A Delicate Matter Read online

“You know we’re running wire on some of the bikers,” Jack said. “Did you call the monitors to see if they heard anything?”

  “I did, but they haven’t heard a peep.”

  “No surprise. Not the sort of thing they’d talk about over a phone.”

  “So you really think they didn’t mean to kill King?”

  “If they intended to kill him, they wouldn’t have sent so many guys. That number is more for intimidation. If they wanted him killed, it would’ve been done by their three-three team.”

  “What the hell is a three-three team?”

  “It’s what Satans Wrath call their professional hit team. All club members belong to chapters in various cities, as do members of their hit team, but they’re on call to operate Canada-wide. Unofficially they’re thought of as the Canada Chapter because they take instruction from various chapter presidents.”

  “You mean orders for hits?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why do they call themselves the three-three?”

  “The letter C is the third letter of the alphabet, hence number three. So together, the two Cs stand for Canada Chapter — or the reverse for the French.”

  “Nice that they’re so politically correct.”

  “In the old days various club members used to get individual tattoos for doing a club-sanctioned hit called the Dirty Dog.”

  “Yeah … I remember.”

  “Since then they’ve become more professional. They have a full-time hit squad made up of guys who know their stuff. Club members sometimes refer to someone as belonging to the double three — or in the case of a victim, being double-three’d.”

  “How many guys belong to it?”

  “I think there are four in British Columbia. Three in the lower mainland and one in Kelowna, a fellow by the name of Pasquale Bazzoli. There are about eight or nine others scattered across the country with half of those living in Quebec. For individual hits, the three-three might only use one or two guys.”

  Connie sighed. “When it comes to King, I’m not optimistic that I’d get anything on them, anyway. All I’d end up doing is wasting a lot of manpower that could be better tasked working on cases involving innocent victims. If you’re right that it was accidental, then that makes it even less of a priority.”

  “And Dwayne?”

  “King is dead. Maybe in a couple of weeks if we get confirmation from the lab matching the rock to his boat, I’ll officially close the file then.”

  “It would be nice to nail the bikers. All this stuff with Dwayne and King — bikers are my priority. Mind if I stick my nose into it a little?”

  “I don’t see any harm in you doing that now. Especially considering it probably involves Satans Wrath. Maybe your informant can help us out — if he wasn’t one of the ones involved.”

  “He wasn’t involved,” Jack assured her, “but give me a couple of days to work on it. Who knows, maybe I’ll come up with something.” Like handing you a video of the murder.

  “How do you know your informant wasn’t involved?” Connie asked.

  “He’d call me if he did something like that. I also believe King was killed accidentally, so there’d have been no reason for him not to have told me in advance that they were going over to do it.”

  “Yeah, well … if you do hear something, let me know.”

  “You might want to pass on to Weasel that he should disappear. Satans Wrath might be looking at him as a loose end.”

  “Good point. I’ll tell Wilson to warn him. If it was accidental, Satans Wrath might not even know King is dead.”

  “I’m sure they already know,” Jack said, then hung up.

  Natasha looked across the kitchen table at Jack. “You told me you were expecting one short call. From the surprise in your voice when you answered the call from Connie, I take it that wasn’t it.”

  “No, that was the call I was expecting,” Jack said.

  “So you’re playing her.”

  “More a matter of not letting her see the big picture yet. I gave someone a deadline of two days. If he doesn’t come through by then, which I don’t think he will, I’ll give Connie the full scoop.”

  “You mean let her in on the big picture.”

  Jack grinned. “The big picture in this case is more like a video.” He glanced at the clock. “At the moment the only things I want to see are the insides of my eyelids.”

  Natasha rose from the table and gave him an affectionate kiss on his cheek, along with a promise to wake him up at noon.

  Jack was pulling the covers back to get into bed when his phone rang again. Unlike Connie’s call, this one was totally unexpected. After a short conversation he hung up and called Laura.

  “What time is it?” Laura asked. “Did I sleep in? I thought we were off —”

  “No, you didn’t sleep in,” Jack said.

  “What the heck! I’ve only been in bed thirty minutes! You better be phoning to say good night.”

  “Get dressed and wear your Kevlar vest,” he said tersely.

  “What’s up?”

  “Vicki wants to meet.”

  “Vicki! At her house? Is Damien —”

  “No. She wants to meet us alone. I’ll give you the details when I pick you up. Be out front of your house in thirty minutes.”

  “Oh, man …”

  When Jack hung up, he saw that Natasha had been watching him from the doorway. “Sorry,” he said. “Gotta go back to work.”

  “Dangerous,” Natasha said.

  “No, don’t worry about the vest thing. We’re meeting someone who says she has some information for us.”

  “Right. Don’t worry. You haven’t slept in twenty-six hours and are heading out to a situation where you feel the need to wear a bulletproof vest. There’s nothing for me to worry about.”

  “The Kevlar is simply a precaution. It’s like looking both ways before you cross the street.”

  Natasha didn’t look convinced.

