Текст книги "Jack Taggart Mysteries 7 - Book Bundle"

Автор книги: Don Easton

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Текущая страница: 50 (всего у книги 141 страниц)

“Pretty tough to believe that about your own family,” said Laura, softly.

“I know. I felt like I was in shock when I found out. Bonnie moved out of the house early as well. I thought it was because of the psychological abuse and the physical beatings. But the signs were there ... and I missed them.”

Laura saw the recrimination and guilt on Jack’s face as he spoke.

“In any other family,” he continued, “I would have suspected it immediately, but with my own, the idea was incomprehensible. Bonnie lived alone in a trailer near Rocky Mountain House and took in all the stray animals that crossed her path. Classic symptoms, yet I missed it.”

“Hindsight is twenty-twenty,” said Laura. “It is normal not to believe—not to want to believe, something like that even exists. Let alone with your own family.”

Jack brushed her comment aside and continued, “Bonnie died of alcoholism a couple of years ago ... another classic symptom. I wanted so much to put him in jail, but none of the victims I found were willing to testify. The real sad thing is, all his victims lived with such a deep shame that they couldn’t find the courage to come forward. As a result, dozens upon dozens of other children were molested.”

“Where was your mother through all this?” asked Laura.

“That is something else I’m ashamed of. When Bonnie first told me, I naively imagined that my mother didn’t know. Of course she knew. All this couldn’t take place in a home without her knowing. Later I discovered that when they babysat children, my father would make his selection and my mother would take the other children for a walk so they wouldn’t see what was happening.”

“What kind of mother could allow that to happen?” said Laura, shaking her head.

“When I first found out and confronted my father, he was afraid he would be arrested. I actually made him write letters of apology. My mother threatened to make life hell on my sisters if I took any action. She reminded me that Bonnie was an emotional wreck and basically implied that if I did anything, her suicide would be on my hands.”

“God ... that’s awful.”

“Tell me about it. Now my father is in really poor health. A good lawyer could delay the proceedings until he dies. Hopefully I can celebrate that day soon. When the bastard first realized I couldn’t put him in jail, he would mock me on the phone. He loved to make people angry. I guess it made him feel powerful.”

“You said you had a brother?”

“He died several years ago. He left home when he was fourteen. Later, he educated himself, got married, had children and a good life. The odd thing is, despite having received the most severe beatings from my father, my brother still went through life trying to gain his respect and admiration.”

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“I’ve heard of psychological testing where they would temporarily take away a baby monkey’s mother and replace it with a fake one, wrapped in barbed wire. Despite the pain, the baby monkey would still cling to it. My brother was like that. When he turned forty, he died of cardiac arrhythmia. He had continued to befriend and socialize with my father right up to his death, unaware, of course, that my father had an eye on his children as well.”

“Where’s your father now?” asked Laura.

“Lives in Red Deer. My mother is in a nursing home there. She has Alzheimer’s. Maybe nature’s way of letting her forget what kind of a mother she was.”

“People keeping secrets all those years.”

“Yeah. Think how many lives were ruined because nobody had the courage to come forward.”

Laura reflected upon what she had just been told and looked at Jack and softly said, “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For trusting me with such a personal thing. For sharing your secret with me.”

“These things should not be kept secret. That is exactly what the perverts want. Everyone should know. It’s the only way to stop them.”

“I agree, but still, thanks for telling me. Helps me understand you better.”

“We’re operators. We’d better understand each other,” said Jack, seriously.

Laura nodded in agreement and said, “I know. Good friends,” she said, fighting to keep her emotions in check. “Now stand up.”

“What?”

“You heard me.”

Jack slowly got to his feet. Laura wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight.

“Thanks,” he said. “Sorry to unload that on you.”

“It’s like you said. It’s not the victims who should be ashamed. Now, two things,” said Laura, as she let go.

“What’s that?”

“Number one, pour each of us another rum. Number two, let’s figure out how to nail these Russians. I’m with you, whatever it takes.”

