Loose Ends

by Don Easton

  Leonard moved his tongue.

  “Never mind, Bart, it’s in the wall.”

  Bart released his grip, and Leonard made a gasping, gurgling sound as air rushed back into his lungs.

  Leonard was jerked to his feet and slammed back against the wall. He didn’t realize until later that the warmth he felt in the crotch of his jeans was from his own body.

  Leonard was completely soaked, and a combination of fear and cold made him shake.

  Bart barked, “Put your hands on your head and don’t fuckin’ move, asshole!”

  Leonard watched silently as Rex removed three small plastic baggies from the hole in the brick wall. He squirmed a little when he heard Bart’s deep voice comment on the putrid odour.

  “Oh, Christ, Rex! He shit himself! So help me, this job makes me wanna puke sometimes! An’ my jeans are wet from the knees down!”

  Rex turned his head slightly away so Bart wouldn’t see him grinning.

  “Next time, you do the honours. I’m gettin’ too old for this bullshit. What’ve we got?”

  “I’d say about three ounces.” Rex waved the baggies in Lenny’s face and said, “Care to confirm this for us? We’re going to have it analyzed anyway.”

  “I want my lawyer!”

  Their moment of silence as they went through the papers in his wallet gave him a little more courage.

  “Besides,” he added, “I don’t think you got reason’ble and proper beliefs to grab me in the first place! You’ll be lucky if my lawyer don’t sue you or somethin’.”

  “Shut up, asshole, or I’ll make you eat your shorts,” growled Bart.

  Leonard paled and stood quietly, looking down at his feet. Minutes later he was half-dragged down the alley and tossed unceremoniously into the back of an unmarked police car. His pale face became whiter yet when he was driven to an underground parking lot several blocks from the hotel.

  “Where ya takin’ me? This ain’t no police station!”

  “Relax, Lenny. We’re just going to have a little talk, is all,” said Bart. “But we’ll do it outside the car. You stink too much, even with the windows rolled down!”

  The three men got out of the car before Bart continued. “You’re goin’ to tell us who you got this from.”

  “Fuck you, I am.” Leonard looked around at the empty parking lot and said, “What are you going to do? Beat me? Go ahead!”

  “Don’t be impolite,” said Rex. “I get real pissed off at people who are impolite!”

  The conversation was interrupted when the police radio informed Bart and Rex that Leonard was still on probation for trafficking in drugs.

  “How about that, Lenny!” said Bart. “Caught again while you’re still on probation. You’re lookin’ at doin’ some serious time!”

  “Don’t care. I ain’t rattin’.”

  Leonard leaned and stretched his head forward as Bart and Rex whispered to each other, then jumped nervously when Bart unexpectedly laughed.

  “Okay, Lenny, you can go. We’ll keep the dope, but go ahead, fuck off!”

  Leonard stood with his mouth gaping, looking back and forth at the two faces in front of him. “You’re gonna shoot me for escapin’!” he said, his eyes nervously darting back and forth.

  “Naw, I ain’t gonna shoot you,” replied Bart.

  “I can just walk away?” said Leonard in disbelief. “Just like that?”

  “Sure, Lenny, just like that. I’d suggest you use what little time you have left to wash out your shorts so you won’t smell so bad at your funeral.”

  “What do you mean?” asked Leonard suspiciously.

  “Well, the way I got it figured is you’ve got three choices.”

  Leonard stared at Bart without answering.

  “Number one is you can tell everyone about the two nice narcs who relieved you of a few thousand dollars worth of dope but didn’t arrest or charge you.”

  “I won’t do that! Everyone would think I was a rat! My life —”

  “If we find the prints of your supplier on these baggies, we’ll tell ’im you ratted!”

  Bart let this message sink in and then continued.

  “Number two is you could just say you lost it or were ripped off. But I got a feeling that a low-life like you doesn’t have enough money to pay for this up front. So I think you still owe money … which means someone will be awful pissed off at you. In fact, they’ll probably think you ripped them off.”

  Lenny’s head drooped down. “You guys have pretty well got it all figured out, don’t you?” he mumbled.

