Above Ground (6 page)

“I'm hardly concerned. I will let him know. This is nothing that can't be fixed.”

On Thursday morning, Jack felt more agitated as he thought about the funeral he would be attending tomorrow.

“Maybe you shouldn't go,” suggested Natasha. “Why put yourself through that?”

“Holly thinks it has something to do with me. It would be cowardly not to show up.”

“But at the funeral, it —”

“I think of them all the time. Holly ... Jenny ... Charlie. I need to go.”

“You're tormenting yourself by being involved in something that may have nothing to do with you.”

“How could I not be involved? Do you really think I could just forget about it, not knowing if it was because of me? Every time I see a little kid running or playing, I'll think of Charlie. There's no way I'll ever not be involved.”

“Fine, then I'm going with you.”

“Thought you had to work.”

“You're more important. I figured I wouldn't be able to talk you out of it. I already booked the morning off. I also talked with Susan. She and Danny are going as well.”

“She doesn't need to do that. Tiffany is barely a year old. Jimmy is less than two months. She should stay home. Danny and I will go, but it's not necessary for —”

“It is necessary! For all of us! Don't shut out the people who love you when you need them.” Natasha then softened her voice and said, “We're all worried about you. Quit trying to shoulder everything yourself. You're not alone in this. It's imperative that you remember that.”

The banks had just opened when Damien met with Leitch outside. Leitch watched his secretary go in, then turned to Damien and said, “The Crown's case against those arrested inside the labs is strong. Same goes for Silent Sam for picking up the money. Petro is in a better position. They saw Silent Sam hand him the money but can't prove that Petro knew it was the proceeds of a criminal venture.”

“Just do your job,” said Damien. “That's what we pay you for.”

“The Crown does have a weak link. One person in toxicology examined all the exhibits. A Lucy somebody ... I've got her name at the office. If something were to happen to her at the opportune time, everything might get tossed out of court. She would be easier to get to. She doesn't carry a gun.”

“Forget it!” said Damien. “There's no need to whack anyone. This is B.C. What are my guys going to get? Probation? Maybe a couple of months?”

Leitch first shrugged that he didn't know but then admitted, “Probably.”

“You read in the paper about someone by the name of Jack Taggart being murdered?” asked Damien.

“Yes. Unfortunately it wasn't the same Jack Taggart who provided the grounds for the search warrants.”

“I think someone thought they were killing him. Whoever it was made a huge mistake. I've met Taggart. Had a chat with him last year in my basement after a couple of my men stepped out of bounds. Those men are now dead. Taggart saw to that. You can bet some sorry bastard will pay for trying to kill him.”

“Too bad whoever tried didn't succeed.”

Damien shook his head. “Killing cops makes martyrs — and more cops with a vengeful attitude to replace them.”

Their conversation came to a stop when the secretary returned and handed her boss a brown manila envelope. She then continued down the street to her office.

Damien accepted the envelope and opened it. He caught a glimpse of the RCMP crime report. It was dated yesterday.
Hot off the presses.
He then read the note about Jack Taggart.
Upset about the murder ... but doesn't suspect Satans Wrath.

Moments after Leitch left, Damien sent a BlackBerry message to Lance and Whiskey Jake. Two hours later, when he finished meeting with them, he sent another message:
Mister Taggart, we need to meet!

The reply was fast. Excellent idea! How about now? This time, not in your basement!

Damien sent his response. Montrose Park — by Second Narrows Bridge — 30 minutes.

Danny looked across the desk as Jack deleted a message on his BlackBerry and asked, “A message from our friend?”

“Different friend. I want you to drop me off and wait in the car. I'll call you when I'm done.”

“Holding out on me?” said Danny light-heartedly, trying to be funny.

“It's Damien,” whispered Jack.

“Christ! How did he get your number?” “I gave it to him.”

Danny was taken aback. “You're not meeting him alone. It could be a trap.”

“It's not a trap. But you'll keep your trap shut and do as I say.”

