“The bad guys know this?”
“The real professionals do. It’s not something that’s spoken about. If they respect you they should take that for granted.”
“Others feel this way?”
“Most long-time UC operators do. What we know, what we have been through, it’s like we’re all family. Organized crime can afford to lose a few soldiers on the bottom. The only thing keeping a lot of us alive is that they know we would seek revenge against the executive level for authorizing the hit. I don’t care if it’s some poor cop on the other side of the country that gets whacked; it’s a declaration of all-out war. Otherwise you won’t survive.”
“That’s one of them rules?”
“That’s one of them rules.”
Danny thought it over. What would Wigmore think if he heard this? He thought of Crystal’s eyes. He looked at Jack and said, “So this same rule doesn’t apply to someone like Crystal?”
“No. The rules allow them to get away with killing her.”
“Why?”
“She’s not family. Think what you said earlier, you would kill them if they ever came near your family.”
“What about your niece and nephew?”
Jack stared into his aquarium. He imagined that the eyes on the fish belonged to Maggie and Ben Junior. They were silently looking at him. They knew his promise. That was enough.
It was suppertime when Susan answered her door. She was surprised to see Natasha standing on her porch with a small bouquet of flowers and a bottle of Riesling wine.
“Jack called,” explained Natasha. “Said he thought you could use some company. I would have come sooner but I had to work. Thought we could order in dinner if it’s not too late.”
Susan hugged Natasha harder than she expected to. She felt like her body was about to overflow with emotion.
Jack crushed the empty pizza box and put it in the garbage, then cleaned up the coffee table and put the glasses in the sink.
Danny lurched back from the washroom. “I’m beat. Don’t feel so good,” he mumbled.
“I’m not tired, so sleep in my bed,” said Jack. “I put clean sheets on this morning and it’s closer to the bathroom. Think you might need it.”
“Where will you sleep?”
“The sofa pulls out if I need it. Get some sleep. I want to hit the street by noon.”
“Why so early?”
“I want you to borrow a car from GIS and talk to Marcie as soon as she hits the street.”
“After what happened to Crystal?”
“Especially after what happened to Crystal.”
“She didn’t listen to Crystal, she sure as hell won’t listen to me!”
“Use Crystal’s death to convince her. She’ll end up dead if we let her stay there.”
“She’s liable to tell everyone I’m a cop. I wouldn’t be able to cover you then.”
“I’ll only meet Red one or two more times. Then I’ll be doing business elsewhere.”
Danny mumbled in agreement and then wandered off to Jack’s bedroom. Moments later, Jack knew that Susan was right. Danny did snore.
He turned out the lights and turned the television on to the news channel. He watched as the news of Crystal’s death continued to recycle itself through the broadcast. He turned his attention to the paper fish. The light from the television cast an eerie glow on the aquarium. What if I never find out who killed you?
Perhaps it was the broadcast or the alcohol, or both, but he realized that his mind and body were spent. He could no longer focus and realized it was because of the tears filling his eyes and running down and dripping off his cheeks.
Eventually he drifted off to sleep.
chapter nineteen
It was dusk when Marcie arrived at the Black Water. She leaned against an air duct leading into the ally and watched indifferently as the four-door grey car with a microphone hanging from the dash pulled up to the curb.
Danny leaned over from behind the steering wheel and gestured with his finger for Marcie to approach the car. She sauntered over and opened up the passenger door.
“Good evening, officer, what can I do for you tonight?” she asked, giving a cocky smile.
“Get in the car, Marcie.”
She groaned audibly. “Vice? How do you know my name?”
“No, I’m not Vice. My name’s Danny O’Reilly. I just want to talk to you. Get in.”
“Are you arresting me?”
“No.”
Marcie glanced quickly up and down the street.
“Don’t worry if someone sees you. Cops talk to hookers all the time. Hurry up and get in. We’ll sit right here.”
“You got no proof I’m a hooker.”
“Get in!”
Marcie sat in the front seat and closed the door.
“So what’s this all about? How come you know my name? If you’re not Vice, what are ya, a narc?”
“No, I’m not a narc. I’m on an intelligence-gathering section with the RCMP. We’ve learned something that could save your life.”
The smile masking Marcie’s face was replaced by fear. She looked like the scared little girl she really was.
“Save my life? What are you talking about?”
Danny took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “We know a lot about you, Marcie. Who you’re involved with, what type of people they are.”
“I’m not involved with anyone.”
“What can you tell me about Crystal? Who killed her? Who was she involved with?”
Marcie gave a small, dry cough. “Crystal?” her voice cracked. “Is that the person who got killed on the freeway yesterday? I heard something about it on the news. I think she hung out down here sometimes, but I don’t really know for sure.”
“She was your friend, Marcie. Don’t you care about what happened to her?”
“I said I didn’t know her!”
“Three nights ago she met you here
