Total Immunity by Robert Ward

jungle, tied to a tree, and devoured by wild animals.
    That was how Karl dealt with traitors. It wasn’t enough merely to kill them, you had to make them suffer, serve as an example to any other fools who might want to set themselves against him. He and his kind specialized in revenge.
    Jack had cultivated Maria, listened to her growing hatred of Steinbach, and when the time was right, had turned her, made a deal for her that she wouldn’t be prosecuted for her part in earlier diamond capers.
    It was Maria who had vouched for him, Maria who got him in tight with Karl. And if Karl found her, it would be Maria who would be tied to a tree somewhere, covered with honey, her entrails hanging out . . .
    But it was also her choice. If she didn’t want to go into the Witness Protection Program, there was nothing Jack could do about it.
    Besides, Jack could understand it. She’d been used to a life in South Africa and, before that, Peru and Chile. She wouldn’t be happy living as a saleswoman in some godforsaken Midwestern town or down south in Fort Smith, Arkansas, where the latest members of the Witness Protection Program were planted.
    She was a gambler, not unlike Jack himself, and she liked to live life close to the bone.
    Maybe she’d be fine down there. With a new name, and maybe after a year or so, with a new face (Maria was considering having plastic surgery), she’d be untraceable.
    Jack hoped so, anyway.
    Just then they heard the announcement over the speaker. “United International Flight to Santiago, Chile, will now begin preboarding.”
    Maria Vasquez looked up at Jack and smiled, but there was sadness in her eyes.
    â€œYou know, Jack?” she said. “There was a time when I thought . . . really thought we could have made it together.”
    Jack kissed her on the cheek.
    â€œYeah,” he said. “I know what you mean. But, in the end, we’re too much alike.”
    â€œYou think?” she said.
    â€œOh, yeah,” Jack said. “You and me . . . we’re both addicted to life in the fast lane. That doesn’t make for much of a marriage. In fact, that’s the one thing I’m still a little worried about with you.”
    â€œWhat?” she said, standing and gathering up her leather handbag.
    â€œThis town you’re going to down there. Zato? I wonder if it’ll be big enough for you?”
    She smiled. Touched his cheek with her hand.
    â€œThat’s where we’re different, Jack. This whole thing with Karl, losing Hector, seeing all the hatred and killing and ugliness in the diamond business . . . that’s cured me. I mean it. Maybe it’s made me old before my time, but I can’t think of anything I’d rather do now than go back there to my small town. Perhaps I’ll marry and have children. That sounds like something real. You know, real friends, real family. People you can always count on. And they can count on you. After the lies and hustle of the diamond-smuggling business,
that
sounds exciting to me.”
    Jack smiled and hugged Maria tight. “You know that if ever you need me, I’m right here for you.”
    â€œYes. I know that.”
    He let her go and looked into her tearful eyes.
    â€œAnything,” Jack said. “Anything you need. Don’t hesitate to ask. You have my numbers.”
    â€œI do.” She wiped away the tears from her cheeks. “I am going to miss you, Jack.”
    â€œMe, too,” he said. “But who knows? Maybe we’ll meet again.”
    â€œIf it’s fated,” Maria said with a sad smile.
    Then she kissed him on the cheek, turned, and got out of his car. He watched her go through the shadows of the parking garage, out into the light, and her new life in Chile.
    As Jack started his car, he silently wished her well.
    But somehow, he doubted that her future would be a happy one.

7
    KEVIN WALKED DOWN Venice Boulevard alone. He looked down at the