A Delicate Matter Read online

  “Or thought he was in charge,” Rose said dryly. “I heard that he and his team were waiting outside the house when you were allegedly attacked by Vicki.”

  Jack ignored her. “What’s up, Dave?”

  “I heard you called Cummings on Friday to warn him that the bikers might blame him for what happened.”

  “Yes, I had the impression that Damien was suspicious about Cummings. For me it’s good news because the real informant is safe, but I still thought I should warn him.”

  “What did Damien say that made you think he was blaming him?”

  “Damien isn’t the type to advertise what he’s thinking, but the look on his face when Cummings’s name was mentioned said it all. Very few people knew about his hidden bank accounts. When it comes to blaming someone, I think Damien put Cummings at the top of the list. Even if Cummings is charged, the bikers might think a deal was struck. I felt it morally right that I should warn him.”

  “Morally right?” Rose mouthed.

  “Both he and his wife have disappeared,” Dave said.

  “Are you thinking that he and his wife have both been murdered?” Jack saw Rose glare at him. Shouldn’t have worded it that way.

  “No, whatever you said must have scared the hell out of him,” Dave replied. “We pulled his credit-card receipts. They checked into a hotel Friday night and bought tickets to fly to Indonesia on Saturday. I’m waiting to hear back from Airport Special Squad to confirm, but I feel confident that they’re gone.”

  “So he’s alive but on the run,” Jack said, more for Rose’s benefit.

  “Yes.”

  “I thought you guys would’ve seized his passport.”

  “We never found it. This morning we discovered he had a safety deposit box that we didn’t know about. He was into it Saturday before they left.”

  “There’s no extradition in Indonesia,” Jack noted.

  “His house, their cars … all left behind,” Dave said.

  “Guess he figured his life was worth more. Perhaps my hunch that Damien suspected him was right. Cummings must have thought the same thing.”

  “Well, if you hear anything from your sources about him, please let us know.”

  “Will do,” Jack replied.

  “Your hunch that Damien suspected him?” Rose asked the second he disconnected. “What did you say to him?”

  “Who?”

  “Cummings!”

  “I called him on Friday to warn him that Damien suspected him of being the informant. I guess he listened to me, because credit-card receipts indicate that he and his wife fled to Indonesia on Saturday.”

  “You said or did something to make Damien suspect him, didn’t you?”

  Jack nodded. “I thought it better for Damien to suspect him, rather than Vicki.”

  “Which is why you were certain Vicki would be safe when you first told me about the bank accounts. You knew then what were you going to do?”

  “It’s basic psychology,” Jack replied. “If a tragedy befell you like it did Damien, who’d you rather suspect was responsible? Your spouse or some lawyer? I simply thought it prudent to warn Cummings that he might be under a certain degree of suspicion for —”

  “And you felt it morally right to warn him!” Rose said.

  “I’m sorry,” Jack said. “You’re right. Cummings is a degenerate — even by defence lawyer standards. I was probably wrong to warn him. You’re right to be angry with me.”

  Rose looked dumbfounded. “I’m not angry about your warning him!”

  Jack glanced a Laura and winked.

  Rose spotted it. “You might find this funny, but I don’t! How funny do you think you’ll find it when you’re kicking your Stetson up the Trans-Canada to Chilliwack Freeway Patrol?”

  Jack sighed. “Okay … you’re upset because you think I didn’t trust you.”

  “I’m very upset.”

  “It’s not that I don’t trust you,” Jack said.

  “Then you were protecting me from knowing — which means that whatever you did was wrong. Same as your bullshit attempt to tell me a moth was eating your sweater.”

  “That was different. At worst I could be judged as having taken a foolish risk. Cummings is more what I’d call a grey area.”

  “How grey?”

  “Damien overheard what he thought was a butt call.”

  “A butt call condemning Cummings,” Rose said flatly.

  Jack nodded.

  Rose briefly closed her eyes while she pinched the bridge of her nose. “I would’ve gone along with it,” she said quietly. “You should’ve told me.”

