“So it was Aldrich who told you to watch over the LLPM Import & Export building?” I said.
“Precisely,” Beadsworth answered. “He was certain we were closing in on RACE. So he placed the entire team to watch over that one building, hoping to buy some time.”
“Putting all eggs in one basket,” I muttered to myself.
“Sorry?”
“Nothing. What about the videocassette you took from the House of Jam?” I asked.
“You’re aware of it?”
“I met Cal Murray in the morning.”
There was a noise and then Beadsworth said, “The tape is safe.”
“Does it show Barnes’ attacker?”
“Quite clearly.”
“Then why take it?”
“We did not want RACE to become alarmed and end their operations. We wanted to confiscate the Nex production equipment and we did not want them to leave our jurisdiction. We did not want the OPP or the RCMP involved. Also, by securing the videocassette I was able to hold some leverage over Sergeant Aldrich, in case it was justified. And, if the videocassette had gone into Sergeant Aldrich’s hand, it would have disappeared.”
It was simple and it made sense.
“Is that why you left Joey with me and not with Aldrich?” I asked.
“Yes…but I shouldn’t have.”
“I screwed up,” I said taking full responsibility. “It was my fault. Okay?”
“Perhaps. But…” He paused. “They did not find a body in your house.”
“What?”
“No burned or charred body, I’m afraid.”
“He’s alive?” I said.
“We don’t know.”
I felt better. There was still hope.
There was something else I wanted to ask. “I spoke to Noel the other night; he mentioned that…he saw you give your wife money.”
“Yes.”
“Large amounts of money…at night.”
“Yes.”
“Large amounts of money in brown and white envelopes at night.”
“What’s your point?”
“Is it drug money?” I blurted.
There was a pause, then laughter. “Is that what you think? That I’ve been giving my wife drug money?”
“I mean…the house…the furniture…the swimming pool…your wife doesn’t even work, I mean. How can you afford it?”
“She doesn’t have to work. The money I give to her is hers.”
I didn’t understand.
“It’s her money,” he said. “On my way back from work I withdraw money from her account, seal them in bank envelopes, which do come in brown and white, and give them to her. Our main bank branch is in Toronto.” There was laughter again, and then he said, “My wife is what?”
I thought hard. “She is a woman.”
“Yes, a woman. But…where am I from?”
“England.”
“Where do you think she’s from?”
I hope this wasn’t a trick question. “England.”
“Precisely, she’s from England, hence her English accent.”
He wasn’t making any sense.
“Have you heard of the House of York?”
I shook my head.
“My wife is Lady Amy Dowling of York,” he said boldly. “She’s royalty.”
“You’re kidding me, right?”
“No. The money I give to her is from her estate.”
He was laughing hard. “Do you think I would buy an expensive house if I was laundering money? I work for the police. I would be caught the very next day.”
“The force knows your wife gets money from England?”
“Of course they do. How do you think I justify my lifestyle with a police officer’s salary?”
It was all a misunderstanding. We were two grown men, bound to chairs, laughing hysterically.
“So are you…like a prince or something?” I asked.
“No, no. I’m just an ordinary bloke.”
“Even if you were…I wasn’t going to call you, Your Highness.”
“Your Highness.” He started to laugh again. Hearing him, I started to laugh, too.
We stopped when our stomachs couldn’t take much more.
“How do we get out?” I said.
“I’m not sure,” he replied.
It was impossible for either of us to move without tipping over and falling on our sides. Even if one of us did manage to get closer to the other, there was no way we could gnaw at the ropes with our teeth.
As I was churning escape possibilities in my head, the metal door swung open. It was Kong.
Oh, shit.
He shut the door and moved toward me. Being ahead of Beadsworth, I knew I was first.
“Hey, Kong,” I said, trying to be brave. “I know what you’re thinking but I’m not into big muscular Chinese men.”
A fist shot out and hit me squarely on my left cheek. I jerked and fell sideways. It stung, as my cheek and my head smacked into the cement floor.
I closed my eyes and pretended to die. Maybe, he would go over me and attack Beadsworth instead. It doesn’t sound noble but I was in pain.
But that wouldn’t be. He grabbed me and sat me up again.
“Let him go,” I heard Beadsworth say.
I now had more respect for Beadsworth. He was willing to sacrifice himself.
But Kong wasn’t interested. He was going to have his fun with me.
This was the time I should do something heroic, but what? I couldn’t kick him, karate chop him or even head butt him. I could…spit at him. Yes, that would do it. My highly corrosive saliva, once aimed and fired accurately, would burn his eyes.
I began to gather all my fluids, even the reserves down my throat, for an aerial assault. After much snorting and sucking I was only able to manage enough for a spray.
Kong readied himself for another assault. I closed my eyes for the impact. He hit me straight at the top of my mouth. My chair and I toppled over and onto my back.
I opened my eyes and from my vertical position saw Beadsworth look away. My lip was cut and I was bleeding.
A shadow came over me and Kong once again sat me up. I was getting the feeling he would hit me, sit me up and then hit me again. How long was this going to go on? I think until he got bored or until I expired. The latter made more sense. He seemed to be interested in hitting me.
