Ogrodnik
Page 27
Yves said nothing, but Elliot sensed his silent agreement.
“The force controls the PR on this, so if they are unable to put a positive spin on this story, then they deserve what they get in the court of public opinion.” Elliot let those thoughts sink in for a moment and considered how best to make the rest of his case without admitting to Renault that he actually knew anything.
“My gut feel is that whoever is responsible for killing Yilmaz and his crew is finished. We’re not dealing with a vigilante squad here, just concerned citizens who saw an injustice, who saw that the people whose job it was to protect us against that injustice were part of the problem, so they did what they needed to do. Not because they wanted to but because they had to. The corrupt police have been rooted out, and the bad guys have been dealt with. If the real story comes out, the whole story, the police will lose. Maybe it’s best that the force spin the story to protect their reputation and claim credit for eliminating a quasi-military operation that was operating in our city. There is no one left to refute the story except my partner, Duval, and me. I don’t think Duval will talk because he’d be incriminating himself, and I can guarantee you that neither my partner nor I will say anything.”
Renault looked at Elliot and mulled over what he had just heard. “I don’t like it that you’re holding back information from us. I know that you know who is responsible for all those bodies.”
“I’ve told you everything I’m prepared to tell. Take what you have, and make it work for you. If the force gets heavy with me, they’ll be dealing with my lawyer on one side and the press on the other. Then we all lose.”
“Merde,” hissed Renault as he looked to the ground deep in thought. “I’ll pass your thoughts onto the Brass,” he replied with a resigned tone.
Elliot interrupted Renault’s reflection.
“On another note, what happened to Banik and Duval?”
“Dr. Banik did not make it. He passed this morning.”
“And Duval?”
“To be determined. He’s on suspension with pay until he goes in front of a tribunal. I do not expect we’ll see him back on the force. Thanks for your time, Elliot.”
“Hello.”
“Elliot, Yves Renault here.”
“Do you have news from the Brass on our conversation yesterday?”
“Nothing yet. They weren’t happy about it, but I’m not sure that they have any options.”
“So why the call?”
“I have another question. I read a report this morning about a fire in a landscaping warehouse out in the east end. It happened the night of the Biovonix bunker fiasco. There didn’t seem to be a connection between the two, but when I read the report this morning, I saw something that tickled my memory. Your father’s murderer, Paul Kulas, had an affiliation with the company Hochelaga Landscaping. Do you know anything about that fire?”
“And was there a dead body found in this fire also?” Elliot asked already knowing the answer.
“No, no body, just a fire in an old storage shed.”
Elliot reeled like he was sucker punched.
“Are you still there?” probed the detective.
“Are you certain there was no body in that fire?”
“I’m certain; I read the report this morning. What is it?”
Elliot backed off for a moment as his head spun.
“Yves, there’s something you need to know about Rivka’s kidnapper, Ogrodnik. Meet me at the General in Rivka’s room, #1108 ASAP. It has to do with the Stungun Killer.”
“Stungun Killer? Elliot, you’re going to leave me hanging with that?“
“Yes, it’s Rivka’s story to tell. Bring your boss, and prepare to have a 24/7 armed guard for Rivka.”
“I need more than that!”
“I’m leaving now, Yves. See you there.” Elliot disconnected, leaving a bewildered Yves Renault holding his phone.
“Merde!” he muttered as he saddled the phone and went out to get the chief.
Near Gdansk, Poland
“Crude as it is, Mr. Krajnak, whoever inserted this tube into your throat saved your life.”
The veterinarian knew that his patient could not respond given the damage to the throat, but he always talked when he worked. He tended to supply the same manner of banter to his animals, so why wouldn’t he do it to a man?
Just do your job, Konrad thought. I put the tube in myself.
“We’ll get you fixed up, but you won’t be eating solid food for a couple of weeks. Ha-ha, not that you can’t survive a couple of weeks without solid food,” laughed the vet as he looked at the size of his patient.
“The throat I can fix. The nose is another matter. I’ll remove the cartilage altogether, so it doesn’t pose further problems, but I’m afraid it’ll still look like a bloated ginger root. No, sir, nothing I can do with that nasty looking thing.”
Get on with it, Konrad thought as he waved his hand in irritation. He had already made arrangements to stay in a farmhouse up in the foothills and was looking forward to laying low and recovering. He’d send for the vet if he needed help. Konrad wondered how he could have missed the tough guy. When did he and Forsman become allies? Why didn’t my sources see that and warn me? That mistake almost cost him his life. No matter, he thought. I’m back in familiar lands, and my first priority is to get healthy. He closed his eyes while the vet worked on his disfigured face and dreamt about cultivating the wild meadow flowers he’d grown up with.
About the Author
Gary Coffin is a career IT guy who currently lives near Ottawa (Ontario, Canada) in the bedroom community of Rockland, Ontario with lovely wife, Kristina. He has three children, only one of whom is still roosting in the home nest. The Elliot Forsman books take place in Montreal, one of the great cities in this world and the city that Gary grew up knowing.
Coming in the fall of 2016
In the Shadow of the Big Man
Elliot Forman’s mother was gunned down while Elliot watched as a child thirty-two years ago.
After finding a few obscure clues in a previous investigation, Elliot decides to pursue the cold case so he can bring his mother’s murderers to justice. The ensuing investigation leads him into the center of a Montreal drug distribution ring that goes deeper than he could have ever imagined. Before he can crack the case, he is framed for the murder of his prime suspect and is forced to go underground. When he reaches out to partner, Rivka, and friend Rayce for help, he finds they are already engaged in struggles of their own. It takes all of Elliot’s considerable intellect to deduce that events tormenting all three of them are not what they seem.
During Elliot’s efforts to clear his name and find his mother`s killer, he is forced to make choices that will change his life. Choices that land him and Rivka in a deadly game with murderers, con artists, and drug dealers.