by Don Easton
“Come on, we better keep moving,” said Jack. “I’ll call Princess and have her pick us up.”
“Fuck, I know I’ve said this before, but you gotta be one of the coolest dudes I’ve ever met. That fuckin’ cop don’t know how close he came. You shouldn’t have done that, though. Fuck of a chance being in the middle if the shootin’ started.”
“I probably saved your life … again,” replied Jack.
“Bullshit! I had the drop on him. He didn’t even know I was there.”
“Don’t be stupid,” replied Jack. “Think about it. He’s trained and wearing body armour. He’d see your muzzle flash … you’re crouched and would probably fall back on your ass with his first shot. His second shot would take out your nuts and intestines.” Jack paused to let the image sink in and said, “And for what? If you gave yourself up, what would you get? Probation? Hardly worth killing anyone over. Especially a cop.”
Sy eyed Jack carefully and said, “What you did was stupid, too. Putting yourself in the middle like that. You could have been shot. Makes me wonder who you were trying to save? Him or me?”
“I wanted to save all of us,” replied Jack. “Those punk kids you’ve got working for you wouldn’t stand up to the heat if a cop got killed. They’d rat us out in a jiffy. We’d both spend the rest of our lives in jail.”
“Their lawyers would protect them. They wouldn’t need to rat.”
They eventually made their way far enough out of the area and Jack called Laura to come and pick them up. Jack and Sy spoke little as they waited. It was clear that Sy was going over everything in his head. On occasion, he cast a suspicious glance in Jack’s direction.
Forty minutes later, Laura drove up and Sy quickly climbed into the back seat while Jack sat in the front with Laura.
“What happened?” asked Laura, as she started driving.
“I think we were set up,” said Sy. “The cops were waiting.” His voice was grave and Jack turned in his seat and saw Sy’s blank face staring at him, pondering over what had happened.
“They had to know that Weasel was one of the shooters last night,” said Jack. He spoke as if talking to Laura, but studied Sy’s face for a response. “They were obviously waiting to see if someone would retaliate,” he added.
Sy scowled and looked at Laura and snapped, “Find me a payphone! I don’t trust …” He paused to look at Jack before continuing, “this BlackBerry.”
* * *
Minutes later, they found a payphone and Sy ran over to it while Jack and Laura waited in the car. He glanced back at them as he dialed a number.
Sy’s first call was to Mongo, one of the other two bosses who was still on his side. Mongo owned a pizza outlet, but Sy placed the call to a cellphone number that Mongo had given him earlier that day. Soon Mongo’s gruff voice answered.
“This is Sy. This number still cool?”
“Yeah, one of my guys got it yesterday. What’s up? How did it go tonight?”
“My guys got busted outside Weasel’s house. I was lucky to escape. Cops got most of my good artillery. I heard shots, too. Don’t know what the fuck happened. Hope none of my guys got wasted.”
“Fuck, no. Tell me you’re joking.”
“Do I sound like I’m jokin’?”
“Fuck,” muttered Mongo. “How did it happen?”
“I made the mistake of trusting two people who moved into the apartment above mine. Jay and his bitch he calls Princess. They’re sitting in a car waiting for me to finish talking with you.”
“What do you want to do?”
“Take ’em both out tonight. One of them has to be a rat. Maybe both, who knows.”
“How ya want to do it?”
“They don’t realize I figured out it’s them. I’ll bring ’em over to your pizza joint. Meet us in the alley and we’ll go in your back office. Call Munch, too. The three of us gotta unite if we’re gonna win this war. May as well have Munch join us and get started.”
* * *
Laura sat in the car with Jack and watched as Sy jabbed the numbers into the phone. She glanced at Jack and said, “Connie will be expecting us to call soon. She’ll be wondering what Sy has to say and be worried.”
“She’ll have to wait. I’d like to know what Sy is thinking myself.”
“Something is going on,” she said, looking back at Sy. “He looks upset.”
“After what happened, I expected he would be upset,” replied Jack. “But is he on to us?”
“That’s the big question,” replied Laura.
