dirt driveway led up to a modest two-storey building. They parked and Jack walked around the villa. With the exception of a small mango grove behind the home, there were few trees for protection. A short distance away from the side of the villa was a small shed where some of Ramirez's men waited. It was a perfect place for an ambush.

“What do you think, my friends?” asked Ramirez.

Damien smiled and slapped Ramirez on the back and said, “I like it. You have done well!”

“Good. When it is over, I will have my men pile the bodies like a monument. It will be a symbol for those who cross me!”

Damien smiled and said, “I think your competition will get the message.”

“We will go to the plaza now,” replied Ramirez.

“I would like to stay here,” said Damien. “If one of your men would lend me a gun, I would like to be here when Carlos arrives.”

“But it is not your fight,” said Ramirez, looking puzzled. “It is me he wishes to kill! Besides, it is too dangerous. Carlos will enter the villa, and then my men will switch on the lights when they climb the staircase. There will be much shooting.”

“It was me he insulted,” replied Damien, “when he told me to risk Laura's life. I consider it a matter of honour to take part in his execution. I hope he sees my face when he dies.”