Chapter 38
The landing at YVR was one of the roughest Mark had ever experienced. The aircraft seemed to bounce onto the tarmac several times before finally rolling down toward the airport. As soon as he cleared the gangway, happy to be out of that overloaded cattle carrier, he saw the two officers who were waiting for him. Not again, he thought, when the two men approached him.
“Passport, sir?” the taller of the two said to Mark.
He dropped his shoulder bag to the ground and showed him his travel documents.
“Welcome home, Agent Gilford. This way, please.”
“Do you have any luggage that you would want to retrieve from the carousel?” the second customs’ officer asked him as they were taking the escalator down toward their offices.
“No, I usually travel light,” Mark sniggered.
“Do you have any weapons with you or on you?”
“That’s another no, Officer. I usually use the weapons given to me by the authorities of the country I visit. And Australia didn’t need me to do anything which involved weapons of any kind.”
Gilbert nodded and said, “Agent Gilford, we have been instructed to ask you to remain in Vancouver until Mr. Samuel Meshullam disembark at this airport.” Mark’s jaw fell open. He thought Samuel would have been ahead of him. “I see that you thought Agent Meshullam had already reached our coast.”
“Yes, that’s right,” Mark replied.
“Well, I am sorry to disappoint you in that regard, but no, Agent Meshullam has not crossed any of the borders in and around Vancouver.”
“Is Ms Kartz alright?” was Mark’s next question. He figured he would ask since these two seemed well informed.
“Yes, she is okay. She’s still on Bowen Island. We’ve had reports from our police department that she’s been seen in company of a Dr. Aziz Hendrix at quite a few locations on the island.”
“Okay then, that’s great news. Would you know which is the shortest way to that island and where I could find her?”
“We would, sir, but the orders from Ottawa are for you to remain in Vancouver. You should contact your boss as soon as you reach your hotel, but you are to stay at the Hyatt on Burrard Street meanwhile.”
“Well, thanks, Officer... What is your name?”
“Gilbert, sir, and this is Officer Jacobin.” He nodded in the direction of his colleague.
“Nice to meet you guys,” Mark replied, standing up.
“One more thing, Agent Gilford, before you go…”
“Yes?”
“You will have no access to any firearms while you are in the city, or until the police tell you otherwise. Is that clear?”
Mark was surprised. What if Samuel comes after me, what then? “Perfectly, Officer Gilbert, I’ll keep that in mind. Can I go now?”
“Yes. Thanks for stopping by,” Jacobin replied, a smirk on his face.
Mark was not listening. He was out the door like a shot. What had happened, he wondered. No rifle; no going to the island; no moving until further orders; and why the Hyatt? That was all too strange for an exhausted agent to figure out.