by J. B. Hawker
Why should his attentions cause her such panic?
Max was at the root of the problem, of course; Max and Bunny’s all-consuming obsession with him.
She had begun her new life in an attempt to break free from her emotional bad habits, but she wasn’t doing a very good job of it, so far.
Bunny decided to take a rational approach to her problem. She would make lists of the pros and cons of the two men and try to make sense of it all.
She owed it to Scott to try to respond to him as a well-balanced adult.
Ellery was nervous as she slipped into a new shimmery peacock blue dress. Looking in the mirror she began to second-guess her choice and asked herself “Does this look like I’m trying too hard?”
The style was a little more fashion-forward than she usually wore, and decidedly more seductive. The neckline didn’t plunge too far and the skirt was not too short, but the knit clung to her slim body, accentuating her curves in a way she was unused to.
“Come on, Ell,” she encouraged her reflection, “this is our first public date. You look great, so stop dithering and just go for it.”
The look on Gilles face when he picked her up told Ellery that she had made the right choice. Tonight was the official beginning of their relationship and it was going to be marvelous.
“Whatever happened with your aunt and the mysterious message in the flash drive?” Gilles asked while they were waiting for their dinner at the restaurant.
“You make that sound like the title of one of Aunt Bunny’s stories; The Case of the Mysterious Message, but I think she lost interest in that mystery about the time she was forced to kill a man. Until then, I think she felt like she was on a sort of fantastic adventure, but that night made everything all too real. Did you have any new ideas about what the scrambled letters and numbers might mean? Or why someone would bother to encrypt them?”
“I haven’t given it much thought, I’m afraid. Every time that drive comes to mind I instantly think of you and forget everything else.”
Ellery blushed and simpered with pleasure as their dinner plates were slipped onto the table and conversation turned to the food, the night, and each other.
On Thursday, Bunny met Naidenne for lunch at the Crab Shack. She needed some relationship advice and didn’t know who else to turn to.
“Okay, Bunny, what’s on your mind? You sounded so serious when you called this morning.”
“It’s not really very serious, I suppose, but I can’t seem to think clearly on the subject and I need another opinion.”
“So? Talk. I’ve got plenty of opinions; some I haven’t even used, yet.”
“Well…you know how you’ve been teasing me about the pastor?”
“Oh, he’s the pastor, now, huh?”
“Okay, you’ve been teasing me about Scott and me having romantic feelings toward one another.”
“Yes?”
“Well, it turns out that you are right, at least about Scott. Now, don’t say anything, yet. Let me finish. After my party the other night, after taking his sister home, he came back to help me clean up…don’t give me that look! ...he did come to help, but afterwards he, uh, he kissed me.”
“Well, halleluiah and amen! Finally. That is so cool. I just knew it. So, what’s the problem? Did he get you ‘in trouble’, already?”
“Naidenne, the things you say! The problem is, until he kissed me I hadn’t thought about him as a possible …well, boyfriend doesn’t sound right, but you know what I mean. I’ve still been trying to figure out my relationship with Max.”
“What relationship? You’ve been divorced and remarried since Max. He’s old news, isn’t he?”
“Well, not really. You and I haven’t talked about it, but Max and I’ve been sort of an off and on item for the past few years. He wants us to live together, but he’s not a believer and I feel that living with a man outside of marriage would be unfaithful to my beliefs and a disappointment to my Lord.”
“You let that come between you? Then you must be over him. If you still loved him, you wouldn’t let dogma stand in your way, would you?”
“Actually, I would and I did. You see, I truly believe this life is only a prelude to the eternal life to come. My faith is central to who I am. If I give in to temptation to go against my values, I couldn’t be happy very long.”
“If that’s the way you feel, then he’s still out of the picture, so what’s your problem?”
“But, he isn’t really out of the picture, Naidenne. In fact, he’s coming to visit next week. We’ve been trying to work out our differences, you see.”
“So, in that case, Scott’s not in the running.”
“In the running…It sounds so awful when you say it that way. I’m confused. Scott is a wonderful man of faith, kind, brave… everything I could want. But, I’ve loved Max forever and we have so much history together.”
“Is that history all good?”
“Not all of it, no, but even the bad times have been so intense. Max is exciting, while Scott is steady and peaceful. It is hard to believe that two such terrific men are interested in me. I’ve never had this dilemma before.”
“Are you bragging or complaining?”
Bunny smiled at Naidenne’s question. She had to admit that there was just a little bit of gratification in admitting to her friend that she had such an embarrassment of riches. She sobered quickly as the contemplation of turning away from either man gave her a stomach ache.
After her list-making and talking with Naidenne, now, she could see that the wise, prudent choice would be to pursue a relationship with Scott. Unfortunately, Max’s hold on her heart was incredibly strong.
