“It’s about Taggart. The informant he had by the name of Edward Trimble died of a drug overdose over two years ago. How do you suppose that could be?”
“Typical of drug addicts. One of them dies in some flophouse and someone else who is probably wanted snatches his identification. I’ll speak to Taggart and tell him to smarten up. He should know better than to be fooled like that.”
“I see. Well, considering what he’s been through, I don’t think you should be too hard on him. Maybe give him a break on that one.”
“Yes, sir. If you think so.”
Isaac leaned back in his chair and gazed out the window but watched Louie out of the corner of his eye. “In some ways, Wigmore was right about Taggart.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, people he works on end up dead, including the two who murdered his niece and nephew.”
Louie shrugged his shoulders but didn’t speak.
“Have you had a chance to debrief Taggart? How does he feel about Sid Bishop?”
“He’s upset that he escaped. That he wasn’t able to arrest him.”
“Arrest him?”
Louie pretended that the connotation eluded him and said, “U.S. Customs found his boat on Orcas Island in the San Juans this morning, but there was no sign of him. From there, he could have easily flown to the mainland and then anywhere.”
“Do you think Taggart has any idea where he is?”
“Not a clue. He asked me if we’ve checked Bishop’s bank accounts yet.”
“And have you?”
“Preliminary inquiries look like there were some off-shore transfers to the Grand Caymans. He’ll know how to cover his tracks. Bet he is living under a new identity in some foreign country. Satans Wrath could help him in that regard. It wouldn’t look good for them if he was arrested. They’re in dozens of countries. I’m not optimistic that he’ll ever be caught.”
Jack’s meeting with CC was brief. He had already prepared a statement and slid it across the desk to her.
CC scanned the statement quickly, then leaned across the desk and said, “I want you and O’Reilly to know something. Strictly for professional reasons. I want you to have at least a little respect for me.”
“CC, don’t worry. Sid set me up beautifully. I have no grudge against you at all.”
“This isn’t about that. It’s what O’Reilly did! Tell him he owes me a hell of a favour.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Bullshit! I’ve taken enough statements to know when someone’s been coached! Not to mention that the burn marks on Wizard did not start under his arm and on his face, where they would have if he was throwing gas at Danny. They started on the back of his arm and head. He wasn’t looking when he got doused.”
“Danny was badly injured, barely conscious. Maybe he was a little off on —”
“Cut the crap! This is only between the three of us. I just want you to know that I do know how to do my job.”
Jack stared at CC for a moment, then said, “I’ll tell Danny. He’ll probably want to buy you a drink.”
“Tell him that, but if it arrives with a flame on top, I’ll shoot him!”
Jack returned CC’s smile, then said, “I need a favour as well.”
“What kind of favour?”
“It’s about the exhibits from yesterday.”
“Your recorder?”
“No. Something else. Something that might keep some people from dying.”
Jack lay in the bushes, resting his arms and chest on a sports bag as he watched several limousines pass through the electronic gate into Damien’s estate. He caught a glimpse of bikers roaming around inside. Some were there to provide security and showed their respect for the bosses by keeping their distance.
At two o’clock, Jack used his new cellphone to call Natasha.
“I want you to know that I really love you,” he said.
“That’s nice. I love you, too,” replied Natasha. “Good news about Danny.”
“Yes. Good news. I have to go, but…”
“But what?”
“Just wanted you to know how much I really love you.”
“Jack? What is it? Something is going on…. You’re not doing anything that could put you … away, are you?”
“Don’t talk that way on the phone. I would die before I ever broke that promise.”
“Okay, sorry. I love you, too.”
Jack picked up the sports bag and crept to the rear of Damien’s home. He scaled the stone wall surrounding the back of Damien’s property and dropped down into the grounds.
A biker who had been monitoring security cameras inside the home ran into the backyard. Damien was speaking intensely to a group of over twenty men. Anger and talk of revenge was rampant. Silence descended when the biker told Damien that there was an intruder.
Jack strode toward the group. He saw two laser beams dancing over his heart and idly wondered how many more were on the back of his head. The group parted slightly as Damien walked up to him. The rest of the men exchanged glances. They sensed that Jack was an outsider and circled him like wolves around a farm dog.
“You got your fuckin’ balls walkin’ in here!” screamed Damien.
Jack looked at the group and said, “My name is Jack Taggart. I’m a cop. The cop who was responsible for killing five of your brothers yesterday.”
He took their moment of disbelief and shock to look Damien in the eye and say, “Out of respect for you, I brought you this.” He handed him the sports bag.
The wolves recovered from their shock and moved in for the kill. They stopped when Damien put up his hand before unzipping the sports bag and looking inside. Seconds later, he pulled out five sets of colours. The jackets belonging to T-Bone and Booger only had the bottom rocker. Wizard’s colours were badly burned but were still recognizable.
“You pick today to commit suicide?” asked Damien.
Jack looked at the angry faces and said, “Wizard, Rolly, and Thumper tried to kill my family, my partner’s family … and then tried to kill my partner and me. Maybe the rules have changed, but I think —”
A biker grabbed Jack by the throat and said, “Guess I’ll finish what Wiz started!”
“Let him finish!” Damien demanded.
Jack was released. He continued. “I think that T-Bone and Booger were following orders from Wizard. I also believe that Wizard was following orders from someone outside the club.” He saw several of the men look at Damien, who continued to stare at Jack.
“I believe that because I know Damien,” said Jack. “If he wanted us dead, we would be. He’s proved that to me already, which is why I respect him enough to return the colours and take whatever you dish out. I know if Damien wants me killed, I will be. I don’t want to try and lead a life and start a family, wondering every day if there’s a bomb in my car. If you intend to kill me, then do it now.”
Everyone stood in silence, looking back and forth from Damien to Jack. Damien nodded his head, and one of the bikers providing security approached and used an electronic wand to search Jack.
“Clean, except for this,” said the biker, taking the cellphone out of Jack’s pocket and handing it to Damien.