  “I’m sorry,” Jack said. “I felt like my very existence — my sole purpose as a police officer — was to catch Damien. I didn’t want to chance anything going wrong. If I never make another arrest, I’ll be content with the knowledge that he’s truly finished.”

  Rose gazed silently at Jack, then gripped his shoulder to emphasize what she was about to say. “Promise me you’ll never hold out on me regarding stuff like that again.”

  Jack met her gaze solemnly. “I promise,” he said, honestly believing he was telling the truth.

  Chapter Forty-Two

  It was early afternoon on Tuesday when Jack, driving a Mercedes with a rental sticker on the bumper, parked in front of Aaron and Chuck’s Hydroponics and went inside. Laura and Tina remained in the car, but could see him through the store’s large glass windows.

  A small bell over the door announced his entrance and Chuck appeared from down an aisle. “May I help you?”

  “How you all doin’?” Jack replied, glancing around the store. There were no other customers. He saw Aaron at the end of another aisle holding a clipboard and checking inventory.

  “Doing fine, thanks,” Chuck replied. “And you?”

  Jack paused to turn and give a friendly wave to Laura and Tina. “We’re doing great! Love it up here. More beautiful than California. A little cooler, but man, those mountains are fantastic.”

  “What can I do for you?”

  Jack made a point of looking around the store as if to ensure they were alone, then lowered his voice. “I know you sell hydroponics.”

  “Yes,” Chuck replied, gesturing at the aisles. “Nothing wrong or secret about that.”

  “Well, the thing is, B.C. has a reputation for growing the best, uh —” Jack raised his hand to his lips, the thumb and forefinger pinched together to simulate smoking marijuana “— you know, tomatoes. I’m hoping you could put me in touch with someone who, uh, grows tomatoes. My brother lives in Alaska and I’d like to bring him two hundred pounds. Or I guess you call it metric up here. Whatever two hundred pounds is in metric.”

  “I’m sorry,” Chuck replied. “I don’t understand why you came here. Maybe try a grocery store. We only sell the equipment for growing plants. What people grow is none of our business.”

  Jack scratched his head, pretending to ponder the situation as he gawked at the items on the shelves. Then he gestured toward Aaron. “What about him? Think maybe he could help me?”

  “No, I really doubt that —”

  “Yo, big brother!” Laura called as she and Tina entered the store. Both wore skin-tight jeans, high heels, and open windbreakers that revealed low-cut blouses stretched tightly across ample cleavage.

  Jack saw Chuck glance at the women. Perfect. You suddenly became a mouth breather.

  Laura approached Jack. “We didn’t come all the way to Canada to spend the day sitting in a car. You promised you’d take us someplace where we could meet some guys and party.”

  “There’s lots of time,” Jack replied. “It’s still early.”

  “Yeah, but we want to shop for some clothes first. Can’t this business stuff wait until tomorrow?”

  Tina didn’t appear interested in the conversation and sh
e smiled at Chuck. He was quick to smile back.

  “Yeah … okay,” said Jack. “I’ll take you shopping in a minute. Wait here a moment.” He looked at Chuck. “Can I speak to you in private, maybe in back?” He set off in that direction.

  Chuck followed Jack halfway down an aisle, where Jack stopped, before giving a nod toward Aaron at the end of the aisle. “I’ll talk to him in a moment and see if he can send me someplace other than a grocery store, but first I want to ask you something.”

  “What?”

  “I don’t know Vancouver too well. Is there any place you can recommend where I can take my sister and her friend out tonight? Tina is celebrating her divorce and my sister broke up with her boyfriend last week. Both of ’em want to cut loose and go someplace where they can meet a couple of guys.”

  Chuck glanced toward the front of the store and Tina gave him another smile. He turned to Jack. “Actually my friend and I are single.”

  “You are?” Jack replied, sounding surprised. “I don’t suppose … I know it’s a lot to ask … especially at last moment like this, but would you mind being dates for the girls tonight? I’d pay the shot … dinner and all.”