  “It’s our business. Do you want us to spell out your third option?” asked Rex.

  Lenny raised his head. “No, I know how the game is played. But if someone finds out I squealed … I’m dead!”

  “We won’t tell if you don’t. But make up your mind fast because I don’t plan on hanging around here all night!” said Bart gruffly.

  Leonard swallowed, and then said, “All right, I’ll talk. It’s speed. I get it from a biker by the name of Halibut. I don’t know his real name,” he said nervously, looking at Bart, “but he’s got a glass eye,” he added quickly.

  chapter fourteen

  “What’s the scoop, Red?” asked Jack as he sat down. “Last night was a waste of time.”

  “My guy almost got busted last night.”

  The word almost bothered Jack. “What are you talking about?”

  “He said there were narcs all over. Bart and Rex in the alley and more of ’em out front. He saw them and split. We’re gonna lay low for a few days until the heat is off.”

  “There’s always narcs. We just gotta be cautious or go somewhere else.”

  “I don’t call the shots. Who knows? There could be some narcs in here right now watchin’ us. Best for everybody to tap it cool. Give it a week or so.”

  “Maybe I’ll find somebody else. Maybe at a better price.”

  Red laughed. “Don’t try and scam me. My stuff is the best there is, and I’m still sellin’ it to you the cheapest. If you have been lookin’ elsewhere, you know that I’m not shittin’ ya.”

  Jack grinned and said, “Yeah, I know your stuff is the best.”

  “I sometimes wonder why I’m lettin’ you have it so cheap. I think it’s only because of them big blue eyes of yours. Tell ya what. To make up for last night I’ll buy ya a beer. You can sit and chill with me for a bit.”

  Marcie sat on her mattress and looked at a small swollen lump on her arm from the last needle taken an hour ago. With her fingernail, she scratched off a little piece of dried blood.

  It had been two weeks since … the motel. If she could go thirty seconds without thinking about it, it would be a relief. She thought about her grandmother. She’s the only one who really loves me.

  She heard the door open as Red arrived home. A moment later, she stuck her head into the room to check on Marcie.

  “Red, I’ve been thinking,” Marcie said. “I’m gonna split out of here. Go live by my grandma in Regina.”

  “What? What are you talkin’ about?”

  “Well … I kind of miss her. I think I’ll go live there so I can visit her.”

  “You ungrateful little slut! You think you can just walk out of here like that?”

  “What do you mean? Why not?”

  “What about all the money you owe for clothes an’ dope?”

  “Money?”

  “Yeah, money! You retard! Where is it? Go ahead; cough up with what you owe! Then I don’t give a rat’s ass what you do!”

  “I thought, like, the speed was free?”

  “Free? Like fuck it was free! Sure, I lent you some out of the goodness of my heart, but you damn well better pay me back! It cost me money! Besides, it’s not speed, you twerp. It was the big H. An’ that stuff is fuckin’ expensive!”

  “Well, like, I thought I didn’t have to go to work, you know, since, because, you know…”

  “You still mopin’ about that? It was only a dog! He couldn’t have had
that big of a dink! You think you can just fuckin’ hang out here all day, while I pay the rent, buy your clothes, and put juice in your arm? Who the fuck do you think you are that you can just rip me off like that?”

  Marcie looked up with her mouth gaping open.

  “You want to leave? Fine!” said Red, shaking her fist. “Get up and get the fuck out there! Start earning me the money you owe! It’ll cost ya a hundred bucks a day for protection. What you owe me is above that.”

  Marcie’s voice was barely audible. She started to get up and said, “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinkin’. I know I owe you, but…”

  Red grabbed her by the front of her shirt and pulled her close enough for Marcie to feel the hot breath on her face.

  “You’re damn right you owe me!” said Red, shoving her back down on the mattress. “And now is payback time!”

  Marcie wiped some spit off her face with the back of her hand. She could feel Red’s burning glare as she slowly stood up and walked over to the closet. She trembled as she took off her jeans and put on the new clothes that Red had given her earlier. Mesh nylons, a miniskirt, and a tank top. The she slipped on a pair of high heels.

