Tonton (A Hunter Kincaid Novel)
Andre said, “Who do you sell such things to?”
Marc Dessaline smiled. “Now you are prying into my business.”
Hunter said, “No reason not to tell us.”
He stood, still smiling, “I have a number of meetings today. You will have to leave now.”
Andre stood. Hunter hesitated a long second before rising. Dessaline came around his desk, starting for the door, and as he did, Hunter’s gaze trailed to the corner of the room and she gave a start.
A tall, light complexioned black man in a tan suit stood there, motionless as a statue, watching her. Hunter said, “Dang, you scared me.”
He did not answer or acknowledge she said anything. Hunter looked at Dessaline and raised her eyebrows, “Was he in here the whole time?”
“Yes. He is my assistant.”
Hunter said to the man in the corner, “Next time make a little noise, save somebody from a heart attack.”
Dessaline said, “He isn’t much for conversation.”
“Does he have a name?”
Dessaline said, “Ringo Bazin.”
“Well, Ringo, you’ve got some skills, I’ll say that. I’ll bet you’re a good hunter.” She winked at him and followed Andre out the door and out of the building.
Andre said, “What did you think? We did get a copy of the complete bill of lading, if nothing else.”
“Yeah. There’s something about that guy, though.”
“He’s a businessman, with no criminal record, and a supporter of the Haitian community. I checked him out. What’s bothering you?”
“Dessalines’s holding something back. He’s not totally on the up and up.”
“What makes you think that?”
“Ringo Bazin is no assistant.”
“How do you figure?”
“He’s carrying, had on a shoulder holster. Bazin works for Marc Dessaline, but it isn’t as a paper pusher.”
Andre clicked the doors open on their sedan and got behind the wheel as Hunter slid into the passenger seat. He said, “We can do some deeper digging on them, and I still have a few friends at the Embassy in Haiti. It’s not exactly official, but…”
Hunter grinned at him, “I’m liking you better every day, Andre.”
~*~
Randall brought three green Dos Equis bottles to the table by the pool and shuffled one to each and said, “What’s your game plan tomorrow?”
Hunter said, “I guess dig some more, talk to the FBI and ICE, see what Andre turns up.”
John said, “We don’t have any jurisdiction, but if we can help you on something…”
Hunter clicked her bottle to John’s and Randall’s, “I know, and thanks. Right now, it’s slow going. It usually is at first.”
“Don’t we know it,” Randall said.
Hunter noticed Randall was less talkative and asked, “You feeling all right?”