Читать книгу Jack Taggart Mysteries 9-Book Bundle - Don Easton - Страница 29

It was six-thirty on Monday morning when Jack and Danny finished their coffee in a small restaurant adjacent to a large cemetery.

“Time?” asked Danny.

“It’s time,” replied Jack.

Danny punched the numbers into his cellphone. Superintendent Wigmore was getting dressed for work when he answered the call.

“Sir? It’s Danny O’Reilly.”

“O’Reilly! Well, well. Aren’t you the punctual one. What have you decided?”

“Sir, I’ve only got a few minutes. I’m at a coffee shop. Jack is here, too, but he just went to the washroom.”

“So you’ve decided to come clean? Tell me what Taggart is up to? Or, should I say, what the two of you have been up to?”

“Yes, sir, but a lot has happened this last week. Taggart thinks he knows who killed his niece and nephew. Two bikers from Satans Wrath.”

“How does he figure that?”

“We turned a good informant. Someone inside the club.”

“Turning an informant in Satans Wrath? Just like that? Come on, O’Reilly! What’s been going on?”

“Sir, it’s a long story, and I can’t talk right now. Basically, I’m afraid of what Jack will do to the men who did this. He trusts me completely and tells me everything. He said that he’s thinking of getting them. Wants to take a week or two and plan how to do it.”

“A week or two? This is good…. We have time. Meet me tonight at the Oceanside and we’ll go over everything. Then I’ll take it to Internal and we’ll come up with a plan.”

“Tonight isn’t good, sir. Jack wants me to work surveillance with him the next couple of nights. If I slip away, he might get suspicious. Wednesday night would be better.” Danny’s voice suddenly became more official and he said, “Sorry, no. You’ve got the wrong number.”

“Taggart is back, I take it?”

“Yes, that is this number,” said Danny.

“Okay, no problem. Call me at home Wednesday night to set up a time to meet.”

A few minutes later, Wigmore left his apartment and walked to his car. He was irritated when he saw that someone had left an empty liquor bottle standing on the roof of his car. He picked the bottle up and looked at the label. Glennfiddich … my brand. Too bad someone hadn’t left a full one! He set the bottle by the curb before driving off.

At the same time, Jack and Danny walked up a grassy knoll in a cemetery. The ground was soaked from an overnight rain and the air was crisp. Leaves had already fallen, exposing black branches to the grey sky. Some of the upright grave markers were silhouetted on the crest of the hill. The business towers and high-rise apartments on the horizon were still lit up.

“Whose idea was it to meet here?”

“Mine. If our friend doesn’t cooperate, I’m going to send you back to the car to get some stuff from the trunk.”

“What stuff?”

“A blanket and —”

“Over here!” Lance yelled.

Jack and Danny had reached the crest of the hill and saw Lance sitting on a marble tombstone.

“How’s it goin’?” asked Jack. “Are you taking any heat over Halibut getting busted?”

Lance shook his head. “Naw, they figure it was one of two things. Either the heat came from Montreal like they said on the news, or else the cops threw that out as a red herring and were really following Halibut all along. If they decide the heat was on Halibut, it will look bad for Rolly.”

“Why Rolly?” asked Jack. “Come on, we can walk as we talk,” he added.

Lance stood up and joined Jack and Danny as they slowly walked through the cemetery.

“Wizard gave Rolly shit this weekend,” continued Lance. “He told Rolly that he should have used Dragon because the heat had been on Halibut before, when we whacked Lenny. Not much else was said about it, but Damien is pissed off. It’s caused a bit of a stink in the club.”

“Why is that?” asked Danny.

“This was only the second shipment. Now the guys back east are pointing fingers at us, saying we screwed up, and we’re pointing fingers back at them.”

“Speaking of Damien,” said Jack, “how come you’re not an executive officer? Maybe not national pres, but you’ve got more brains than Wizard. You could be president or vice-president of your chapter. You’ve got a lot of years in.”

Lance shrugged. “Wizard is smarter than he looks. He’s got a good chance of beating Damien out for national pres. The election takes place in a couple of weeks. Presidents from all the chapters in the country will be flyin’ in to vote.”

“You think Wizard is in the running?”

“Definitely. He’s fluent in French and has a lot of support from the guys back east. He’s been down there schmoozing with them. It was him who set up the speed connection.”

“Still doesn’t explain why you haven’t made executive level.”

“It’s a lot less hassle just being one step removed from executive. Less work, but you’re still respected and not stuck with a lot of the shit jobs.”

“Start campaigning. We want you to be an executive officer.”

Lance nodded. “Yeah, I could see that comin’.”

“Anything else going on?” asked Jack.

“Don’t know if you’re interested, but I heard Damien telling Wizard that he was flying down to the Grand Caymans for a week. Damien said that if they couldn’t reach him for any reason when he was gone, then Wizard would act as national president. He left last night and is coming back next Sunday.”

Jack stopped walking and stood beside a fresh grave. He prodded the dirt lightly with the toe of his ankle boot and said, “Doing a little banking, is he?”

Lance chuckled, then said, “Yeah, probably. Doesn’t say and I don’t ask.”