  “Marcie! You better not be thinking of screwing off and rippin’ me for what you owe!”

  “I won’t,” she squeaked, looking down as she spoke.

  “Better not, because all you got for family is that grandmother of yours. Unless of course you want to go back to Daddy! What do you think dear old Grandma would say if she got all those cute little pictures of you and the doggie in the mail?”

  Marcie’s face turned white. Tears streamed down her face, but she didn’t utter a sound.

  Red’s voice softened. “Look, I’m not hard to get along with. I just don’t like the idea of anyone rippin’ me off. The guys I pay for protection? They’re all with Satans Wrath, and now you owe them, too. If you tried to fuck off on them, do you know what they’d do?”

  Marcie shook her head, staring tearfully at Red.

  “First they’d kill your grandma, ’cause she’d be easy to find. Then they’d track ya down and rip the guts right out of ya. There’s no place ya can hide. They got guys all over the world!”

  Marcie didn’t answer. She stood, looking straight ahead, tears dripping from her cheeks.

  It was late Friday afternoon, but Sid Bishop waited patiently and smiled warmly when Bart and Rex walked through the doors of the Department of Justice. Most people had gone home, but Sid was the group head of the department. He hated drug traffickers with a passion and was more than willing to wait and review the wiretap application.

  Sid refused to admit it, but he actually feared drug traffickers. And the more he feared them, the harder he worked to deny that fear. It was a vicious circle. The harder he worked, the more he had to fear. He was also starting to drink more.

  Bart tossed a large manila envelope on his desk. Sid waited until both men sat down before talking. “You said on the phone that this involves Satans Wrath.”

  “It’s all in there,” said Bart. “Rex and I turned an informant. We’ve had him make a couple of buys while we watched to verify everything. He’s been buying quantities of speed from a guy who goes by the name of Halibut. Through our guy, Halibut has been supplying all the speed to the Black Water Hotel.”

  “This Halibut is a member of Satans Wrath, is he?”

  “He’s been striking for the club for two years. He’s still on probation, but I expect he’ll be getting his full colours soon.”

  “Colours?”

  “Yeah, his patch. The cutoff jackets they wear. Right now he only has British Columbia written on the bottom. It’s what they call the bottom rocker. Once he’s done strikin’, the full name of the club and their skull emblem gets sewn on, too.”

  Without so much as a glance at Bart and Rex, Sid opened a large drawer on the side of his desk and removed three glasses and a bottle of Courvoisier. He told Bart to pour while he opened the envelope.

  Eventually Sid looked up. “Nobody has caught any of these miscreants for a long time. If you’re successful, I’ll take you both out salmon fishing.”

  Bart and Rex smiled and clinked glasses. It was no secret that Sid’s parents were extremely wealthy and had left him with a fortune when they died. Sid enjoyed life to the fullest. He lived on an acreage of oceanfront property northwest of the city and owned a cabin cruiser. Sid welcomed guests, and parties at his place were notoriously good. The haunt was secluded enough that police and prosecutors alike could unwind without facing the disapproval of a critical public. Bart was more than glad to be invited.

  Last year Sid had contributed $20,000 to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. When asked why he still worked, Sid would say that it was for the sheer pleasure of putting bad guys in jail — a trait that Bart both respected and admired.

  Sid told them that there would have to be some grammatical changes and rewriting of a few paragraphs concerning the reliability of the informant, but overall it looked good.

  Sid was scheduled to start a trial on Monday but promised to burn the midnight oil and assured them that he would work on it over the weekend. If all went as planned, they should have it before a judge by Monday or Tuesday. Sid stared at the bottle of Courvoisier when they left. It occurred to him that he was beginning to despise alcohol as much as drug traffickers.

  Damien sat at a table outside, overlooking the marina. He nodded for Wizard to sit down, and the waiter hurried over.

  Wizard ordered a Grandview Island Stout. It was a local beer, one he preferred over the imports.

  Damien waited until the waiter left before asking, “So what’s The Suit’s problem?”

  Wizard shrugged indifferently. “Not a big problem. Just a rodent.”

