Authors: Mona Ingram
Jackson nodded and thought about his brother. If taking down this operation could save even one kid from messing up his life, it was worth it. Mike was one of the lucky ones; he’d survived.
“Boss, I was wondering if you could do me a favour.”
Traynor raised an eyebrow.
Jackson held up his phone. “I’ve tried to call Amanda a couple of times this afternoon and I can’t get through. I’m starting to get worried and I was wondering if we could use the Force resources to track her cell.”
Traynor gave him a long look. “Because we’ll need to talk to her about her husband, right?”
Jackson read something in his superior’s eyes. “Yes.” He sucked in a breath of air. “Plus it’s personal.”
Traynor smiled, jotted something on a piece of paper and handed it over. “Here’s your authorization. And Jackson...”
Jackson took the paper and looked up. “Yes, boss?”
“We really do need to talk to her. There’s a lot of money to be accounted for.”
“Right.” Jackson picked up the desk phone and started dialing.
* * *
It was after nine when Amanda woke up. Agnes had kept her up late last night playing Scrabble. They’d laughed and chatted while playing and Amanda realized that the older woman was lonely. She wouldn’t be going to the golf club any more, but she intended to keep in touch. She needed someone in her life who was forthright as much as Agnes needed a friend.
“Good morning.” She wandered into the kitchen, her hair still damp from the shower.
Agnes stood at the island, watching the small television on the far counter. “I was just about to come and get you. You’ve gotta see this.” She turned back to the television.
Amanda thought her eyes were playing tricks on her. A head shot of Vince occupied the top left corner of the screen. A reporter was interviewing someone she didn’t recognize but it was the crawl along the bottom of the screen that had her mesmerized. “Vancouver nightclub owner Vince Reimer arrested in drug bust.”
She darted a look at Agnes and then back to the screen. “This can’t be real.” She stepped closer to the television. “What’s he saying?”
“Vince was arrested yesterday afternoon at some place called Sandy Lake. Hold on, they’ll probably show the footage again. You know how they show it over and over again. There are a couple of underground bunkers; they have their own power generator and everything.”
“Who’s this guy? The man they’re interviewing?”
“He’s a spokesman for the RCMP. The actual agents who made the bust won’t be interviewed so they can protect their identity.” Agnes was beginning to sound like a reporter herself. Amanda would have smiled, but she was in shock.
“But Vince?” She shook her head. “I can’t believe it.”
“I can.” Agnes turned down the sound. “I’ve heard rumours here and there. That’s one of the advantages of being old; young people tend to treat you like you don’t exist.” She got up, poured a cup of coffee for Amanda and set it on the counter. “Think about it. Those clubs are a perfect outlet for drugs. There’s probably more than marijuana involved.”
Amanda stared into the coffee. “Jackson” she said, her mind racing. “He’ll be seeing this. He saw Vince the other day when he came to get me. Oh my God, I wonder what he’s thinking!”
Agnes opened a drawer, dug around and tossed a set of keys on the counter. “Here, take my car. You’d planned to go anyway. Now there’s more reason than ever.”
“I can’t take your Jaguar.”
Agnes waved a bejewelled hand. “I have another car. A word of advice, though. You’d better not go back home. The reporters will be camped out at your place.”
“You’re right.” She ran back to her bedroom, slipped into her shoes and grabbed her bag.
Agnes followed her to the door. “The police are going to want to talk to you, you know.”
Amanda frowned. “Why?”
Agnes shook her head. “Because you’re Vince’s wife. At least for the time being.”
“Oh Lord. I don’t believe this is happening.”
The older woman gave her a quick, fierce hug. “Drive carefully,” she said. “And let me know what happens.”
* * *
Ensconced in the luxurious car Amanda could almost believe that things were going to be all right. Why hadn’t she confided in Jackson about the cottage on Sandy Lake? By now he’d have put two and two together; he’d know she’d been less than truthful.
A sudden thought struck her. What if he thought she was somehow involved with Vince’s illegal activities? She broke out in a cold sweat. No, he wouldn’t think that. He
couldn’t
think that. She recalled the last time she’d seen him. When he’d entered his number in her cell phone and handed it back to her she could have sworn that there was love in his eyes.
She forced herself to focus on the traffic, but the thought stayed with her. Love. Amazing as it seemed for someone of her age, she’d never been truly loved by a man. Vince certainly hadn’t loved her; he’d as much as said so. But seeing the look in Jackson’s eyes, and having experienced the rush of desire that consumed her every time she’d touched him, she had an idea what love could be. With Jackson, love would take her to dizzying heights and he’d be there to hold and comfort her when things got rough. And in return, she would do the same for him. With Jackson there was no doubt that love would be a two-way street. She looked down at the speedometer, slowed down and pulled into the right hand lane. She wanted to get there in one piece, to see that smile on his face, to walk into his arms and tell him that she would soon be free.
* * *
It was mid-afternoon when she pulled in beside the restaurant at Loon Lake Resort. She caught a glimpse of Carlos in the kitchen and then he was outside, a surprised look on his face as she stepped out of the Jaguar.