“Speaking of asking,” Jack flashed a glance at Danny, then continued, “I’ve got something for you to ask Rolly.”

“Yeah? What’s that?”

“Did you hear about those two little kids who were killed in a farmhouse up the Valley? Eight weeks ago?”

“Yeah. Is that when it was? I only know what I heard in the news.”

“Rolly killed the little boy.”

“What? You certain?”

“I’m positive. I think Wizard did the little girl. I want you to talk to them about it. Find out if they were with someone else.”

“You don’t ask questions like that! Forget it!”

“You will ask! I’m not giving you any choice in this!” yelled Jack.

“Fuck you! I’m not doin’ it!”

Jack flung his car keys at Danny, then tackled Lance by the throat.

Shortly after arriving at work, Wigmore received a call from a man with a nasal voice.

“Superintendent Wigmore speaking.”

“Yes, is this Superintendent Wigglemouth?” came a somewhat mumbled, nervous-sounding reply.

“It’s Superintendent Wigmore!”

“Yes, Superintendent Wigglemore?”

“Wigmore,” he replied, enunciating the name carefully.

“Wrigglemore,” the voice repeated carefully.

“For Christ’s sake! It’s Superintendent Wigmore! W-I-G-M-O-R-E!”

The caller hung up.

It was dusk when Lance walked along a path in Stanley Park. The street lights came on and he nervously looked behind him, didn’t see anyone, then walked up to Wizard and Rolly, who were sitting on a bench eating popcorn.

They stood up as he approached. Wizard jerked his head toward the path, indicating they should walk as they talked.

“So what’s the deal?” said Wizard gruffly. “How come ya want to meet us out here?”

“The deal is,” said Lance, his voice trembling, “I got a real nasty visit from two cops this morning.”

“What the fuck did they want?” said Rolly with a higher than normal laugh.

“They wanted me to become a rat is what they fuckin’ wanted!”

“What!” said Wizard incredulously. “What were they, two rookies tryin’ to give away a handful of cash?”

“These weren’t fuckin’ rookies,” said Lance. “One guy is fuckin’ crazy. Maybe both of them are, but one for sure. They took me to a graveyard and the crazy one jumps on me and starts chokin’ the shit out of me until I black out. When I come to, he’s still sittin’ on my chest!”

“Are you fuckin’ serious?” said Wizard.

“That ain’t all. Then I see that the other fucker has got a blanket spread out on the ground and is shovellin’ dirt onto it out of a new grave. Pretty fuckin’ obvious what they were plannin’ on doin’ with me!”

“You’re sweatin’ just talkin’ about it! You are fuckin’ serious, ain’t ya?”

“You’re fuckin’ right I’m serious!”

“Why? What the fuck did —”

“The crazy one said I tried to kill him two weeks ago.”

“What?”

“Remember Eddy? Behind the Black Water?”

“Yeah. Did he rat out on us?” asked Rolly.

“Whoever told you he was a rat fucked up real bad. Because Eddy was the crazy one who attacked me this morning! He’s an RCMP officer!”

“Fuckin’ Eddy is a cop?” Wizard looked astonished. “Can’t be!”

“I saw their badges. The crazy one said he’d let me live if I cooperated with them.”

“So what did you tell ’em?” growled Wizard. “How come he didn’t kill ya?”

“Fuck, I was in a bad situation! Then the crazy one says he wants me to testify about Lenny and also wants me to find out what Rolly did with the shotgun he used on some kid!”

“What?” yelled Rolly. “They know about me?”

“I told them I needed a couple days to think about it. I knew if you used a piece to whack someone that you would have tossed it, but I wasn’t gonna tell them that!”

“What made them think I whacked some kid?” spluttered Rolly.

“They know all about you two,” said Lance, while nervously looking around.

The three men stopped talking as a couple jogged towards them, then passed by.

“What do ya mean? What’d they say?” asked Wizard.

“They told me things I didn’t even know. Like they said that Rolly killed a little boy out in some abandoned farmhouse. They said you were with him when he killed the boy and popped the kid’s sister first.”

Wizard immediately grabbed Rolly with both hands around his throat and pinned him back against a tree. “You fuckin’ idiot! Who you been blabbin’ at?”

“Fuckin’ nobody, Wiz, fuckin’ nobody!”

“Then how could they have known?” yelled Wizard. “There was only the three of us there! The Suit wouldn’t have said anything! They even know which one of us did which kid!”

“No way! I haven’t said a fuckin’ word! I swear, not a word!”

Lance looked at Rolly and said, “They told me that you also whacked a guy last week. Someone by the name of Bobby Singh.”

“You stupid, stupid fuckin’ cocksucker!” screamed Wizard, pinning Rolly’s head against the tree and choking him with one hand while punching him in the face. Rolly’s nose crunched like a piece of celery and two teeth slid down the back of his throat like wayward Chiclets.

Rolly screamed out, more in fear than in pain. “Don’t, Wiz! Please! I haven’t said a word! I swear on my mother’s grave!”

“Well, how else could they have found out?” seethed Wizard, slowly releasing his grip. “How the fuck could they have known that unless you’ve been talking?”