It stung when I licked my upper lip.
Kong cracked and rubbed his knuckles.
I was glad the joints in his fingers were getting stiff.
Perhaps his fingers wouldn’t be able to take much more and he would leave me alone. I couldn’t take many more hits—not from him, at least.
“Let him go,” I heard Beadsworth say again.
Kong merely glanced at Beadsworth. He flared his nostrils and he prepared for the finish.
Beadsworth tried again to get Kong’s attention but he was too focused on me.
Wait your turn, Phil. It’d soon be over.
I closed my eyes. Any second now the hammer would come down and leave me for dead.
***
There was a metallic screech. I opened my eyes. The metal door swung open and in came Ronald Garnett; holding a gun.
“Police,” Garnett bellowed.
Kong, with his fist still in the air, glanced at Garnett, and then turned his attention back to me.
Garnett moved toward us. “Release him,”
Kong let go of me and faced Garnett. Garnett was as tall and massive as Kong.
If both had decided to battle right now, my money would have been on Garnett, not because he was the good guy but because he had a gun.
Several more officers came down. It took four of them to handcuff Kong.
One officer came over. It was Officer Moro.
“You look terrible,” he said, cutting my restrains.
“Thanks,” I said. “I almost had him.”
“Sure you did.” He smiled.
“Get paramedics,” I heard Garnett say.
/>
He came over.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
Without saying a word I threw myself at him. “I love you, man. I take back all the rumours I spread about you.”
“What rumours?” he said pushing me aside like a rag doll. He went to Beadsworth.
“I’m fine,” Beadsworth said. “Officer Rupret kept the assailant preoccupied so that no harm came to me.”
Garnett looked at me with admiration.
I smiled weakly, before fainting.
THIRTY
The Sundance braked and then turned sharply into another parking lot. Ms. Zee had sent Suraj to the BUBBLE T SHOP. She knew Kong would have no problem in killing the two officers but would need help in disposing of their bodies. It was no longer possible to let the officers live, since they had seen her.
From behind the wheel Suraj saw a cluster of police cars in front of the shop. He dialed Ms. Zee’s number and told her of the situation. She was not pleased. She told him to get back.
***
I was sitting in the passenger side of my car. I had four first-aid stitches on my upper lip from the paramedics and I was given painkillers. I had refused to go to the hospital. We were getting closer to RACE and I wanted to be part of the big bust. I didn’t want to see it on the news while lying in a hospital bed.
I saw Beadsworth talking to Susan, the cashier of the BUBBLE T SHOP. It looked as if he was thanking her. A moment later he came over and slid into the driver’s seat.
“You should have a doctor look at you,” he said.
“Naw, I’m fine,” I said, which would be true until the painkillers wore off.
“How did Garnett find us?” I asked.
“When I was following you, I notified him of my whereabouts. When he didn’t hear from me he came down. He found the BUBBLE T SHOP closed. He tried my cell phone but the blond gentleman had stripped me of it earlier. He then questioned the neighbours. Inside the coffee shop across the street was that girl.” Beadsworth moved his head in the direction of Susan. “She told Garnett she saw you earlier, looking in. Garnett returned with other members and broke through the door.”
“I’m glad you called Garnett,” I said.
He turned and looked me straight in the eyes. “That’s what we do, Officer Rupret. We’re a team. We look out for one another.”
“Hey, I didn’t know which side you were on.”
He didn’t say anything. He just nodded.
“We hope our assailant is more talkative,” he said. “Perhaps, we can finally break this case.” He looked across to the many vehicles littering the parking lot. “We are now searching for the owner of the shop. He goes by the name of Martin. But no matter, we’ll find him.”
“What about Aldrich?” I asked.
“Nothing yet.”
“What do you mean nothing yet?” I said. I could feel the pain coming on. “We know he’s working with RACE.”
“What do you suggest?”
“We go and bust his ass.”
“It’s not that simple. Sergeant Aldrich is our superior. There will be a formal complaint filed and then an investigation by Internal Affairs. Meanwhile, we need to find RACE,” he raised an eyebrow toward me. “And persuade them to come forward with any evidence against him.”
“You need witnesses.” I smiled.
He smiled back.
***
Ms. Zee was furious. Aldrich was on the other line and she was giving him an earful. Operation Anti-RACE was supposed to be shut down. How could he lose control of his team? Why didn’t he reprimand the officer who had followed them? Why didn’t he know about the raid at the BUBBLE T SHOP? Why didn’t he do anything to stop it?
Aldrich pleaded that it all happened behind his back.
He was supposed to protect them, she insisted. If she went down she would take him with her.
Now it was Aldrich’s turn. Why wasn’t Nex produced and distributed by now? Did she think he was going to fool the squad forever? She had told him she would have it in a matter of days, not several weeks. She was naïve to think he could always clean up after her.
“They have Kong,” she yelled and slammed the phone down. She covered her face. What was she going to do?
Martin entered.
She looked up, more composed.
