way, it smelled of coffee.”
“Coffee?”
“That’s not what I’m showing you. Take a look in the cooler!”
Jack looked inside. He saw a 9mm.
“Guess Damien figures you should protect yourself. Good idea.”
“Like hell it is! What is going on?”
Jack sighed and said, “I’m going to pour a martini. Then we’ll talk.”
Moments later, Jack and Natasha were sitting on their sofa and sipping on martinis as Jack told her everything leading up to her arrival at the park.
“So you’re upset because you feel responsible for them being kidnapped.”
“I am responsible. I feel horrible! Him trying to protect you makes me feel worse.”
“I can’t work with security hanging around. It will freak the patients out.”
“I know. Wish you would give it one more week at the farm.”
“Not an option. Can’t Damien tell you today who the Brit is?”
“That’s another problem. When I gave him the story about a connection between The Toad, the Brit, and his lawyer, I didn’t know his wife and daughter had been kidnapped. He might do a lot more than talk with Leitch.”
“Didn’t you think that to start with?”
“I expected Leitch might get slapped around a bit. Not now. This is different.”
“These are consequences you’ll have to live with. Damien too.”
“You’re comparing me with him? He’s the devil! Tell me you don’t think that?”
“I wasn’t saying that. Sounds to me like you were thinking that on your own.”
“Oh,” was all Jack said.
“But if he is pure evil, why were you so upset in the park?”
“I feel bad about his wife and daughter.”
“You had your arm around his shoulder. You feel bad for him too.”
Jack was exasperated. “I’m just not thinking clear,” he snapped. “This is Saturday night. I haven’t been to bed since Thursday. I’m just —”
“You’re just ... compassionate. You care about people. Don’t blame that on being tired.”
Jack looked at her for a moment, then sighed and said, “There’s more. Anti-Corruption were at the park. The Homicide Team too. They followed you and me after.”
Natasha was shocked. “Mexico? They know?” she whispered.
Jack grimaced and said, “It doesn’t look good. Me meeting with Damien ... they may have figured it out.”
Natasha grabbed Jack’s arm and said, “I won’t let that happen to you. I’ll say I —”
“You won’t say anything! Trust me! Tomorrow I’m going to start fixing things. This time without being watched.”
Sunday morning was quiet. There was little traffic when Jack pulled out onto the street. It didn’t take long to establish that he was alone. His meeting with Lance was brief.
“The club can only raise $1.5 million at the most,” Lance said. “We’re still $2 million short. Damien is screaming at everyone. Shit has really hit the fan.”
“Any sign of The Toad?” Jack asked.
“No, but Damien thinks Leitch might know where he is. He called him on his cell to meet him. Leitch is away until Tuesday. On some houseboat up in the Shuswap.”
“Damien going to wait until Tuesday?”
“Nope. He’s sending Rellik and his crew up there this afternoon.”
Damien received Jack’s urgent text message just before noon. He ensured he was alone before going to meet Jack outside the bus depot.
Jack came directly to the point. “My source saw The Toad take two sports bags into this place last night. He came out without them. Said he had to give them to a friend who was going on a trip.”
“Sounds like bullshit,” growled Damien.
“It is. My source rented a hotel room later with The Toad, just for an hour. She got a chance to look in his pocket. Found two locker keys and told me the numbers. I think I know where the money is!”
Damien was elated. “Thank you, thank you,” he kept repeating.
“The Toad said he wouldn’t see her for a week or two because he had to go out of town. Looks like she’s out of the loop. At least for now.”
“The fucker is leaving,” said Damien. “She’ll never see him again!”
“That’s what I figure. Once he comes back here for the money, I’ll bust him.”
“What!” Damien yelled. “You can’t do that! I need the money!”
“I know. I was going to give it to you. I just need The Toad to get the keys.”
“Fuck the keys! My guys can handle it. I’ll have someone check to make sure it’s there. Then I’ll have some guys wait and grab him when he shows.”
“Then you’ll politely ask him who the Brit is?”
Damien allowed himself a quick smile and then replied, “Yeah ... of course. But right now the important thing is my family. I need to make sure the money is there.” Damien then paused and said, “It’s been at least twenty-four hours since...” He held up his hand and wiggled his ring finger. “Guess you can tell Natasha to throw it out.”
Jack patted Damien on the shoulder and then replied, “She said that it could be used to make an impression. An exact match.”
“Yeah, right. Exact. You really believe that?”
“My wife doesn’t bullshit.”
Damien stared at Jack for a moment and then simply replied, “Good.”
“Which reminds me,” said Jack. “Open the glovebox. She really appreciated the 9mm but said to give it back.”
Damien retrieved the gun and said, “You sure?”
“Positive. I gave her a little .32 Beretta a few months ago. After that thing with Bishop last year.”
“I should have known. Makes sense. Smaller and easier for a woman to shoot.”
“Also
