The Grey Zone

by Easton, Don

  “That might work. What else can you tell me about him?”

  “He was driving a red Mercedes-Benz Cabriolet convertible, which pisses me off because all it does is attract attention, which is not something I like. Not sure if he still has it. He was bellyaching about having to sell it because he’s a little short on cash.”

  “If he does still have it, it’ll be easy for me to spot,” Derek noted.

  “What has me worried is that he’s offered me a really good deal on, uh, something. I think maybe it’s too good of a deal. I asked him about it and he said he’s got a new connection … I mean, business partners, who can pass on a better deal. It’d be good if you could find out who they are, too.”

  “I’ll see what we can do. Is there anything else you know about him that might help?”

  “Not much. Mason says he’s the black sheep of the family. He told me his dad had something to do with inventing computer software, but he died sometime back. I’d love it if you could find out where he lives and bug the place … or maybe his car.”

  “Legally I can’t do that, but who knows … sometimes we overhear things.” Derek paused. “What does he look like?”

  “The guy’s a pussy. You wouldn’t know it to look at him, but he is. I bet he’s never been in a fight in his life. He’s about my height and build, but at least a dozen years younger. He has dark-brown hair that curls at his collar and wears a gold chain around his neck.”

  “Should be easy to spot.”

  Jack frowned, as if thinking of something.

  “Is there something else?” Derek asked.

  “Yeah, remembering what a pussy he is got me to thinking about these so-called new business partners. Is there any way you could tell if he was wearing a bug or something? You know, in case he’s trying to double-cross me with, uh, his business partners and get me to say something I might regret later.”

  Derek appeared to stifle a grin. “I think I know exactly what you’re concerned about. Yes, I have the capabilities to find that out.”

  “After tomorrow night I’m supposed to meet him again on Saturday for lunch. If you could check him out before I talk business with him, that’d be great. I’d also like you to watch and see if any of these business partners are around when I meet him.”

  “Yes, that can be arranged. I’ll have my team ready for tomorrow night and all day Saturday.”

  Jack didn’t have a hard time projecting relief and satisfaction. He felt both. “By the way, could you give me your cell number in case I need to reach you?”

  “Sure, no problem.”

  Gotcha hooked, you bastard.

  CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

  On Friday night Derek’s surveillance van arrived at a parking lot across the street from Central City Brew Pub in Surrey. Special O had been in position in the lot for an hour in their own van, and they noted his arrival.

  A moment later a silver Nissan Altima sedan arrived. A man and woman got out, while another man remained in the driver’s seat. Special O recognized them from previous surveillance photographs as the criminology students. Derek spoke with them briefly, then the couple concealed themselves in the back of his van while he got out and sat in the Nissan with the other man.

  Twenty minutes later, Jack arrived in a white Lexus RC with Alberta licence plates and parked in the lot. Derek was seen gesturing toward the car as he spoke to the man beside him. They watched as Jack crossed the street and entered the pub.

  It was 9:05 p.m. when Mason arrived, driving the red Mercedes-Benz Cabriolet convertible. Derek was quick to follow him across the street and into the pub, while the man from inside the van snuck out and put a tracker under the rear of the Mercedes.

  * * *

  Mason joined Jack at the bar. He was engaged in small talk and ordering a beer when Derek strolled up behind them, appearing to be texting on his phone. A minute later, Jack met with Derek in the men’s room.

  “He’s clean,” Derek announced. “You’re free to talk about, uh, whatever you want to talk about.”

  “Thanks, man,” Jack replied.

  “My guys also put a tracker on his car. I’ll phone you later and let you know where he goes.”

  “Super. He’s already told me he has to meet someone so he can only stay for one drink.”

  “I’ll go back outside to wait, then phone you later.”

  * * *

  Alicia tried not to show the excitement she felt as she sipped her coffee. It was 10:00 p.m., and she was sitting in a booth at Jessie’s Diner, staring out the window. Excitement turned into a rush of adrenalin when she saw Mason arriving in his Mercedes.

