by Don Easton
Anton’s eyebrows arched in his surprise. “Uh … I don’t understand. Why would —”
“Don’t lie to me, Anton,” Jack snarled, stepping closer.
Both Anton and Wolfgang saw the blood splattered down the front of Jack’s raincoat and on his sleeve. They looked at each other in fear and confusion.
“Your lives depend on the truth,” Jack hissed. He paused and stared at them to make them feel more uncomfortable. “This afternoon one of my men found the tracker on my car when he took it for an oil change. I then stuck it on a Greyhound bus bound for Edmonton. I presume you know that because the gelatinous slob who was following me should have clued in a long time ago and is probably back in the city. Believe me, when my men speak to him, I will learn the truth, unless I hear it from you first.”
Anton looked nervously at Wolfgang, who responded with a subtle nod.
“Okay, okay, I, uh, hired him,” Anton admitted. “I did call him a few minutes ago, but couldn’t get an answer.”
“Meaning he is still in the mountains someplace,” said Jack, shaking his head in disgust. “The man really is inept. You should train your people better.”
“He is not one of our men,” Anton said. “He’s a private investigator.”
“A private investigator?” Jack pretended surprise.
“You are taking security precautions,” said Wolfgang, gesturing to Sammy and Benny, “and so did we.”
“Oh, I am not angry about that. A little disturbed at one of my own men, perhaps.” He looked at Anton. “I believe the only time you had the opportunity to put the tracker on my car was last Thursday when I met you for lunch.”
Anton stared down at the floor, then nodded.
“Good for you,” Jack said. “I hold no ill feelings toward you for doing that, even though it has forced me to change hotels. I had anticipated you might do that and posted a person to watch my car. This afternoon he admitted to me that he had an intestinal bug and left his post to use a washroom. I will no longer be using his services.”
“So … everything is okay between us?” asked Wolfgang, rising to his feet. “I’m Wolfgang,” he added, then smiled while extending his hand. “It is good that we respect —”
“Sit down!” Jack said angrily.
Wolfgang immediately sat down.
“There’s another reason I wondered if you were surprised to see me,” said Jack, looking coldly at Wolfgang’s and Anton’s faces.
“I don’t understand.” Fear reduced Wolfgang’s voice to a whisper.
Jack sneered at him. “You are the top guy, aren’t you? The one who calls himself the Ringmaster?”
“No,” Wolfgang said meekly.
“You’re not?” Jack feigned surprise. “Anton told me you were his boss.”
“Anton is at the same executive level as I am, but he is new to his position and is still on probation. Normally he is supervised by Roche.”
“But since your arrival in Canada, which Anton told me was last night, I presume you are in charge of the people here, is that right?” Jack asked.
Wolfgang nodded.
“So you’re the one who gives them their orders.”
“I guess you could say that.”
“Interesting,” Jack mused. “You didn’t try to lie your way out. I have another question for you. Knowing that you had a tracker on my car for the last five days, if during that time you wished to kill me, how would you have gone about it? Hypothetically speaking, that is.”
“I have no intention of trying to kill you,” said Wolfgang quickly. “Do we, Anton?” He glanced at his colleague.
“Certainly not!” Anton blurted.
“I said hypothetically speaking.” Jack raised his voice. “Answer me.”
“Well, uh, we know you were staying at the Pan Pacific,” said Wolfgang. “It is too crowded in that area and the hotel is no doubt equipped with too many security cameras and the like for us to make an attempt on your life there. If I were to have you killed, I would simply follow you someplace, such as a mall or a restaurant, then do it when you were either getting in or out of your car.”
Jack pursed his lips as he thought about it. “Sounds reasonable. How many men would you use to carry out the assignment?”
“I would use all four of us.”
“Yourself, Anton, Bojan, and Klaus,” Jack said.
“Yes.” Wolfgang felt uneasy that Jack knew the names of all his associates, while he knew little about Jack’s people.
“Go on,” Jack prodded him. “Explain how. Would you run up and shoot me?”
“Not necessarily. I would have one man distract you when you opened the door of your car, perhaps by asking for directions. Then I would have another man stab you from behind if silence was necessary, or shoot you if the situation allowed it.”
Jack nodded. “You may have saved your own lives.”
Wolfgang and Anton looked at each other in bewilderment.
“So … your man, Klaus. You wouldn’t send him to try and kill me on his own?”
“Mon Dieu!” gasped Anton as the reason for Jack’s line of questioning became clear.
“I don’t believe in any god,” Jack said. “Save your prayers for later and listen. About an hour ago, Klaus tried to kill me.”
“He is dead?” Anton stared at the blood on Jack’s raincoat.
