Authors: Don Easton
Jack's phone woke him at three o'clock in the morning.
“
Guten Morgen
, Herr Taggart.”
“
Guten Morgen
to you too, Otto.” Jack glanced at the clock. “Or should I say good afternoon where you are. What's up?”
“Roche is at the airport and has booked an Air France flight departing for Paris. It's scheduled to arrive in Paris at one-thirty this afternoon.”
“That was short and sweet,” Jack said. “How about Wolfgang? What's he been up to?”
“Followed him to a mall this morning where he had a doctor's appointment. Knowing the area he hangs out in, he likely has a venereal disease. After that he returned home and has probably gone back to bed.”
“And Roche wasn't seen meeting with anyone?”
“No. He had breakfast alone at the hotel and doesn't look happy. Do you want me to notify Paris and have them follow him from that end?”
“No, let him go,” replied Jack. “I'm hoping his boss will be coming to see me in a few days. I don't want to chance heating anyone up. Are you able to stay on Wolfgang?”
“Sure, but it'll cost you a beer next time I see you.”
* * *
At eight-thirty in the morning, Jack arrived at work and Rose spotted him in the hall as he passed her door. “You!” she said, pointing her finger at him. “Take a seat!” She gestured to a chair in front of her desk.
Oh, crap, what now?
Jack sat down as directed.
“I found out where Klaus Eichel went yesterday as soon as he was freed,” said Rose, glaring at Jack.
“Oh?”
“Don't give me that innocent look! You told me you didn't hurt him!”
“I didn't say that. I said I was as gentle as the situation allowed. He tried to grab my shotgun. My only other alternative was to shoot him.”
“You told me you even assisted in lowering him to the floor!”
“I did, but had to use the butt of the shotgun to do it.”
“Are you trying to be funny?”
“Not really. Did you look at the photos of the victim who had his painting stolen?”
“Yes, I did,” replied Rose evenly.
“There's nothing funny about it. It was Klaus who did that to him.”
“That doesn't give you the right to dispense justice,” Rose snapped.
Jack stared silently back at her.
“Damn it, Jack, I know Klaus is a sadist and was abusing your informant, but you don't take the law into your own hands.”
“I didn't. It was simply a situation where I had no other choice.”
“Both sides of his jaw are fractured and he hardly has any teeth left.”
“Maybe next time he won't try to grab a shotgun from me.”
“There better not be a next time,” warned Rose.
“Did you read that he continued to burn Mr. Jaiger with a cigarette even after he told them where the painting was?” asked Jack.
“You don't know for sure it was Klaus. Not one hundred percent.”
“Really? Not one hundred percent? Maybe I'm better at math than you.”
“Don't be impertinent,” she said. “That's not the point. Even if it was, it doesn't give you the right to attack him.”
“It was him who tried to attack me. If you don't believe me, call Sammy. He saw it.”
Rose stared at Jack a moment, then said, “I want to make myself clear. I won't stand for unnecessary violence.”
“You made yourself clear.” Jack tried not to let the anger he felt show in his voice. “I only use as much force as necessary. Is there anything else?”
Rose paused. “Yes, two things. I have a translated copy of all of Kerin Bastion's undercover notes, including notes from his partner, Maurice Leblanc, who was on surveillance across the street from the park when the murder took place.”
Jack clenched his jaw.
Rose caught the look. “It wasn't your fault,” she said quietly. “You were doing your job and he was doing his. It happens.”
“You said you had two things. What's the other?”
Rose studied Jack. Anger was a natural step on his road to recovery. It was how he dealt with his anger that concerned her. She decided to let it go for now. “The other thing I have is about who spied on Clive Dempsey for the bad guys.”
“Big Joe Investigations,” said Jack with sudden interest. “What have you got?”
“The company is owned by a Joe Hershey, who works out of his house. He's an ex-member from the Prairies who was stationed in a variety of plainclothes units.”
“I don't know him,” Jack said.
“He didn't have a good rep. Apparently, he would fabricate stories to make himself look good while making his colleagues look bad. He wasn't particularly gifted when it came to intelligence.”