  “It shouldn’t take long,” Jack proffered. “I doubt she’ll have anything of value. More likely wants to beg me not to charge someone, or if I do, to reduce the charge. I should be home in time for lunch.”

  “Where have I heard that one before,” Natasha muttered.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  The sun had been up for an hour when Laura opened the door to climb into the SUV. She wore a long-sleeved white blouse that hung over her jeans to hide her pistol and saw Jack checking her out. “Yes, I know. I shouldn’t wear white after Labour Day.”

  “Yes, now I’ll be embarrassed to be seen with you.” His eyes drifted down to her chest.

  “I’m wearing it,” she said. “Can’t you tell? Makes me look flat and fat.”

  “Good.” Jack pulled away from the curb.

  “So what’s the deal?”

  “Vicki phoned and said she wanted to meet right away. She also told me she was calling from her sister’s place and that Damien doesn’t know about it.”

  “Her emotions were all over the map earlier. How was she when she called?”

  “Still upset, which is why I didn’t want to delay meeting her until we got some sleep. She could change her mind after she cools off.”

  “At one point I had the distinct feeling she wanted to put us in the ground — especially you.”

  “She still might want to.”

  “You think Damien could be setting us up for a hit?”

  “No. He’s upset, but I didn’t leave his house with the feeling he’d murder us over it. Even if he was planning to, he wouldn’t use Vicki. He loves her too much. He wouldn’t risk her going to jail or getting hurt.”

  “So Damien really might not know about this,” Laura said.

  “Maybe not. She told me that she had something to give us in exchange for Buck going free, but wouldn’t tell m
e on the phone. The thing is, I really doubt that she’d know anything about club business. Anything she could tell us would likely be general in nature and not enough to put anyone in jail.”

  “Are you thinking she’s going to try to take us out on her own?”

  “I wondered. I told her to dress in something to show she wasn’t packing any weapons — but we’ll search her regardless.”

  “So where do we meet her?”

  “I’ll rent a hotel room. I told her I’d call her back and direct her to a specific location on a street. I told her at that point we’d be able to see her, but she wouldn’t see us. Then I’d call her again and give her instructions to walk to our location. Once that happens, she’s not to use her phone again unless it’s to answer a call from me. I also warned her that she’d still be searched.”

  “Did she seem okay with that?”

  “No hesitation at all, but what was interesting is she asked if all these security precautions were because I’d been talking to Damien after we left their house. I told her we hadn’t.”

  “How is that interesting?”

  “I think she brought up the subject of killing us with Damien — which is another reason I don’t think he’s involved. If he was, she wouldn’t have asked me that.”

  “If it isn’t a trap, then what the heck does she have for us?”

  Jack shrugged. “I doubt she knows any details about club business that’d allow us to arrest anyone.”

  “So we’re wasting our time? All we’ll hear is some mom begging for us to let her son off the hook?” Laura shook her head. “I could be home in bed right now.”

  “There’s another possibility. What if Damien did send her to meet with us?”

  “A moment ago you said you didn’t think he did.”

  “I’m not talking about her or Damien wanting to kill us. Maybe, on a psychological level, his loyalty for the club is stopping him from talking to us direct. Maybe he gave her something to pass on.”

  “Like their new European connection?”

  “Possibly. Damien could get her to say she overheard something. He knows I wouldn’t jeopardize her safety, which would protect her from the club knowing.” He stopped at a traffic light and glanced at Laura. “What’re your thoughts?”

  Laura yawned. “I’m too tired to know what to think right now.”

  That’s the problem. So am I.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Vicki got off the elevator and walked to the end of the sixth-floor hallway in the hotel while talking to Jack on her phone. “I’m here,” she said. “What room number?”

  “Hang up,” Jack said. He opened a door to reveal that he and Laura were inside the stairwell.

  Seconds later Laura searched Vicki in the stairwell. She then brought Vicki to a room on the seventh floor and directed her to sit at a small table, which held a carafe and three coffee mugs. Jack took the only other chair available and sat facing her, while Laura sat on the corner of the bed.

  Jack poured a mug of coffee and pushed it across the table.

  “Not for me,” Vicki demurred. “I’ve already had six cups with my sister. My nerves are rattled enough.”

  Jack slid the mug to Laura and poured one for himself. He glanced at Vicki and saw she was anxious to get started. “Talk,” he said before taking a sip.

  “If, uh, I give you something but … well, if you don’t think it’s enough to keep Buck from being charged, would you at least see to it that he gets off with probation?”

  “Probation!” Jack put the mug down. “No way. We’re talking murder with the commission of an offence involving a criminal organization laid on top of it. That penalty allows for a life sentence. Simple probation would never be allowed because it’d set a bad precedent.”

  “He could get off,” Vicki argued.

  “You and I both know that isn’t going to happen,” Jack said. “Otherwise you wouldn’t be here.”

  “Maybe … but Damien said he’d only get five years.” Vicki looked intently at Jack. All she saw was a grim smile. She turned to Laura, who rolled her eyes and exchanged a knowing look with Jack.