  That rush intensified when a van sped into the lot, and a couple got out and hurried toward the diner behind Mason. She recognized the couple from surveillance photos as Derek’s employees.

  Alicia heard the member from Special O getting out of the booth behind her. He made his way to the cash register.

  “Hey, little sister! How ya doin’?” Mason called when he entered.

  Alicia rose from her seat and gave him a hug, pretending not to notice the couple who quickly slid into the booth behind her.

  “I’m doing okay, Mase. It’s good to see you,” she said, taking her seat again as Mason sat down across from her. She noticed peripherally that the woman behind her had put her jacket on top of the railing between them. Bet she’s recording. A slight movement of Mason’s eyes toward the jacket told her that he had noticed, too.

  “No more hassle from your ex?”

  “Nope, Mom’s lawyers took care of him.”

  “Pretty goofy situation, Ally,” Mason replied. “Usually in a divorce it’s the wife demanding money, not the other way around.”

  “I should’ve known he was a gold digger,” Alicia replied. “At least we never had kids.”

  “Yeah … glad I never got married.” He paused, then said, “So what else is new?”

  “Not much. I called Mom the other day. Being all alone in that place has got to be lonely.”

  “Maybe if she hadn’t kicked me out and fired the maid, she wouldn’t be so lonely.”

  Alicia snickered. “You ass. I can’t believe you did that.”

  “What? The maid was better-looking than the cook,” Mason said.

  “God, you’re awful!” Alicia gave him a playful punch on the shoulder. She waited while the server came over and Mason ordered a coffee. “Mom misses you, you know.”

  “Yeah, I bet,” Mason said sarcastically.

  “No, really. She’s already forgiven you for the whole thing.”

  “Forgiven me? More likely she’s worried about what her friends will think. She wouldn’t want them to find out that she threw me out, let alone that a son of hers would stoop to screwin’ a maid.”

  “Well … you’re right about that. She’d be so embarrassed to see us in this diner.”

  Mason glanced around. “Yeah, it’s not exactly fine dining.”

  Alicia shrugged. “It’s homey. Not pretentious.” She eyed Mason a moment. “Anyway, I mean it, Mom really does miss you. You’re her only son, and you know she’d do anything for you. Don’t ever tell her I told you, but she brought you up the other day and said something along the lines of boys will be boys.”

  “She said that?”

  “Yes. You really should go see her. Especially if you’re planning on moving.”

  “Yeah, I’m looking forward to that,” Mason replied. “I need a fresh start. That’s why I want to get away from here.”

  “How soon?”

  “Could be real soon. I think I’ve found someone to buy my car. I owe some guys money, but I’ve got a business deal in the works with them. If it goes through, they’ll be paid off and there’ll be enough for me to take a break for a year or two. With luck, I could be gone within a week.”

  “Business deal? I know what sort of business you’re in,” Alicia said.

  “Yeah, well, as Mom says, boys will be boys. This next deal will be the last one. I’m gettin
g out of that business.”

  “Really? You promise?”

  “Yeah, I thought it was cool a few years ago, but I’ve matured. I want out … which is why I need to get away from all the people I hang with.”

  “You don’t know how pleased I am to hear that. Mom’s not the only one who worries about you, you know.”

  “Aw, thanks. I love you, too, kid,” Mason replied.

  Wish they’d quit calling me kid. It’s going to give me a complex.

  Alicia eyed Mason. “God, if you’re leaving so soon, you really do need to see Mom first.”

  “It’s not like I won’t fly back to visit once in a while. I have to do that to cover medical insurance.”

  “This coming Sunday, it’ll be a year since Dad died,” Alicia noted. “The anniversary’s gonna be tough on Mom.”

  “How often do you visit her?”

  “I call her every day and I see her once a week.”

  “You always were her favourite.”