  “In-house or out?”

  “Gnawing outside one of the striker’s houses. Halibut’s place.”

  “Take care of it personally and be sure to advertise why.”

  “Why me?”

  “Involves The Suit. The fewer who know, the better. Use Rolly as well.”

  “I want a driver.”

  “That’s fine.”

  “I’ll use Lance. He’s —”

  “Shut the fuck up. I don’t need to hear all the details.”

  chapter fifteen

  Danny walked toward the Black Water and saw Crystal talking to Marcie in an alcove. He stopped and pretended to tie his shoelace.

  “You haven’t eaten yet, have you?” said Crystal, sounding angry.

  “I had a burger last night at suppertime,” she whined.

  “A burger! That’s no good for ya! Ya gotta start lookin’ after yourself better. Go an’ get yourself a decent meal, for fuck’s sake!”

  “I can’t. I haven’t made any money yet. Red’s gonna be real pissed at me.”

  “Fuck Red! She’s a bitch. You should move out and come live with me.”

  “I can’t. Red won’t let me go until I pay up what I owe her. She would find me and —”

  “Yeah, I know. I owe her too. But you’re only twelve years old, for fuck’s sake. You shouldn’t be out here.”

  “I’m almost thirteen. My birthday is a week tomorrow.”

  “Like that makes a big fuckin’ difference. They got ya hooked yet? Are ya usin’?”

  Marcie looked down at her feet as she spoke. “I’ve tried it a few times, but I’m no junkie. I can handle it. I only use it, like, maybe two or three times a week.”

  “Goddamn it! You can’t handle it. Believe me, I know! My little sister died with a spike in her arm. She told me she could handle it, too!”

  Danny couldn’t hear Marcie’s reply, but he had no problem hearing Crystal.

  “Bullshit! Soon it’ll be two or three times a day, then six times a day!”

  Marcie didn’t respond. Crystal grabbed her by the arm and said, “Come on, I’m takin’ ya to buy you some dinner. You’re as small as a mouse. In fact, I think that’s what I’m gonna start callin’ ya. Mouse!”

  As Crys
tal led Marcie away, she glared at Danny. He quickly stood up and entered the tavern. He saw Red sitting near the pool tables and took a seat where he could discreetly watch. He saw Leonard walk over and say something to her. She laughed and slapped him on the arm. Leonard then walked over to the rear door and disappeared outside.

  Red stared after Leonard as he left. When the door banged shut, she held up her hand and cupped her fingers to her palm a couple of times as she waved goodbye. It was how a little girl would wave. It didn’t suit her.

  Minutes later, Jack entered the bar as the sound of sirens came to a screaming halt in the rear alley. A crowd spilled out of the Black Water to see what the commotion was. Jack glanced at Danny, who gave him a subtle shrug. They joined the crowd in the alley. A police officer gestured for everyone to stand back while her partner radioed for assistance.

  Leonard was sprawled on his back behind her. A profuse amount of blood had pooled by his mouth and the end of his tongue lay on his chest. More blood had run down from his forehead where the word RAT had been carved. Jack saw that the blood had stopped running. His heart isn’t pumping. He’s dead.

  The crowd eventually started to disperse down the alley. Red caught up to Jack and tugged on his sleeve.

  “Let’s take a walk,” she said. “Gotta talk to ya.”

  “What was that all about?”

  “Looks like he musta been a rat. Good thing someone offed him.”

  “Right on. So what do ya want to talk to me about?”

  “There’s gonna be some changes around here. Spider’s gonna be handlin’ most of the inside stuff from now on. He’ll be workin’ for me.”

  “Spider? I won’t deal with him. Someone at his table got busted just the other night.”

  “Relax. That’s why I’m talkin’ to ya. I’ll still come down here sometimes. With the amount you been scorin’, I’ll deal with you direct. I got a pager now. If I’m not around, you can give me a buzz. It’s the type that vibrates. Think I’ll keep it in my crotch, so call me often.”

  They rounded the corner toward the hotel and saw Crystal and Marcie walking ahead of them. Red called Marcie over.