Da Khlot abruptly turned his attention to The Shaman, who glanced back from his seat near the front of the plane. A slight nod from The Shaman commanded his presence.
“Don’t forget to bow,” teased Sayomi. “Otherwise the next person you may be ordered to kill for not showing respect could be yourself.”
Da Khlot ignored her as he quickly made his way forward, bowed respectfully, and took a seat across from The Shaman.
The Shaman, eyes focused on his laptop, finished reviewing the latest news posted on the Internet by Canadian newspapers; including the Vancouver Sun. Keeping up to date on the latest news from the countries he visited had become a ritual. Any articles of interest, such as pending court decisions regarding the legality of criminal proceedings or sentencing practices, were kept for reference. Over the last few years, he was constantly encouraged by what he read concerning British Columbia.
The Shaman looked gravely at Da Khlot and said, “This mission is of the utmost importance.”
Da Khlot remained stoic. Are not all of The Shaman’s missions important?
“Your duty as an observer on this mission does not mean that I have lost faith in you. Quite the opposite. Loyalty is what it is all about. Do you understand?”
Da Khlot nodded, although he didn’t really understand.
“I expect that tomorrow night you will need to wear your new suit,” said The Shaman. “Make sure you do not lose a button on the suit jacket,” he added, with a smile.
Da Khlot did not question why his new suit was equipped with a hidden video camera and a lens that looked like a button. I am but a soldier. I obey. Tomorrow night someone will die. It does not matter why.
***
Natasha awoke at the sound of Jack’s key unlocking the front door to their apartment. She leaned over and turned on a bedside light, before quickly brushing her shoulder-length black hair with her fingertips.
“You’re awake,” said Jack, sounding pleased, as he entered the room.
“Couldn’t sleep,” replied Natasha. “Got turned on reading a sexy article and decided to wait up.”
Jack glanced at a copy of Canadian Medical Association Journal on the bedside table. “Pretty hot stuff! Are you going to give me another night class in human anatomy?”
“The thought crossed my mind.”
“Think you can wait until I shower?”
“You’ll need another one when I’m done with — hey! That’s blood on your shirt.”
“Not mine. It’s from that policewoman with the broken nose I told you about. She’s okay, other than looking like a racoon. Now you know why I need to shower.”
“Everything go okay?”
“Yes, it went fine. Some bad guys went back to jail tonight.”
“Good. Go shower. I’ll stay awake, but don’t take too long.”
“Do you mean you’ll stay awake while I’m in the shower … or after?”
Natasha replied by throwing a pillow at him.
Jack chuckled, caught the pillow, and threw it back. Then something else caught his attention. He picked up an imitation red rose off of their dresser. Its stem and leaves were green plastic and the red flower was made from silk. The flower was extremely faded and it was obvious it had spent many years in the sun. “What’s this?” he asked, placing one hand over his heart as if overwhelmed by her thoughtfulness.
“That’s not for you! A man … it was given to me.”
“Is that a fact?” Jack raised an eyebrow and added, “Well, although it is a symbol of love, I think I should warn you, that it is imitation only. Whoever the rogue is, I suspect his feelings for you are likely about as genuine as this rose.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” replied Natasha. “I believe his feelings are sincere.”
“Really?” replied Jack, sounding intrigued as he examined it more closely. “By a small piece of broken eggshell on the underside of one leaf, I would guess that you had breakfast with this new lover of yours?”
Natasha laughed and said, “Okay, I confess. It was under my windshield wiper when I left work.”
“A secret admirer,” said Jack. “This is getting more interesting all the time.”
“Not so secret,” replied Natasha. “A grateful patient who is too shy to deliver it personally. His name is Melvin.”
“Should I be jealous?” asked Jack, pursing his lips in an attempt not to smile.
“Depends on your performance after your shower,” replied Natasha, sounding mischievous. “And how quick you come to bed. Not to mention, as I recall, it is you who tends to fall asleep all too soon sometimes.”
“I’ll be fast,” said Jack, placing the rose back on the dresser. “Laura and I want to be at work by eight,” he added, while setting the alarm clock.
“By eight! That’s only five hours away. Can’t you sleep in a little longer? I thought you were working afternoons on Monday. I don’t go in until after lunch.”
“Sorry, hon,” replied Jack, letting out a sigh. “Our new boss starts tomorrow. Staff Sergeant Rosemary Wood. I should be there to greet her on her first day. I’ll take Tuesday morning off. I promise. I’ll even bring you breakfast in bed.”
“You better.”
Jack undressed and then disappeared into their ensuite.
“What is she like?” Natasha called after him. “Do you think she’s going to be okay?”
“Who?” asked Jack, his mind reflecting back to earlier in the evening and the look of terror on the face of a petrified young woman in the back seat of a car.
“Your new boss. Didn’t you check her out? You said she was coming in from Toronto.”
“Oh, her. I never heard her name until last week. Don’t know much about her, other than she worked on terrorism.”
Natasha heard the sound of the shower come on, but Jack yelled back, “I did hear she got in trouble over an illegal search of some office.”
Natasha caught the tone of Jack’s voice. He sounded happy. Why would that please him? She paused a moment and understood. Birds of a feather …
She rolled over and caught a glimpse of the full moon shining in around the edges of the drapes. She flicked off the bedside light and got up and opened them. It was a clear night and the moon shone brightly into the room. Definitely more romantic.
The moonlight cast an elongated replica shadow of the rose on her dresser. Lying in the shadow was a silver necklace, the moon illuminating its singular large pearl.
Jack had received the necklace as a gift from a man he once helped. Somehow, the two gifts seem to go together. She looked out at the night sky. The world can be a wonderful place. People can be so kind. So much life and beauty.
But within the next twenty-four hours, Natasha’s mood would change — when the man she cared for was beaten, kidnapped, and murdered.
6
It was quarter to eight in the morning when Jack and Laura arrived at work, but not as early as their new boss, who had arrived an hour earlier. Staff Sergeant Rosemary Wood beckoned them in to her office and introductions were made.
Jack guessed she was about six or seven years older than he was, putting her in her early to mid forties. She was tall, and judging by her build, he suspected she ran marathons. Her hair was blonde and cropped. He sensed she was studying him with some curiosity. It should have made him nervous,