“Bragging or complaining? A little of both, if I’m honest,” Bunny replied. “But talking with you has helped. I think I’m being too much like my niece. I’m making more of this situation than necessary. I don’t have to make a choice today. After all, neither one of these guys is on the verge of proposing. There’s no reason I can’t just go with the flow and see where it takes me. By next week they may have both dumped me.”
With that cheerful pronouncement Bunny tucked into her previously-neglected seafood salad.
Naidenne shook her head, wonderingly, and began telling her friend about the property she had shown that morning. She thought one couple was going to make an offer on a house with acreage that she had almost despaired of ever unloading.
The two friends enjoyed their lunch and walked back to work, keeping each other company until Naidenne turned off to her office.
Naidenne was just a teeny bit envious of her friend.
Bunny had two suitors and it had been over a year since Naidenne even had a date. She didn’t know what Max was like, but he must be pretty impressive to compete with Scott for Bunny’s affections. Naidenne stayed away from clergymen as a rule, understandably, considering her experiences, but Scott struck her as more man than clergy.
“I won’t be home for dinner tomorrow, Rosie,” Scott informed his sister when he came home from work that evening.
“Oh? Where will you be?”
“Bunny and I are going to the Port of Tacoma to turn in the information that was on that flash drive.”
“Why on earth would you want to do that? What would the Port want with it?”
“It turned out to be a list of arrival times for a series of shipping containers. Since someone went to such lengths to try to keep the information secret we figure it must be something illegal. We thought the authorities would want to know about it, so they could check it out.”
“When did you and Bunny make all these plans?” Rosamund demanded.
“Last week. I guess I forgot to mention it.”
“Yes, I guess you did. I think it sounds like a lot of foolishness. It’s just another excuse for that woman to drag you off into one of her ridiculous adventures.”
“That’s unfair, Rose. None of the things that happened have been Bunny’s fault. And it was my idea to take her to SeaTac.”
“I don’t like to hear you talk that way. Now, let’s not discuss it, anymore.”
“This will only lead to more trouble. Mark my words. You will wish you had listened to me when there are gangsters shooting at you or stabbing you with their terrible knives. That woman attracts trouble like compost attracts flies.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
…the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands. – Psalm 9:16
Leaning against the railing, Bona Pok turned to his first mate and remarked with satisfaction, “Koslov will be pleased. We are coming to port ahead of schedule and with most of the stock intact. This has been a good voyage. It almost makes up for the trouble we had in that storm on the last trip. Is everything in readiness?”
“I’ve been in touch with the wranglers and they are prepared to receive the shipment tomorrow, or the day after at the latest.”
“Good. A one or two-day delay shouldn’t make that much difference. We’d better let the troublesome beasts out to stretch their legs one last time, though, just in case.”
As the women and children were herded out of the container they were able to see land growing closer on the horizon. The end of their journey must be near.
Htoo Lwee had recovered from her illness but remained weakened by the long days of captivity. She no longer spoke of leaping the rail and swimming home. Khu Khu Juelah had despaired to see the little girl lose a little more of her spirit with each passing day. Perhaps it would have been a blessing if she had allowed Htoo to dive into the sea for a quick end to her suffering.
Who could tell what greater misery lay before them when they reached land?
Khu Khu and her fellow passengers were awakened the next morning by the filthy floor shifting beneath them and machinery growling loudly nearby as they were hoisted into the air with a jerk. Once again they went through the sickening process of swaying like a pendulum above the ship’s deck. The end of their sea voyage was the reverse of its beginning.
After many moments of suspension the container thumped to the dock.
The dispirited humans inside had been repeatedly threatened to keep silent when in the container, but a few were unable to stifle soft cries upon impact. Eyes wide with fear, they were all nearly paralyzed from dread of their unknown future.
A long period of anxiety followed when Khu Khu could hear machines and men’s voices outside. Some of the women and children were moving restlessly about when the container jerked again and began to move forward. They were frequently tossed from side to side by changes in direction before coming to rest once again.
The engine sounds faded away, leaving an ominous silence.
“This place is massive! How will we find the right office?” Bunny asked Scott as they drove through the entrance to the Port of Tacoma.
“I’ve been here before, so I think I can get us to the main office buildings. From there you can just ask for directions…I can’t do the asking myself, you know, since I’m a man and we don’t do that,” he grinned at Bunny.
After each of them asked for directions more than once, they finally approached an office purported to be the one they sought.
“Excuse me,” Bunny tried to get the attention of one of the women working behind the counter. “Can you please help us?”
“Just a moment,” one of the women responded, officiously, while continuing to enter data into her computer.
The other woman, apparently mesmerized by the numbers on her screen, did not even register their existence while Scott and Bunny waited patiently for assistance.
“Please, we just want to give the people in charge some information. It may be important.” Bunny was trying hard to be accommodating, since these ladies were obviously very busy.
Scott watched the women entering data and making phone calls as the minutes passed before he’d had enough. He assumed his most imposing pulpit manner, leaned across the counter and spoke with authority, “May we speak to your supervisor, please?”
