Art and Murder

by Don Easton

  “I understand. Just hope the brass does.”

  “Big Joe has a plan to check me out,” Jack said. “I think I know what it is. They want me to get rid of Klaus’s car.”

  “Son of a bitch. Another tracker?”

  “That’s my guess … and likely better hidden.”

  “What are we going to do? Find it and throw it back in their faces? At least they’ll think we’re professional and not stupid.”

  “If need be, but I have a better idea. You ever work with an operator by the name of Bob Aitken?”

  “No, but I’ve heard lots about him. Didn’t he retire and get a job with the Insurance Corporation of B.C.?”

  “That’s the guy,” Jack confirmed. “He looks like Grizzly Adams, but is one of the best and smartest UC operators I’ve ever worked with. I still have a drink with him once in a while. He deals with a lot of stolen cars for ICBC and has the contacts. I’ll call him and get back to you.”

  A moment later Jack dialled Bob and explained what he wanted.

  “Hell, not a problem,” Bob said. “I know a place I trust to do it and keep their mouths shut. Give me Sammy’s number. I’m working in Surrey today, but I’ve got time. I’ll get things set up within the hour. In fact, I know a guy who’ll lend me a tow truck. If you like, I’ll borrow it and drive it myself.”

  “That would be fantastic. If the bad guys are doing what I think they are, I want it done right.”

  Jack returned to the kitchen and poured himself a cup of coffee, then sat down.

  “Everything okay?” asked Wolfgang.

  “Everything is fine,” replied Jack. “The only thing I would ask is that your men roll up Klaus and dump him in the trunk of his car. Toss the pistol in the trunk, as well. The person I need is busy, but one of my men will be dropped off here and take the car to save time. I’ll go along to ensure that things are done right.”

  “Sounds good.” Wolfgang nodded.

  “Tomorrow, let’s meet for lunch,” Jack suggested. “There’s a popular bistro in your hotel called Griffins, right across the street from the Vancouver Art Gallery.”

  Wolfgang nodded again. “And with regard to the task ahead of you this afternoon … you have no worries?”

  “No worries,” Jack said. Until Rose, the brass, and I-HIT find out about it….

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  An hour later Laura drove to the property and dropped Benny off at the front gate. Jack met him in the yard and pointed to Klaus’s car. “The keys are in the ignition,” he said. “Drive carefully and don’t get in an accident. I’ll follow right behind you.”

  Jack walked to his own vehicle as Wolfgang tagged along to say goodbye.

  “I’ll call you around noon tomorrow,” Jack told him.

  “That would be good,” said Wolfgang. “There are certain arrangements I need to make, and that will give me time to make them before we meet again.”

  Arrangements like murdering me if Big Joe gives you a report that’s not to your liking, Jack thought. I’ve got a few arrangements to make myself. Hope they don’t include arranging a bunk in my cell.

  Jack was ten minutes away from the property when he received a call from Laura. She’d parked her car and was with Otto in a car being driven by a Special “O” operative.

  “You scared the hell out me,” she said. “We thought they shot you.”

  “Sorry about that.”

  “You should pay to get my hair coloured,” she grumbled. “I’m sure it went grey.”

  Jack grinned. He was glad Laura had calmed down. “Settle for an olive soup? I’ve improved my recipe. I use Victoria Gin.”

  “I thought you liked Tanqueray Number Ten for your martinis.”

  “Victoria Gin is better … but enough of that. What’s up?”

  “You’ve got company.”

  Jack automatically glanced in his rear-view mirror. He hadn’t spotted anyone following him since leaving the property. “Big Joe?”

  “Yes. He’s following about three minutes behind you.”

  “So he did put a tracker in Klaus’s car,” Jack said. “Is he in his white van?”

  “No. Guess after you sent him halfway to Edmonton he figures you’re on to it. He’s riding shotgun with one of his guys. They’re in a navy-blue Ford sedan with licence —”

  “I know it. How about the other guy who works for him? Drives a silver F-150 with a crew cab.”

  “Yes, following right behind them.”

  “Perfect, I’ll tell everyone it’s a go.”

