He was embarrassed further when Holly demanded that she pay for the boost. Jack accepted the fifteen dollars that he told her it cost.
When Jack arrived back in his own apartment parking garage, he shut off the car and sat for a moment, then reached for the sun visor. He removed the picture that Holly had given him at the hospital when she told him about Charlie’s paralysis. It was Charlie taking his first steps. Will you ever walk again? He placed the photo back in the sun visor and went to his apartment.
Natasha wasn’t about to let him retreat into his own thoughts. Dinner had barely started when she looked at him and said, “Okay, what the hell is going on? Are you upset with something I said or did? Talk to me!”
Jack looked at her and said, “It’s not you.”
“Then what is it?”
Jack’s anger flooded his brain. Doesn’t she appreciate what I’ve been going through? He put his fork down on the table and said, “Let me tell you about what has happened in the last week and a half! A husband is murdered because he had my name. I take down a bunch of speed labs and an old man is murdered because the price of speed went up! I help catch the guy who did that but let another fellow get his skull bashed in the process!”
Jack paused and returned Natasha’s stare. He felt the anger drain. “It seems that the harder I work, the more grief I bring on everybody,” he added, quietly.
Natasha was accustomed to grief and sorrow. Anger too. It didn’t matter that Jack was her husband, the man she loved. She was a professional, as was her response: “Consequences are not always easy to predict. Could you ever have predicted that Holly’s husband would be murdered?”
“No, but...”
“But shut up and listen!”
Jack opened his mouth to speak, but then closed it. “So that was not your fault. Do you think whoever did that should get away with it?”
“No.”
“Good, because that person is a psychopath. Hope you stop him before it happens again.”
Me too. Stop him dead.
“As far as the labs go, how many kids might be dissuaded from taking the drug because the price has gone up? Can you tell me those consequences of your actions?”
“Of course not.”
“Now, letting a man get his skull cracked open is a little different. You told me before that you might have been able to stop it — so why didn’t you?”
“I was angry. Angry that people like him sexually exploit young girls.”
“Makes me angry as well.”
“Still don’t know if what I did was right.”
“Do you want to take a poll? Maybe half the world would say you were wrong. Maybe they all would. That doesn’t really matter. It’s what you think that counts. It is what you have to live with that is important.”
Jack thought about it for a moment, then said, “That’s not true. Your opinion counts a great deal.”
Natasha smiled slightly and said, “And it damn well should. I know you see the world in all its ugliness. Violent, unpredictable, unfair, and often unjust. You’re a really compassionate guy. You base your actions on your own experiences ... through your own eyes. I have faith that you will continue to do what is morally right. You’re a turkey, but you haven’t let me down yet.”
Jack looked down at his plate and reflected upon her words, conscious that she was still staring at him. He looked up, gave a grim smile, and said, “Thanks.”
Natasha smiled back and then said, “Now, want to ask me about my day? Being a doctor in a clinic on the east end ... a pansy like you wouldn’t last ten minutes!”
It was early Friday morning and not yet light when Jack and Danny met Lance in the cemetery.
“The next ship arrives Tuesday,” said Lance. “One metric tonne. I’m in charge of stashing it.”
“Details,” said Jack. “Precise.”
“Well, as I told ya before. We already paid $3 mil U.S. up front. That was on the first boat. Carlos put that toward this shipment when they lost the other one in San Diego. When this one arrives, Brutus and a couple of strikers will make the second half of the payment.”
“Where?” asked Jack.
“He hasn’t picked a spot yet and I might never know where. My job is to see that the dope is stashed. Tomorrow I’m gonna talk with one of my guys and tell him to rent a storage locker. On Tuesday, we’ll have an Econoline van at the dock. Once it’s loaded, I’ll have three guys take it to the storage locker and stay with it overnight. Next day it’ll be split up and sent out on deliveries.”
“Who will you order to get the locker?” asked Jack.
“One of the strikers. Maybe Silent Sam or Dragon.”
“John Dragonovich?” asked Danny. “I thought he had his full patch.”
“Not yet,” replied Lance. “He’s only been striking for a year and a half. He’s got at least another six months to go, and that’s if he’s lucky.”
“Use Silent Sam,” said Jack. “He’s the one who was busted with the labs. If there is any heat, they’ll be looking at him.”
Lance winced and said, “Ouch! I was afraid you would say that. If you take down the stash site, I’ll be burned for sure. Only me and Silent Sam will know where the locker is until it is stashed. Then nobody calls or leaves the place until the next day when the deliveries go out.”
“Thought you said there would be three guys with it?” asked Jack.
“Yeah, to ride shotgun and sit in the locker overnight. But two of ’em won’t know the location until they get there.”
“What about Damien?” asked Jack. “When will he pop his face in for a look?”
Lance shook his head and said, “Not a chance. He’s paid his dues. He won’t be anywhere near the money or the coke. When it’s done, I’m supposed to drop by his house and let him know.”
“This much coke and he doesn’t even want to see it!” said Jack. “He has to! The club will clear about $15 mil on this! You telling me he doesn’t even want to see it?”
“That’s what I’m tellin’ ya. There is no way he’ll be around any part of the action.”
“Then see to it somehow! I want him nailed!”
Lance’s voice revealed his exasperation. “You tell me, then. How do I do it? You want me to hog-tie him and throw him in the van with the dope?”
Jack’s silence told Lance that he knew involving Damien wasn’t possible.
Danny was feeling slightly euphoric as he and Jack walked back to their car. “This is great,” he said. “Don’t think we’ve ever taken down this much blow before. At least not in B.C. Wait til the narcs hear about this! We just have to figure out a way to protect our friend. Maybe do the ship as soon as it docks.”
“We’re not telling the narcs,” said Jack.
“Christ, you’re right. There’s a leak...”
“Not the leak. Damien.”
“Damien?”
“I want him.”
“Can’t be done. You heard what our friend said.”
“We have to!” yelled Jack. “I can’t go on with this hanging over my —” Jack caught himself and didn’t finish.
Danny looked silently at Jack, then said, “Go on. What is hanging over your head?”
Jack stopped walking. He stood with his head hanging down for a moment, then whispered, “I owe Damien a favour. One get-out-of-jail-free card.”
Danny’s face slowly grew redder as he realized what the favour was.
“God damn you! You found Bishop! Damien told you ... then you...” Danny didn’t finish the statement. He didn’t want to hear an admission of murder.
Jack stared at Danny for a moment and then said, “It seemed like a good idea at the time. I just wasn’t thinking about the consequences. Damien did me a favour and I promised I would do one for him someday. I’m keeping my word.”