by Don Easton
“Really?” Connie said skeptically.
“Yes, really,” Jack replied calmly. “Kondrat and Pratt were killed because they showed a total lack of respect to a criminal organization that exists, in good part, based on fear. Allowing someone like them to get away with what they did would seriously jeopardize that factor.”
“Can you elaborate as to how Kondrat and Pratt exhibited disrespect?” Lexton asked. “Or ‘bad manners’ was how you worded it in your report.”
“Basically, I was told that when Linquist finished work, he found Kondrat sitting on his motorcycle while Pratt was playing with the rear-view mirror. Linquist was going to punch Kondrat but Pratt waved a gun in his face. Kondrat then told him that they were going to ignore the advice given earlier by Satans Wrath to leave the prosecutor alone and said they were going to kill her.”
“Yes, I could understand why Satans Wrath would view that as disrespectful,” Lexton stated.
“Where were you last night?” Connie asked.
“Corporal,” Dyck stated sternly, “an accusation like that is uncalled for.”
“It wasn’t an accusation. I’m just curious if he witnessed what took place,” Connie replied. “It wouldn’t be the first time he stood by and watched someone being murdered.”
“I wasn’t there,” Jack replied. “Me and Constable Secord spent the night at Ana Valesi’s home, protecting her and her two-year-old baby — a sweet little tyke by the name of Isabella.” Jack eyed Lexton. Did that soften you up and bring you over to my side a little?
Lexton’s face hardened and she stared at Jack and gave a subtle shake of her head.
Ouch. She saw through that one.
“So you allowed the murders to take place to protect the prosecutor?” Inspector Dyck stated.
“I view that as a favourable outcome,” Jack admitted, “and obviously it crossed my mind, but as noted in my report, the objective was also to protect my informant.”
“Your report doesn’t say who murdered Kondrat and Pratt,” Connie stated.
“That’s correct,” Jack replied. “My informant didn’t tell me the names.”
“I bet,” Connie said sarcastically.
“To help you understand,” Jack said, “when my informant first came to work for me, I promised that I’d never burn him over information he gave me, but at the same time I told him that he’s not immune from prosecution should some other officer catch him. In regard to this event, I didn’t need to know the names.”
“You’re telling us you didn’t need to know the names of two professional killers who belong to an international organized crime syndicate?” Lexton questioned.
“When I spoke with my informant, my concern was for his safety. I planned to submit a report on what he told me, but I’m not in a position to know where the report will end up as that decision is made above my rank level. I believed that if the killers were named, they could conceivably be arrested or questioned, which would greatly endanger my informant.”
“I see,” Lexton replied, looking disgruntled.
“Further to that, all members of Satans Wrath could be viewed as killers when it comes down to it. Anyone of them would murder if ordered to by the club, and there are many in the club who have committed murder.”
“I suppose you have a point,” Lexton conceded.
Jack turned to Connie. “I know that identifying who did these murders is important to you, but you have to look at the big picture from my perspective.”
“I’m sick of hearing about the big picture,” Connie stated. “We heard them mention Linquist’s name on the wiretap as the person they told off, so obviously he was in on it. You can tell your source that we discovered that on our own!”
Jack looked at Connie calmly and said, “I will tell you that I know that Buster Linquist wasn’t involved. From what I heard, he was at the hospital all night and was likely diagnosed with a bladder infection. If you do decide to pick him up, he’ll call his lawyer immediately and you’ll be wasting your time. He also wouldn’t know who did it because not only is he still a prospect, but there is no reason for him to have been told. Everything would’ve been kept on a need-to-know basis.”
“He had a bladder infection?” Inspector Dyck asked.
“No, he was told to fake one so that he’d have an alibi,” Jack said, “in the event his name surfaced in the investigation.”
“So Satans Wrath has anticipated that they’ll be suspected of these murders,” Lexton noted.
“They wanted to be,” Jack replied. “The method they used was to instill fear amongst the criminal element about who they are and what they’re capable of. It was also intended to scare the Death Heads, to prevent them from attempting any type of retaliation.”
Connie made a face and pointed her finger at Jack. “If you’d told us, we could’ve set up on Kondrat and Pratt’s place,” she stated. “The Death Heads are often under surveillance. Roger’s teams follow them a lot; not to mention they were subject of a wiretap. It’d make sense that we were watching. Then we could’ve caught the bikers in the act before they killed them.”
“Then what, arrest two guys for possession of guns and burglary tools?” Jack asked. “Then have to provide twenty-four-hour protection on the prosecutor, not to mention Kondrat and Pratt?”
“We had them. I’d have arrested them this morning,” Connie replied.
“Which we didn’t know until this morning,” Jack stated. “Even if Kondrat and Pratt had been arrested last night as soon as they made the admission, would that have stopped the Death Heads from sending someone else to kill Ana?” He waited a beat. “It would also jeopardize my source if they knew you were there in advance. It wouldn’t take a defence lawyer long to figure that out. How many other nights have you watched their house?”
