An Element of Risk Read online

  “I bet that taught them all a lesson,” Lance said facetiously.

  “I told you because I want you to keep in mind that from my point of view guns aren’t worth risking your life over. When it comes to dealing with Zombie, I’ll maintain control. If he’s arrested on anything linked to you, it won’t be until I give the okay. As far as the two rats go, I-HIT won’t have grounds for any immediate arrests, so there are no worries there.”

  “Good. I imagine I-HIT will get a wiretap on them if CFSEU doesn’t already have one.”

  “You’re likely right, but it could still come out down the road as to when I-HIT learned the information.”

  “That’s only if the two rats get arrested and if it does go to trial … which would be at least a year from now at best.”

  “We’re required to give defence a copy of everything we have long before trial.”

  “Yeah, but that’d still take time. By then they might not remember when I ordered the questions … or if they do, Linquist would be suspected before me.”

  “For this, perhaps, but later there could be other things that Linquist isn’t involved with and you are. We need to be careful.”

  “I hear ya. No worries, I wouldn’t be chapter president if I didn’t know how to take care of myself.”

  Jack ended the call and put his phone back on the bed-side table.

  “Is this how our Easter Sunday is going to be?” ­Natasha murmured, not bothering to open her eyes.

  The two rats.… How long before these goofs or their ­buddies kill another innocent person? He glanced at the clock. Early, but this shouldn’t wait.

  Natasha sat up in bed. “You didn’t hear a word I said, did you?”

  “I thought you were mumbling in your sleep,” Jack replied. “It’d be rude to listen.”

  Natasha made a face. “You’ve always got an answer.”

  Jack leaned over and kissed her. “Sorry about waking you. I have to make one or two calls, then I’m done.”

  “You better be. I hear the boys. They won’t want to wait long.”

  As Natasha put on her housecoat and left the bedroom, Jack phoned Roger and started his conversation by apologizing for calling him at home and for calling so early in the morning.

  “It’s okay,” Roger replied. “At my age I get up early. I’ve already had two pots of coffee, six eggs, couple of pork chops, and ten slices of bacon.”

  “You lyin’ dog. You’re not that much older than me.”

  Roger chuckled. “What’s up?”

  “Have you heard of any gang members in the Death Heads with the first names of Aron and Jeremy?”

  “Sure. Aron Kondrat and Jeremy Pratt. They call them the two rats because of how their surnames are spelled.”

  “That’s them!” Jack smiled to himself. “You made my day. For sure you made Connie’s day.”

  “Christ! They the ones who murdered that poor sap in front of his wife?”

  “Yes.”

  “Man, that’s great news. I wondered why you called so early. Especially on Easter Sunday.”

  “I found out through an informant. Knowing isn’t the same as proving it,” Jack noted.

  “No, but it’s a hell of a good start. Connie told me you were trying to help.”

  “You’ll need to keep this under your hat. It’s strictly on a need-to-know basis. My informant stuck his neck out and I don’t know how many people know it was them. Any arrests could put him in jeopardy.”

  “Understood.” Roger paused. “But you are going to call Connie?”

  “Yes, I trust her enough that she won’t run out and arrest the guys immediately.”

  “Then let her know that we’ve already got Kondrat and Pratt named in a wiretap. They live in a basement with two other gangbangers in PoCo. One by the name of Peter Jones and the other is Ronald Pierce. We have them both named, as well. It’s a dump and they only have mattresses or foam cushions on the floor for beds.”

  “They sound like typical shit-rats. I’ll pass the info on to Connie.”

  “They’re obviously stupid, but not stupid enough to talk on anything other than a disposable phone.” Roger paused, then swore before saying, “Maybe the little assholes are smarter than I thought. They’ve been keeping such a low profile that they were way down on our priority list. We’ve been following other gang members around.”

  “Not your fault. We can only do so much with the manpower we have. Prioritizing a few selected targets and ignoring the rest is the norm.”

  “Yeah, but it sucks to think if we’d been on them that poor guy might still be alive.”

  “Let’s not go there. It’s too depressing,” Jack responded.

  “You’re right,” Roger muttered. “Back to the two rats. Even though they’re already named in a wiretap, Connie will have to get a new one.”

  “Specifically naming them as suspects in Irving’s murder, otherwise the evidence could be tossed in court. Connie will know that.”

  “I know, but what I’m trying to say is that it will take time for her to do that. Maybe that will help your source.”

  “It will, but her getting a wiretap also makes me nervous. I’ll want to proofread what she says when it comes to my informant. I’ll also want to talk to whichever prosecutor is handling it so there won’t be any surprises down the road when it comes to disclosure.”

  “Connie will need you to help her regardless because you’ll have to document his reliability.”

  “You’re right. I’ve got another question. Have you heard of someone connected to these guys who goes by the name of Zombie?”

  Roger paused, then replied, “Nope, don’t know that one.”

  “He supplies the guns to the Death Heads.”

  “No kidding? Man, you really made my day finding that out! You’re better than the Easter bunny.”

  Not an image I want to remember.

  “Will your guy be able to identify him properly?” Roger asked.

  “Yes, it’s already in motion. It concerns me that these punks have access to such high-grade weapons.”