Jack nodded. “Thanks,” he said, his voice sounding hoarse. “As soon as we’re back in Canada, I’m going to notify Interpol. We’ve got a couple of phone tolls from the Russians to Sweden. Shouldn’t take them long to put a stop to things on that end.”

Laura was silent as Jack poured each of them another drink and said, “What about Quaile? You know he won’t let us work on them when we return.”

“Maybe he will when we get the proof we need. As Donato said, Cuba is only the meeting spot. Nobody needs to know. We can work with Commercial Crime during the day like Quaile wants, then go after the Russians at night. Like you suggested, we’ll work with VPD, too.”

“I’m with you,” said Laura. “Let’s get these guys ... whatever it takes.”

“Thanks,” said Jack, quietly.

chapter fourteen

It was Tuesday morning at eight o’clock when Jack and Laura presented themselves in Quaile’s office.

“You two have a nice vacation?” Quaile asked.

“It was okay,” replied Jack.

“So, it is apparent that you wasted your time, along with the office budget, by following the Russians to Costa Rica.”

Jack and Laura glanced at each other, and Jack said, “We heard from a reliable source since our return that they’re both involved in human smuggling. Abducting young girls or women to be used as prostitutes. I’ve already notified the authorities in Sweden, where we heard they are obtaining two young girls.”

“Really? Prostitution, you say? A week ago you said it was cocaine,” replied Quaile.

“I may have been wrong about ...”

“Or they might be doing that, too,” said Laura.

“Human smuggling, prostitution, whatever; that’s for Drug Section, Immigration, or City Vice. Not our concern. Now that you’re back, are you ready to go to work on what you should be working on?”

Laura was about to protest, but caught the slight movement of Jack’s head, indicating his disapproval.

“Well?” asked Quaile.

“Ready to go to work,” said Laura, sullenly.

Jack noticed that Quaile’s eyes remained fixed on him longer than was normal. He knows something ... Cuba?

“And you, Jack? Ready to apply yourself now?”

“You bet.”

“Good. Commercial Crime is having a general debriefing at one o’clock this afternoon. It will be a good time for you to catch up on what is going on.”

Later that morning, Jack was at his desk reading when Quaile came in and asked, “What are you doing?”

“Just updating myself on legislation and case law concerning fraudulent transactions relating to contracts and trade.”

“Good,” said Quaile, before leaning over and whispering, “Perhaps you should also brush up on the Motor Vehicle Act.”

“That would make more sense than studying French,” replied Jack.

Laura saw the angry look on Quaile’s face as he stomped out of their office. “What was that all about?”

Jack sighed and said, “I think he was just telling me that I’m being transferred to Highway Patrol. We may not have much time. We need someone inside one of the massage parlours to help us connect the Russians with the prostitution.”

“Sorry, Jack. I don’t think my husband would appreciate me working undercover as a prostitute in a massage parlour.”

“Couldn’t you at least ask him?” He waited until Laura smiled back at him and said, “Okay, be that way. That leaves us with the option of getting an informant. Guess I’m the one built for that job.”

“What? Acting drunk and horny?”

“You got it. I’ll start with Dúc’s place out in Surrey”

“Didn’t your friend from VPD Anti-Gang tell you these guys are dangerous? Kids with machetes?”

“What’s your point?”

“If things go wrong, it would be nice to have someone there who knows these people and could lend a hand.”

Jack nodded in agreement and reached for the telephone.

Detective Rocco Pasquali listened to Jack’s request and said, “Hey, I’ll be glad to help. I didn’t have anything planned tonight. Be good to get out of the city, even if it is just to Surrey.”

Hang knew that it was now or never. She took the lid off the toilet tank and disconnected the chain from the leaver and let it fall to the bottom of the tank. She stared inside for a moment and whispered aloud, “This is the only way, Linh. The American police are smart. They are like scientists. It will work.”

