Page 30 of No Time Off

Iglanced at Lexi and saw the startled look on her face. I wasn’t overly surprised. I’d expected no less, although the prime minister’s candid admission indicated a certain level of concern.

“We didn’t get very far in our research on you.” She dipped her head at me, smiling ruefully. “Which probably means you’re just a bit more than just a computer guy. Finding you featured in theGlobal Enquirer, though, is certainly something I didn’t expect when we got started.”

My surprised expression must have shown, because she chuckled. “Taking down an armed thief solo in a petrol market is quite impressive, although I can’t say I’m surprised, since I personally watched you dispatch my potential assassin with minimal effort. There’s an Italian connection, however, which is quite intriguing given your high placement in the US government. Overall, what little we did find in our brief search suggests you are a federal employee, most likely with an intelligence agency. But where, and at what level, wasn’t readily available. Clearly, your skill at quickly identifying and then taking down the assassin suggests that you are, or have been, in military or intelligence operations at some point. And I’m certain there is much more to you.”

She then turned her attention to Lexi. “And you used to work at the National Security Agency, although it looks like you’re now with the private sector. More money, I presume. Good for you. Regardless, the fact that the president of the United States and the pope both attended your wedding…well, that speaks for itself.”

We said nothing, neither confirming nor denying her presumption.

She sighed. “Look. I apologize for my forwardness, especially after you saved my life, but I’m not going to let this opportunity go to waste. I can’t.”

“What opportunity?” Lexi finally asked.

The prime minister threaded her fingers together in her lap. “Aside from the fact that I’m unequivocally grateful you were in the right place at the right time for me yesterday, it’s not often we have such important American officials on the island.” She quickly held up a hand as if to stave off our protest. “Although I genuinely believe you’re on your honeymoon and not here in any official capacity. Still, I wouldn’t object to you sharing any parts of our conversation this evening with someone in the government you trust. If you felt comfortable doing that.”

Lexi glanced at me, letting me take the lead. I wasn’t exactly sure where the prime minister was going with this, but I could listen and pass on anything of value to my colleagues in the State Department or CIA.

“We’re legitimately here on our honeymoon,” I finally confirmed. “We just wanted to get away for a while. Far, far away. That being said, we can listen to whatever you need to say. But first, tell us how you’re really doing after yesterday evening’s attempt on your life.”

She exhaled a deep brief, pressing a hand against her chest. “As best as can be expected, I suppose. I could have died if not for you. My children would be motherless and my husband a widower. It affected me deeply, of course, although I pretend it doesn’t for the sake of my family and my people.”

“That’s completely understandable,” I said gently. “But you had no intelligence, no hint, that something like this might happen? Is there an opposition group that opposes you?”

“No opposition group that I know of, and no intelligence something like this was coming, which in itself is worrisome.” She closed her eyes for a moment as if recalling the scene. “As a political figure, I recognize citizen dissatisfaction and discontent is part of the job, although we on the Cook Islands are largely peaceful. We don’t have a military or internal defense structure, relying only on our local police force for protection and maintaining law and order. But things have been changing in our quiet part of the world for some time now. The government of the Cook Islands, headed by me, has some serious concerns about the Chinese presence on our island. The arrival of the Chinese police here to the Cook Islands a few years ago brought with it more than just training manuals and uniforms to help modernize our own island force, which was the initial agreement signed by my predecessor.”

“Isn’t New Zealand supposed to perform that role?” I asked.

“Yes, but quite frankly, we’re about their lowest funding priority. That means, unfortunately, we get very little of what we need. When we complain, they argue we don’t really have any actual external threats and don’t require the funding. They often commit to more, but deliver less, year after year. So, when the Chinese came offering to solve our problems, and not asking much, my predecessors jumped at the opportunity.”

“What kind of problems?” Lexi asked.

“The Chinese wanted the ability to establish a police station on our island to help protect their citizens who might be visiting the islands.”

I let that sink in for a moment. “Protect, in what way? Were they being threatened?”

Petra shook her head. “No, and that’s what’s strange. We get very few Chinese tourists here. Those we do get are largely businessmen setting up international bank accounts. They also wanted the ability to investigate Chinese citizens who they suspected were breaking the law. I was in Parliament at the time and wasn’t enthusiastic about the agreement, but it seemed so little for what they were willing to invest.”

“So, what’s changed?”

“A lot. They’ve built themselves a big compound on the south side of the island and have erected a police station of their own in Avarua. You’ve probably already seen it.”

“We have,” Lexi confirmed. “But why would they need their own police station?”

“Great question,” Petra responded. “They don’t. But now, we’ve discovered some Chinese police officers are arresting Chinese nationals directly within the Cook Islands, bypassing our local jurisdiction entirely. Trust me, that’snotpart of the agreement. Also, their influence seems to be growing, especially over our police force, as they are training our officers, supplying them, and even rewarding them when they assist in their investigations. I feel like our police force now answers to them as much as to us.”

“A direct affront to the island’s autonomy,” I murmured.

“Indeed, it is,” Petra said, nodding. “Furthermore, the Chinese appear to be planning to significantly expand transiting goods through the Cook Islands to whitewash their products and get around international tariffs and sanctions. It has been going on for years, but at such a low level it wasn’t worth stopping, and it did provide a few extra dollars to the economy. However, the increase has been dramatic, and the money they are tossing around to ensure a permissive business environment here is starting to corrupt our government.”

“And such investigations are difficult if your police might be compromised,” Slash said.

“Not might be butarecompromised. It’s just a matter of how much. And right now, given the opposition of my predecessors to my investigations, there are very few people in my government I trust fully.”

I lifted an eyebrow. “There are vocal supporters of the Chinese on your staff or in Parliament?”

“There are. Definitely in Parliament. I suspect the Chinese are providing campaign funds for some members under the table, and offering key government employees economic benefits, jobs, and bonuses. They do not see, or are paid not to see, what’s really happening.”

“Bribes,” Lexi said.

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