“We have to move,” she said.
Martin understood. “Burrows isn’t too happy,” he said.
“I don’t care,” she snapped. She then bit her lip and said, “Why not?”
“I’ll get him,” he said.
Burrows entered the office, followed by Martin. “We cannot move,” Burrows said. “Not now.”
She waited for him to explain.
“Our finest batch is in the freezing process,” he said. “If we take it out now the tablets will collapse.”
A lot of money was riding on that batch and she didn’t want to see it go to waste.
“Mr. Burrows,” she said as carefully as possible. “Our situation has changed. We have no choice but find another location—perhaps a better one. We have to move tonight.”
“We could wait a few more hours,” Martin spoke. “That should be enough time to take a prepared batch with us.”
Burrows agreed.
Ms. Zee thought about it. “Fine. But start clearing the warehouse. The freeze-dryers will be the last to move.”
***
A sweet melody woke me up. I was inside my car, which was being driven by Beadsworth. The melody was coming from Beadsworth’s cell phone. Garnett had found it at the BUBBLE T SHOP. We were the last to leave Scarborough and were on our way to his house. Beadsworth had insisted I get home and get some rest.
He answered it, spoke a few words, and hung up.
“Who was it?” I asked.
“Detective Garnett has been unavailable to get any information from your assailant. He won’t talk.”
That wasn’t a surprise. The man hadn’t spoken two words when he was smacking me around.
“He will talk,” Beadsworth said, assuring me. “Detective Garnett can be very persuasive.”
We were in Forest Hill; the magnificent houses gave that away. We entered Beadsworth’s driveway and parked.
Amy opened the door and her face turned to horror. “Oh, my—”
“I’m fine,” I said with a weak smile. I had bruises all over my face and stitches on my upper lip.
Noel was in the living room watching whatever show kids his age watch.
Amy looked over at her husband. He just kissed her. He would fill her in on the details later.
She took our coats and asked if we wanted anything. I shook my head. I’m not sure what Beadsworth said.
I went into the living room and flopped on the sofa. Noel was too mesmerized to see me come in. He was watching some weird cartoon. The characters had big eyes and small mouths. Every so often they would fly in the air and make a pose. Their lips weren’t even in sync with their voices. What ever happened to high-quality cartoons like the Looney Tunes?
Beadsworth and Amy were in the kitchen.
I closed my eyes. I tried to tune out the sounds from the TV. I should go up and straight to bed. In a minute, I promised myself.
I was falling asleep.
A shadow came over me and I jolted awake.
Noel was examining my face.
“Did you get into a fight?” he asked, examining each of my bruises.
“No,” I said. “What’s makes you say that?”
“You look hurt,” he responded.
“You mean this.” I pointed to my upper lip with a laugh. “This is how I look when I don’t take my vitamins. I’ll be fine.”
He looked like he didn’t believe me. I really didn’t know why. I guess I don’t give children much credit. They’re much smarter than the cartoons they watch.
“Yeah,” I said. “I kind of got into a fight. But don’t tell your parents, okay?”
He nodded. It was our little deal. I wouldn’t tell his paren
ts how he broke his arm and he wouldn’t tell his parents that I got into a fight.
Beadsworth came in with the cell phone in his ear. He said something and then hung up. He smiled.
“It was Garnett,” he said.
“Garnett got him talking?” I said.
“Better than that. We know where Nex is being produced.”
***
Moving through smaller streets we finally saw a familiar Toyota parked to one side. Garnett got out as we stopped behind it.
“It’s in that warehouse,” he said, pointing to a rundown building around the corner. I assumed many years of neglect had assisted in the building’s current state. Graffiti covered a good portion of the walls. The windows were cracked or broken, and some were boarded up. There was light coming from inside. “A large moving van came and took some equipment. And we know exactly where it’s going.”
“How?” I asked.
He bobbed his head toward the Toyota. It was then that I realized someone was inside his car. I tilted my head. It was Martin, the owner of the BUBBLE T SHOP. He sagged in the backseat with this head low.
I went over, tapped on the window and waved. He raised his eyes to me. I then made a fist. He turned and sagged even further.
I heard Garnett’s voice from behind. He was speaking to Beadsworth, “He’s willing to make a deal.”
I looked around the corner. Opposite the warehouse, a man walked past the front entrance and came towards us. I recognized him immediately—Nemdharry.
“There is a main entrance in the front but it’s bolted. There are two fire exits on either side—those won’t be any problem. We can cover the narrow paths easily. A large loading dock is in the back. On the northeast side there is a closed gate that leads to the dock. Terries is watching over it.”
“Clara is here?” I said and then realized I shouldn’t have referred to her by her first name. I didn’t even know her.
Nemdharry paid no attention to my slight. “Yeah.”
Two minutes later another car pulled up. Herrera came out. “I hope he’s not pulling our balls,” he grunted.
Ever since Barnes was hurt, Herrera had been on the edge.
Garnett and Beadswoth said nothing.
“He better not be shitting us.” Herrera looked in the direction of Garnett’s car.
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