He smiled and put his hand on Kerin’s shoulder. “It’s okay, my friend. Wait here while I go to the café. With what is going on, I don’t know if the Ringmaster will still want to see you today.”
Roche had barely turned to walk to the café when Kerin headed for the public washrooms again. He knew he didn’t have much time. On his way he texted a short message to the surveillance team:
RF meeting Ring in café across from park. My meet may be put off.
With the four members of the surveillance team who were on foot, Kerin knew it would look better if a couple of them were already in the café when Roche arrived. As he neared the washrooms, he glanced back and was pleased to see two of the team enter the café before Roche. The other two took up positions on the sidewalk.
As he made his way around to the front of the washrooms, any elation he had at the prospect of meeting the Ringmaster was gone. A police officer’s life was at stake and he had a sickening feeling that there wouldn’t be enough time to save him.
Chapter Eight
Jack saw Clive swallow nervously as they leaned against the front of the car. Anton had told them to wait as he was expecting a call back.
Anton and Bojan stood a short distance away with their arms folded across their chests, watching. Tension was high, and the silence made every minute seem like ten.
Jack was conscious of the floodlight above his head, but under the situation he did not see much choice. As he waited, he noticed a close-circuit television camera mounted on the corner of the house and another one on the outbuilding. Finally, he saw Anton answer his phone and speak briefly, before hanging up and whispering to Bojan.
“So what’s the story, guys?” Jack asked.
Anton glared at Jack. “I’ve been told to give you what you ask for, but once it is in your hands, Klaus and Liam must be released before you go.”
“I don’t like that idea,” Jack said. “There’s no reason for me to hold the two of them once I’m away from here. I’ll let them go then.”
“Also no reason for you not to kill them,” said Bojan.
“That is the only way we can do it,” added Anton. He pointed his finger at Clive. “You are responsible for this and will pay us back before the day is over!”
“Not a problem,” Clive said. “My money is in a safety deposit box. I’ll get it as soon as the bank opens.”
Anton nodded, then turned his attention to Jack. “Under the circumstances, given what they did to your lady, we have no quarrel with you.”
“Okay, but I want to see the coke in my hand before they’re released,” said Jack.
“That is not a problem. You will see that it is high quality. Wait here and I will get it.”
Anton went to the outbuilding, entering through a side door, and flicked on the lights. A few minutes later he beckoned for them to come inside.
Jack entered and saw that the building was being used as a workshop. There was a table saw in the room, along with piles of lumber and partially built pieces of furniture. Some of the furniture was clamped for gluing and resting on sawhorses. Another piece of furniture on a workbench was wrapped in bubble wrap.
An open door at the far end of the workspace led into another room, and Jack caught a glimpse of a band saw and another workbench, with tools hanging on the wall above it.
“Over there,” said Anton, pointing to a set of weigh scales on the nearby bench. On the scales was a clear plastic bag containing a brick of white powder. “Check it out, it’s yours.”
Jack checked the weight. It was slightly more than a pound. Anton had broken a kilo in two and was not concerned that he was offering more than had been bargained for. He picked up the bag and examined it. “Looks good,” he said. “The weight is a little over.”
“Consider it a tip to get you the hell out of here and never come back,” replied Anton. “First, though, call your women and tell them to release my guys and tell Klaus to call me as soon as they’re free.”
* * *
It was quarter after four when Laura took the call from Jack. When he explained the situation, she freed Klaus and Liam and, still holding the shotgun on them, allowed them to get dressed.
“Now get out,” she said coldly.
Klaus hesitated and glared back at Laura, until she pointed the shotgun at his face. Then he turned and, holding his jaw and mouth with one hand, followed Liam out the door. Once in the hotel parking lot he turned to Liam and mumbled, “You able to drive?”
Liam glanced nervously back at the hotel. “Yeah, that kind of sobered me up.”
Klaus tossed his car keys to Liam, and once inside the car, with his free hand he retrieved a pistol he had hidden under the dash.
“Want to go back and do the whores?” asked Liam.
Klaus glanced up at the hotel, then down at his pistol as he rethought his actions. Go up against two whores waiting in a room with a shotgun … maybe not such a good idea. Besides, it’s not them I want. He took his hand away from his mouth and looked at the blood on his fingers. “No, not the whores. I want the fucker who did this to me. Speaking of which, I better phone my friends.”
* * *
Anton answered the call from Klaus and walked toward the end of the workshop so he could talk without being overheard. “You free?” he asked.
“Yeah, Liam and me are driving away from the hotel,” said Klaus, “but the fucking pimp … I’m sure he broke my jaw. I’m in a lot of pain. Also busted most of my teeth and my lips are all cut up. I’m spittin’ blood everywhere.”
“Get Liam to take you to a hospital.”
“What about the pimp?”
“Orders are for me to do him and Clive as soon as I hang up.”
“Wish you could keep the pimp alive until I get there,” Klaus said. “Can’t you gut-shoot him or something?”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“As soon as I’m out of Emergency, I’ll take Liam home and be right over,” Klaus said. “If the pimp’s still alive, I’m going to use every tool we got in the shop on him.”
Anton hung up and looked at Jack and smiled, then motioned with his finger for Clive to approach him. “I need to tell you exactly how you will repay us.”
Clive had taken a few steps forward when Anton raised a .32-calibre pistol and pointed it directly at his face. “You will pay with your life,” said Anton calmly.
Clive’s mouth opened to scream as Anton pulled the trigger.
The bullet entered Clive’s face beside his nose before ricocheting around inside his skull, turning his brain to mush. He was dead before his body hit the floor.