This seemed to be the magic phrase.
Both women jumped up and approached, asking in unison, “How may I help you?” followed by variations on the theme of “Sorry to keep you waiting.”
Bunny showed the women her list, telling them its history and what she thought it meant.
About half-way through her explanation the women shared a look and rolled their eyes. Bunny had been looking at the papers during this exchange, but Scott observed it.
“Ooh, yes, that’s very important, Ma’am. We will take this to our top security people right away. The first ship on this list arrived just this morning. You’ve come in the nick of time. Thank you so much for taking the trouble to come in and tell us your little story,” the tall, sharp-faced redhead responded in the syrupy sweet voice some people use when talking to mentally challenged toddlers.
“Yes, indeedy! You’ve saved the day here, for sure!” Her short, stout companion chimed in with equal condescension.
“Come on, Bunny. We’ve done all we can. Let’s go,” Scott said through clenched teeth.
“Ooh, Bunny! What a precious name! Bye-bye, Bunny!” Big Red cooed, while her marshmallowy partner finger-waved and echoed, “Byee!”
Scott hustled Bunny out, fuming, “Well, that went well, don’t you think?”
“Like you said, Scott, we tried. That’s about all we can do.”
“I wish you hadn’t given them your list. If we still had it we could go track down that container ourselves.”
“I did keep a copy of the list, I’m sort of compulsive, that way, but how could we find a single shipping crate in these acres of containers?”
“The port must have a system. Let’s go to the Olympic terminal and check it out. If the task is impossible we will leave, have a nice dinner somewhere and go home, content that we made an effort. For some reason, I just feel compelled to give it a try.”
“Well, okay. Whither thou goest, and all that!” Bunny quipped and immediately wondered if she’d blundered, seeing Scott’s double take. Would he think she was leading him on? One of these days she would learn to think before speaking.
They drove to the terminal and found the name of the ship they were looking for on an electronic sign board of berths and arrivals.
It seemed logical that the container might be in the same area as the ship. They would go there and see if they could find the system for the placement of the off-loaded containers.
This was a happy day for Ljuto. He was going home, at last. The ship had even arrived early. That was always a good omen.
He was tired of staying with those wranglers. They were dangerous and unpredictable men. Only the night before they had gotten into a violent brawl that sent two of them to the hospital and would delay transferring the shipment. But it did not delay Ljuto from leaving that shabby compound.
He planned to stay on board the ship until its departure. It was important for him to get into the secret compartment early, before the Customs and Immigration inspectors arrived. Fortunately, they were not as thorough searching out-going vessels as they were with those arriving in port.
Koslov had chosen this port because there had been a delay in installing the latest methods for testing containers for contraband.
The Department of Homeland Security had recently developed a way to test the air inside a container through its vents to determine what was inside. That would be disastrous for Koslov’s business. He was working hard to establish new entry points for his shipments before all the commercial ports of call had this latest equipment. If he failed to find a way around it he would lose his entire US distribution system and cut his profits nearly in half.
Ljuto was scurrying toward the ship when he was stunned to see Bunny and Scott walking toward him.
He quickly ducked behind a stack of crates.
What were they doing here? How could those two possibly know where to come? It seemed
impossible, but they must have decrypted Koslov’s consignment list from the flash drive.
This was a disaster. But, wait, if they had read the schedule and told anyone what they learned, why would only these two be here? It didn’t make sense. The port should be swarming with cops.
He would have to follow them to see what they were up to. There was no help for it.
Bunny and Scott had seen the container number grid on a nearby information board and were making their way to the most likely location for their container to be held prior to inspection.
They stopped frequently to read the numbers on the containers.
Ljuto shadowed them, staying well back, so as not to attract attention, but keeping them in sight.
He paused and set down his duffle bag to retrieve his pistol, which he slipped into the back of his waistband. He had a feeling he would be using it before the day was over.
“Do you think it is much farther, Scott?”
“From the way these numbers are running, I think it must be about a dozen rows forward and then we will need to walk along the aisles that branch off. If you are getting tired, why not wait here. When I find the container I can come back for you.”
“Oh, no. If I was alone I could get completely lost and never get out of here. Thanks for the offer, but I’ll drag myself along with you. At least I did wear walking shoes today.”
“It just occurred to me that we may not be able to tell what’s inside the container even if we find it.”
“Aren’t there bills of lading on the outside?”
“There are placards and labels on the tail gates; perhaps they have the shipping manifest there, too. Let’s look closely at that one there and see what it says.”
Ljuto observed Scott and Bunny reading the information on one of the containers. It seemed obvious to him that they were looking for Koslov’s shipment.
There were always one or two legitimate containers to mask the real cargo, that’s why it was so important to know the right serial number, but this pair seemed to know what they were looking for. They must have decoded that dratted drive.