Connie’s silence answered the question.
“Exactly, so to try to convince them that the night Satans Wrath sends a hit-team in is the same night you decide to conduct surveillance wouldn’t be believed. Especially when a defence lawyer would bring it out that you’d already worked all day. The bikers would know they had a leak.”
“It doesn’t seem right,” Connie lamented.
Jack shrugged. “As it happened, Ana is safe, and word will be out not to mess with her again. That seems right to me.”
“And no doubt to Ana,” Rose noted.
Jack was pleased to see Lexton give a slight nod of agreement.
“But I-HIT is faced with two more murders,” Connie stated. She then turned to Jack. “We’re expected to bust our butts to find out who did it when you could tell us. I don’t believe for a second that if you asked your informant that he wouldn’t tell you —”
“Hold it,” Lexton said. “We can dance around this all day, but quite frankly I’ve heard enough.” She turned her attention to Inspector Dyck. “I want you to assign someone, other than Corporal Crane, to investigate these murders to their fullest ability and without Corporal Taggart’s help.”
Connie’s face expressed the anger she felt.
Lexton’s face softened. “I appreciate how frustrated you must feel, but I do sit in a position that allows me to see the bigger picture. I feel it best for all concerned that you remain clear of this particular case.”
Jack caught Lexton’s glance. Good. The big picture. My words exactly.
“Corporal Taggart is on an intelligence unit,” Lexton continued. “He wouldn’t receive the information he does without the trust of his informants. If it were not for his informant, you’d likely not have known who killed Irving and you may well have been investigating the murder of a Crown prosecutor next week, as well.”
The anger drained from Connie’s face and she nodded glumly.
“Unless anyone has anything they feel they need to add, this meeting is over,” Lexton stated.
Everyone shook their heads and started to rise.
“Except for you, Corporal Taggart,” Lexton said. “I’d like a word with you.”
Crap … I knew this was too easy. He caught a glare from Rose as she left. Yes, Rose, I’ll behave.…
* * *
Lexton studied Jack’s face as soon as they were alone. He must wonder why I’m making him stay, yet there are no outward signs of anxiety or fear. Then again, he’s an operator. She cleared her throat. “The national president of Satans Wrath has not yet been replaced, is that correct?”
“That’s correct,” Jack replied. “It may be another month or so.”
“I find it interesting that your report names the two chapter presidents as conspiring to commit the murder. Someone reading the report would think that your informant was the third party, as you noted in your report that three bikers knew about it in addition to whichever two did the murders.”
“Yes, I wrote it that way intentionally to provide another layer of protection for my informant in the event my report was ever compromised.”
“This is what I was only able to conclude because I know from what you told me earlier that your informant is, in fact, one of the chapter presidents.” Lexton glanced at the report. “The wording indicates to me that you really do think things through and do not act on the spur of the moment as suggested by Corporal Crane.”
“Actually, it was my informant who took the lead in deciding Kondrat and Pratt’s fate because Linquist is attached to his chapter. My informant’s discussion with the other president was more of a courtesy.”
Wow, that was straightforward. Lexton waited a beat while maintaining eye contact. “I’m glad to see that you’re honest.”
“If given the opportunity, I am.”
What the hell? “If given the opportunity?”
* * *
“If you hadn’t agreed with my decision and ordered me to disclose information to I-HIT, I must admit I would’ve been tempted to blame the other chapter president as being primarily responsible. Hypothetically speaking, of course.”
Well, aren’t you smug? I can’t accuse you of being insubordinate because you didn’t say you’d lie to me, simply that you’d be tempted. You’re also warning me that if pressed, then you might lie. “I see,” Connie replied, conscious of the icy tone she used.
Jack gave what appeared to be a meek smile. “How’s that for honesty?”
Lexton scowled. “I’d say that was being too candid.”
His eyebrows pinched and he appeared to be thinking about what she’d said. “I agree. I guess there are times when being overly candid is not advisable.”
Of all the gall! The cocky bastard is playing with me!
“Is there anything else?” he asked.
“No, that’s all.” Her tone was harsher than she intended and his dismissal faster than she wanted, but for the moment she didn’t know what else to say.
She stared after him as he walked out of her office. Remaining calm and solving issues with intelligence gave her a sense of pride, yet there was something about him that brought raw emotion to the surface.
Okay, Corporal, if you wanted to attract my attention, you’ve succeeded. Let’s see how well you handle it!
Chapter Twenty-Three
It was early Saturday morning when Roger called Jack. “Did you get your beauty rest last night?”
“Actually, I did,” Jack replied.
“So, if you weren’t gnashing your teeth all night, I take it that the meeting you had yesterday with I-HIT and Lexton went okay?”
“Connie wasn’t happy, but Lexton went along with what I did.”
“Good.”
“I was about to call you to let you know I’m ready to head out to join up with your surveillance team,” Jack said.
“You may not need to,” Roger replied. “You missed out on some action with Graves last night.”
Jack felt his adrenalin rise. “You identify his source?”