“Let me explain,” said Jack. “After finding the tracker, I discovered he was hanging around the front of my hotel. I thought it was odd that he would risk exposure doing that when you could rely on the tracker — unless, of course, he was not made privy to that information. So it got me to thinking. Was he acting on his own? He did strike me as having a vindictive personality.”
“He told me he was with his girlfriend,” spluttered Anton. “Please, you have to believe me. I didn’t know.”
“Relax, Anton,” said Jack. “I do believe you.”
Anton and Wolfgang glanced at each other again as their tension subsided.
“If you had sent him to kill me,” Jack continued, “I’m sure you would’ve been in touch with him before allowing my men to come to your room.” Jack directed his attention at Wolfgang. “At first, I wondered if you intended to kill me as I walked over to your hotel, but decided you wouldn’t have allowed my men into your room if that were the case. It appears to me that Klaus was acting on his own.”
“He was,” Wolfgang said emphatically. “We knew nothing about it.”
Jack nodded to indicate he believed him.
“What … will you tell us what happened?” asked Anton.
“I approached Klaus when he returned to his car in a parkade. He was putting a flat tire into the trunk when I stuck a gun in his ear. He tried to pull a gun on me, which resulted in him losing more of his teeth, along with other facial injuries. I then shoved his body in the trunk and bound his hands and ankles together.”
“He is still alive?” asked Wolfgang.
“Very much so. I drove him to the emergency ward myself. I suspect they’re getting tired of seeing him. Three times in one week for the same problem must be annoying. Regardless, when I left him, he was seated in the waiting room. He’ll likely be there for several hours. I also gave him his keys back and left his car in visitor parking.”
“Why didn’t you kill him?” asked Wolfgang.
“The parkade has security cameras at the entrance and exit. So does the hospital. If his disappearance or death results in an investigation, I will be seen as the one who took him for treatment and not the one who followed him to his car and murdered him.”
“I see,” said Wolfgang.
“Plus, he is your man, and therefore you are responsible for him. And quite frankly, I feel that you should be the one to, uh, take remedial action and counsel him in that regard.”
“Counsel?” repeated Wolfgang. His voice revealed his deadly intent. “Oh, yes, let me assure you that he will be counselled, providing we find him. Under the circumstances, he may have wisely gone elsewhe
re for treatment.”
Jack cleared his throat, then said, “I suspect he is not that smart, but if you do go there, it might be prudent to wait for him at his car.”
Wolfgang nodded.
“I’m glad we have cleared the air,” Jack said. “However, I have found this to be a long and tiring day. I suggest that you and I meet over breakfast to discuss what services I may be able to provide your company.”
“Good,” replied Wolfgang. “I would like to go to the hospital as soon as possible.”
“I have a secure phone for you.” Jack nodded at Benny, who took a phone from his briefcase and gave it to Jack to pass on. “Feel free to use it as you like. I will call you at ten o’clock tomorrow morning.”
“Thank you,” replied Wolfgang.
Jack, Sammy, and Benny were heading for the door when Jack turned and said, “Incidentally, Roche told me that you had a secure name to use over the phones to protect the identities of your executive members. What’s yours?”
“I am simply referred to as a juggler,” said Wolfgang. “Same as Roche.”
“A Ringmaster and jugglers.” Jack smiled faintly. “Sounds like quite a circus. I presume Klaus is your clown?”
Wolfgang’s face darkened. “Was our clown,” he growled in response.
Chapter Thirty-One
“I knew it, I knew it, I knew it,” said Rose, glaring at Jack from across her desk.
“I had witnesses,” replied Jack.
“What he said happened last night is true,” Laura put in. “I had a good view from where we were parked.”
“And, of course, you wouldn’t bend the truth to cover up for Jack, would you.” Rose didn’t bother to hide her sarcasm. She looked at the coffee mug on her desk. “I haven’t even had a sip of my morning coffee and you tell me this. Great way to start the day.”
“It’s not my fault,” Jack insisted. “Check with Sammy and Benny. If not them, Otto is likely still asleep in his room at the Delta. Give him a call.”
Rose shook her head. “No, the thing is, I do believe you. I’m angrier with myself for letting it happen. How do I explain it to the brass?”
“Tell them the truth,” Jack said. “I was going to disarm him and turn him over to Wolfgang, but he tried to pull a gun on me. A minimum amount of physical force was applied, resulting in some damage to his jaw, which was easily injured due to a previous injury.”
“Two previous injuries,” Rose said.
“Okay, two, but in any event, to be on the safe side, this time I drove him to the hospital and dropped him off in case he needed treatment.”
“That was awfully nice of you,” said Laura, “considering the circumstances.”
“Cut the theatrics,” said Rose in exasperation. “What do I tell the brass when they speculate that he may try to kill you again?”
