Early the next morning, Jenny took the driver's seat of a Dodge Power Wagon with a smug little smile. She was the one who had the magic piece of plastic the rental agency had required. Jed, the son of an independent old cuss who didn't even have a checking account, was also a believer in cash. He was stunned that in a foreign country his offer of a deposit in greenbacks —the local legal tender— was refused in favor of a Visa card Jenny had admitted was bumping the limit.

Just as well. Jenny wasn't about to be left behind while Jed and Black Jack set off into danger. Truthfully, he couldn't blame her. And, parking close as possible to the rendezvous at the casino, he was glad to have her along to interpret when surrounded by a crowd of small boys who wanted to be rewarded for protecting the vehicle.

"Sounds as if we don't pay, we will be sorry." Jed had to ask.

"Something like that."

"How much, you little thug?" he asked, searching for loose change. But, before the smiling child could reach out to collect, one of the older boys pulled him away. In less than a moment, the mob disappeared around a corner.

"What," Jed turned to Jenny.

"Police," and she pointed to three cars screeching to a halt in front of the casino.

Visions of a similar scene in Washington, D.C., made Jed blurt out, "Black Jack! Kearns must have picked my trail up again."

He grabbed Jenny's hand to keep her from wanting to walk over and see what all the commotion was about. "You drive," he said, reaching into the camp supplies they had assembled for the trip into the jungle. He rolled down a window, braced his arms against the frame, and focused a miniature pair of Japanese binoculars —purchased mainly on account of a duty free, bargain price.

"God damn it," Jed exclaimed in a growing dawning of remorse. "I am responsible for another death. How could I have been so stupid?"

"Jed, how can you make such a statement? How do you know the police are investigating anything at all to do with us, or Black Jack?"

"See the civilian the police are holding in that unmarked car?"

"I guess so."