Above Ground (19 page)

Jack closed his eyes for a moment. Her embrace felt good. It made him feel less alone.

Laura stepped back and said, “Well? Do you want me as a partner or not?”

“Yes, I do.”

“I can start next Tuesday after the May long weekend. Gotta run. Have to let Elvis know I spoke with you and that you agreed ... after I performed a sexual favour.”

Jack smiled, then replied, “I don't need any heat from Elvis. I can get into trouble easy enough without that.”

Laura was almost out the doorway when Jack said, “Laura!” He waited until she turned around and then said, “Thank you.”

She smiled and replied, “We'll get him, Jack.”

Jack thought about her after she left.
She offered to be a friend ... but would she ever be a good friend? Danny's a good friend ... or was
.

Moments later, Louie hobbled in on his crutches and asked, “Wasn't that Laura Secord who just left? What did she want?”

“Staffing offered her Danny's position. She asked what I thought.”

“What did you say?”

“I'm pleased. She starts six days from now.”

Louie frowned and said, “How do you know she's not the dirty narc?”

“The day we took down those labs she was on a plane coming back from Bangkok. It's not her.”

“I see.” Louie paused for a moment and then said, “You know her hubby works for Internal.”

“I know. Anti-Corruption.”

“Doesn't concern you?”

“She's okay.”

“I retire in two months. You know that.”

“I know, in July. Looking at those crutches, maybe you should retire now, but what's that got to do with Laura?”

“It means I won't be around to cover your ass!”

Jack smiled and said, “I appreciate that.”

Louie gave him a hard look, then said, “Hope you've learned a few things over the last couple of years.”

“Louie, you've been the best teacher I could have had. I'd be lying if I didn't admit I'm sorry to see you go.”

“Don't get fuckin' mushy on me. Your assessment isn't due until after I leave. Won't do you any good to suck up to me. Just hope you know what you're doing.”

“I trust my instincts,” replied Jack. He thought about his comment as Louie left. Funny ...
“I trust my instincts” ... that was what Spider said just before Laura slammed his face into a table and arrested him.

It was five-fifteen in the morning when Jack heard his name whispered and saw Lance stand up from behind a tombstone.

“What's up?” asked Jack. “Any news on the Brit?”

Lance shook his head. “The news about The Mole came up. Damien said there was heat on 'im. I asked about a leak. Damien said it was only Leitch, his secretary, Pussy Paul, Whiskey Jake, and me that knew. He said the leak probably came from The Mole when he was pissed. If Damien had someone else dealing with Leitch, he would have told me.”

Jack hadn't expected Damien to know, but felt disappointed just the same. “You're sure everything was okay? Maybe Damien is just playing you.”

“Don't think so. I was given my assignment for the ship. It arrives tomorrow night. It's a good time for us. Friday of a long weekend. Cops and port authorities
won't want to take time to nose around. If anyone suspected me of being a leak, I wouldn't have been told.”

“What is your job when it arrives?”

“The Toad is gonna have me at the dock to oversee things there. Will happen in the early evening. The Toad will hand the money off at a motel called the Spotted Owl.”

“Never heard of it.” “It's by an industrial area out in Burnaby. Not far from the Labatt Brewery. Only The Toad and I know the location right now. Even Damien doesn't know the name of the motel. The Toad is running things really tight. The strikers won't even know until they're with him and arrive at the motel.”

Jack nodded.

Lance stared at him briefly, then said, “So, like, you can't do anything or I'll get —”

“Trust me. Where's the money now?”

“Don't know. The Toad has it stashed with a couple of his guys. Around nine o'clock tomorrow night The Toad will BlackBerry the name of the motel to the Colombians. They will arrive and weigh the money to make sure it's all there.”

“Can't these guys afford money counters?”

“Too slow. Should be about thirty-five kilos worth of Canadian hundreds. A little more or less doesn't really matter. Then the Colombians send a message to the ship and we unload.”

“Canadian? What's with that? Thought they would demand American?”

