deal will be contingent upon the wholesale price, as well as the quality of the merchandise. I am only interested in very pure stuff."
"And that is all," he said. "You're only interested in pure stuff. Nothing else. Nothing hard?"
"Nothing hard," I said.
"A shame," he said. "A man who has the capacity for moving tonnage across the border would seem to be wasting his time on a minor commodity."
"That's the way I prefer it," I said.
Again he was hesitant for a while, looking thoughtful. Finally he looked at me. "And you say you have the cash on hand to pay?"
I nodded.
He was still holding the two five-hundred dollar bills in his hand, and he carefully folded them twice and laid them on the small table next to his chair.
"It is possible that I could help you out," he said. "I do have certain friends. However, I am not interested in small change."
Again he hesitated, watching me closely.
"Let us come to an understanding. There's nothing I can do for you after you receive the delivery. From that point on, you will be on your own. No Mexican can be of any use to you when it comes to crossing the border. You will have your own immigration inspectors to cope with, and I can assure you that they are alert since this latest campaign of cooperation between my government and your government has gone into effect."
"I understand, captain," I said. "I am only interested in contacts. Reliable contacts. I want to be sure that I am dealing with dependable people and that once I have taken delivery, I will not be interfered with for at least twenty-four to forty-eight hours. At the end of that time, the merchandise will no longer be in Mexico."
"You seem very sure of yourself, senor. Let us say I am able to arrange the connections you want and that things go through on schedule. The price will not be a thousand dollars. You're talking kilos and hundreds of kilos, talking tonnage. I will expect a percentage of what you pay. Let us say tentatively, twenty-five percent. Payment is to be made at the time of delivery. It will not be made to me directly, but will be put on top of the total price you pay."
"That will be satisfactory," I said. "And how long do you believe it will be before-"
"You are staying in Tijuana for several days, senor?"
"If necessary, yes. But I plan to drive down to Ensenada as soon as possible, and I shall be there for at least a day or two."
"Ensenada," he said. "I see."
He stood up.
"I suggest you stay at the hotel here for the next few hours. I will be in touch with you. It is possible I may have some information for you very shortly. In the meantime," he bowed slightly but didn't offer to shake hands, "it has been a pleasure to talk with you, Senor Johns."
He smiled and added, "And please give my regards to that most charming little daughter of yours."
His sarcasm wasn't wasted, and I wondered if Sharon had stupidly suggested to him that she could have been my daughter. I wouldn't have put it past her, although, to have qualified, I would have had to be ten years old at the time she was conceived.
A moment later the door closed behind him.
5
I was still holding the two folded notes of five hundred dollars he had picked up and handed to me on his way out. It suddenly occurred to me that he had taken Bongo's letter with him.
I didn't like it. It had all been too easy. It wasn't that I could put my finger on anything in particular. It was just something in his attitude and his quick willingness to accept me at face value.
There was nothing, however, I could do about it. The next move would be up to him. I was pouring a drink of tequila and regretting the fact that I'd neglected to pick up a bottle of decent bourbon when I had gone out, when the door opened and Sharon entered.
She was
"And that is all," he said. "You're only interested in pure stuff. Nothing else. Nothing hard?"
"Nothing hard," I said.
"A shame," he said. "A man who has the capacity for moving tonnage across the border would seem to be wasting his time on a minor commodity."
"That's the way I prefer it," I said.
Again he was hesitant for a while, looking thoughtful. Finally he looked at me. "And you say you have the cash on hand to pay?"
I nodded.
He was still holding the two five-hundred dollar bills in his hand, and he carefully folded them twice and laid them on the small table next to his chair.
"It is possible that I could help you out," he said. "I do have certain friends. However, I am not interested in small change."
Again he hesitated, watching me closely.
"Let us come to an understanding. There's nothing I can do for you after you receive the delivery. From that point on, you will be on your own. No Mexican can be of any use to you when it comes to crossing the border. You will have your own immigration inspectors to cope with, and I can assure you that they are alert since this latest campaign of cooperation between my government and your government has gone into effect."
"I understand, captain," I said. "I am only interested in contacts. Reliable contacts. I want to be sure that I am dealing with dependable people and that once I have taken delivery, I will not be interfered with for at least twenty-four to forty-eight hours. At the end of that time, the merchandise will no longer be in Mexico."
"You seem very sure of yourself, senor. Let us say I am able to arrange the connections you want and that things go through on schedule. The price will not be a thousand dollars. You're talking kilos and hundreds of kilos, talking tonnage. I will expect a percentage of what you pay. Let us say tentatively, twenty-five percent. Payment is to be made at the time of delivery. It will not be made to me directly, but will be put on top of the total price you pay."
"That will be satisfactory," I said. "And how long do you believe it will be before-"
"You are staying in Tijuana for several days, senor?"
"If necessary, yes. But I plan to drive down to Ensenada as soon as possible, and I shall be there for at least a day or two."
"Ensenada," he said. "I see."
He stood up.
"I suggest you stay at the hotel here for the next few hours. I will be in touch with you. It is possible I may have some information for you very shortly. In the meantime," he bowed slightly but didn't offer to shake hands, "it has been a pleasure to talk with you, Senor Johns."
He smiled and added, "And please give my regards to that most charming little daughter of yours."
His sarcasm wasn't wasted, and I wondered if Sharon had stupidly suggested to him that she could have been my daughter. I wouldn't have put it past her, although, to have qualified, I would have had to be ten years old at the time she was conceived.
A moment later the door closed behind him.
5
I was still holding the two folded notes of five hundred dollars he had picked up and handed to me on his way out. It suddenly occurred to me that he had taken Bongo's letter with him.
I didn't like it. It had all been too easy. It wasn't that I could put my finger on anything in particular. It was just something in his attitude and his quick willingness to accept me at face value.
There was nothing, however, I could do about it. The next move would be up to him. I was pouring a drink of tequila and regretting the fact that I'd neglected to pick up a bottle of decent bourbon when I had gone out, when the door opened and Sharon entered.
She was
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