  Chuck looked like he’d won a lottery. “Give me a minute to talk to my buddy.”

  “If you’re too busy —”

  “No. Maybe … maybe we could help you out on that other thing, too,” Chuck said anxiously. “Wait here a sec.”

  Jack watched as Chuck went and whispered to Aaron. As they talked Aaron made several furtive glances in Laura’s and Tina’s direction. Chuck then took out his phone and placed a call while Aaron approached Jack.

  “My name’s Aaron,” he said, sticking out his hand.

  Jack shook it. “My friends call me JB.”

  “Where you from?”

  “California,” Jack replied.

  “Don’t they grow tomatoes down there?”

  “Not as good as B.C.,” Jack said. “Plus bringing them across the border into Canada and then back into the States is a risk. Besides, I used to deal with a guy up here before and I’m already set up when it comes to paying.”

  “Set up?”

  “My sister already has a bank account and safety deposit box in Vancouver. I prefer to pay by having her hand the money over in the bank at the same time I receive the goods elsewhere. Once I’m clear, then whoever Laura is meeting leaves the bank.”

  “To prevent rips.”

  “You got it. In the end I trusted my other source enough that we didn’t bother with the bank. The problem is he got married and his wife made him quit. He did give me the name of a guy who lives in another city, but it’d be a nuisance to go there. I’d rather do business in Vancouver if I could.”

  Aaron nodded. The sound of Laura and Tina giggling distracted him and he saw Laura adjusting Tina’s long black hair. “Wait a minute, I gotta get something from the till.”

  Aaron ambled to the front of the store and opened the cash register. While he rummaged around he glanced at Laura and Tina, who smiled at him. He then returned to where Jack stood.

  “Do you think you’ll be able to help me out?” Jack asked. He glanced at Laura and Tina. “With the tomatoes, I mean, not my sister and her friend.”

  Aaron grinned. “There’s a guy we know who, uh, might be able to help you out. Chuck is trying to reach him.” He gestured as Chuck approached.

  “How did you make out?” asked Jack.

  Chuck shook his head. “I phoned around but couldn’t reach the guy, so I ended up leaving him a message on his voice mail.”

  “I really appreciate the effort,” Jack said. He then introduced himself to Chuck as JB before adding, “If it works out, tell him I’d like to do a similar run every couple of months.”

  “I’ll let ’im know,” Chuck replied. “We’ve got coffee on in the back. Do you want a cup and see if he calls back in the next half-hour?”

  Jack smiled. “That’d be great.”

  “You mentioned your sister and her friend are looking to party,” Chuck said.

  “Yes.” Jack glanced toward the front of the store.

  “Aaron and I know this city like the back of our hands. We’d be glad to show them around.” He looked at Aaron. “Wouldn’t we?”

  “Sure, I happen to be free tonight,” Aaron said nonchalantly.

  Asshole. I’m sure you’re free every night. “Give me a moment to check with the girls and make sure they, uh, haven’t changed their minds. Like I said, if they’re up for it, dinner’s on me tonight.”

  Aaron’s and Chuck’s faces were each the picture of hope as Jack went to the front of the store. He whispered to Laura and Tina, who gave an enthusiastic response. Jack gave Aaron and Chuck a thumbs-up and they beamed.

  Introductions were made and moments later, everyone settled around a plastic patio table in the back room while Chuck busied himself making a fresh pot of coffee.

  “Where are you staying?” Aaron asked Jack.

  “At the Pan Pacific. Room five oh six. Laura and Tina have their own room down the hall from me.”

  “Posh hotel,” Chuck said, glancing at Aaron.

  “The hotel recommended a Italian restaurant on Robson Street called CinCin,” Jack told him. “How about we meet for dinner at eight o’clock, then go from there?”

  “Sounds great!” Chuck replied enthusiastically.

  “I’ve also picked up a cellphone,” Jack said. “I’ll give you the number in case something comes up and you can’t make it. If you don’t reach me on the cell, phone my room. You can also pass it on to whoever you called.”

