leave but we sure as hell can’t live with these guys hanging around outside. Now I know how the prime minister must feel.”
“Sorry, Ben. I’ll straighten that out tomorrow. I promise.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow afternoon.”
“Why then?”
“I’m going to a meeting. Don’t worry. You, Liz, Marcie … everyone will be okay.”
“This meeting will straighten things out?”
“I expect so.”
“That’s a relief. Don’t get me wrong. We’re grateful. It’s just … we want it to be over. When you told us the two guys who murdered Maggie and Ben Junior were dead … Liz and I felt like our life was going to … well, it will never be normal, but at least it gave us some satisfaction. Then you said the main guy escaped … now we don’t know what to feel.”
“I will catch him, Ben. I promise you that!”
“Yeah, I know. That’s what I told Liz. You live up to your promises. Damn it, I haven’t even congratulated you and Natasha for getting engaged.”
“Thanks.”
Ben stared at Jack for a moment, then hugged him and said, “Thanks. Thanks for killing those bastards. I know you’ll get this other guy, too.”
Jack thought about his promise to Natasha, and then he thought about tomorrow. Damien was in for a surprise.
chapter forty-one
“Your men had quite a day, yesterday,” said Isaac, once Louie Grazia sat down.
“It would appear so.”
“I read a statement that Homicide took this morning from O’Reilly. Take a look. Tell me what you think.”
Louie read the statement, then said, “I think he should receive a medal. Both of them should.”
“You read the part about how he killed the one they called Wizard?”
“Yes. After being seriously injured and barely able to see, he captured him in the backyard. Made him toss the weapon and lay in the prone position. He was so weak he had to sit down to cover him. Said he started to lose consciousness and woke up in time to see Wizard with a lighter in his hand about to shove a pail of gas on him.”
“That’s the part that really got to me. As injured as he was, he still chased this guy down and tried to arrest him. If he hadn’t had the quick reflexes to kick the pail over, it would have been him that burned to death. Says he even caught the lighter that Wizard threw. Lucky for him the gas went in the other direction. I agree, commendations are in order.”
“Good. They’ll be pleased to hear it.”
“There is one other matter, however, that I wish to discuss with you.”
“Sir?”
“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.