  * * *

  Big Joe monitored the laptop computer and continued to give directions as they drove northwest along the Fraser Highway. Twenty minutes later he said, “Whoa, whoa, slow down, Gordy, they’re pulling over. Slow down.”

  Seconds later Big Joe saw Benny parking Klaus’s car in a self-car-wash bay and Jack parking his SUV behind it. He immediately phoned his employee in the crew cab pickup and said, “Ralph, get in line at the bay next to them. Let me know what’s happenin’.”

  Big Joe and Gordy found a place to park where they could watch with binoculars. A hushed phone call from Ralph told Big Joe that Benny was washing the outside of Klaus’s car, then added, “Maybe a good thing we hid the tracker under the back seat.”

  They didn’t have long to wait before Sammy arrived in the same green van that had been used to dispose of Clive Dempsey’s body.

  They watched as Jack moved his SUV out of the way while Sammy backed the van up to the trunk of Klaus’s car, then got out and opened both rear doors.

  “Can’t see what’s going on,” relayed Ralph, “other than the guy in the van is putting coveralls on over his suit. The van doors are blocking the view.”

  “Pretty damned obvious, if you ask me,” Big Joe said, “but to make sure, tail the van when it leaves. If it’s going to the same crematorium, it isn’t far.”

  Two minutes later Sammy drove away in the van with Ralph following. Big Joe watched as Jack once more parked behind Klaus’s car.

  “Who are they waiting for?” asked Gordy.

  Big Joe grunted and shrugged. They didn’t have long to wait before a tow truck arrived, hooked onto Klaus’s car, and drove away, while Jack took Benny and drove off in the opposite direction.

  “Think it broke down on ’em, Joe?”

  “Probably the ignition got wet,” Big Joe suggested. “Let’s follow and find out.”

  Using the laptop, Big Joe once more gave directions to Gordy as they followed a block behind. After a short time Big Joe said, “He’s slowing down. Still northbound on 168 Street and going through Tynehead Park.… Okay, hanging a right on Tynehead Greenway and stopping alongside the road. Drive by slow and let’s see what he’s up to.”

  “Gotcha.”

  Big Joe’s phone rang and he saw it was Ralph. “What’s up, Ralphie?” he asked.

  “Was like you thought. He drove straight to the crematorium.”

  “Good. Get your ass over here. We’re near 168 Street just south of 96 Ave. Got it?”

  Moments later Gordy and Big Joe drove past the tow truck. They saw the driver, a bearded, scruffy-looking individual, siphoning gas out of Klaus’s car into a gas can.

  “Cheap bastard,” muttered Big Joe. “Okay, keep driving until we’re far enough that I can watch him with the binocs.”

  Soon Big Joe saw the tow-truck driver pour the gasoline into the tow truck. He then took out a tool box and went back to Klaus’s car, where he opened the driver’s door and stood working on something. What the hell is he doing? Big Joe dialled Ralph again. “You drive by this time,” he ordered. “Try and see what he’s doin’.”

  Ralph drove past and called Big Joe. “He’s screwing around with something in the corner of the dash.”

  “He’s switchin’ the serial number,” Big Joe said. “Find a place to park and wait.”

  * * *

  While Big Joe was waiting, Jack dropped Benny off at his own car. Then they both drove over and met Sammy in
the parking lot outside the I-HIT office. Sammy tossed the van’s keys to Jack and asked, “Do you mind if we stay and watch? I’m dying to see their faces.”

  “Suit yourselves, but I wouldn’t stand too close. Connie may want to haul your asses in for interrogation. It would be better to have Isaac clear things first — if he does.”

  “What? You’re telling me this wasn’t approved by the brass? I’m aghast!” Sammy chuckled and looked at Benny. “Jack’s right. Time to split.”

  “I’ll call you later,” Jack told him. “Get hold of Bob Aitkin and find a watering hole. He likes rum, preferably Flor De Caña. I owe the guy big time. The drinks are on me, so hold the tab until I get there. Give Laura and Otto a call, too. I put her through hell today.”

  “Will do,” replied Sammy.