“Amanda.” He ignored the car. “What are you doing here?”
It wasn’t quite the welcome she’d hoped for, but she was busy scanning the property. A few children splashed in the water, but other than that it was quiet in the heat of the afternoon sun. “I’m looking for Jackson.” She smiled at him. “Is he around?”
“Jackson? No.” He was looking at her as if he didn’t know her. “He’s–”
“Amanda!” Kathy walked briskly from her small office, her steps kicking up little puffs of dust. “What are you doing here?”
Amanda looked at the woman she considered a friend. Kathy didn’t look pleased to see her. Did she think she’d come back for her job? Maybe that was why Carlos had greeted her so oddly.
“I was hoping to find Jackson. Is he around?”
Kathy looked at the Jaguar and then back at Amanda. Her eyes narrowed. “No. Jackson’s gone and I don’t expect him back.”
Of course! They knew about the bust. How could they not?
“Listen, you must have heard about the arrests.”
The both nodded.
“Well, this is going to sound unbelievable, but the man they arrested is my husband.”
They looked at her steadily. Neither reacted. Animosity radiated from them in waves.
“You knew.”
Kathy nodded.
Amanda lifted a hand, then let it drop by her side. “Of course you knew. And here I thought I needed to come up and explain it to Jackson. I should have told him about the cottage on Sandy Lake, but I was having such a good time here, just being myself, that I kept putting it off.” She took a step toward Kathy. “Are you sure you don’t know where he is? I’d really like to explain.”
Kathy’s response was terse. “For all I know, he’s back undercover.”
It took a moment for the words to register.
“Undercover?”
Kathy and Carlos exchanged glances. “Amanda, Jackson is an RCMP officer. He’s the one who made the bust.”
Amanda recoiled as though she’d been struck.
“Jackson?”
“Yes. He’s been here scouting the area and waiting for...” she paused “...your husband to show up.”
Amanda looked toward the boathouse as though Jackson might appear. “RCMP?” she repeated.
Kathy nodded. “I probably shouldn’t be telling you this, but he was what they call Team Leader on this one. They’re probably going to want to talk to you as well.”
Amanda couldn’t take it all in. “That’s what Agnes said, too. But I don’t know anything.”
“Who’s Agnes?”
“A friend of mine.” She shoved her fingers up into her hair, massaged the sides of her head. “This isn’t a dream, is it?” She looked up, and Kathy shook her head.
She stumbled to her car. “I’m sorry I bothered you.” She waved a hand vaguely around the property. “If Jackson shows up, tell him I came looking for him. Tell him I–” Tears welled up in her eyes. “Never mind, he probably wouldn’t believe me now.”
She got in and pulled out before Kathy and Carlos could react.
They watched the car disappear and Carlos turned to his boss. “You know, I believe her. I don’t think she knew about this.”
Kathy nodded. “Me, too. And I think she’s in love with Jackson.” She smiled grimly. “What a mess.”
* * *
“She was here?” Jackson and Carlos and Kathy were seated at a picnic table. Jackson scratched at his beard. He couldn’t wait to shave it off. “What did she say?”
Kathy glanced at Carlos. “She said she was looking for you. She wanted to tell you about the house on Sandy Lake, explain to you why she didn’t tell you earlier.”
“And that was?”
Carlos spoke. “She said she was having a good time here, just being herself.” He lifted his shoulders. “I believed her.”
“I did too.” Kathy fell silent, and then thought of something else. “I said that the RCMP would probably want to talk to her and she said her friend Agnes told her the same thing.”
Jackson nodded, his eyes thoughtful. “She mentioned Agnes to me as well.” He looked from one to the other. “Anything else?”
“No.”
“Not really.”
They answered at the same time.
“But I wish I’d been nicer to her.” Kathy smiled a sad smile. “It was such a shock seeing her; I’m afraid we didn’t give her a very warm welcome.”
“I’m just glad to know she’s all right. I’ve been calling her house in Vancouver but of course she’s not there. I’ve also put a trace on her cell phone and from the GPS location I got, it’s on the freeway median just east of Vancouver. The local guys are on their way to pick it up right now. If I had to guess I’d say her husband threw it out of his vehicle.” He recalled the scowl on Reimer’s face when he recognized him. “The guy’s a real piece of work.”
Kathy reached out and touched him briefly on the arm. “Good luck, Jackson. I hope it works out.”
* * *
Agnes was waiting up for Amanda when she pulled into the long, sweeping driveway. She was wrapped in a Japanese kimono and her grey hair was unwound and hanging down her back in a loose braid.
“I’m sorry you had to wait up.” Amanda set down her purse and sank into a comfortable chair.
“Don’t be sorry. This is the most excitement I’ve had since husband number two dared me to bungee jump.” She lit a cigarette. “Tell me everything.”
Amanda had gathered her thoughts on the long drive back to Vancouver. She filled Agnes in.
“Well, you didn’t expect him to tell you he was undercover, did you?” Agnes waved a hand, spilling ash on the floor. “He couldn’t very well do that. Seems to me that you were both keeping secrets.”