“Yeah, The Toad said he was surprised when he found out too, but that's what the Colombians wanted. It works out to about $3.5 million Canadian. It's a hell of a lot easier for us. The Toad said they plan on buying some business up here to make things easier to connect
with us. Probably have a mom and pop and couple of kids operation someplace.”

“That's a lot of money for a mom and pop operation.”

Lance shrugged and said, “That's just The Toad's guess. Maybe it'll be a few more than that. I don't know.”

“So the Colombians are coming off the ship and going to the motel?”

“No. I guess some of them are already here. I don't know how many for sure, but I think only a handful. Probably looking to scout out the business front. A couple will be at the dock and two are supposed to wait and go to the motel when The Toad calls 'em.”

“You haven't met any of them?”

“Nope. From what The Toad says, they barely speak English. All this was arranged by The Toad previously so we don't expect any problems.”

“Just two Colombians for all that money?”

Lance chuckled and said, “That's what I asked. The Toad said that these Colombians treat that like you and I would a hundred bucks. We're paranoid as shit about it and they just laugh. I think the fucking cartel deals in truckloads of cash. This is just peanuts to them.”

“A lot of peanuts.”

“No shit. But I guess if you try an' rip 'em for fifty bucks they'll slash your throat.”

“A matter of honour.”

“Yeah, I guess. I can only wonder at how much their organization is rolling in.”

“How many of your guys will be protecting the money?”

“The Colombians agreed that they won't be packin' when they come to the room.”

“You can bet they'll have weapons close by.”

“Yeah, for sure. But not with them. They go to the room and consent to a search. Then The Toad makes a call and the money is brought in. We're not worried about a rip. It went smooth with them last time.” Lance paused, then added, “Not counting what happened at the storage locker after.”

“Right,” replied Jack. “We won't count that. How far away do you think the money will be?”

“Last time we brought it in a van. This time we rented adjoining rooms. Once the Colombians are frisked, The Toad will just rap on the door. Things should go smooth. We've already established a trust with each other. Unless, of course, you do something...”

Jack arrived back at his office. Louie arrived for work an hour later and motioned for him to come in.

“Anything going on?” asked Louie.

“No,” said Jack. “I just talked with my friend but he doesn't know who the Brit is. Doesn't think Damien knows either.”

Louie nodded and said, “Too bad. Nothing else happening?”

“No. That was it.”

Louie looked at Jack closely, then said, “Maybe just as well. You need a rest. I want you to take some time off. We'll find out who the Brit is sooner or later.”

“I'd rather it be sooner.”

“All of us would. The thing is, he obviously knows what you look like. It would be better for everyone concerned right now if you weren't around. Maybe take a week or two off. You should be with Natasha.”

“I'm okay ... and there's no way this guy is going to start dictating who works in this office and who doesn't.”

“Have you thought about Natasha? Cooped up at the farm? She must be worried sick about you. I'm not telling you to run away and hide. Just take a holiday. Maybe I-HIT will nail him in the meantime.”

Jack sighed and said, “I'll think about it over the weekend. Monday is a holiday so I should be rested by then.”

“Why not take tomorrow off too? In fact, you should take off now.”

“It's only eight-thirty in the morning.”

“Yeah, and you've already put in ... what? Four hours? How many more hours in the last couple of weeks? You're a newlywed for God's sake. Start acting like one and go see your bride.”

Jack thought for a moment, then said, “Thanks, Louie. I appreciate what you're saying. I've got some paper work to do. I'll leave at noon.”

“Good.”

“Anything further from Danny?”

Louie frowned and said, “I spoke with him briefly, tried to be supportive. Don't think he wants to talk to any of us right now. They're all getting counselling. I think we should just butt out for now.”

Jack called Natasha and told her that he would be out to the farm shortly after lunch. She said she was pleased, but he heard the irritation in her voice. He knew he couldn't hold her off much longer from getting back to the clinic.

