Текст книги "Jack Taggart Mysteries 7 - Book Bundle"

Автор книги: Don Easton

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Текущая страница: 31 (всего у книги 141 страниц)

chapter twenty

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.”

chapter twenty-one

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.

Two hours later, Jack saw an old beat-up white van with tinted rear windows slowly drive through the motel parking lot. The curtains moved slightly in The Toad’s room as someone peeked out.

The two men inside the van paid close attention to all the other parked cars. Eventually the van parked. Jack steadied the binoculars on the top of his steering wheel and watched. The two men talked with each other for a moment, then the passenger bent over out of sight. Seconds later, both men got out of the van. Their complexions told Jack that they were the Colombians. The driver then opened the rear door to the van and removed an object wrapped in a garbage bag.

Scales! Lance was right. This is going to be fast.

Both men then walked over to The Toad’s room and knocked on the door. Seconds later, they disappeared inside. Jack threw the binoculars down and grabbed a roll of duct tape and his balaclava.

Moments later, Jack was inside the van. A quick search under the dash located two handguns. Each with a silencer. Jack put them back, then squatted on the floor in front of the passenger seat and peeked past the seat to the rear. It gave him a view of the motel through the back windows of the van. He gripped his 9mm and waited as the seconds slowly ticked by. He was conscious of a strong odour of coffee in the van. As if my nerves aren’t frayed enough!

Jack hadn’t needed to hurry. Almost forty-five minutes passed before the door to The Toad’s room opened again. One Colombian carried the scales and a sports bag, while his friend carried the other sports bag. They paused at the door and the driver shook hands with The Toad.

Sweat dripping from Jack’s face made a wet spot on the vinyl cover of the seat and he wiped it off with his sleeve as the two Colombians approached the van and opened the rear door. Jack ducked down and heard the sports bags and scales slide across the van floor. He waited until the door slammed shut before quickly making his way into the back of the van and hiding behind the passenger seat.

The passenger door then opened, but the man didn’t get in. Jack heard the sound of numbers being pushed on the man’s cellphone. The driver’s door then opened and the driver stood looking across the seats at his partner.

Panic gripped Jack’s brain. He had hoped the two would quickly enter the van and drive away. His hiding spot behind the passenger’s seat was not large enough to conceal him completely. He had purposely picked the passenger’s seat believing that the driver would be focused on his keys and the ignition upon entering the van. Not standing there with the door open staring in!

Jack held his breath but was conscious of the noise his heart made. It seemed loud inside the metal walls of the van. He stared at the driver’s face, waiting for his eyes to wander to his location. It was dark, but not so dark that he couldn’t be noticed. Outside, he heard the passenger talking in Spanish.

The passenger then yelled, “Okay, amigo! I see you!”

Jack sucked in a mouthful of air and his grip tightened on his gun before he realized that the man, in his broken English, was saying good bye to The Toad.

Seconds later, both men got inside and the driver quickly drove out of the lot. They were barely out on the street when Jack saw the passenger bend over to reach under the dash.

“Okay shit-heads! Don’t move!” screamed Jack, while leaping forward and sticking the barrel of his pistol into the passenger’s ear.

The driver panicked, hitting his brakes and causing his passenger to slam face first into the dash. The movement threw Jack off balance and he waved his pistol back and forth at both their faces while regaining his footing.

The driver started yelling at his passenger in Spanish but stopped when Jack yelled, “Shut up or die! Keep both your hands on the steering wheel!”

Jack grabbed the passenger by the back of his collar and jerked him back into his seat. “Hands behind your head! Now!”

“Señor! No understand!”

Jack made a motion with his own hand behind his head and the passenger clued in.

Jack pointed to a side street and said, “Drive!” The driver made the turn and then pulled over to the curb as directed. Jack held the roll of duct tape between his knees and peeled off a pre-cut strip and handed it to the passenger with his free hand.

“Do it yourself! Over your eyes! Now!”

Moments later, Jack ensured that both Colombians were securely blindfolded. He then took out his cell and punched several numbers, pretending to make a call.

“Hey, Toad! Worked just like you said! We’re just down the street. Hurry up.”

The driver muttered something under his breath. Jack didn’t know much Spanish, but he heard The Toad’s name being used. Questioning the legitimacy of The Toad’s parentage, no doubt.

“Shut the fuck up!” Jack ordered, before allowing himself a moment to take a few slow deep breaths.

Jack then guided the men to the rear compartment of the van and made them sit on the floor. He taped their hands behind their backs and their ankles together, before knocking on the rear window.

Jack opened the rear door of the van and said, “Hey, Toad. What took you so long? Look at this ... I did good, yes?”

Jack then stuck his head around the back of the van door and lowered his voice and put his hand over his mouth and gave a guttural, “Oui!” He then leaned back inside the van and said in his normal voice, “Here, I’ll pass you the money.”

