Читать книгу Jack Taggart Mysteries 9-Book Bundle - Don Easton - Страница 37

Lance hung up the phone and went back to eating his breakfast. He tried to figure out what Jack was up to. Who in the club was Rolly’s favourite friend, besides Wizard? That was easy. Stallion and Rolly were like brothers. Real brothers. Where could you find Stallion alone without any club members being around? That was easy, too. Stallion fit his ethnic roots and, being single, dined at his favourite restaurant most nights after work.

Lance mulled it over in his brain. Jack had told him they would meet in person soon. Maybe Jack would explain then.

Whiskey Jake and Thumper watched as Damien reviewed the pictures. They were using a computer monitor at the apartment of one of Thumper’s girlfriends. She had been sent shopping. Damien zoomed in on the digital imaging of Marcie saying goodbye to Jack on the porch.

Whiskey Jake said, “So what do ya think? I don’t know who this little bitch is, but from what we heard, it sounds like she can identify The Suit. Too bad we didn’t see the picture that the pig showed her.”

Damien zoomed in on Jack’s face and watched quietly for about a minute, then said, “The copper doesn’t look too happy. My guess is that he either isn’t sure or doesn’t know at all.”

“Should we get Wizard over for a look?” asked Whiskey Jake.

“No. Even if this girl can’t point a finger at The Suit, it won’t make much difference. With what’s happened, the coppers will soon piece it together, if they haven’t already. I’ll tell Wizard that The Suit is hot and to never deal with him again. If the cops roll him, they’ll try to use him to get at us. Wizard’s judgement has been clouded lately. I don’t want him knowing about this kid and making another mistake. Once we find out who the rat is, make sure you clean the pig’s apartment. It wouldn’t be good if they found the bug.”

“Not a problem. We cut a spare key and he hasn’t changed the locks yet.”

“I’m sure the rat is in the west-side chapter. I’ll get Wizard to call a chapter meeting and pass on something juicy. Something that will make the rat want to meet with the coppers.”

“It’s church night tomorrow for them. He could do it then.”

Damien nodded in agreement. “I’ll meet with Wizard today and tell ’im what I want, so keep your ears tuned to that bug.”

“Sparks is doin’ that as we speak.”

Damien gestured to the monitor and said, “Good job with this.”

Whiskey Jake appreciated the compliment and said, “Yeah, turned out pretty good. Didn’t want to get much closer. On a farm like that, they could have a dog.”

“Stash it someplace safe.”

Whiskey Jake nodded to Thumper, who disconnected the camera from the monitor.

Thumper waited until Whiskey Jake and Damien left the apartment before making a telephone call to his friend in Montreal. The election was only five days away. Did his friend think that Wizard would become the new national pres? Oui!

Thumper smiled to himself as he dialled another number. He was about to become a close friend of the future boss.

It was late afternoon and Sparks sat in the van reading a magazine while the sounds over the speaker told him that the pigs were putting groceries away. He sat bolt upright when he heard Danny yell from the kitchen, “Hey! Aren’t we supposed to pay our friend tonight?”

Jack was in the living room, and his reply was easily heard. “Yeah, I’ll slip out in an hour and do it. I have to go to the bank first. It won’t take long. Why don’t you stay and cook dinner?”

“Sounds good to me.”

Sparks was already using the portable radio. The timing was perfect. Within an hour they would have a complement of eleven vehicles. More than enough to follow this porker!

An hour later, Jack drove out of his underground parking stall and onto the street. The traffic was heavy, forcing him to drive slowly. The bikers followed him from a distance and watched him take money out of a cash machine.

Jack signalled a left turn but quickly changed lanes and turned right. Sparks squeezed the button on the microphone and said, “Did ya see that? Piggy is paranoid!”

Whiskey Jake’s voice replied, “Everybody stay cool. We’ve got lots of wheels.”

The bikers watched as Jack made a variety of moves, including parking for a few minutes and watching traffic pass him before pulling back out onto the street.

After about twenty minutes, Jack’s driving returned to normal and they followed him and watched him park.

“You got an eye?” asked Whiskey Jake.