  “And you were Dad’s favourite. He’d be upset that you and Mom aren’t talking.”

  Mason paused. “All right, fine, I’ll call her tomorrow. See how it goes.”

  “She’ll be so glad to hear from you!” Alicia waited a beat. “Speaking of Dad, do you ever go up there to see him?”

  “Where, Silver Hills Cemetery? Yeah, actually I was thinking I’d go up Sunday afternoon with a mickey of Scotch and have a drink with him.”

  “That’s nice. He’d like that.”

  “I know. I really miss him.”

  “Mom still can’t bring herself to go back to the cemetery.”

  Mason nodded.

  “While you’re up there, I’ll go to the house and see her. Why don’t you pop by after? Stay for dinner?”

  “Yeah, okay. I’ll be at Silver Hills about three p.m. I’ll come over after that.”

  “Perfect.”

  Mason yawned loudly. “It’s great to see you, sis, but I’ve got kind of a big day tomorrow. I need to go home and get some shut-eye.” He gestured to the waitress for the tab.

  Alicia hid her grin when the couple behind her hurried to the cash register. Mason then got up and kissed her on the cheek before wandering toward the cash register himself.

  Moments later, she answered her phone.

  “How’d it go?” Jack asked. “Special O says they’re on their way out.”

  “I think it went well. The man and woman who work for Derek sat right behind me, and she put her jacket down close to me. I’m betting they recorded everything.”

  “Good.”

  “Mason is pulling out of the lot now, and the couple have returned to the van. Hang on … yup, looks like they’re going to follow him.”

  “Derek and some other guy are still outside in a silver Nissan Altima.”

  “I don’t see him.”

  “Special O said that they’re parked a little farther back. Also that they’ve been kissing and groping each other like teenagers.”

  “Maybe you’ll think twice before having Derek come up to your hotel room again,” Alicia teased.

  “Oh, I don’t know,” Jack said, “he’s so handsome and muscular. You don’t get a body like that without working at it. I wonder if he’d like to watch Brokeback Mountain with me?”

  Alicia laughed. “Okay, what do you want me to do now?”

  “Head to your car and drive away. He probably only wants to see which car is yours and scoop the plate.”

  “How long do I get to hang on to my Bimmer?”

  “A few more days at least. I may need you to make another cameo appearance if things don’t go as planned. However, if he does follow you tonight, drive to a large apartment tower and park, then get out and lose him in the dark. He’ll think that’s where you live.”

  “No problem. I have a friend who lives in an apartment complex. I could even buzz her and go inside if need be.”

  “Good, as long as you don’t live in the same vicinity, or your car could be spotted later.”

  “Nope, I own a townhouse in a quiet neighbourhood. Nobody could follow me home this time of night without me seeing them.”

  “All right, I’ll get Special O to monitor, then call you right after you leave to let you know if he’s following.”

  “And if he doesn’t?”

  “Then I expect Derek and his people will be breaking off in a few minutes, once Mason arrives at his apartment. If that’s the case, we can all go home — except for me. I’ll be going back to the Pan Pacific. Once Derek phones, I’ll call Laura, and she can figure out when the two of you should meet at the triple one tomorrow morning.”

  “That’s right, she’s buying a convertible. I gotta say, I like my Bimmer better.”

  Alicia returned to her car and drove out of the lot. She was followed by the Nissan, but once they were out of the lot, it turned in the opposite direction. Moments later, Jack called back.

  “It looks like you’re clear, but take precautions, regardless. Derek drove off in the opposite direction, toward Mason’s apartment.”

  “I saw him. Bet he got my plate,” Alicia responded.

  “No worries. Go home and get some rest. Tomorrow could be interesting.”

  I don’t know if I could ever pull off what you’re planning to do. “Jack?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Be careful tomorrow, will you? These people are evil. Tommy, Barry, Greg … I don’t think I could handle another incident like that.”

  “Thanks, but don’t worry. I’ve been dealing with these kinds of assholes for a long time. Some of them worse than any of this bunch.”