It has to ... as long as I’m found in time.

chapter fifteen

I t was eight o’clock at night when Jack left Laura and Pasquali in the car and walked into the Orient Pleasure.

Better time to make a selection, Jack decided. Late enough for the after-work crowd to have left and early enough to avoid the arrival of the bar crowd.

“Have you been here before?” asked a stocky young Vietnamese man behind a counter. His accent was heavy, but his English was passable.

“Not this particular joint ... no,” replied Jack.

“One hundred for a room,” the young man said. “You pay me now. We rent the room.”

“What kind of ... massage does that include?” asked Jack.

“What kind, is up to you and the girl,” he winked. “We just rent the room.”

“Listen, mate,” said Jack. “My needs are sometimes a little different. Last time I was in a place like this, the girl didn’t speak a word of English. Hard to tell her what I like. Your girls speak English?”

He smiled and said, “One girl speak good English. Her name is Jade.”

Jack paid the money and a minute later found himself alone in a small room with an attractive Vietnamese woman who was about eighteen years old. She was wearing a red wrap around her waist with a black emblem of a dragon on it. Her top was a short-sleeved white blouse unbuttoned enough to show most of her bare breasts when she bent over. A singlesized bed with white linen sheets and a chair were the only furniture in the room.

“So what you like?” asked Jade.

“Straight sex,” said Jack. “I already paid the guy out front. I better not have to pay you, too.”

“No, you no suppose to talk about that. What kind of sex you want?”

“Normal. You on the bottom and me on top.”

“You don’t need English for that,” said Jade, unbuttoning the rest of her blouse before releasing the tie on her wrap to reveal that she was naked underneath. “All girls understand that.”

“Put your wrap back on,” said Jack, “and do up your blouse.”

“Oh? You want me to give you hummer first?”

Jack shook his head.

“Blow job,” said Jade, while putting her wrap back on.

“I understood you,” replied Jack. “No!”

“Why you here, then? You want to fuck me different?”

“Listen to me carefully,” said Jack, “and do not speak until I’m finished!”

Jade stared back at him, frightened and confused. She was more frightened when he showed her his police identification and said he could arrest her and send her back to Vietnam.

“Please, Mister Police. No. They kill my family you do that!” she said in a hushed voice.

Jack knew the terror in her voice was genuine.

“I owe money for coming to Canada,” she continued. “Me no pay and they kill my family in Vietnam. Please ... no take me to jail.”

“I will not arrest you if you help me,” said Jack. “You tell me how you came to Canada. Who you work for. Explain everything to me.”

“No,” said Jade. “I talk to police ... then I die and my family die.”

“Nobody will know.”

“It is too dangerous.”

“If you don’t talk to me, then I will arrest you now for prostitution and deport you immediately back to Vietnam. I will also arrest Dúc and he will think you did talk. What do you think he will do then?”

Jade gasped and said, “No, please. No do that!”

Jack put his finger to his lips to get Jade to lower her voice again and said, “I keep my promises. You work for me and I will not tell anybody.”

Jade sat on the edge of the bed and hunched over to try and stop herself from trembling. Jack sat beside her and whispered, “Start by telling me your real name.”

“My name in Vietnamese is Ngoc Bích,” she said, while swallowing to hold back the tears. “It means Jade in English.”

“My name is Jack.”

Jade glanced at him and nodded silently.

“So tell me, Jade, how long have you been in Canada?”

Jade held her hands over her face and didn’t reply.

“Talk to me, Jade. It is the only way.”

Jade put her hands down and stared up at Jack’s face. “You can trust me,” he said quietly. “Help me and I will help you.”

Tears flooded her eyes and she wiped them away with the back of her wrist. “Okay,” she said. “I talk.” She paused to think, before saying, “I be in Canada three months now. I leave Vietnam four-and-half months ago. Boat take six weeks.”

“What boat?”

“I don’t know name. It very old. Made to carry big boxes ... not people. I come here with many other girls. Maybe forty. We go from boat to fish boat. Then to house. After three day, we put in back of truck. No windows. Then another boat. Short time, maybe two hour. We stay in back of truck. No see. We are told we get job in hotel.”

