Bernadette wasn’t having a good morning. She visited three of her best suppliers, but they had nothing to show her. At the last stop, the dealer, her most reliable supplier who had dealt with her for the past ten years, told her a Muslim from New Delhi had bought everything of value from his stock of Tibetan artifacts. He had heard this same person had cleaned out several other dealers. In fact, she had just missed him by an hour. Bernadette mentioned she might know the buyer. The dealer said his name was Abdul Ali Fahad. Bernadette thanked him and said goodbye.

Fahad was the person Jack had told her about. She would have to talk to Arjun when he came to tea this afternoon, but for now she had some more places to call upon. She had a good contact in the Ministry of Culture. Perhaps he was free for lunch. Thank God, she had her own car. The landlord of her rented bungalow had sold it to her. She was sure she had paid too much, but she didn’t think Jack would care. Independent movement was a real luxury, and the Brandons never second-guessed their people.

Mani Shresta was free for lunch and delighted to meet Bernadette at the Soaltee Hotel. Mani was a handsome man of some 40 plus years, who wore the traditional Nepalese dress and looked very good in it. The maitre d’ made a fuss over him as he was shown to the lady’s table. Mani’s English was very good. He traveled widely and was more cosmopolitan than most government employees. He greeted Bernadette and kissed her hand.

She said, “My, aren’t we being courtly today? Or did your long-suffering wife finally leave you?”

Mani burst out laughing and said, “No, she still manages to put up with me.”

Bernadette knew the Shrestas had a very strong marriage, but she loved to tease him.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? I’d have met your plane and arranged a party. You still go to parties, don’t you? I swear, Bernadette O’Brien, your Irish self gets more attractive every year. Too bad Nepal doesn’t allow polygamy, then I could court you in a more appropriate manner.”

“This trip to Nepal came at the very last minute. My customers wanted a number of Tibetan items. Unfortunately, some Muslim from New Delhi has bought up everything in sight. Even my old friend Thondup had nothing for me. Perhaps you have heard of this Arab, his name is Abdul Ali Fahad?”

“I know he has been renewing his license to take Tibetan artifacts from Nepal to India for the last two years. He buys quite a lot. We don’t know to whom he sells, but he seems to have a number of Arab contacts he meets here. I think he loves to get out of New Delhi. I met him once at some party or other. He is not my cup of tea, but then most Arabs aren’t. But that is enough about business. Tell me some Dublin gossip and the life and perils of Bernadette O’Brien.”

For the next hour they told stories and laughed. People watching them would think they were witnessing a romantic outing. By the time they lingered over their second cup of coffee, it was almost time for Bernadette to have tea with Arjun. She made her goodbyes to Mani and promised to call him again in a few days. Mani watched her walk out and thought, I’d be proud to be seen with her anywhere. She is truly a modern woman and with her tan in that white dress, she is a knockout. Seems she also has lost a few pounds. Wait until I tell Lali who I had lunch with.

Buy “Justice Beyond Law” on Amazon, as well as the rest of the Jack Brandon series and other books by Barry Kelly, a former CIA agent and adviser to President Reagan.