“No problem,” said Sparks. “He’s out and going into a restaurant called Giuseppe’s. There’s a place right out front where I can park.”

Seconds later, Sparks swore under his breath and kept his binoculars to his eyes as he radioed again. “I can see who he’s meeting — but I don’t believe it!”

Jack entered the restaurant and saw Stallion sitting by himself at a table. Jack walked over and sat down with him.

“Who the fuck are you?” said Stallion. “Get your own fuckin’ table!”

Jack bent down and pretended to scoop something up off the floor and said, “Hey, buddy, I think this is your lucky day!”

“What the fuck you talkin’ about?”

Jack held a rolled wad of money in his hand and said, “I saw this on the floor under your table. I presumed you dropped it.”

“What? Oh! Yeah! That’s mine! Must’ve fallen out of my pocket when I sat down.” Stallion grabbed the money and said, “Thanks, man!”

“At least you could buy me a beer! Looks like quite a bit of cash there.”

Stallion thumbed through the money. What a chump! He chuckled and said, “Yeah, no problem. I’ll have one too.”

Later that night, Lance anxiously hurried up to Jack and Danny in a small park near the pier where Wizard kept his boat.

“What’s up?” Jack asked casually.

“I was hoping you would tell me! I’m supposed to meet Wizard on the dock in thirty minutes and bring a barrel. I’ve seen this picture before! Either I’m getting whacked or else they’re gonna whack somebody else.”

“Trust me. You’re not getting whacked,” replied Jack.

“And if they want me to kill someone? What should I do?”

“Do what you must to survive. We won’t bust you for anything you need to do, but you also have to understand that you don’t have immunity from any other cops.”

“Puts me in a fuck of a spot.”

“It’s better than being in the spot of whoever’s getting whacked.”

“You’re sure it’s not me?”

“It’s not you. Meet us at the cemetery as soon as you’re done.”

Danny passed the binoculars over to Jack and said, “I can make out Wizard and Rolly. Our friend is still sitting on the barrel by the gate to the marina. Looks like they’re just talking.”

Jack peered through the binoculars for a moment, then said, “Here comes someone else pushin’ a wheelbarrow. Looks heavy. It’s … Stallion who’s pushing it.”

Moments later, the four men boarded the boat and it slowly chugged out of sight. It was two hours later when the boat returned and three men got off.

Jack and Danny met Lance at the cemetery. His pale face shone in the moonlight as he leaned against a tombstone and folded his arms across his chest to try to stop the trembling.

“Was it quick?” Jack asked.

Lance slowly shook his head, then paused and said, “I guess it was quicker than it was supposed to be. Stallion didn’t have a clue. He figured we were makin’ a meet to whack someone else. When we were about forty-five minutes out, Wizard came up behind him and busted out half his ribs with a bat. I then hog-tied him. It was bloody awful. Rolly started blubbering like a baby and kept sayin’ that he hadn’t told him anything. Wizard didn’t believe him. As punishment, he told Rolly that he would have to finish him off after.”

“After?” Jack asked.

“Wizard sat on his legs. He had a drill and started to work on his kneecap. I had to gag him after a few seconds because Wiz was worried about noise travelling over water, especially at night. Wiz barely got started again when Rolly lost it and put a slug through his forehead. Wizard was pissed off at him for killing him so soon.”

Jack caught the solemn stare that Danny gave him but looked at Lance instead and asked, “How are you doing?”

“I’m not exactly thrilled about it, but at least it takes the heat off me. Might do the same for you. With what happened, I think Wiz won’t be so tight with Rolly. I could see it in Wiz’s eyes tonight. Rolly’s got no respect now. He’s lucky that Wiz didn’t waste him too. I’m sure I’ll be able to slide in there and find out who The Suit is. Maybe not before the election, but soon.”

Jack and Danny were silent until they got back to the apartment. Danny flipped open the sofa and then said he was going to call Susan tomorrow and move back to his own house.

“Do you want a drink?” Jack asked.

“No. I’m sick enough.”

Three hours later, Jack got out of bed and went to the bathroom to get a glass of water. He turned on the light and looked at himself in the mirror. He didn’t like what he saw.