“This isn’t a hotel.”

“Men lie,” she said bitterly. “But no lie about money. I makes much money. I have mother and two brothers and two sisters. They poor. I send money home. Already send six hundred dollar in three months.”

“But not from working in a hotel,” said Jack.

“Mister Dúc will have Giang kill me if I talk,” said Jade, changing the subject.

“We won’t tell him. Who is Giang?”

“He work for Mister Dúc.”

“Is that the man at the front who took my money a few minutes ago?”

“No. That Cuóng.”

“What happened when you arrived and found out you would not be working in a hotel?”

“We are brought here. We are told what we must do. What men expect. I say no.” She stopped and her body started to shake as she remembered.

“What happened when you said no?” asked Jack quietly.

“Not good to talk to you,” said Jade. “Somebody find out and ...”

“Jade, we’ve been over that. Tell me what happened!”

Jade swallowed and replied, “I am beaten by Giang and ...” She then stopped and covered her face with her hands again.

Jack gently pulled her wrists down. “Jade, look at me.”

She nervously looked up at him.

“Giang raped you, didn’t he?”

Her eyes pooled and she nodded. “Not just Giang. By many men and boy who work for Mister Dúc,” she sobbed. “First night, I count twenty-three times ... then I stop counting. If I run away or no work, then men who bring me on boat go to Nha Trang and kill my family. I go to police ... same thing.”

“Other girls were gang-raped, too?”

“Not so much as me. I say no. Try to fight. They beat me. Giang, he stick gun between my legs,” she said, choking out the words. “I say, okay. No fight no more. Other girls smarter than Jade. They say, okay ... fast.”

Neither spoke for a little while as Jade stared blankly into space as her brain tried to erase what it could not. Eventually she said, “Mister Dúc have many bad men and bad boys work for him. One boy, Xuân, very bad. I think he fourteen years old. Xuân much respect Mister Dúc. Want to be like him, but now Xuân must do what Giang tell him. Giang in Vietnamese means river. With Giang, I tell other girls it mean river of death.”

“Why?”

“He sometimes bring drugs for girls. I no take drugs. Other girls say it help you forget. I never forget. I say drugs ... it help you die.”

“Does Dúc sell drugs?”

“No. Giang do that with other men. Mister Dúc just sell girls.”

“Who is Dúc’s boss?”

“Mister Dúc no have boss. Mister Dúc is boss.”

Jack brought out a picture from his jacket pocket. It was of Moustache Pete and the Fat Man. “Do you know these guys?”

Jade looked at the picture, and asked, “How you know these two men? They in Hanoi!”

“They’re both from Russia, but now they live in Vancouver. How do you know them?”

“They come and look at me and girls before we leave Hanoi on boat. I not know their names. They just look and then we go to boat. I never see them again.”

Jack felt a rush of adrenalin. Solid lead ... but what good is it if Jade can’t testify? Even if we protect her, we still can’t protect her family .... “Was Dúc in Hanoi, too?” he asked.

“No. Many other men in Vietnam do work there. Mister Dúc stay in Canada.”

“Dúc lets you send money home?”

“Yes. It is good. Maybe good thing I make much money. My family very poor. Soon they buy house because of me.”

Jack sighed and looked directly into her eyes. “Does your family really believe you are a maid in a hotel?” he asked, skeptically.

Jade’s face darkened. She replied, “Other girls send money home. Some peoples talks. Maybe my family say they think I in hotel ...” She stopped talking and burst out crying. Between gasps of air she said, “They no believe that—but they still take money I send.”

The sound of her crying brought hurried footsteps down the hall. A fist pounded on the door and a Cuóng yelled in Vietnamese.

Jack put his hand behind his back and rested it on the 9mm tucked in his belt.

Jade yelled something in Vietnamese and Jack heard Cuóng laugh and walk away.