  Aaron retrieved a pen and piece of paper.

  “We can’t make you any promises,” Chuck said as Aaron wrote the number down.

  “I understand. I appreciate you trying.”

  “So where in California are you guys from?” asked Aaron.

  “Santa Rosa,” Jack replied. “It’s about an hour north of Frisco.”

  “I’ve been to San Francisco several times,” Aaron said. “My sister lives there and is married to one of your countrymen.”

  “Great place to visit,” Jack said, secretly glad that he’d done his homework. “Easy drive to the Napa Valley if you like wine.”

  Over the next hour the conversation centred on climate and sightseeing in northern California. Jack felt he was able to handle the conversation without arousing any suspicion from Aaron.

  During that time, Jack noted that Aaron and Chuck took turns going to the front of the store. Business is slow — but not so slow that they can’t each drive a Corvette Stingray. Eventually Jack made a pretence of looking at his watch, then raised an eyebrow in Chuck’s direction.

  “This guy is sometimes hard to get hold of,” Chuck said. “Bad cell connections where he hangs out. Hopefully I’ll know by eight tonight.”

  “We wanna go shopping,” Laura pouted.

  Aaron and Chuck walked outside the store with them and as they climbed back into the Mercedes, they called out, “See you at eight!”

  “That went as well as could be expected,” Jack said as he backed out of the slot.

  “Don’t even think about inviting them back to the hotel tonight,” Tina warned.

  “Ditto on that,” Laura added, giving a friendly wave to Chuck and Aaron as they drove away.

  Aaron and Chuck went back into the store and Aaron opened a laptop computer. They both stared at the screen.

  “The tracker’s working well,” Chuck noted.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Aaron and Chuck entered CinCin on time and joined Jack, Laura, and Tina, who were seated on an patio overlooking the street one storey below. It was a romantic setting and outdoor heaters took away the coolness of the late-September air.

  After greeting everyone and sitting down, Chuck looked at Jack. “I still haven’t heard back
from that guy. Maybe later tonight I will.”

  “No problem,” Jack said. “Would you guys like a drink?”

  “You bet I would,” Chuck said, his ruddy face eager. He scanned the table to see what Jack, Laura, and Tina were drinking.

  “I’m having olive soup,” Jack told him.

  “Olive soup?”

  “A martini,” Aaron explained, giving Chuck an annoyed glance.

  “Oh, yeah. Olive soup. That’s a good one. What’s in a martini?”

  “Gin and vermouth,” Jack replied. “These days people make them all sorts of ways, but I like mine with gin, vermouth, and three olives.”

  “I’m having something they call an Autumn’s Kiss,” Laura said. She smiled at Aaron. “It’s really good. Not sure what’s in it. I think they said pear and ginger vodka, along with cinnamon syrup and lemon.” She glanced at Tina beside her. “You really should try one. Maybe it’d make you feel better.”

  “I better stick to the soda,” Tina replied.

  “Something wrong?” Chuck asked. He gawked at her and breathed through his mouth, which was open wide enough to hold a baseball.

  Tina grimaced and moved slightly in her seat as if in pain. “I started getting cramps and feeling feverish late this afternoon when we were shopping. I had a glass of water about an hour ago and thought I was going to lose it. Maybe the nausea’ll go away in a while.”

  “Airports and airplanes,” Laura said. “Packed with all those people from everywhere on the planet. Who knows what bug you might have caught.”

  “I’ll be okay,” Tine replied. “I’m counting on having fun tonight. I’m sure if I take it easy for a bit I’ll be okay.”

  “Hope so,” Chuck said.

  “I’m ordering a bottle of wine,” Jack said. “As much as I love my olive soup, they’re kind of strong.”

  “Yeah — wine, that’s what I’ll have,” Chuck said.

  Aaron nodded in agreement and Jack ordered a bottle of Pinot Noir, Kettle Valley Reserve from the Okanagan Valley. Everyone then ordered an appetizer of wild-mushroom-and-chestnut soup with mushroom crostini, to be followed by the main course.