“Not someone I would trust to work with us,” noted Jack.
“For sure,” agreed Rose.
“Going by the name of his company, I take it he's a large man?”
“The person I spoke to said he weighed about two hundred kilos and that there wasn't a gram of muscle in his whole body. He said you could tell what police cars he drove because if they had bucket seats, the back of the seats were broken off from his weight.”
“Won't be a tough guy to spot if they hire him to work on me,” said Jack.
“He has two other guys he hires when he needs them. I'll get all the details and photos within the next day or two, including vehicle descriptions.”
Jack nodded, then updated Rose on the phone call he'd received from Otto regarding Roche returning to Paris. Afterwards, he returned to his own desk and updated Laura. They then read the translation of Kerin's notes, along with those of his partner, Maurice Leblanc.
When they were finished, Jack looked at Laura and asked, “What do you think?”
“Kerin was set up to see if he had a surveillance team,” replied Laura. “Walking from the café, then hanging out at a park. There had to be counter-surveillance on him.”
“I'm positive there was. Goes along with Roche telling him he would only be meeting the Ringmaster once. They wanted to up the pressure. He should have ditched the surveillance team.”
“Yeah. All it did was get him killed.”
“That and trying to phone to warn me,” Jack said bitterly.
“Obviously he was too inexperienced to know he was being set up.”
“I don't know if experience would have saved him as far as the phone call goes.” Jack shook his head. “If I was in that situation, I don't know if I would have acted any differently. Hope I never have to find out.”
“If it's about me, I kind of hope you make the call,” Laura said dryly.
“Kind of hope?” Jack raised his eyebrows. Just then his phone rang and he reached to answer it.
“Got some news you might be interested in,” said Connie. “We managed to get an emergency tap on Anton's phone late last night. We got an incoming call from his brother in Paris at seven this morning.”
“Surveillance put Roche Freulard on a flight from Frankfurt bound for Paris at about noon their time,” Jack said. “Doing the math, it would mean Roche placed the call at four o'clock in the afternoon his time. What did they say?”
“Roche wasn't happy. Turns out the Ringmaster was going to step down and recommend he take over the organization, but all that's on hold until they get their hands on the painting. Roche isn't the only one upset. Anton said that Klaus figures he is going to be fired.”
“Klaus figures right. They don't want him to know until he returns to Europe. They're probably afraid he'll do something stupid if he finds out here.”
“I agree. Anyway, that was the gist of their conversation on that point. Then Roche told Anton that the Ringmaster is sending Wolfgang over to see you.”
“Oh, crap,” Jack muttered. “I was hoping the Ringmaster would show up in person. Wolfgang Menges was the driver when Roche rode in the back seat of a Porsche after he called me from the hotel in Frankfurt. There was a swarthy-looking guy in the front with Wolfgang. That's who I was hoping would come.”
“Maybe he will later. Roche made it explicitly clear that nobody was to lay a hand on you. The idea is to get you to trust them.”
“They think I have the painting in bonded storage,” Jack said. “They're going to want to sucker me into taking it out. I'm going to request that Detective Otto Reichartinger, from Germany, and Kerin's partner, Maurice Leblanc, come to assist in the event others besides Wolfgang show up. They might recognize someone.”
“Good idea, but there's more. I think you're going to get a call from Anton. He was told to try and check you. He's going to arrange to meet you, then have surveillance put on you.”
“Perfect.” Jack grinned. “I love it when a plan comes together. I'll prepare a background cover for my UC. Maybe the Ringmaster will show up after they check me out.”
“You're okay with them tailing you?” Connie was surprised.
“Okay with it? I love it!”
“That makes me nervous,” Connie said gravely.
It was ten o'clock the following morning when Jack received a call from Anton. He put his finger to his lips to caution Laura, then walked into a stationery room for privacy.
“What's up, Anton?” asked Jack. “Is the boss man here from Europe already?”
“Uh, no, not yet,” replied Anton. “I would like to meet you in person to talk about something.”
“Trying to set me up to kidnap me, Anton?”