  “It concerns you?” Roger exclaimed. “Think how we feel in CFSEU. They’re better armed than we are.”

  “I want to take complete responsibility when it comes to investigating Zombie. I’ll be using my informant and need to control what happens along with who knows what.”

  “Be my guest, but if I can help out with surveillance teams or something, let me know.”

  “I appreciate that.”

  “I take it Connie told you about the double murder in Alabama,” Roger said. “Where the father and son were murdered?”

  “Yes, she said the FBI are looking for two brothers for that. Zachary and Luke Coggins.”

  “Someone from the FBI emailed me a list of the guns stolen in that robbery. I’ll send you a copy.”

  Jack was surprised. “The FBI and not the ATF sent you the list of stolen guns?”

  “The FBI may have linked it to another gun store robbery in Arkansas. Something to do with bad guys crossing state lines and all that. I imagine both the FBI and ATF are involved.” Roger paused. “Wait until you see the list of what was stolen. You won’t believe it.”

  “Why not?” Jack asked.

  “Each store was cleaned out for about five hundred weapons. Many of them were military-type assault rifles.”

  “Okay.”

  “Along with laser sights, silencers, and ammo.”

  “Silencers?” Jack was astounded. “They sell silencers to the public?”

  “Yup. Wait until you see the list. You wouldn’t believe what they get away with selling down there. I doubt that even our military has the quality of some of these ­weapons.”

  “That’s insane.”

  “I know. If you can put a stop to whoever is supplying the assholes up here, I’m all for it. Our priority is on the active shooters because of the threat of harm … and loss of life to innocent people. We don’t have the manpower to look much beyond that.�
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  “I’ll make it my priority,” Jack said assuredly. “My hunch is they’re being smuggled in from the States a few at a time. I’ll contact someone in the ATF office in Seattle to liaise with.”

  “If it leads to the two brothers wanted for the murders in Alabama, you’ll be working with the FBI as well,” Roger noted.

  “You want the weapons pipeline closed and the two murderers? Guess it doesn’t hurt to dream.”

  “Yeah … well, you never know. I was sent mugshots of the Coggins brothers. I’ll send you copies of them, as well. You never know where it could lead.”

  “Thanks. I also may need a hand with surveillance once I identify Zombie.”

  “If he’s supplying the punks we’re working on, that won’t be a problem.”

  Jack ended the call, then paused to listen to the excited voices of his sons from their bedroom as they spoke with Natasha. It made him feel good that they weren’t so old yet that they were no longer excited about hunting for Easter eggs. “I’ll be right there guys!” he yelled. “Only one more call. Ten minutes tops.”

  “We know your ten minutes, Dad,” Mike complained.

  Jack quickly punched Connie’s number into his phone. Her excitement at what he told her outmatched that of his sons.

  “My God,” Connie said. “This is absolutely fantastic. You really came through for me.”

  “My source came through for you,” Jack said. “He’s stuck his neck out twice in the last few days. I don’t want any immediate action. It could burn him.”

  “No worries there,” Connie replied. “I’ll need evidence. If CFSEU hasn’t got anything on their wiretaps yet, maybe I’ll have better luck with a room bug.”

  “That’s the route I figured you’d take. I’ll want to review your wiretap application in regards to my informant. He needs to be protected.”

  “Of course. Better yet, you write that part yourself. You know what could burn him when it comes to disclosure and what won’t.”

  “Great.”

  “It’ll be an easy application to get because mostly all I’ll have to do is piggyback your info onto the one Roger’s team did. That and outline why we believe they killed the wrong guy.”

  “How long will that take?”

  “You need to document reasons why you believe your guy is telling the truth.”

  “I know. I can show them good info he’s given me that goes back years. It might take a while, but I’ll have my end ready for you by Friday at the latest.”

  “Good, then hopefully I’ll have it completed by next weekend. Once it’s signed, I’ll work on getting a bug in the house where they live.”

  “Okay, we’ll talk later. I have to go.”

  “Sure, but, uh, Jack?”

  “What?”

  “Thank you. I mean that from the bottom of my heart.”

  “You’re welcome. Believe me … I want these guys caught, as well.”

  “I know. Still, with what you’ve done to help … it makes me think maybe I’ve misjudged you sometimes.”

  “No … you haven’t misjudged me.”

  “What? You ass! I’m holding out an olive branch here and —”

  “Yeah, olives do go well with martinis. Have a good day.” Jack smiled as he terminated the call.

  A moment later he stood with Natasha and watched Mike and Steve eagerly take the living room apart in their search for candy. Watching them scramble about and listening to their excited laughter, Jack hugged Natasha and they exchanged smiles.

  Then his thoughts went to the Irving household. What are they doing this morning? Is their five-year-old looking for candy? I bet not. Any laughter Rhonda hears from now on will remind her of her husband being murdered.

  Chapter Thirteen

  On Tuesday morning Jack and Laura arrived at work and reviewed the information that Roger had sent them.

  “Did you see this?” Laura asked, her face registering shock as she scanned the lists of weaponry stolen from gun shops in Alabama and Arkansas. “It’s appalling.”

