Unknown Diners

Chapter Seven

Samir held Pierre by his throat and pushed him to his tiptoes up the wall. "You fucking let him slip away."

"We know where he lives... The Exchange... Olympic Village," Pierre wheezed through his constricted throat. "We're watching... Front and back... They have photos of him... We'll get him."

Samir lowered him, but still held his neck against the wall. "Why the fuck wasn't he nabbed when he got there?"

"The guys were there in plenty of time. The cab didn't arrive."

"You planted a tracker?"

"Yes, Sir... In the canvas bags. One in each."

"One in each?" He lifted Pierre again.

"Not everybody's... Just his... And his lady's."

"His lady?"

"They left together."

Samir lowered him. "So, the fucking trackers? Where are they?"

"In the cab in an apartment building underground parkade on Alberni. I've men watching. We'll make the driver tell us where he dropped them off."

"You don't like your fingers, do you?" He tightened his grip on Pierre's throat, then let it go. "Tomorrow. Get him to me by tomorrow, or..." He swung his hand like a cleaver. "Go on, get the fuck out of my sight."

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Part way through breakfast in the cockpit, Lorne pointed up the ramp of the marina. "Guess we were distracted last night when we arrived. We left the media kits on the floor of the cab."

"Nothing we can't replace. Probably another logo-embossed pen or corkscrew. Far too many of those. And the marketing fluff and bumf." She shrugged her shoulders. "I never review on openings or promos, anyway." She nodded across at her townhouse. "I need to get my computer and some changes of clothing. What's the forecast?"

"They show clear and warm through midday on Monday when it deteriorates with an approaching frontal system. I was thinking of being in the southern Gulf Islands on Sunday night to take advantage of the great broad reach across the Straits on Monday morning."

"Do you plan everything with such precision?"

"No, I see now I've not planned our relationship."

"Some things need no planning, Lorne. Our relationship simply needs to be allowed to blossom."

"People tell me that about many things. Guess it must be true."

As they walked around the crescent toward her townhouse, he ran over his plans so she would know what clothes to pack. "There's a new restaurant in Chemainus I've read great things about. I need to review it. I was also thinking of visiting two wineries in Maple Bay, one with a new restaurant."

"You review restaurants? I thought you did only wine."

"I've kept it secret. Much easier that way."

"Where do you write? I've never read you. You've a blog?"

"Doesn't everybody? But I also have some ink."

"Where?"

He pursed his lips as he looked at her and slowly inhaled, then he blew out a deep breath. "PacPress, The Coast. Many of the neighbourhood papers syndicate me. I love your columns. We're quite similar, actually. We're among the last of the dying breed of anonymous reviewers."

She grabbed his arm and spun him to a stop, shook her head and stared up into his eyes. "No! Are you? Oh!... My!... God! You're the Unknown Diner." She shook her head. "All these years I've told you you're my favourite reviewer, my model, my hero. You never let on." She took his hand, genuflected, kissed his fingers and lifted her eyes. "Oh, my God! You are my god in so many ways." She wrapped her arms around his hips and snuggled her face into him, quiet in her thoughts.