  “It’ll be a few hours before I’m done my notes, and that’s providing things go down well with the brass.”

  “Picking up the tab are ya,” Benny repeated. “Don’t worry, we’ll look after Bob and Laura. Take your time and make sure your notes are really thorough.” He exchanged a grin with Sammy and they headed off.

  Got the feeling that tonight’ll be expensive, Jack thought. He pulled out his phone and called Rose.

  “Here you are,” she said. “I thought you would’ve called earlier to find out how my meeting with the brass about what happened last night went. I take it your breakfast meeting with Wolfgang dragged on?”

  “You might say that. How did it go with the brass?”

  “Not bad, considering. They seemed happy that you drove Klaus to the hospital. Isaac raised an eyebrow when I told him that you later suggested to Wolfgang that Klaus should get counselling. It was okay once I told them that if Klaus was worried, he had plenty of time to leave the hospital while you were meeting with Wolfgang.”

  “Good. Anything else?”

  “Yes. They’re concerned he may try it again, especially considering that this is the third time in a week you busted him in the yap.”

  “I only used the minimum amount of force needed to gain —”

  “Please. Maybe you did, but I’ve already been read the medical report.”

  “Oh.”

  “Yes … oh.” Rose paused, then said, “Do you really think he’ll be sent back to Germany immediately?”

  “No. Are you sitting down?”

  “Oh, shit,” said Rose, immediately worried. “What did you do?”

  “Hear me through before you yell at me. Something happened, but everything is under control.”

  “Talk.” The edge to Rose’s voice said she wasn’t happy.

  Jack told Rose everything that had happened. She remained silent the entire time, except for the odd mutter and to tell him to slow down because she was making notes.

  Her anger surfaced when she reviewed her notes and thought about what she had to do next. “Okay, let me get this right,” she said. “I’m to go to Isaac … again … and telling him that you drove another body over to I-HIT … again … of some guy who was shot in the head … again. Is that right?”

  “Sounds about,” Jack said thoughtfully.

  “Damn it, Jack! You can’t keep doing this!”

  “I didn’t do it. Anton shot him under Wolfgang’s instructions. I only watched.”

  Rose acted like she hadn’t heard. “The first time was one thing. Everyone thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime, on-the-job kind of thing. That was last Tuesday! Now you do it again? Then you have the gall to toss the body in a van like you were picking up a dead squirrel and drive it over to I-HIT!”

  “If it was a squirrel, I wouldn’t have brought it to I-HIT,” Jack said.

  “What you did is so absurd it’s almost comical,” Rose said in frustration.

  “Tell me what choice I had.” His tone was maddeningly even.

  Rose didn’t answer as she held the phone. Her eyes were closed and she massaged both temples with the thumb and fingers of her free hand.

  “You there?” Jack asked at last.

  “I hope not. I hope I’m home having a nightmare,” she replied angrily.

  “Come on, Rose. It’s not like I could have stopped them. I really do think that the pistol they gave me wasn’t loaded.”

  “Or would have stopped them even if you knew it was.”

  “Well … yes, you’re right about that. Wolfgang and Anton are not who I’m after. On top of that, Klaus was really in bad shape. I’m sure the autopsy will show he had a lot of internal injuries. He may not have survived regardless. I actually felt sorry for him.”

  “You felt sorry for him? Yeah, right.”

  “I’m not the bad guy here, they are,” said Jack defensively. “Ask the brass what they would have done. If any of them were in my shoes, there would have been two murders this afternoon. Besides, they approved it last week when I brought Dempsey over to I-HIT. How can they turn around and not approve it again? The basic circumstances are the same.”

  “I must be in a state of shock because I really don’t know what to say or think at the moment,” Rose replied. “Which is odd, because where you’re concerned, I shouldn’t be surprised. Maybe I’m just tired.” Then she mumbled, more to herself, “I feel really tired.”

  “I’m asking for your support,” Jack pleaded. “A good cop was murdered because of me. Don’t forget that.”

  Jack’s words brought Rose’s mind back into focus. “Okay,” she said, sounding reluctant. “I’ll back you as usual, but I’ve got a couple of questions for you.”