“What did you just say?” he asked.

“I tell Cuóng you want me pretend to cry because you are too big inside me. Okay?”

Jack took a moment to take a deep breath and said, “Okay.”

“My family ... know,” continued Jade. “They know I am whore. They never take me back—but they buy house ... so that is good for me to give to brothers and sisters.”

“I’ll figure out a way to get you out of here,” said Jack. “Just give me a little time.”

“No. I need send more money home,” said Jade.

“Jade, you are smart. Think about it. You need to get out of here.”

“No. Too late. I am already a whore. If I go now—I am still a whore. Only a whore with no money and my family die.”

“You’re not ...” Jack paused when he saw that Jade had made up her mind. “Damn it ... do you have access to a phone?”

Jade nodded and said, “Sometimes I pick up lunch for people and bring here. Sometimes I go get laundry for beds.”

“I’ll give you my cellphone and home phone numbers. If you need help, call me. There are other ways to make money.”

“Not so much as this,” said Jade.

“This is costing you too much,” said Jack.

“Fruit now rotten,” said Jade. “Can never fix now.”

“You’re wrong. Think about my offer. If you want out, I will do it in such a manner that nobody will know.”

“How?”

“Do you want out now?”

Jade paused, and shook her head.

“When you do, I’ll figure out a way. You work for me and soon Dúc and the two men in the picture will be arrested. Then for sure I will get you out of here safely. Is it a deal?”

Jade sighed and said, “Yes ... I deal.”

“In the meantime, if something happens, or if the Russians show up, let me know.”

“Okay.” Jade looked at the clock on the wall and said, “Only five minute more. You pay for me ... you want?” she asked hesitantly.

“No!” exclaimed Jack in frustration. “I’m here to help you, not to fuck you.”

Jade threw her arms around Jack’s neck and kissed him on the cheek. He was startled and grabbed her arms to fling her off.

Damn it! Doesn’t she understand why I’m here?

He heard her sob and knew that she did. He felt guilty that he had misinterpreted.

It was dark and Linh and her fellow passengers were allowed on deck for a chance to walk and breathe in some fresh air. Linh felt the ship shudder and a sense of dread overtook everyone as the ship’s engines slowed. The sound of worried voices arose from different clusters of women around the deck.

Dread was soon replaced by excitement as the message spread like the ripples from a rock being tossed in a pond.

We are slowing down on purpose so that tomorrow night it will be dark when we enter Canadian water!

chapter sixteen

“How did it go?” asked Laura as soon as Jack returned to the car.

“You were gone long enough,” said Pasquali. “Hope you didn’t get cold feet and stiffen up in there.”

Jack ignored the comment and said, “I met one of the working girls. She talked.”

Jack relayed everything Jade had told him, including the Russians being in Hanoi.

“Where to from here?” asked Laura, her mind still sickened by what she had just heard.

“I’m going after Giang,” said Jack, bitterly.

“How?” asked Pasquali.

“UC. First, I’ll gain his trust on a coke deal. Then play it up that Laura and I are opening a massage parlour. Not here, Dúc wouldn’t want the competition. I’ll tell him it’s in Edmonton and we’re looking for Asian girls because they’re popular. I’ll ask him if he knows anyone or someone who would want girls to work the circuit for a little variety.”

“Hoping he will lead you to Dúc,” said Pasquali.

“Who might introduce us to the Russians,” finished Laura. “It might work.”

Jack looked at Pasquali and asked, “You once told me that Giang hangs out at either Lucky Lucy’s Bar and Grill, Billiard Bill’s, or what was that restaurant?”

“The Mekong Palace,” said Pasquali, “But it’s closed now. I have to tell you ... Giang isn’t too susceptible to a UC. We just tried. Giang wouldn’t even talk to our operators.”

“A couple of weeks ago you told me Giang wasn’t all that important,” said Jack. “Not worth the price of a bottle of olives for my martinis. What’s changed?”

