said Noah. “Are all these really bad guys?”
“Some are and some might be their friends,” replied Jack.
“But if you’re friends of a bad guy then aren’t you a bad guy, too?” asked Noah.
“You don’t always know who the bad guys are,” replied Jack, glancing at Faith curled up on Gabriel’s lap.
Gabriel stroked Faith’s hair with her hand and asked, “Were you able to talk with your wife? What did she say?”
“Um … she said that type of reaction is not normal and that you should have her checked out right away. It could be a lot of things.”
“Like what?” asked Gabriel, her face revealing her worry.
“She, uh, didn’t really elaborate. How long has she been sick?”
“Only a few days.”
“Anybody else sick in the house?” asked Jack.
“No, thank the Lord,” replied Gabriel.
“Jack,” said Laura, “I don’t think we should wait for Connie to take a statement if Natasha said —”
Jack put up his hand, signalling for Laura to stop and turned to Gabriel and said, “Does Faith have her own bedroom?”
“Yes,” replied Gabriel, sounding puzzled.
“I would like to see it,” replied Jack. “Would you mind?”
“I haven’t cleaned it,” replied Gabriel. “With her being sick … the bed isn’t made.”
“That’s okay,” replied Jack. “We’re not with Good Housekeeping.”
“Okay … I’ll show you,” replied Gabriel. She carried Faith down the hall as Jack and Laura followed. As they reached the bedroom door Gabriel asked, “What are you looking for?”
“Examining if Faith could be sick from an environmental cause,” replied Jack.
“I told you I hadn’t cleaned for a few days,” responded Gabriel nervously, “but I am sure that my housekeeping is not such as to make anyone sick. If you are thinking …”
“From what I can see, your home is impeccable,” replied Jack, entering the bedroom. “I’m more concerned with fumes coming up from the basement.”
“Oh, that,” said Gabriel, sounding relieved. “I’m used to it and don’t smell it anymore. What you’re smelling is cleaning fluids that the men downstairs sometimes mix up for different cleaning solutions. They told me that different types of floors and rugs require different types of cleaning agents.”
Jack spotted a discoloration on the wallpaper alongside Faith’s bed. He got on his knees and looked under the bed. What he saw made him want to retch. It was a cold-air return vent coming up from the basement. He was conscious of Laura getting down on her knees and looking. Their eyes met and he saw her mouth drop open in shock as their eyes met.
“I found him!” yelled Noah, from the kitchen. “This is one of them!”
The excitement of Noah’s discovery caused Jack and Laura to temporarily suspend their thoughts on the cold-air return. Seconds later, everyone huddled around Noah at the kitchen table as he proudly pointed to a picture.
“See?” said Noah, pointing at the picture with his finger. “That’s Joe.”
“Oh, no, honey,” said Gabriel, while ruffling Noah’s hair. “Joe doesn’t have a beard. This man looks —”
“No, Mom,” said Noah, sounding exasperated. “His hair is the same colour.”
“Reddish-blond,” said Gabriel. “Honey, lots of people have hair that colour.”
“No,” said Noah adamantly. “You never believe me. You’re so dense sometimes,” he muttered.
“Noah Parsons, you don’t talk that way with me,” replied Gabriel crossly.
“Mom, look closer at his eyes,” pleaded Noah. “He even has the same freckles on his nose.”
Gabriel looked again and after a few seconds she brought her face closer to the screen. “Good heavens, you’re right,” she said in amazement. “It is him!” She looked at Jack and added, “But his hair is short now and he is clean shaven.”
“Told you so,” said Noah, looking pleased with himself.
Jack knew the man in the photo. Herman Varrick. A year and a half ago Varrick ran one of seven labs on which Jack orchestrated raids after receiving information from an informant inside Satans Wrath. An informant he no longer had.
To make matters worse, Satans Wrath had an informant of their own. Someone working in Drug Section had tipped off some of the labs prior to the raid. Those who were arrested were released the following day. Some were still awaiting trial, including Varrick. So far, the dirty narc had never been identified.
Jack reflected upon the time of the raids and the time that Varrick moved into Gabriel’s home. Varrick relocated here as a result of what I did. I’m responsible for —
Faith coughed and started to cry.
Jack stared at Faith. His brain tried to protect him from what his actions may have caused. Maybe she has a cold. Could be nothing — the cold air return under her bed … still …
He continued to stare as his thoughts gave in to the more likely reason for her illness. He clenched his jaw in an effort to control his own tears of frustration and sadness.
Chapter Four
Chapter Four
Jack and Laura stood in the backyard and quickly told Connie what they knew.
“Herman Varrick,” Connie said. “So he’s a member of Satans Wrath?”
“Not a member,” replied Jack. “They wouldn’t risk having a club member take a chance like that. But Varrick was under their control before. I’m sure he and his fellow lab rats are still receiving their orders from Satans Wrath. Last time the bikers had a prospect handling the lab rats to act as a go-between with a member of the club. Things have changed since then, but Satans Wrath will still be in control … only more insulated.”
Connie looked pensive so Laura said, “A prospect is like a probationary member of the club. Sometimes they call him a striker.”
“Yeah, I know that,” replied Connie dismissively. “I was deciding how to approach the situation. If Satans Wrath are handling these guys, I know I won’t get any confessions, even if I do find traces of blood.”
“You don’t think traces of blood up some guy’s nose and in his ears would be enough to convict?” asked Laura.
“I doubt it,” replied Connie. “Defence would have their client say they were there and tried to stop the assault. Turn the murderer
