“In order to further the investigation, the officer will pay the informant from his own pocket. Under certain situations the officer may credit payments to one informant but in fact be paying to another as the informant refuses to sign for it. Also, if an officer is working undercover and is alone, it is very difficult to have another officer as a witness. Don’t you agree?”
I nodded. That made more sense.
We both fell silent.
“What do we do now?” I said, wiggling my attractive toes.
“We wait, I suppose,” he replied.
“What about me?”
“You will rest and after…” he paused.
“After what?”
“You go back to parking enforcement.”
I didn’t protest. All this was taking a toll on me-physically and emotionally. It would be nice to go back. Sergeant Motley would welcome me with open arms.
I really missed giving out parking tickets. Except for the occasional irate driver, the job was primarily safe. I never had to see a co-worker get hurt, or see myself get hurt, for that matter.
“When can I go back?”
“You’re very eager?”
“Yes…and…like I said before, I don’t know why I’m in this team in the first place.”
“I think I know why,” he said. But before I could say something he stood up, “I read your file and it said you worked in the Guelph Police Services and particularly in the drugs and intelligence unit. Is this correct?”
I was ready to say yes but then thought about it. I was already being punished by the powers-that-be. No point in prolonging it. “I did work there,” I said. “But not in that unit.”
“May I ask in what capacity, then?”
“Keying and filing.”
Beadsworth did a double-take. “I beg your pardon?”
“I was an assistant to the records and data manager.” I turned my head away. “I entered criminal records into the computer and filed them away.”
I heard him say, “hmm.”
I felt ashamed.
He then said, “I must go.”
“Where to?” I turned back to him.
“Back to 23 Division.”
Ms. Zee stared at the small clear container that held the white tablets. Nex would give her the power to control Toronto.
And they would expand.
She was determined to make it an empire. A business empire.
Nex was for lawyers, judges, doctors, politicians; yes, people with power would use Nex. Make people with influence dependent on Nex and you would control the city.
Her mind drifted to another thought. Joey.
She was going to miss him. She had given Kong the green light to get rid of him. Kong was pleased. Hause would dump the body in the Scarborough Bluffs.
Many mistakes had been made in the beginning. Trusting Armand, hiring Joey, these were crucial mistakes. Now she was going to have none.
The door flew open.
Hause entered, huffing and puffing.
“What’s wrong?” she demanded, infuriated at being disturbed.
“He’s gone,” he said.
“Who’s gone?”’
“Joey.”
“Gone where?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did you search everywhere?”
“I checked the entire building. Kong is doing another sweep.”
Joey never ventured out of the building alone. Never. He knew the consequences if he did.
Kong returned, displeased.
“What now?” Hause said.
“He must have gone to his parents’ house,” Ms. Zee said. “Go check.”
TWENTY-ONE
I lay still, silently staring up at the ceiling. It had been more than an hour since Beadsworth had left. I was thinking about nothing in particular. My mind was shifting from one thought to another. There was so much I wanted to understand.
I felt Operation Anti-RACE had been set up too quickly. The team needed members with experience in catching criminals like RACE.
Now the team was being disbanded just like…the drug squad.
There was a loud bang.
I listened.
Bang, bang, bang came in rapid succession.
I got up and went to the door.
I opened it.
“Hey, Jeff!” I started. “What’re you doing here?”
The shaggy-haired kid looked nervous.
“Hey, man,” he said. “I’m glad you recognized me.”
“How did you get up here?” I asked, thinking about my ultra-protective-security, my landlady.
Jeff said, “There was an old woman outside cleaning up stuff and I told her I was your friend.”
“And she let you in?” I said. I must have a word with her.
“Can I come in?” he said.
I glanced back at the apartment and then said, “Sure. Come in.”
He entered but leaped back, almost hitting the wall, when he saw Michael Jordan. “Oh, it’s only cardboard,” he said, laughing.
“Yeah, sorry about that,” I said.
I led him to the sofa, where he sat down.
I offered him a drink but he declined.
I sat opposite him.
“What happened to you?” he said.
I touched my stuffed nose, “Long story.”
He rubbed his hands nervously and seemed to be shaking.
I said, “I don’t remember giving you my address at the club.”
“I looked you up in the phone directory,” he replied.
“Right, right,” I said, nodding. “What can I do for you?”
“You’re a cop, right?”
I nodded, slowly. “You could say that.”
He seemed relieved. “Good, then I’m safe.”
“Safe from what?” I said.
“Do these walls have ears,” he said.
“Um…I don’t think so. But if you talk loud enough my landlady downstairs will hear you.”
“Then I’ll talk quietly,” he said, lowering his voice. “I’m in serious trouble.”
I listened.
“I can’t say right now from who but if I get protection, like those victim protection programs, then I’ll tell you everything.”
“Jeff, you have to first tell me why you are in trouble.”
He lowered his head and stared at his fingers. “My name is not Jeff. It’s Joseph Lenard.”
“Okay, Joseph.”
“Joey.”
“Okay, Joey,” I said. “Why are you in trouble?”
“There is…” he searched for the right words. “This group that is very dangerous.”
I listened.
“They are trying to make-no, they are in the process of completing this drug.”
“RACE,” I blurted.
“Who?”
“RACE,” I said. “I mean, Radical Association of Criminal Ethnicities.”
“No,” he shook his head. “I think you’re confusing it with something else. But this group is working on this drug-”
“Nex?” I said.
His eyes widened and he said, “Yes. You do know?”
I immediately picked up the phone.
“No, don’t,” he said grabbing at it. “Please listen to me first.”
His hand was on top of mine.
“There is a mole inside the force,” he said.
“A mole?”
“Yes, someone was feeding information to us.”
“Do you know who it is?”
“No.”
“Don’t worry, I’m calling my partner,” I said.
“Can you trust him?”
I thought about it. I hadn’t known Beadsworth long, but he was the only one I could call right now.
“Yes.”
Joey released my hand and I called Beadsworth.
Beadsworth was in my apartment in less than half an hour. He eyed Joey suspiciously. Joey stared at his fingers. Beadsworth sat across from him and unbuttoned his jacket.
I said to Joey, “Tell him what you told me.”
Joey coughed. “I need protection,” he said, not looking up.
“From whom?” Beadsworth said.
“I can’t say that right now. I need a guarantee first that I will be protected. The people I was working for are making a drug that’s bigger than anything…it’s going to be bigger than Ecstasy.”