Conspiracy

99

Dean and Karr were just finishing dinner when Telach told Dean to stand by for a communication from Rubens.

“Mr. Dean, Mr. Karr, it’s time for you to leave Vietnam,” Rubens told them.

“Aw, and I was just getting used to the place,” said Karr.

“Please, Tommy, don’t interrupt,” said Rubens. “We believe the security forces are looking for you. Therefore, we have arranged alternate transportation. A boat will meet you in the Saigon harbor at one a.m., your time. It will take you to a rendezvous with a he li cop ter five miles off the coast.

The he li cop ter will take you to Thailand, and from there you will use commercial transport.”

“Commercial transport as in first class?” said Karr.

“I believe coach will suffice,” said Rubens. “Do you have any other questions?”

“Don’t you think that’s a long flight for coach?” said Karr.

“Any serious questions.”

“Who are these security people?” asked Dean. “Where are they?”

“Mr. Rockman can give you the details,” said Rubens.

“They appear to be working at Cam Tre Luc’s behest. I would not take them too lightly.”

“I’m not,” said Dean.

They paid their bill and left, gassed up the motorbike, and then headed in the direction of the port. The damp night air was thick with fog, but the breeze from the back of the bike felt good as it rushed past. Because of the fog, Karr drove conservatively, at least for him; they stayed under the sound barrier.

The rendezvous spot was a short, bare pier. Even in the dark, it seemed to be falling apart.

“We can’t wait out there,” said Dean. “Anybody going by on the street, or even on one of those other piers, can see us.” They planted a pair of video bugs to cover the area and then drove a few blocks before settling on a secluded alley where they could wait. While Karr looked at the feed from the video bugs, Dean took out his sat phone and called Qui Lai Chu.

A man answered.

“Is Ms. Chu there?” said Dean.

“Who are you?” asked the man in Vietnamese.

“I’d like to speak to Ms. Chu,” said Dean.

The man said something to a companion that Dean couldn’t make out. Another man came on the line and asked in English whom he was speaking to.

Dean hung up.

“Rockman, can you track down the location of the phone I just called?” Dean asked.

“Why?”

“Because I think Qui Lai Chu is in trouble.”

“Charlie, I don’t think—”

“Track the phone for me, Rockman. Do it now.” There was a pause. Marie Telach came on the line.

“Mr. Rubens wanted you to come home as soon as possible,” Telach told him.

“Then you’d better give me the location of that phone,” said Dean. “Because we’re not leaving here until that woman is safe.”