Chapter 19
"Can we talk for a moment, Mr. Hart?"
Jonathan looked back at Jennifer, knowing his plans on discovering the secrets of the scarf were quickly evaporating. He tried to keep his disappointment from bleeding through in his voice, "Sure. Come on in."
"Thank you." Nico stepped into the bungalow, Jonathan shut it behind him. "Good evening, Mrs. Hart. How are you feeling?"
Jennifer nodded and gave him a light smile, "Better, thank you. And, please, call me Jennifer."
Jonathan ushered Nico into the sitting room. "What can we do for you, Nico?"
"Let me start by properly introducing myself. My name is Nicholas O'Malley," he reached into his pocket and pulled out what appeared at first glance to be a leather wallet. He opened it to show Jonathan his official identification, an agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration, also known as the DEA.
"Nicholas O'Malley? Sounds much more Irish than the Russian sounding Nico." Jonathan stated as he examined the badge.
Laughing Nico answered, "Nico is a nickname given to me in High School… Nicholas O'Malley became Nick O, which, when slurred together, becomes Nico."
It was Jennifer's turn to laugh. "The things we put up with in high school!" Jonathan handed the identification to Jennifer.
Turning his attention to Jonathan, Nico continued, "Mr. Hart…"
"Jonathan."
"Jonathan, I realize you had no idea what you were stepping into today, but your little stunt with the Captain almost put our investigation in jeopardy."
"You are with Drug Enforcement?" Jennifer clarified as she handed the case back. "And you are investigating someone associated with the dive shop?"
"Captain Paul?" Jonathan concluded.
"Captain Paul, yes," Nico answered. "We are trying to establish who the contact is and how exactly he moves things into the US."
"With someone on the Russian ship?" Jonathan concluded.
"Again, yes. Captain Viktor. He's in much the same position as Captain Paul, moving the product all over the world. I suspect they are using him to try and break into the Russian market."
Another knock at the door interrupted the flow of the conversation. Jonathan stepped back to open the door. "Room service, Mr. Hart."
"Excellent. Please, place it on the table." He remembered his conversation with Jennifer that morning, and added, "Mauru' uru."
"Manuia," the server answered, and made quick work of setting the dishes on the table. Jonathan tipped him and shut the door as he left.
"Well done, Darling," she smiled at him. Jonathan, looking from her fantastic smile and scarf to the bowl of pineapple on the table, found himself again wishing Nico wasn't there. Turning back to Nico, "You don't suspect us, do you?" Jennifer inquired.
"No, Jennifer," Nico smiled at her. "Though I suspect and investigate everyone the first time they climb onto the boat."
"The Captain doesn't use the boat to move the product, does he?" Jonathan asked as he handed Jennifer a warm cup of soup.
"Thank you, Darling."
"No. Mostly, the boat is used for dives and contacts."
"And my quest for information about the whaling," Jonathan sat on the arm of the couch, next to Jennifer, "irritated Captain Paul?"
"When he came back to the bridge, I thought he was going to rip Viktor apart for bringing unwanted attention to themselves."
"Well, unwanted or not, that practice needs someone to shed some light onto it." Jennifer tried to keep her anger under control. "That needs to be stopped."
"I agree. And if you want to research and write about that, I'm not going to stop you."
Jennifer raised her eyebrows, "How did you know…"
"That you are a reporter? As I said, I suspect and investigate everyone the first time their name comes across my roster. So, yes, when you signed up for the dive, I had your names run." Nico smiled at them, "And you two are very impressive on paper."
Jennifer looked at Jonathan and laughed, "Thank you, I think."
"I'm just saying, after reading some of your work, and about Jonathan's business practices, I knew as we headed into the dive, something might catch your attention. Of course, I expected it to be along the drug line, and not because a storm put us on the Russian whaling boat."
Jonathan intervened to change the course of the conversation, "And have you discovered your connection point yet?"
"Actually, yes."
"Who?" Jennifer's insatiable curiosity was bubbling in her blood.
"Paul and Hazel," Jonathan half questioned and half stated.
Jennifer's head jerked around to look at her husband, "What?"
"I'm afraid your husband is correct, Jennifer. At least in Paul's case. I haven't figured out for sure if Hazel knows what is going on."
"Such a shame. They were so sweet to me today." Jennifer lamented the actions of her new friends.
"What can we do to help you?" Jonathan tried to keep the conversation on track.
"I wanted to inform you of all that is going on. I knew Jennifer would not let this whale thing slide, and didn't want you to stumble on the drug operation and blow our investigation."
"I will just focus on the whales." She looked at Jonathan, "I promise."
"There is one other thing I need to ask."
"What's that," Jonathan felt there was a shift coming.
"If either of the men contacts you, would you please keep me informed?" Nico asked, handing Jonathan a business card.
"You expect them to contact us?" Jonathan confirmed.
"I wouldn't be surprised."