  Alicia felt apprehensive. Who or what could be worse than these people? And can I handle it?

  * * *

  Minutes after talking with Alicia, Jack received a call from Derek.

  “Okay, we found out where Mason is living,” Derek said. “He’s in a high-end apartment building off of Southeast Marine Drive, across from the Fraserview Golf Academy. We don’t know which apartment he’s in, and there aren’t any names on the directory, but give me a day or two and I might be able to pin it down.”

  “Terrific. I don’t know Vancouver well enough to know the area you’re talking about, but as long as you do, that’s great. Anything else? Did he meet up with anyone after I saw him?”

  “He met with his sister and talked about family stuff, then he said that he’s planning to leave Vancouver in a week or so after doing a big deal with someone over the next couple of days. He said he’s getting out of the business … uh, whatever business that is.”

  Jack grinned. Like you don’t know. “I didn’t know he was leaving, but guess it doesn’t matter if the big deal he’s talking about is the one he and I are doing.”

  “I’m sure it is. He also plans to sell his car and said he owes his business associates money, but expects to pay everyone off after the deal.”

  “Good. I’m supposed to meet him for lunch tomorrow to go over some things. A restaurant called Urban Fare on the corner of Bute and West Cordova. I thought I’d walk from my hotel. I scouted it out already and there’s a boardwalk alongside the ocean I can take.”

  “I know the place. Walk along the boardwalk, then cut through Harbour Green Park, and you’re right there.”

  “I was wondering if you could get someone to check him out before I get there? That and I’d like you to tag along behind me and make sure nobody is following me. That way I’ll know it’s you, since I don’t know your people.”

  “Do you suspect you’ve been followed?”

  “No, but I’d prefer not to meet the guys he’s in business with. I want it to be one-on-one … that’s what he told me it’d be, but I want to make sure.”

  “I understand.”

  “In case he has found out where I’m staying, I think it’d be best if we pretend not to know each other. How about you hang around the lobby or outside when I leave the hotel, then follow me?”

  “Sure, I’ll do that. Would you like me to have
some of my people follow him when he leaves the apartment tomorrow, to see where he goes? We’ve got a tracker on his car, so it won’t be difficult.”

  “Yes, I was about to ask you to do just that.”

  “I’ll have my people there by seven a.m. Then I’ll call you before you go for lunch.”

  Jack called Mason and Special O to update them. His next call was to Laura.

  “Hey, I spoke with Mason,” Laura said. “Sounds like the kid did good. He said she seemed like a natural.”

  “That’s great. Have you talked with any of the monitors?”

  “Still nothing on Derek’s cellphone other than calls to you and to the people who he was working with tonight.” She paused. “You be careful tomorrow.”

  “I will. I’m heading back to the hotel to try and get some sleep. Call Alicia and arrange when you want to meet her in the morning. Maybe pair her up with someone from Special O while you do your thing tomorrow.”

  * * *

  Forty minutes later, Jack parked in the hotel parking garage, then sat in his car for a moment while his mind grappled with how the day had gone and what tomorrow would bring.

  What could go wrong?

  He opened his glove box, removed a hypodermic syringe, and slipped it into his jacket pocket.

  CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

  At 10:00 a.m. Saturday morning, Derek called Jack to report that Mason had left his apartment complex and parked near the intersection of Pacific Boulevard and Davie Street in downtown Vancouver.

  “Now he’s standing in front of a Royal Bank,” Derek said. “Looks like he’s waiting for someone.”

  “Still two hours to go before I meet him,” Jack noted.

  “Hang on, he met up with a woman … she’s got some licence plates in her hand and they’re going into the bank. He’s selling his car — I gotta go get my tracker back!”

  Thirty minutes later, Derek called again. “I was right. After they left the bank, they returned to the car, and he took his plates off. He left the woman putting her own plates on and headed off down the street. We’re following him.”