At noon, Jack stopped at a café for lunch before driving out to the farm. The café did have one thing going for it, thought Jack, as he dabbed a greasy french fry into some ketchup. It was clean and the service was friendly. Unfortunately, it was just a little
too busy for Holly to be able to take the time to visit with him.

He watched as she greeted the customers and gave them all big smiles. Sometimes her lips trembled slightly, revealing her real thoughts. It had been less than a month since her husband had been gunned down. Pretending to be happy ... trying to get that extra quarter or loonie for a tip.
Welcome to hell.

Jack left a twenty on the table and nodded politely to Holly as he left. He was barely out the door when she came running after him.

“You forgot your change,” she said.

“No, that's for you. It's your tip.”

Holly shook her head. “You don't drop a twenty on someone for a seven-dollar burger. I don't take charity,” she said, thrusting the twenty toward him.

“It's not charity. It's just a tip.”

Tears filled to the brim of her eyelids and she said, “You think you can buy off your guilt for twenty bucks? Forget it! What you ate is on me!”

Jack didn't know what to say. It occurred to him that she might be right.

“Get the two men who killed my husband and shot Charlie,” she said, “then you can leave me a tip.”

Jack nodded, then reached over and slowly took the twenty from her hand. “You'll be getting this back soon,” he said. “That's a promise.”

Natasha waited until she climbed into bed beside Jack, and then whispered, “How much longer?”

Jack pulled her close and she lay with her head on his chest. “I may get a break tomorrow night,” he replied.

“I don't like the sounds of that,” said Natasha. “You going to be wearing your black turtleneck?”

Jack paused. Natasha was catching on. The black turtleneck was what he often wore at night — usually when he was doing something he shouldn't be doing. He chose to ignore her question and said, “If all goes well, I may find out who the Brit is in the next few days. Getting tired of being a farmhand?” he added, hoping to change the conversation.

“Incorrect answer, officer. Your failure to respond would indicate a
yes
to the turtleneck question. As far as changing the subject goes, Liz and Ben have been great. I enjoy being around Marcie, too, but I miss you and I also need to get back to the clinic.”

“It's just not safe. Not after what happened.” “What is going on tomorrow night? Can you talk about it?”

“Basically, the Brit knows a lawyer by the name of Leitch who works on retainer for Satans Wrath. The bikers don't know about the Brit, but I know Damien could find out who it is if he wanted to.”

“How? You're not planning on owing him another favour?”

“Shhh. Ben and Liz are in the next room.”

“You're not...” whispered Liz.

“No. I've used up any favours with him.”

“Why would he find out, then?”

“A character nicknamed The Toad is taking over the club. I want Damien to distrust The Toad. Then I want him to think that The Toad, Leitch, and the Brit are working together. It won't take him long to find out who the Brit is, providing I can get him back into power. When he does, my friend will know and then so will I.”

“How will you do all this?”

“I'm working on that.”

“What if you do and Leitch refuses to tell Damien?”

Jack chuckled, then said, “Damien isn't a cop.”

“Meaning?”

“He can be more persuasive.”

Natasha looked up at Jack's face, then replied, “Oh ... I see.”

It was seven-thirty on Friday night before The Toad and two underlings showed up at the Spotted Owl. Jack was parked in a lot across the street and watched the motel through binoculars. He had seen The Toad last year when he interrupted an executive meeting at Damien's house, but he glanced at a photo just to be sure.

Jack smiled as he recalled the event. He had intentionally interrupted the meeting on the pretext of returning some colours that had belonged to some bikers who had been killed. Damien was cordial and offered him a beer. The Toad was not pleased and voiced his objection in a thick French accent. An accent that Jack soon hoped to mimic.

Jack now saw that the two underlings each carried a sports bag.

Jack smiled.
Very expensive sports bags
.

The Toad entered one room while his two cohorts entered the room beside it. Moments later, The Toad opened his door and Jack saw one of the other two bikers behind him. It was obvious that their rooms had an inside adjoining door.