“We’ll play it by ear, but keep your head up. He’s packing a pistol in an ankle holster. Once he’s back in the car, if it looks like he’s going for it, I’ll grab him, beat the hell out of him and toss him out. As long as he’s not arrested, our informant should be safe.”
“And if he pulls the gun out before he gets in?” asked Laura.
“Drive like hell. Here he comes.”
Sy got in the back seat again and Jack turned to face him, acting nonchalant as he draped one arm over the back of the seat. “So, what do you figure?” asked Jack. “Maybe come back to our place and we can figure out what happened.”
“Maybe after,” replied Sy. “There’s someone I want you to meet, first. He’s waiting.”
“Who?” asked Jack, hoping to hear the name Cocktail.
“A guy you’ve never met. I told him about you two. He has a plan of what to do next.”
Sy’s evasive manner set off a warning bell in Jack’s brain. Is he introducing us to Cocktail … or the Grim Reaper? If I say no, and he’s suspicious, it will make things worse. If I’m innocent, I need to act that way and should go along.
Jack glanced at Laura for her reaction. She stared straight back at him, without expression. Jack sighed. She was leaving the decision up to him. Jack turned to Sy and asked, “Where is this place?”
“A restaurant called Pizza 24-7, near the Guildford shopping centre in Surrey.” Sy looked at Laura and said, “Take the 152nd Street exit and cut across on 96th.”
Jack smiled to himself. Good, a restaurant. Public location should be safe. “Sounds good,” said Jack. “I could use a bite. How about you, Princess?”
She felt numb. Something isn’t right … but I trust Jack … She looked at Jack and nodded. Oh, man …
Chapter Thirty
Half an hour later, Laura parked in a back alley behind a steel door with a sign saying pizza 24-7. She tapped on the horn as directed and the steel door opened as the three of them got out.
Jack followed Laura toward the steel door and looked at the two men who were waiting for them at the door. He recognized Munch’s fat face from having seen him with Sy previously. The other man was large and muscular with short black hair and a goatee. There were some Asian features to his face and Jack recognized him from a previous mug shot as the one they called Mongo. So much for meeting Cocktail …
Jack glanced back at the vehicle. He knew things were looking bleak when he got out of the car and saw Sy hesitate and bend over in the car before climbing out. Sy maintained a safe distance as he followed Jack and Laura, while keeping one hand behind his back. Jack had little doubt about what Sy was holding.
Mongo sneered at Jack and Laura and said, “Follow me into my back office.”
Inside a short hallway, Jack tried to sound naive and spoke to Sy without looking back. “Who are these guys,” he asked. “Are they cool to talk in front of?”
“Oh, yeah,” chuckled Sy. “They’re cool. Cool enough to kill for me.”
They entered a small office containing a wooden desk marred by numerous cigarette burns. Behind the desk was a green plastic patio chair. Two more plastic chairs were in front.
“Jay and Princess, sit down,” said Sy, standing behind them after he closed the door.
“Thanks,” replied Jack, taking a seat beside Laura before he looked back at Sy and said, “So, the cops obviously knew Weasel was the shooter from last night and were set up on his place to see if
someone would retaliate.”
Sy smiled and said, “That would make sense except I forgot to mention to you that Weasel only moved in with his girlfriend this afternoon. The cops wouldn’t have known that.”
“Oh, I see,” replied Jack. “Makes it obvious who the rats are.”
“Sure as fuck does!” snarled Sy.
“Good,” replied Jack. “After the shit you got me into tonight, I expect two things.”
“Really?” replied Sy looking puzzled. “And what is that?”
“First, you buy the pizza and second, you take care of those two rats!”
“What the fuck, Sy?” said Mongo. “I don’t understand. I thought you said —”
Sy put his hand up, gesturing for Mongo to be quiet, before looking inquisitively at Jack and saying, “Do you want to run that one past me again?”
“Sure. Pepperoni, mushrooms, black olives, and green pepper.”
“Not the fucking pizza. The part about taking care of two rats.”