  “Scary, isn’t it,” Jack replied, while studying mug shots of Zachary and Luke Coggins. Both men were in their mid-twenties, tall, and had long red hair pulled back in pony tails. They were clean-shaven, with sharp facial features. He decided that each looked as sullen as the other.

  Laura glanced over at the mugshots. “Those the ones wanted by the FBI for the murders in Alabama?”

  Jack nodded.

  “They look like twins,” Laura noted.

  “I thought the same, but if they are Zachary arrived fourteen months ahead of Luke.”

  He tossed the mug shots over for Laura to have a better look as he answered his office phone. The call display listed the caller as being from within the building.

  “Jack Taggart?” a woman asked, sounding like she was on the verge of tears.

  Jack had already identified himself when he answered, but it appeared that the caller had been too distraught to listen. “Yes, this is Corporal Jack Taggart. How can I help you?”

  “This is Bonny Wright,” she sniffled.

  “Sorry, have we met?”

  “No. I, uh, work for Chief Superintendent Quaile in Staffing.”

  “My condolences,” Jack said.

  “He’s an awful man,” she spluttered. “He really doesn’t like you.”

  “The feeling’s mutual. I don’t know if you know but he was my boss several years ago and let’s just say that we didn’t see eye to eye. Then, one day things came to a head — something he didn’t like about one of my files. Fortunately, no one else sided with him. Let’s see, how did the brass put it at that time? — right, I was told that some people’s abilities were more suited for administrative duties. And that’s what happened. He was transferred within a few months when it became painfully obvious that he wasn’t qualified. Some might suggest that his continued rise in rank would prove he had a talent for such work. He’s such a brown-noser that I suspect he uses more toilet paper to clean the end of his nose than he does his own ass. Jack paused. “Sorry, I got carried away. Why are you calling me?”

  “He —”

  Jack waited patiently as she blew her nose.

  “I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do,” she whimpered. “He’s been sitting on your last performance evaluation for four months.”

  “Four months!” Jack exclaimed.

  “Yes. I went over it the day we received it to ensure all the appropriate categories were filled out. All he’s supposed to do is read it to ensure that your score is justified by appropriate examples outlined by your boss. I know it was. Staff Sergeant Wood was thorough in that regard.”

  “How long does it take him to review other evaluations?” Jack asked.

  “Most times it takes him less than five minutes.”

  “So he’s purposely holding it back to stop me from being promoted,” Jack said decidedly.

  “Definitely. The competition is so tight that, without it, you won’t have the points you need to be on the short list of candidates. If it was included, I know you’d qualify. I keep reminding him to hand it in.”

  “What does he say?”

  “He used to say he’d get around to it. Now he tells me it’s not my concern.” She paused. “I don’t know, I … it’s not fair. Every day he manages to clean out his basket of everything else that comes in, but leaves your evaluation laying there.”

  Jack listened to her blow her nose again and thought about how much he respected her strong sense of justice and appreciated the risk she was taking by telling him. Trying to comfort her, he said, “Don’t worry about it.”

  “Don’t worry about it? How can you —”

  “Quaile is pompous, petty, obtuse, and vindictive. It is the vindictive part that concerns me. If he knew you’d called me he’d either make up an excuse to have you fired or treat you so badly that you’d quit.”

  “I know, but it’s not right!”

  “No, it’s not, but I don’t want to jeopardize
your job over it.”

  “Nobody in this office can stand him.”

  “I’m sure, but I don’t see anything we can do about it.”

  “Your section is getting two new constables, as well.”

  “Good, that’ll help.”

  “Not with the two he picked. One of them’s spent most of his career on medical leave for a bad back and the other’s morbidly obese and can only handle administrative duties.”

  “Wonderful,” Jack lamented. “I’m sure Quaile is delighted, but don’t worry about it. If I retire a corporal, so be it. I’m happy with the work I’m doing and to me that’s more important than climbing the corporate ladder.”

  “Really?”

  “Really. I appreciate you telling me, but I know how important your job is to you. Obviously you looked and can’t find anything else.”

  “How do you know I’ve already looked?”

  “You wouldn’t be as upset as you are otherwise, let alone work for a man like that. Again, thank you, but to me it doesn’t really matter.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. I’m sure. Take care of yourself and don’t worry about me.”

  When Jack terminated the call, he saw Laura staring at him. “You heard?” he asked.

  “Quaile is holding back your last performance evaluation to keep you from being promoted?”

  “Yes.”

  Laura’s face revealed her anger. She opened her mouth to say something, then closed it and started again. “It’s been what? Seven years since he was our boss? We were working on that human smuggling file. We couldn’t prove it, but I’m certain that if he hadn’t interfered that kid would still be alive.”

  “Guess he blames me for exposing his incompetence.”

  “He’s been carrying that anger around with him all these years,” Laura sighed, shaking her head.

  “Yes. In a way that makes me feel like I’ve won. To me, the promotion isn’t all that important … but that’s just me. For yourself, I’m sure you want to get above the rank of constable.”

  Laura screwed up her face. “I expected to.”

  “If you’re offered a corporal’s position somewhere else you might want to take it. Obviously my spot won’t be coming open.”