Jack slid the sports bags across the floor of the van, then gently lowered them to the ground outside where they could not be seen from within. He then said, “Yeah, I’ll sit with ’em for ten minutes just in case they get a call. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure they say the right thing! If they don’t, I’ll see it in their eyes. Besides, mia hablo Espanol!”

Jack then closed the rear door and ripped the tape off the men’s eyes and mouths. He took the cellphone out of the passenger’s pocket and held it close to the man’s face. “If this rings, amigo, you say everything is okay ... or else you die!”

The men stared back at him. The driver’s wide eyes and the sweat glistening on his forehead revealed his fear. The passenger was different. His eyes looked dark and angry.

Jack put their phone in his jacket pocket and sat on the floor of the van. He frequently looked at his watch while he waited, ignoring the stares from his captives. After ten minutes he used his own cell to place another fake call.

“Toad ... what’s taking you so long? Thought you would have called by now.”

Jack pretended to listen for a moment, then said, “The ship’s unloaded?” He glanced at his two captives and added, “You want me to kill ’em now?”

The passenger no longer looked angry. His eyes widened and he whispered to his friend.

“Hang on,” continued Jack, “why not do it in another hour? This street is basically deserted.” Jack paused, pretending to listen, then said, “No...” while reaching around to his hip and pulling a hunting knife out of the scabbard. “I’ll slash their throats like you said. No noise, but that’s not what I meant. This street is deserted so it’s not like any of their friends will find us. There’s no rush. Why not wait an hour just to make sure our guys are far away from the ship?” Jack paused again and saw both men with their mouths open, straining to hear every word. “I disagree! Toad, if we just ... Toad? Toad?”

Jack cursed and shoved his phone back in his pocket. He stared at the two men while slapping the blade of the knife against his open palm.

“Señor. Please. I have children to feed,” pleaded the driver.

“Shut the fuck up,” said Jack, getting to his feet. “Both of you, slide together back to back. I’m gonna tie ya together instead o’ killin’ ya.”

They did as directed and Jack wrapped several strands of duct tape around both men’s chests, tying them together. He then used his knife to cut the end of the tape. A flicker of the passenger’s eyes told him it was noticed that he had placed the knife on the floor of the van while pretending to ensure that his captives were bound properly.

“Señor ... thank you for letting us live,” said the driver.

“Fuck that,” said Jack, while taping their mouths again. “I’ll be back soon to finish the job.”

Jack went out through the rear door of the van and slammed the door behind him. He grabbed both sports bags and went back to his car and waited. It didn’t take long before he spied the two Colombians creeping through the parking lot toward The Toad’s room.

Jack adjusted the focus on his binoculars and saw that each held a pistol. He watched as one stepped back from the door, raising his foot to kick, when the door unexpectedly opened in front of him.

A biker stood for a moment, with an ice bucket in his hand and his mouth drooped open. Jack didn’t hear anything but saw the biker’s head jerk and knew where the first bullet struck him as his body crumpled to the floor. The Colombians ran inside. A few seconds later, Jack saw one Colombian casually look outside before closing the door. Several minutes passed, and then the Colombians left the room and went to the parking lot. They tried two different vehicles before finding the one that the keys matched.

Their search for the money was fruitless, and Jack chuckled out loud as he watched them gesture and point in anger before running back to where they had left their van.

Jack drove out of his parking spot and saw the van enter the main street and then drive off in the opposite direction. A minute later, Jack parked behind the motel and went to his trunk and put on some latex gloves and a toque. He walked around to the front of the unit and stepped inside. One biker was sprawled on his back on the floor. One eye was open, but the other eye had been replaced by a bullet hole. The second biker was sitting in a chair, slumped face-down on the table. Blood oozed out of his forehead.

The Toad was still lying on top of the bed, partially propped up with pillows. His chin was resting on his chest. Jack went over to check his pulse but realized that The Toad had taken two bullets to his heart.

I wish whoever taught the Colombians to shoot would teach me.

Jack went to the rear of the unit and opened up a bathroom window overlooking the back of the motel. Seconds later, his cell vibrated. He was expecting a call, but his nerves were taught and his body surged with more adrenalin.

“You told me to call when it was done,” said Lance. “Did I wake ya?”

“No,” replied Jack. “It’s only eleven. I was just getting ready for bed,” he said, glancing at The Toad. “How did it go?”

“Smooth as shit. Went down just like I told ya.”

“Good. Glad it went okay.”

“Man, I was a little nervous. Appreciate you sitting this one out.”

“Yeah, well ... maybe next time. What are you doing now?”

“Goin’ home and gettin’ some rest. Do you want the details?”

“Later. We’ll meet next week and you can tell me then.”

Jack shut off his phone and bent over the bed. Okay, Toad. Hibernation time.