Danny's heart quickened and the blood vessels in his face revealed his anger. “We're partners. You think you're being macho meeting him alone? Think he'll respect you more? That's not the way to —”

“It has nothing to do with that. It's a personal matter. One I hope to resolve soon. Maybe you should just stay in the office.”

Danny paused and then said, “Personal matter?”

Jack didn't respond.

“Damn it, okay. I'll wait in the car. At least I'll be closer if you need help.”

It was late in the afternoon when Jack met Damien and they went for a stroll around the small park that faced the Burrard Inlet.

Jack was blunt and to the point. “What the fuck is going on? I knock off a few of your labs and someone tries to kill me!”

Damien let out a snort and said, “Why do so many of you cops feel you have to lard on the tough talk?”

Jack pointed an accusing finger at Damien and said, “I know who was getting rich from those labs!”

Damien smiled briefly and then said, “I understand your thought process. It's logical. There may even be a certain degree of verisimilitude to what you say, but I assure you that I had nothing to do with trying to kill you and don't know who did. You owe me a favour, remember?”

Jack eyed him suspiciously and said, “I haven't forgotten. I've still got your get-out-of-jail-free card tucked in my wallet.”

“Good. Then think about it. I can't collect if you're dead.”

Jack nodded. “Okay. I just wanted to hear it from you.”

“Now you have,” replied Damien.

“Speaking of favours, Bishop's body was identified.”

“Really? I hear that swimming pools can be dangerous. Are you warm?”

“A little heat. Probably just routine. I think I'm okay now. Made sure I was clean before meeting you.”

Damien snorted, then said, “Good. Glad you got a taste of it. I deal with that all the time. Bugging too.”

“Don't think I have to worry about that. They would need grounds. But contacting you is a concern.”

“The BlackBerry I'm using now is safe,” replied Damien. “Doesn't hurt to be cautious, though.”

“If you know nothing about whoever tried to kill me, I guess there is no reason for me to contact you.” Jack eyed Damien carefully and said, “Unless I catch you doing something illegal and can rid my wallet of your card.”

Damien smiled and said, “Good luck. Nailing me isn't going to happen. As far as some of the bros go, think about this. Speed labs are easy to replace — that's if we were in that business. Whacking you isn't a consideration.”

Jack received another message on his BlackBerry. It was the code name for Lance, followed by 911. Lance had never used the code before.
Someone's life is in danger! Someone worth saving...

Jack and Danny drove into an underground parking garage and Lance scrambled into the back seat.

“You got a high-level rat!” said Lance, panting as he spoke.

“Tell us something we don't know,” replied Danny. “Someone tipped off a couple of those speed labs.”

“Not the narc! High level. This one has access to your intelligence reports.”

Jack felt the back of his neck tingle. “Details,” he asked. “Who? How did you find out?”

“Remember I told you that Whiskey Jake and I had to meet Damien this morning after he met with Leitch?”

Jack nodded.

“Damien showed us a secret RCMP Intelligence report. It was dated yesterday! It was all about the Indos. Laid everything out.”

“The Indos?” said Danny.

“What if it had been about the club? I'd be dead right now!”

“Lance, you're forgetting something,” said Jack quietly.

“What's that?”

“I said I would always protect you. Bishop wasn't the first guy your club corrupted. He won't be the last. Any reports I write are designed to protect you. I write them as if Damien is already reading them. I don't trust our judicial system not to order them released to some defence lawyer. Trust me on this. Besides, the team working on the Indos has nothing to do with us. At least, not at the moment.”

Lance let out a deep breath and sat quietly.

“You okay now?” asked Jack.

“Yeah ... I'm okay.”

“What can you tell us about the report?”

“Lots of names, addresses, and stuff. Some in boxes with lines going to circles. Damien refers to the leak as
The Mole.
I think it came via Leitch because he just got it. I read it a couple of hours ago but was with Whiskey Jake and I couldn't call you until now.”