Rolly shook his head, spraying blood across his shirt and Wizard’s face. “I haven’t been! No way! Maybe it was The Suit!” Rolly looked at Lance and said, “He’s the one who ordered us to kill the kids. ’Cause they saw him. They was loose ends!”

Wizard slapped Rolly across the face with the back of his hand and said, “The Suit didn’t know about Bobby Singh! How the fuck do you explain that!”

“I don’t know. I just don’t….” Rolly wiped his face with his hands and then wiped his bloody fingers on his pants.

Wizard spun around to face Lance. “So how come they haven’t arrested us yet?”

Before Lance could reply, Wizard continued. “I’ll tell you why! They don’t have enough evidence on anything, or else all three of us would be sittin’ in the slam. It was pretty dark the night we tried to do ’im in the alley. You’re probably the only one the pig can really identify. That fuckin’ scar of yours. Plus the interior light of the car came on when you got out. I bet he’s only guessing about Rolly and me.”

Lance shrugged and said, “I don’t know, but it sounds like they’re thinkin’ of doin’ somethin’ real quick.”

“So who are these two pigs? When did they say they’d get hold of you next?”

“They didn’t say, but the crazy one said he’d be in touch soon, and if I didn’t cooperate he’d either kill me or put me in jail.”

“Are these pigs the narcs from hell, or what?”

“No. They belong to some Intelligence thing, but I don’t know what it’s called.”

“What’s their names?”

“I only know the name of the crazy guy. The guy we thought was Eddy. His real name is Jack Taggart. Don’t know the other guy, but he does what Taggart tells him.”

“See if they’ll give ya their home numbers. Get licence plate numbers, anything to help us find out where they live.”

“I’ll work on it.”

“Yeah, do that. And hurry before they decide to scoop us!”

“Who’s this fuckin’ bozo who told you he was a rat in the first place? It seems to me he’s the one who set us up,” said Lance heatedly.

Wizard reflected for a moment, then said, “I don’t think so. He’s always been right on in the past. Besides, he’d have too much to lose, what with me lining him up with little girls. Not to mention free powder. Naw, our problem lies with these two fuckin’ pigs. I’ll get you to call them … tell ’em you got to meet them. If we whack them, our problems will be over. Especially this Eddy … or Jack, or whatever the fuck his name is.”

“Yeah, but they’re cops!” said Rolly.

“Fuck, what’s the difference? They’re just a couple of guys, same as everyone else.”

“Where and when?” asked Lance.

Wizard slowly looked around. “Why not right here? It would be nice if they’re both together. But if not, just make sure we get the pig from the back alley. He’s the only fucker who could point a finger at us!”

“Yeah, I agree with ya there,” replied Lance.

“One more thing,” said Wizard. “Who else have you told about this?”

“Nobody else knows.”

“Keep it that way. Keep your mouth shut about everything! That means the bros, too. No need for anyone to know about the kids — or the pigs — for now.”

“Fuck, I’m not stupid,” said Lance, looking at Rolly.

“Hey! Wait a minute —”

“Shut up, Rolly!” yelled Wizard, before looking back at Lance. “No, I know you’re not stupid. In fact, before today, I was gonna ask ya if you were interested in somethin’.”

“Interested in what?”

“If I make national pres, what say I back you to replace me as president?”

“You would do that?” Lance noticed the scowl that Rolly gave Wizard.

“Yeah, I’ll do that. We just gotta take care of a few loose ends first.”

“Let me shoot Taggart. He was gonna kill me, so let me return the favour! I wanna pop one in each eyeball. You owe me that!”

Wizard chuckled, then said, “Anxious to get your DD, are you? Yeah, no problem. You can kill ’em both if you want.”

“The fuckin’ heat’s gonna come down real bad,” said Rolly.

“I can handle the heat,” said Wizard. “Nobody should be runnin’ this club who can’t!”

Jack glanced impatiently at his watch. What was keeping Lance? The harsh cry of a seagull over the ocean caused him to look up, but too many trees blocked his view.

Danny sat on the park bench beside him, with his head back and his eyes closed. It looked like he was sleeping. Jack knew better. Stress had reduced both men to silence.

Two children zoomed by on skateboards, but Jack only caught a partial glimpse of them through the trees and shrubbery.

A rustling sound in the bushes behind him told him a squirrel was probably storing food for the winter. It would be peaceful here, he thought, if it weren’t for what they were doing. More comfortable than waiting in a cemetery and thinking about the dead.

Lance walked through the trees toward them. Jack nudged Danny, who sat forward in anticipation.

Lance stood an arm’s length away, staring down at them. For a moment, nobody spoke. The glow of a street light illuminated beads of sweat on Lance’s forehead.

“Well?” asked Jack.

“I’ve got something for ya!” replied Lance, reaching inside his black leather jacket and pulling out a tape recorder. He handed it to Jack and said, “You were right! Wizard wasted the little girl and Rolly did the boy. It’s all here for ya to listen to.”

Jack took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. He gripped the recorder tightly to try to stop his hands from trembling.