“No, no, no,” replied Anton adamantly. “I would be happy to meet you in a public place. Perhaps a restaurant of your choice, if you like. I will come alone, but you can bring whoever you like with you.”
“I see. I guess today I could free myself up for lunch, say, at twelve-thirty? I know you don't know Vancouver very well, so how about the Fort Pub in Fort Langley? Do you know where that is?”
“I do. That is ideal! Thank you.”
* * *
At eleven-thirty, Laura sat in the back of an SUV, in charge of the surveillance team stationed near the Fort Pub and Grill. Half an hour after she arrived, Big Joe was spotted driving a white van with Bojan in the seat beside him. The van had dark-tinted windows along the sides and back. Moments later the van parked near the pub, and Big Joe and Bojan disappeared into the back of the van. Seconds later two men who worked for Big Joe arrived in separate vehicles and parked nearby.
Laura radioed the information to Jack, then waited.
At twelve-thirty, Jack arrived and parked his car. Sammy and Benny from Drug Section were with him and they walked into the Fort Pub and Grill. Jack was dressed casually in slacks, and Sammy and Benny wore suits and ties. They took a seat to wait for Anton when Laura called Jack.
“One of the goofs who works for Big Joe snuck over and slapped a magnetic tracker under the back of your car,” she said.
“Perfect,” Jack said.
“Anton pulled up, as well,” she added. “He's on his way in.”
Jack hung up as Anton entered and joined them at their table.
Anton swallowed as he glanced at Sammy and Benny, then gave a nervous smile. “Hope you guys aren't here to haul me away.”
Jack, along with Sammy and Benny, stared blankly at Anton without answering. His face paled and he swallowed again.
The waitress arrived immediately and the four men did little talking until they'd each placed their food order. When she left, Jack gave Anton a nod. “What did you want to see me for?”
“Simply to ensure that you're willing to follow through with meeting our, uh, representative from Europe. He wanted this confirmed.”
“I told him I would.” Jack looked annoyed. “I don't say things I don't mean.”
“I realize that, and by your willingness to meet me, it indicates that you, uh, don't have any second thoughts on the matter.”
“I don't like being dicked around,” said Jack. “I'm not a gofer waiting at someone's beck and call.”
“I'm sorry. We wanted to make sure you hadn't vanished on us. Lunch will be on me.”
“This is Thursday. The week is almost over. When will I be meeting him?”
“He is catching a flight Monday morning and with the time difference, will arrive in Vancouver Monday evening.”
Jack was pleased that the meeting would take place in a few days. He wasn't pleased that the bug on Anton's phone hadn't picked it up. They were missing some of the communication between Anton and his bosses in Europe. Communication that could potentially have deadly consequences.
“I'm not sure if he would like to meet you Monday night,” Anton continued. “It is a long trip and â”
“Tuesday is fine with me,” said Jack. “Call me in the morning. I'll try to keep my schedule free for that day.”
Forty-five minutes later they finished lunch. Jack glanced at his watch, then looked at Sammy and Benny “We better go if I'm going to get you back to work by two.”
* * *
At two o'clock, Jack arrived at the first destination in his plan to enhance his cover story. He let Sammy and Benny out and then drove away.
Big Joe snapped a couple of surveillance pictures before giving Bojan a thumbs-up. He then pulled out to follow Jack at a discreet distance, aided by the laptop computer he used to monitor Jack's vehicle's movements through the magnetic tracker.
At least we know how he got rid of Clive Dempsey
, Bojan thought as he glanced back at the crematorium Sammy and Benny had entered.
A short time later Jack pulled up in front of the Pan Pacific Hotel in downtown Vancouver and handed his keys to the valet before going inside.
Big Joe was only two car lengths behind and desperately radioed his two colleagues to follow Jack inside, but they were too far back in traffic. He glanced at Bojan.
“I can't do it!” exclaimed Bojan. “He knows me!”
“I know. I'll do it, but I can't park here. Drop me off, drive away, and come back in ten minutes.”
* * *
Jack took an escalator up to the lobby on the second floor and saw Big Joe lumbering up after him.
Yeah, asshole. You're about as unnoticed as a chocolate cake at a diet seminar.