“The assholes, Giang’s boys, put the Mekong Palace out of business. The owner was a nice old guy. Worked hard all his life to get his own business, now it’s gone.”

“What happened?” asked Jack.

“Xuân, being the sweet fourteen-year-old kid that he is, went in there a couple of weeks ago with some of his buddies. He demanded two hundred and fifty dollars of protection money. The owner refused so the gang terrorized the place and threatened to kill everyone inside.”

“These are kids?” asked Laura.

Pasquali nodded and said, “Xuân, at fourteen, led the bunch. They held a filleting knife to an employee’s throat while they robbed the cash register. Xuân shouted, you play with God; from now on you have to pay five hundred! He made a waitress kneel on the floor and fired a round from a semi-auto handgun into the floor beside her. The floor was concrete so the bullet fragmented and went everywhere. When they left, they told the owner that if he called the police they would return and kill everyone.”

“What happened?” asked Laura.

“The owner called us. We scooped up Xuân and he’s being held. I searched his bedroom myself. The walls were covered with cut-out pictures of guns. Unfortunately for the Mekong Palace, most of the employees quit and customers are now afraid to go there. The owner is trying to sell, but the word is out and nobody is even looking at the place.”

“Was Giang involved?” asked Jack.

“The protection money thing would be right up his alley, but nothing we could prove.”

“I want Giang,” said Jack angrily.

“So do we. As a result of the Mekong Palace we had the narcs do a UC and try to buy coke from him. No luck. Since Xuân got busted Giang is even more paranoid, and if you think Xuân is bad, Giang is even scarier. Wild mood swings. He’ll be laughing one second and then go into a rage and slash your throat the next. You know what he did to your CI. He’s not the type you can just approach on your own. Our guys had a snitch do an intro and he still wouldn’t deal with them.”

“Then I’ll get him to approach me,” said Jack. “Do you know what Giang drives?”

“A new Pontiac GTO sports car. Red. Why?”

“Let’s take a drive and see if we can find him,” said Jack.

“You got the money on you to buy a kilo of coke?” asked Pasquali. “Giang doesn’t deal in the small stuff.”

Jack shook his head and said, “Our boss doesn’t want us to work on him so we don’t have any budget.”

“Our department can’t afford this. Sorry. How the hell can you even approach him?”

“As I said, I’ll get him to approach me,” replied Jack. He looked at Laura and asked, “Do you mind giving our narcs a call? See if any operators are working tonight that could spare half an hour to help me?”

“You need an operator?” asked Laura. “What am I? Chopped liver?”

“Far from it,” replied Jack. “If this works, you’ll be needed in Act Three.”

Jack explained his plan as they drove over to Billiard Bill’s. The red GTO was not around so they drove back to Vancouver and headed past The Asian Touch and arrived at Lucky Lucy’s Bar and Grill farther down the street. They saw the red GTO parked nearby.

Laura learned that a trained undercover operative from Drug Section by the name of Sammy was available.

“Jack, don’t do this,” pleaded Pasquali. “They’re violent. Knives guaranteed and someone is always packing a piece. They’ll slice and dice your ass and feed your body to the rats. I mean that.”

“I’ll be in and out before you know it,” said Jack, while taking off his gun and holster and passing it to Laura. He next gave her his police identification.

“Think about this!” snapped Pasquali. “Nailing a pair of Russians for bringing in hookers isn’t worth the risk. We’d be lucky if they each got two years in jail.”

“I just met one of the hookers,” said Jack. “It’s worth it to me.”

Jack carried a small backpack in one hand as he shoved the door open into Lucky Lucy’s. He dropped the backpack on the floor and stumbled as he picked it up before gawking around as his eyes adjusted to the dimly lit room.

Giang, along with about twenty of his cronies, sat at tables near the only pool table. There were no other customers and everyone except Jack was Asian. The only woman in the place worked behind the bar.

The silence that descended and the glares he received would normally have caused any sober man to turn around and head back out the door.