“That’s why we’re here, isn’t it?” asked Jack. “To decide how to take out Roach and Bagger?”
“Roach and Bagger!” replied Sy, looking incredulous.
“Yeah,” replied Jack, before gesturing with his hands and saying, “Duh … as if you didn’t figure it out. Well, I’m not stupid, either.” He turned to Mongo and Munch and said, “Last night we just happened to leave Roach and Bagger’s when we fuckin’ near get killed.”
Mongo looked at Sy and said, “Didn’t you tell me earlier that the cops were there, too? That someone saw some guy and later realized he might have been writing down licence plates?”
“What?” said Jack loudly, looking at Sy. “You didn’t tell me that!”
“Wasn’t sure if it was cops or a neighbour,” replied Sy, defensively.
“Figures,” said Jack. “Fuckin’ cops were probably laughing when we were getting our asses shot off.”
“I said it might not have been cops,” said Sy.
“Either way,” Jack said, continuing his conversation with Mongo and Munch, “Then it just happens that Roach and Bagger find the place for us to whack Weasel tonight and the cops just happen to be waiting for us. Guess I don’t need to tell you that it just happened that Roach and Bagger weren’t there with us!”
Munch looked at Sy and said, “Is that true? They weren’t with ya?”
“They’re sittin’ on a hostage,” said Sy. “Couldn’t let him go until we took out Weasel.”
Jack looked at Sy and said, “Guess I’m the dumbass for agreeing to go with you tonight. I tried to talk you out of it. I could have just happened to stay behind, too … you gave me that option, but I went with you.”
“Sy? What the fuck?” asked Mongo.
Before Sy could respond, Jack pointed a finger at him and said, “First I damn near die saving your ass last night and then I have to save it again tonight. You’re lucky we’re not the rats or you would be dead. Either that, or in jail. I think Roach and Bagger are tied in with your enemies and the cops. Being the leader, I’m sure you were the grand prize of who the cops wanted to catch. Lucky for you I talked you into checking things out first.”
Sy stared back. His face was blank as his mind grappled with what happened.
Jack shook his head in admonishment and said, “Yeah, I would say you owe me. As I said, two things, first you buy us some pizza, and then go take care of Roach and Bagger. I’m hungry and tired. Let’s eat.”
Sy hesitated before sticking the pistol in the back of his waistband. Jack knew that he and Laura were safe for the moment.
“You think they’re both rats?” asked Sy. “Roach and Bagger both?”
“Definitely,” replied Jack. “One couldn’t pull it off without the other guy knowing. I bet they’re talking to both the cops and at least one of the other gangs who are trying to take you out. Either that Balvinder guy you mentioned, or one of the other two, Fateh or Quang.”
“Or maybe Roach and Bagger are talkin’ to all three and the cops,” said Mongo.
“I’m gonna call those two fuckers and get them over here,” said Sy.
“Forget that,” said Jack. “There’s already too much heat. How do you know they won’t bring the cops trailing along with them? I’d do it another way.”
“How?” asked Sy.
Jack eyed Mongo and Munch suspiciously before standing up and looking at Sy. “Come on, let’s you and I talk in the hall. You know these guys, but I don’t.”
Laura forced a smile at Mongo and Munch as Jack and Sy stepped out into the hallway. Moments later they returned and Sy stood in one corner of the room and whispered to Mongo and Munch while Jack sat down beside Laura.
When Sy was finished, Mongo looked at Jack and asked, “What the fuck is in it for you? Why have you been hanging out with Sy all of a sudden?”
“I’m not interested in belonging to any gangs,” replied Jack. “I try to be independent. I do, however, have a lot of connections. I’m an entrepreneur. Sometimes there are things people want. Some times I can get them for them … cheap.”
“I can vouch for that,” said Sy, with a smile. “Anything from televisions to Russian vodka. I’ll tell you, Jay, after tonight, if there is anything you need … and I mean anything, you just ask.”
“You know,” said Jack, “there might be something you could help me with. Maybe in the next few days if —”
“Fuck the small talk,” said Mongo, looking at his watch. “Fuck the pizza, too. We got some loose ends to take care of before the sun comes up.”
