Prior to boarding the LARA II, Number Two instructs us of the next stage: We will proceed to town hall. Wes and Len will be introduced to Jacinta. We will attempt to contact Felix to negotiate the terms of the trade. No questions from anyone outside the immediate circle of trust will be addressed. “Certainly we are all family now as members of the Thalia Island community, but sometimes less is more.”
“And we don’t need anyone phoning the Vancouver Sun or CBC for an exclusive,” I add.
Our well-intended plan, however, is knocked off its foundation even before Captain Cathy eases us into the ferry slip. A massive RCMP vessel has moored along the outer flank of our marina, and a menacing helicopter that looks like it belongs in Iraq and not British Columbia sits idle, blades wilted, in the e
