"It would seem you've crawled into a pipe with no outlet," said Posey.
"There is a way out," Pitt said, smiling, "providing you cooperate."
Posey looked uneasy. "I can't authorize you to snoop around Dorsett's diamond mine, certainly not without hard evidence of unlawful damage to the environment."
"Maybe, but you can hire my services to check out the spawning habits of cauliflower-nosed salmon."
"Spawning season is almost over. Besides, I've never heard of a cauliflower-nosed salmon."
"Neither have I'"
"You'll never fool security at the mine. Dorsett hires the best in the business, British ex-commandos and American Special Forces veterans."
"I don't have to climb the fence onto mining property," explained Pitt. "I can find all I require with instruments while sailing around the inlets of Kunghit Island."
"In a survey boat?"
"I was thinking of a canoe, local color and all."
"Forget the canoe. The waters around Kunghit are treacherous. The waves roll in out of the Pacific and pound the rocky shores like you wouldn't believe."
"You make it sound unsafe."
"If the sea doesn't get you," Posey said seriously, "Dorsett's goon squad will."
"So I'll use a bigger boat and carry a harpoon," Pitt said cynically.
"Why don't you simply go on the property with a bona fide team of Canadian environmental engineers and blow the whistle on any shady operations?"
Pitt shook his head. "A waste of time. Dorsett's foreman would only close down the mine until they left. Better to investigate when their guard isn't up."
Posey stared past Pitt out the window for several seconds. Then he shrugged. "Okay, I'll arrange for you to work under contract with Environment Canada to investigate the kelp forest around Kunghit Island. You're to study any possible damage to the kelp from chemicals running into the sea from the mining operations. How does that sound?"
"Thank you," Pitt said sincerely. "How much do I get paid?"
Posey picked up on the joke. "Sorry, you're not in the budget. But I might be persuaded to buy you a hamburger at the nearest fast-food joint."
"Done."
"One more thing."
"Are you going it alone?"
"One does not look as suspicious as two."
"Not in this case," said Posey grimly. "I strongly advise you take along one of the local Indians as a guide.
That will give you more of an official look. Environment Canada works closely with the tribes to prevent pollution and save forested land. A researcher and a local fisherman working on a project for the government should dilute any doubts by Dorsett security."
"Do you have a name in mind?" asked Pitt.
"Mason Broadmoor. A very resourceful guy. I've hired him before on a number of environmental projects."
"An Indian with the name of Mason Broadmoor?"
"He's a member of the Haida who live on the Queen Charlotte Islands of British Columbia. Most of them took British names generations ago. They're excellent fishermen and are familiar with the waters around Kunghit Island."
"Is Broadmoor a fisherman?"