Upon reaching the top, Jack sauntered over to the reception desk. Big Joe cleared the top of the escalator.
“Jack!” a woman called.
Big Joe definitely saw the attractive Chinese woman on the other side of the lobby waving at Jack.
“Hey, Tina. How are you?” asked Jack when they met and gave each other a hug.
He saw Big Joe pause, then pretend to gaze over the railing at a totem pole on the lower level as he watched and listened.
“What brings you here?” Tina asked, stepping back. “Last I saw of you was when you were doing some consulting work for some international corporation.”
“Still doing consulting,” Jack replied. “I sold my condo a month ago and am staying here awhile. Where's your hubby?”
“John's next door at the convention center. He should be finished in an hour or two.”
“I'm staying in the Pacific suite â room 2320. Pop by after and we'll catch up.”
“We'd love to.” Tina frowned, then said, “You're looking thin. Are you okay?” She reached out and gripped his hand.
Jack gave her hand a squeeze, then let go. “I'm fine.”
“John and I have thought of you quite a bit since Molly passed on,” said Tina sombrely. “We should have called you.”
Jack swallowed. “I'm okay. I just need time.”
“Scuttlebutt is you plan on retiring and moving to Europe or something. Is that true? Is that why you sold your condo?”
“It's true, but I'm in no hurry and haven't decided when or where yet,” he said.
“You got time to sit for a moment? Maybe grab a coffee?”
“You bet,” he replied. “We can go here,” he suggested with a nod toward the hotel restaurant, overlooking Vancouver harbour. As they walked toward the restaurant, Big Joe waddled over and took the escalator back down to the street-level exit.
“Think it went okay?” asked Tina.
Jack smiled. “Miss Chan, there's a reason they call you the Asian Heat. You always come through.”
Tina smiled. “Seems like you've been relying on our unit quite a bit lately. How did it go with Sammy and Benny? I heard you used them, too.”
“It went good enough that I owe them a coffee, as well,” Jack said.
Tina gave an unladylike snort. “With Sammy, I suggest you make it Canadian Club and Coke.” She looked around the lobby. “This place is beautiful. Did the force really spring for you to stay in a suite here?”
“Don't I wish,” replied Jack. “The hotel has been really great at accommodating me, though. An executive assistant who works here has a brother who is a member of the Vancouver City Police. She's pulled some strings to make it look like I stay here if anyone checks or leaves a message. She's also given me access to the service elevator that goes up to the luxury suites. I can use the regular elevator to go up if anyone is watching, then sneak out using the service elevator without being seen.”
“What if someone goes up with you in the elevator?”
“She's taken care of that, too. There's a private lounge up top where complimentary drinks and appetizers are served for those who stay in the suites. All I would do is wander in there. The concierge knows to let me in, but would stop anyone following me and not let them enter.”
Tina smiled. “Perfect.”
* * *
Later that night Bojan, Anton, and Klaus sat at their kitchen table eating dinner and discussing what they'd learned about Jack.
“The Pan Pacific is one of the top hotels in Vancouver,” said Bojan, chewing on a piece of barbecued steak. “I checked out the fucking suite he's staying in on the Internet. It looks out on the harbour, mountains, the city skyline ⦠you name it. It's over eighteen hundred square feet. Even has a baby grand piano in it. This guy is loaded.”
“Wish we had contacts at a crematorium,” muttered Anton, skewering a mushroom with his fork to savour with the meat.
Klaus didn't comment as he sucked his canned lentil soup through a straw. Talking was too painful. He also sensed that both Anton and Bojan were distancing themselves from him.
They
do
plan on getting rid of me. The fucking wimps don't have the balls to do what should be done.
He glowered at Anton and Bojan as he concocted a course of action.
I'll show 'em. All I have to do is kidnap Jack and make him take me to the painting. If I don't get my hands on it, I can still kill him and deny it. I'm sure he has lots of enemies.
Klaus started to grin as he fantasized about how he would torture Jack, but a stab of pain hit his jaw and made his eyes water.
Painting or no painting, I'll kill that fucker.