  Jack cleared his throat. “I understand why Damien doesn’t want you to worry, but Buck is your son. Your husband should be telling you the truth.” He reached for the mug again and glanced at Laura. “Maybe he hasn’t even told himself the truth yet.”

  Vicki looked glumly from Jack to Laura and back again.

  “The reality is,” Jack continued, “if Buck is sentenced to less than ten or twelve years, we’ll put pressure on to have his sentence appealed.” He paused to sip more coffee. “Once charges are laid in regard to a criminal organization, I couldn’t arrange leniency or probation even if I wanted to.”

  “But the charges haven’t been laid yet,” Vicki said, her eyes pleading. “You said we had two days. Maybe you could charge him with something less serious.”

  “I could do something if you had something to offer,” Jack replied, “but there —”

  “Buck didn’t mean to do what he did,” Vicki cried. “You must see that!” She looked anxiously between them for a reaction. Nothing. “He’s young and has been influenced by Damien, but he’s a good boy at heart. I know he didn’t mean to do what he did. He got caught up in the moment.”

  Jack’s face was hard. “You said you had something to tell us. There’s one thing you need to know. If you lie to us about anything, anything at all, then all deals are off.” He paused for effect. “That’s provided we do make a deal with you.”

  “Of course. I understand that. I won’t —”

  “Does Damien know you’re talking with us?” Jack asked.

  Vicki’s face darkened. “No, of course not. Otherwise he’d be here … like he should be.”

  “Then that poses a problem,” Jack said. “If you do have something to tell us, it has to be good enough that we could put someone in jail for it for a long time. Also, we’d have to be able to do that without anybody suspecting it was you who informed. If charges against Buck didn’t proceed and Damien knew you were privy to whatever information you’re thinking of passing on, he’d immediately point a finger at you.”

  “I don’t care what he thinks if it keeps my son out of jail,” Vicki replied haughtily.

  “You may not, but we do,” Jack said. “We have a reputation for protecting our sources.”

  Vicki shrugged. “I’m not sure how upset Damien would be with me. For a moment when you were talking to us in our kitchen, I thought he was going to tell you about that European connection. I could see in his eyes that he was considering it. I tried to convince him after you left … but that didn’t go well.”

  “This is different. You’re going behind his back. If he found out, I think he’d kill you. If not personally, then someone from the three-three would.”

  Vicki shuddered. “Maybe.”

  “That being said, depending on what you tell us, there are often ways we can do things to deflect the heat — but your husband is no fool. The element of danger would still be present.”

  “So you’ve heard about the three-three,” Vicki said thoughtfully.

  “I know about them. I wasn’t sure if you did,” Jack replied.

  “Some of the wives and girlfriends talked about it when we were at a party. Maybe I could find out their names. One of them is from Kelowna.”

  “Pasquale Bazzoli,” Jack said.

  Vicki’s face revealed her disappointment. “You already know,” she said.

  “That … and a lot more.” Jack’s tone was firm. He looked hard at her. She’s holding something back … something she’s afraid to tell me. “We don’t have all day. Do you have something for us or not?”

  Vicki met Jack’s gaze. “Okay, I’ve got something else.”

  She’s testing the water … like tossing out a low-valued poker ch
ip. Whatever she’s about to say isn’t much.

  “But what you wanted, that European thing, I can’t help you with that. I hadn’t even heard about it until you mentioned it to Damien.”

  “Okay, so what can you tell us?”

  “When I spoke with Damien after you left, he told me that Buck might even get less than five years — if the right judge takes the case.”

  “We’ve been over that,” Jack said.

  “When he said ‘the right judge,’ he wasn’t talking about getting a judge who’s soft on crime. The judge he referred to is with the B.C. Supreme Court and has been in Damien’s pocket for years.” She smiled smugly. “I know who it is. I could give you his name.”

  “Don’t bother.”

  Vicki looked crestfallen. “You know?”

  “All you’ve got to do is read the newspapers,” Jack replied. “Everybody knows who he is. He’s tossed out so many cases or given such lenient sentences that it’s obvious.” He glanced at Laura and joked, “I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a club tat on his ass to show his support for Satans Wrath.”

  Vicki bit her lower lip. She’s holding something back … but what?

  “Listen,” Jack said, sounding sympathetic. “I know a good mom would do whatever was necessary to protect her children. Considering that Buck will be a prime target by rival gangs in prison, I understand your concern.”

  Vicki looked sharply at Jack, then her eyes brimmed with tears.

  Jack drank from his mug. “I can’t guarantee anything, but I’ll ask that he serve his time in isolation. I can’t make any promises as to his safety, but I’ll ask.”

  “What do you mean you’ll ask?” Vicki said abruptly. “Isn’t that a given? You simply explain the situation to the warden?”

  Jack looked incredulous. “You must know that Satans Wrath has bought off jail guards?” Vicki’s puzzled look said she didn’t understand. Jack took another sip of coffee. “The same thing goes for some of the rival gangs. Ten or twelve years is a long time. Things happen … but as one parent to another, I’ll do my best. Isolation would be the safest.”