  “Shoot.”

  Rose paused.

  “I mean, go ahead.”

  “Have you thought of the consequences of destroying Klaus’s car? Internal might suspect you were getting rid of evidence to protect yourself. They’re going to be curious.”

  “Yeah, well, that’s par for the course. They say that curiosity killed the cat, too, but I’m sure I was a suspect.”

  “Anyone would question that after you admitted you beat him senseless and stuffed him in the trunk of a car, then had the car taken to a car crusher the next day.”

  “They can access the medical records and check with the hospital,” Jack said. “It will be on video, me dropping him off last night and leaving. They may even see Anton or someone picking him up after. As far as the car goes, yeah, there was blood in the trunk. If they want to see it for themselves, I’ll lend them a can opener.”

  “I’m sure they’d appreciate that,” replied Rose dryly. “One more thing, is this why Laura hasn’t come back to the office? Afraid I’ll tear a strip off her? Or were you stalling for time so that — again — it would be too late to stop you?”

  “I gave instructions for Sammy and Benny to take Laura and Otto for a debriefing, analyze the events that took place to see if anything could have been improved upon. I felt it important that the debriefing take place while everything is still fresh in everyone’s minds.”

  “A debriefing? Where at?”

  “Yes … well, I’m not sure where. I was going to call them later. Where it is, isn’t important. It’s also intended as an opportunity to express emotions and to alleviate any potential post-traumatic stress.”

  “Yeah, I get it. A meeting where people self-medicate.”

  “You’re right about me stalling,” admitted Jack. “I was being followed by Big Joe and didn’t have time to be bogged down with any red tape. If the brass knew, they might have told me to take it to the police garage for a week while they made a decision.”

  “You don’t have much trust in your superiors, do you.”

  “No, but I’ve come to trust you. Hopefully, by telling you what I have, your response won’t be something that would ruin that trust.”

  “Don’t try to manipulate me,” Rose said.

  “I thought it was obvious I was teasing,” Jack said honestly.

  Rose paused a moment, then said, “Okay, I’ll do my best to support you. You risked your life. That should count for something.”

  “Thanks, Rose. I k
new I could count on you.”

  “There, you did it again. Made me feel like I’ve been manipulated somehow.”

  “You’re too smart to be manipulated, which is why I trust and respect you.”

  “Thanks, Jack. I appreciate that.”

  “Rose?”

  “Yes?”

  “That was manipulation.”

  “You jerk!”

  Jack chuckled. “Good luck with the brass.”

  “It’s not me who needs the good luck,” Rose declared before hanging up.

  Yeah, she might be right about that.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Jack was walking through the I-HIT office on his way to Inspector Dyck’s office when he spotted Connie at her desk. He decided to detour to see her.

  “What’s up?” she asked when he walked in.

  “You didn’t hear what came over Anton’s phone today?”

  “No. I’ve been out at a homicide all afternoon. Got back ten minutes ago and have about three dozen messages waiting. Why? What’s up?”

  “I don’t have time to explain,” replied Jack. “I have to see Inspector Dyck before he leaves for the day, but I may as well give you these.” He tossed a set of keys on her desk, then took out his notebook and jotted down a record of the time and date he gave them to her.

  “What are these for?”

  “They’re keys,” said Jack, looking up. “They unlock things.”

  “Yeah, smartass. What’s going on?”

  “Same thing as last week. In fact, they’re the same keys. The van is parked outside. I brought you another one.”

  “Yeah, right,” said Connie in a tone that indicated her disbelief. “Not fucking likely.”

  “Wish it was NFL,” said Jack, “but I’m serious. Also brought you this.” He pulled a plastic bag that held a pistol out of his pocket, then placed it on her desk. “It’s the murder weapon. Figure you might want Forensics to take a look at it.”

  “What the —”

  “You can thank me for the help later,” said Jack. “I want to make sure Dyck knows before the brass calls him.” With that he turned and left her office.

  “Thank you for it! You freakin’ asshole!” she yelled, getting up from behind her desk. “Are you shitting me?”