“Where is the report now?” asked Jack.

“Damien kept it, but I think he might hand it off to Pussy Paul for safekeeping. That's not all the meeting was about. Damien is setting up our corporate guidelines. He laid it all out. I suggest you make notes or you won't remember.”

Jack glanced at Danny and gave a slight nod of his head. Danny removed his notebook and pen.

1) Lance and Whiskey Jake to be project leaders responsible for overall day-to-day operations.

2) Union control, especially at the ports and airport, to be handled by Brutus.

3) Elite mobile hit squad for Western Canada to be formed and run by Rellik, who also has president status. They will be their own chapter unto themselves with no official clubhouse.

“Rellik?” asked Jack.

“Yeah,” replied Lance. “Got that nickname because he's dyslexic.”

Lance continued and Danny kept writing.

4) Surveillance and wiretap to be done/overseen by Sparks. Top priority is the Vietnamese.

“The Vietnamese,” said Danny. “I thought Damien was interested in the Indos!”

“You guys are doing a pretty good job on the Indos for us. If we go to war and the Indos form an alliance with the Vietnamese, then Damien wants to be prepared.”

5) Strikers to recruit mules in southern Alberta and Saskatchewan — U.S. border may be easier for smuggling there.

6) Pussy Paul to continue handling strip clubs and prostitution and is in charge of intelligence. Actively recruits people with no records to get jobs with the police, judiciary, Motor Vehicle Branch, telephone companies, etc. Handling of police and judiciary sources will be decided on a case-by-case basis. Important ones will always have a go-between so they won't be caught dealing with any club members.

“How are they recruited?” asked Danny.

“The usual. Sex, money, blackmail, gambling debts, intimidation — whatever works.”

“Intimidation?” commented Danny.

“Yeah. Some coppers are intimidated so they kind of suck up to us. We start them off by being friendly and maybe getting them to do small favours. You know, dropping some chicken-shit ticket or something. Takes time, but then we work our way up to more serious matters. Pussy Paul recruited The Mole, but I don't know what was used as incentive.”

Danny put the cap on his pen, but Lance said, “Don't put your pen away yet. I got some more leaks to warn you about, but I don't know their names. All being handled through Pussy Paul somehow.”

7) One Supreme Court judge — financial incentive.

8) One RCMP narc — unknown recruitment method.

9) A secretary with VPD — thinks she's in love.

10) Close to turning a VPD detective working Vice — sexual inducement.

“That pretty well wraps it up for now,” said Lance.

“What about drugs? Who looks after that?” asked Danny.

“We try to keep that down to individual cells as much as possible. That way if a couple are busted they won't be able to link it to the rest of the club. There is some overlapping. Big projects like the ships coming in ... well, that's treated a little different.”

“How so?” asked Jack.

“All the chapters in Canada are invested in those, but smaller amounts are divided into smaller groups. Naturally, we are all brothers and stand behind each other. If someone is having a problem with distribution or competition, the club name in itself is usually enough to see that we get our way. If our name is not enough,
then anyone who is needed will step in to do whatever needs to be done.”

“Like Rellik,” said Jack.

“Exactly. So what do ya think? Enough to keep ya busy for a while?”

“Not enough to keep us busy. Just food for thought,” replied Jack.

“This won't keep you busy?”

“We'll try to identify them, but I don't see a lot that we can do without risking you getting burned.”

Lance nodded and said, “Appreciate that. I would-n't have known this stuff if I hadn't just made president. You start a witch hunt and Damien would put it together in two seconds.”

“You think you'll be going to war with the Indos soon?” asked Jack.

“Damien says it's inevitable, but with two more ships arriving in the next couple of weeks, he doesn't want the war to start any time soon.”

Danny gestured to the last four entries in his notebook and asked, “Does Pussy Paul handle these sources direct?”

Lance glanced at the notes and said, “Naw, he would stay insulated. Most of the communication would go through someone else. Usually someone of the opposite sex, but these days, who knows.”