Ed grinned a little as his ego got stoked. “We didn’t drive here. Actually we drove to our rooms at the Manchester, but we walked over here from the hotel. Pauline works for the Fairchild Group.”
Hearing that name suddenly reminded DeMario of his bigger concerns. “You should know, if you don’t already, that the Fairchild Group has a container ship docked less than ½ mile from here. Don’t go anywhere near there tonight.”
Sensing DeMario’s concern, Ed stopped and turned to face him directly. “Is this connected with the shipping warehouse in Fresno?”
DeMario only nodded his head. “Come on. I’m famished. Lets get something to eat.”
A few minutes later Ed and DeMario both returned to the Gamboro Winery Table with paper plates overflowing with gourmet food. The band hadn’t returned to playing yet. They all chit chatted a few minutes until DeMario announced, “I think that I will walk down to check out the old light ship SS Relief near the shipping docks.”
Sandra glanced over at the monitors one more time before picking up the phone. After dialing it, she heard a male voice answer, “Chief O’Malley here.”
“Hello, this is Sandra Parker, FBI. I think that you should come down to our office as soon as possible.”
“Ms. Parker, I saw that we are now at threat level orange, but I heard that we might be going to red?”
“That is why I need to talk to you. Things are getting pretty urgent.”
“I can be there in ½ hour.”
Hanging up the phone, she then paged one her administrative assistants. “Could you get me somebody from the State Department on the line?”
Joe was pouring some more tastes of his Old Vines Zinfandel when he looked up and was startled to see the same Chinese men, their body guards, and who he now knew was their Japanese translator walking from table to table across the square. Then he noticed a slight Chinese lady also walking with them. “Elise, don’t look now, but there are the Chinese who were at the County Fair wine tasting the other night.”
Elise peered across the square against the setting sun. “You’re right! Well at least there isn’t an antique gas engine exhibit around to make any backfire noises.”
Shindo was impatient. He had to be deferent to these Chinese diplomats, and translate for them at each winery table. At least he now had this young Chinese female assistant, whose grasp of the Chinese and English languages was actually better than his. She was even rather attractive. Maybe later tonight he might be able to ply her to his room with wine. If only he could get rid of the problem that that &*%hole Grainger was causing him. Suddenly he noticed a familiar face across the crowd and his blood boiled. He quickly turned to the new assistant; “You must now take care of our charges for the next hour or two. I have just received an emergency message that needs my full attention.”
In a moment Shindo was across the crowd, were he confronted Ed. Ed was startled by the sudden appearance of Shindo and felt a sudden foreboding. “Why Shindo, I didn’t expect to see you here. Etoile Rouge doesn’t have a table here.”
Shindo just stared down Ed. “I finally have you where I can make you pay for what you have done. I saw you on the video from Fresno. You have really f&*!ed us up! You will pay.” Shindo then discretely pulled a small pistol and, using the cover of the tweed jacket that he wore, jabbed the barrel into Ed’s side. “You’ll come with me.”
Ed was caught completely off guard. His first reflex was to run, but Shindo also had a hand on the collar of his shirt. Cold fear took over and Ed started walking, with Shindo steering him from behind.
Pauline had been getting another plate of food and walked up just as Shindo and Ed were walking away. She instantly recognized Shindo and saw that he had something stuck in Ed’s back. “Ed, Shindo, what is going on?” When Shindo just glanced back over his shoulder and just starting shoving Ed along even faster she knew that this was very bad.
At first she ran after them, yelling. “Let him go now Shindo! Wait till my bosses find out what you are doing. I am going to call the police.” People were starting to stare now.