“No, but we know how he’s getting the guns in from the States.”
“That’s half the battle. What happened?”
“My first team set up on his apartment around noon yesterday, but he wasn’t home and didn’t show up until six p.m. My second team came on shift then and hung in there most of the night because his lights were on. They decided if they wasted that much time, they may as well put him to bed and get the next team to set up on him in the morning. It was a good thing they waited, because at two a.m. he got in his truck and drove off.”
“Did they see him check it for a tracker?”
“They spotted a flashlight beam under it before he left, but it was too dark to see how thorough he was. He then went to a residential area in Langley and drove slowly down a street like he was looking for an address.”
“In Langley,” Jack noted.
“Yes, but I think the location is incidental to what he was doing. He then braked near a house where there was a Chrysler Pacifica parked in the driveway before continuing on to the end of the street, where he parked and got out. He then snuck back and crawled under the engine block of the Chrysler Pacifica. When he returned to his truck, he was carrying some items dangling from inside a pair of socks. After that he went home and my people broke off.”
“You check out the owner of the Chrysler?” Jack asked.
“The registered owner is a guy who is seventy years old and has no record.”
“Sounds like Graves is using GPS and planting it along with the guns on people’s vehicles who don’t know he’s doing it.”
“That’s what I’m thinking,” Roger responded.
“I’ll have uniform approach the owner on the pretext of looking for a similar vehicle involved in a hit and run, then call you back.”
“There won’t be any damage to the Chrysler to warrant many questions.”
“I’ll get uniform to say someone’s dog was run over when they were walking it on a leash. Damage wouldn’t be expected. Uniform could simply glance under it on the pretense of looking for blood or hair and ask whatever questions are necessary.”
Roger chuckled. “I forgot I was talking to an operator. Let me know.”
Jack then called uniform and told them what he wanted. Two hours later he got the answer he was expecting and called Roger.
“We were right,” Jack said. “The owners of the Chrysler Pacifica are a retired couple and were both schoolteachers at one time. They said that yesterday they’d been cross-border shopping down at Bellis Fair and offered to show some sales receipts as proof.”
“They don’t sound like the criminal type,” Roger said.
“No, I’m told the woman was in tears to think that someone had their pooch run over and that the guy was pretty emotional about it as well.”
“So, I think we can say for positive that’s how Graves is bringing them across.” Roger paused. “Bellis Fair … lots of Canadians go there. All he needs to do is stuff a sock or two with a gun and a GPS, then crawl under someone’s vehicle who has B.C. plates and hang it inside the engine compartment. After that, he uses the GPS to find the vehicle when it’s back in Canada.”
“I was at Bellis Fair a week ago myself,” Jack said. “Guess I should’ve checked under my own car before I left.”
“Makes you wonder, doesn’t it.” Roger paused. “What’s next? I have a team that could go back on him at noon if you like?”
“Thanks, but no. The next step involves my informant. Laura and I will handle it for now. I appreciate the help and will keep you appraised.”
“Any time. If you need a hand again, call me.”
Jack put his phone away and mused about what to do next. Tomorrow Graves is to deliver four Glocks with laser grips to Linquist. We know how they’re being brought in, but who is he getting them from?
Briefly he recalled the lists of military assault rifles and laser accessories that were stolen in Alabama and Arkansas, then he thought about the 9mm Smith & Wesson pistol that he carried. Obviously it’s someone a hell of a lot better armed than I am.
Chapter Twenty-Four
On Monday morning Jack and Laura arrived at
the Aquatic Centre Café in separate vehicles. Their aim was to follow Graves after he delivered the weapons to Linquist. If Jack was right in his belief that Graves had received the guns on credit, then he’d have to pay whoever supplied him with the guns afterward.
Jack chose to drive an SUV, as they were more common and less obvious than trying to follow someone in a van. He parked in a location where he could watch the entrance through binoculars while Laura parked her car and went inside.
At 10:00 a.m. Jack saw Buster Linquist arrive and phoned Laura. A moment later she confirmed that he’d taken a seat by himself in the café.
As the minutes ticked past, Jack used his binoculars to scan other cars parked in the area to see if anyone else was watching. Counter-surveillance by bad guys was not uncommon, both for protection from the police and from other bad guys intent on robbing them.
He didn’t see anyone suspicious, but did notice a car slowly driving past for the second time. Someone looking for a parking spot, or checking for surveillance?
He took a photo of the car and licence plate as it passed, then realized they were dealer plates. Okay … test driving a new car.
It was then that someone caught his eye. A man exited the café and immediately used his phone while looking intently all around.
Jack took a couple of photos, then called Laura. “You see a guy with a black jacket, dark grey pants, about forty, leave?”
“Yes. He was by himself. Eyed me up and down, but I thought he was only being a guy. Maybe he was looking for heat. Why? Do you think he’s the connection? Maybe hanging around for the money?”
“Could be. He’s standing outside the entrance and using his phone and gawking all around.”
“Gotcha.”