“Hooray!” yelled Jack, looking at them. “Men! Not lying, forgetful broads who don’t remember to treat a guy like how he should be treated!”

Jack turned to the barmaid and yelled, “It’s my birthday today! I’m buying a drink for every man in this place! Make mine a gin martini.” He paused to regain his balance and said, “Aw, okay sweetie. You’re doing the work ... you can have a drink, too.”

Jack tossed a wad of cash on the bar and said, “If it ain’t enough, let me know. If it’s too much, keep the change.”

He turned to the group of men and shouted, “Sorry guys, I’m not cheap, but I can only stay for one.” He paused and said, “What the hell, I bet you guys don’t even speak English.” He made a motion to drink and said, “Birthday!” and gestured with his thumb at his chest.

By a few of the amused looks and a couple of smiles from the men, Jack knew that he was at least temporarily welcome. He sat in a chair at a table that was one table away from where Giang sat and placed the backpack at his feet.

Act One, successfully completed, mused Jack.

Giang’s suspicions were aroused seconds later when he heard Jack use his cellphone.

“Sammy! I’m at a place called Lucky Lucy’s. Twelve-hundred block on Kingsway. You have twenty minutes or I’m gone. No more jerking around. Now or never!”

Giang studied Jack carefully. He only appeared to be drunk when he came in. He forgot to sound drunk when he made the call.

Out of the corner of his eye, Jack saw Giang whisper to a couple of the men. Their smiles disappeared and one of them reached inside his jacket, but Giang shook his head and whispered to him again.

Twenty minutes went by and Giang watched as the newcomer slurred his voice and carried on a one-sided friendly banter with those who were enjoying their free drinks. Then the next newcomer strode in.

“Hey, Sammy, over here!” commanded Jack.

To Giang, it was obvious that the man playing the drunken fool was not drunk. Perhaps a fool, though?

Sammy approached and stood squinting down at Jack as his eyes focused. “You got it?” he asked.

Jack picked up the backpack from off the floor and it landed with a thud as he dropped it on the table in front of him. “You seen it before. It’s all here. Now where’s the stuff?”

Sammy gave a pertinent little grin and unzipped his jacket.

“You’re looking a little thin these days,” said Jack. “I’d say you’re down about a kilo from what you should be.”

“You got that right,” snarled Sammy, pulling his jacket back slightly to expose the handle of a pistol shoved in his belt. “Hand it over and keep your hands where I can see ’em!”

The reaction from the men sitting at the tables was instant. Several reached inside their own jackets and in other men’s hands, knife blades appeared and were held ready under the tables.

“Sammy, take a look around,” said Jack coolly. “Have you met my friends?”

Sammy glanced at the men sitting around Jack, as if seeing them for the first time.

“Jesus!” Sammy yelled before bolting out the exit.

Jack was already on his cellphone. “Laura! It ain’t snowin’ tonight. Sammy was gonna rip me. I told you he was no good! See ya back at the apartment.”

Jack grabbed his backpack and was two steps away from the table when Giang shouted a command in Vietnamese.

Several men immediately grabbed Jack by the arms and shoved him back into his chair.

“You’re not going anywhere,” said Giang.

“Oh shit,” said Jack. “You do speak English!” He paused as he felt the sharp edge of a knife prodding his Adam’s apple toward the back of his throat.

Jack looked up at the circle of men standing around him. “Okay guys, take it easy,” he said, realizing that the nervousness in his voice was real. “Stupid thing for me to do. Let me go. I’ll just walk out of here and leave the backpack behind.”

Giang bent over so his face was close enough for Jack to smell the fish sauce on his breath. Giang sneered and said, “Maybe you will walk out—first, let me see what present you have decided to give me.”

Giang picked up the backpack and smiled as he opened the zipper. He looked inside and his smile vaporized. His jaw clenched and the tendons rippled on his neck as he reached inside.

The man holding the knife jerked slightly and Jack felt the abrasion on his throat as Giang slammed the phone book down on the table.