Sy looked apologetically at Jack and said, “He’s right. Let’s talk tomorrow.”
* * *
Laura waited until she was alone in the car with Jack before saying, “They were going to do us.”
“I know, but with Sy behind us holding a gun in his hand, I figured it was better to play dumb. Speaking of which, I should call Connie. She’ll be freaking out.”
Connie answered her BlackBerry on the first ring. “Where are you?” she asked anxiously.
“We’re okay.”
“You get any heat? Scared the shit out of me when I heard uniform were after you.”
“Everything is fine,” replied Jack. “Sy doesn’t suspect us.”
“Good. Did Laura tell you we seized a lot of weapons tonight?”
“I saw them earlier when Sy handed them out. Tonight’s arrests were most of his top people. Seizing their guns is like taking the teeth out of one faction of The Brotherhood. At least for the moment.”
“Don’t know how long we can keep them in.”
“At least they’re identified. They might be hesitant to try it again.”
“Hope so.”
“Sy introduced us to Mongo and Munch.”
“Mongo and Munch? They’re bosses of two other factions in the group. What’s going on? Why would Sy meet them tonight after what happened?”
“I think they’re trying to figure out what went wrong. I passed it off as the police already knew Weasel was the shooter from last night and were waiting to see if anyone would retaliate.”
“Good thinking. They buy it?”
“Looks like it. They still think Laura and I are cool. Sy said if there was anything I need, I simply had to ask. I’ll meet with him tomorrow. I have an idea to draw Cocktail out.”
“How?”
“It’s time to tell him I’ve got a friend who wants to set up a meth lab. We’ll use Sammy.”
“Fantastic. These other guys are pissing me off, but it’s Cocktail I want to hang for murder.”
“And running meth and GHB labs. I’m certain there was another date rape last night at the party.”
“Makes me sick.”
“Believe me, Cocktail is going down.”
“Think your idea will work?”
“Hope so. After what we’ve been through with Sy in the last two days, I shouldn’t have any problem convincing him to help us with a lab. Cocktail might show up.”
“Maybe the
narcs can concentrate on Roach and Bagger, too. They both sound like they are in the thick of things. It might give us another avenue to pursue if your lab idea doesn’t work.”
“Roach and Bagger are low-level punks,” replied Jack. “Watching them would be a waste of time. Let’s talk about it later. I’m going home.”
“Which one?”
“To Natasha. See you in about six hours.”
* * *
After Jack hung up, Laura looked at him and asked, “What was your other way?”
“Other way?” replied Jack. He was exhausted and knew he wasn’t thinking clearly.
“In regard to Roach and Bagger. When Sy was going to call them over and murder them, you said you would do it another way. Then you went in the hall. What did you tell him?”
Jack paused, wondering how best to articulate the matter.
“I have a feeling,” said Laura, “that Roach’s and Bagger’s futures hold more than, say, four months’ house arrest.”
Jack nodded and said, “As far as Roach and Bagger go, they don’t have a future. Not after their performance in the bedroom last night.”
“You don’t need to convince me. I saw Cassandra. She didn’t belong with that bunch. So what did you say to Sy?”
“I told him, hypothetically speaking, of course, if I were him I’d make it look accidental. Call Roach and Bagger and tell them to set Raven free and that you’re all going over to their place to have a drink and try to figure out what went wrong. At that time give Roach and Bagger a taste of their own medicine.”
“GHB?”
“Exactly.”
“So they’ll end up … dead drunk … but how?”
“After they’re unconscious, order a pizza for pickup and leave.” Jack paused, looking at Laura’s reaction. Her expression gave the impression of mild interest, as if she were studying a dinner menu. Only she is putting her trust in having me place the order.
Laura paused and thought about what Jack said. “Sounds like a gas,” she replied.
“It will appear they started the car in their garage, but passed out before opening the door. Accidental carbon monoxide poisioning.” Jack gave a grim smile and added, “You figured it out. Means you’re starting to think like I do. Doesn’t it scare you?”