“That’s been taken care of.” Jack smiled smugly. “I met with Wolfgang and Anton to discuss the matter and I recommended Klaus receive counselling. They were already thinking of firing him, so I am sure he’ll be sent packing.” Packing a shovel to dig his grave.
“You recommended he receive counselling?” said Rose incredulously.
“Yes. My meeting with Wolfgang was quite civilized.”
“You really expect the brass to believe that’s what you said?”
“I bet they’ll want to believe it,” said Jack seriously. “Besides, it’s true, so why not? Sammy’s and Benny’s notes will corroborate it.”
“I’m sure they will.” Rose said in a flat tone.
“Not only that,” Laura inserted, “but Otto and I did surveillance with Special ‘O’ at the hospital for an hour last night while Jack met with Wolfgang and Anton. Klaus had the opportunity to bolt during that time, but he didn’t. Obviously, he wasn’t concerned.”
“Is that right?” asked Rose, looking at Jack.
“Yes,” replied Jack. “For my own safety, I wanted him watched until the meeting was over.”
“That’s good to know,” said Rose. “Although you did it to protect yourself, the fact that he stayed is an important point in convincing the brass that he wasn’t concerned for his safety.” She looked at Jack speculatively. Something stinks.
“Something wrong?” asked Jack.
He seems so honest. Is it me? Have I become that cynical about everyone? She decided to probe in a different way. “Has there been any phone action since last night?” she asked.
“Anton did call Roche and told him what happened, but said that Wolfgang would contact the Ringmaster direct. Unfortunately, Wolfgang did not use the phone I gave him.”
“So I can tell the brass that you feel safe from Klaus?” asked Rose.
“Yes. I told them I switched hotels so he wouldn’t know where to look. Wolfgang and Anton don’t want me dead, at least not until they get their hands on the painting. They’re hoping to gain my trust so that I hang it in my villa.”
“Yes, about your alleged retirement villa,” said Rose. “If you think you can convince the force to spring for some villa in Tuscany, you better think again.”
“I know. Getting the bean-counters to spring for a couple of martinis is usually an issue. The bad guys are paying for my travel expenses, so that should help.”
“That worries me, too,” said Rose. “They’ll be expecting some return.”
“I can handle that. You’ve got your masters in psychology. I’m sure you can come up with some test I can give them to start the ball rolling, then give them feedback about potential character flaws or something. After that, I’ll tell them I need to know more about who has done what in order to appraise the situation. I’m hoping to get an admission about Kerin’s murder from the Ringmaster long before they question my ability as a consultant.”
“What’s your next step?” asked Rose.
Jack glanced at his watch. “I’m meeting Wolfgang for breakfast to talk about how I could benefit their organization. At this point, I think they would like to hire me.”
“That’s good,” Rose said dryly, “because after I debrief the brass, it might be wise for you to have a new career prospect.”
* * *
At ten-thirty Jack and Wolfgang ordered breakfast at the Dockside Restaurant, which overlooked False Creek in the heart of Vancouver. Although Jack drove Wolfgang to the location and ensured he was not being followed, as a display of trust, he had not searched Wolfgang. Outside the restaurant, Laura and Otto watched and waited in a Special “O” surveillance vehicle.
“So, Jack,” said Wolfgang, once coffee arrived, “I wish to apologize for the incident with Klaus yesterday. I can assure you that he will no longer be a threat to your safety.”
“That is good to hear,” Jack replied. “Apology accepted.”
“And you must believe that I had nothing to do with his actions,” Wolfgang added.
“Of course I believe it. You wouldn’t be alive otherwise.”
Wolfgang looked at Jack in surprise, then smiled. “I believe you.”
“You should,” Jack said.
Wolfgang watched Jack take a sip of coffee. “From what I know, you’re an interesting man. Uniquely talented.”
“I have my moments.”
“You said that if you were to consult for us, you would first do a background check and a profile of our executive members, is that correct?”
“That is of utmost importance,” Jack confirmed. “Before I stick my neck out, I like to know I can trust the person I’m sticking my neck out for.”
“By sticking your neck out … I presume you are talking about things like cleaning up the mess our men made in the workshop?’
Jack nodded. “Taking care of loose ends is something I do, but usually not before I know who I am dealing with. In the matter regarding your men, I felt it in my best interests to intervene.”
“I understand,” Wolfgang said. “Out of curiosity, what would you usually charge for what you did?’
“Ninety-eight hundred if it was a simple as Dem
psey,” Jack replied. “If I had to get rid of, say, a car, or perhaps build a false trail to make someone think the person went elsewhere, then the figure would go up accordingly.”
“You did take Dempsey’s car,” Wolfgang said.
“I had it parked near an airport alongside a river. Not a bad solution, but a far cry from making it disappear completely.”
“I see.” Wolfgang hesitated. “Your base figure of ninety-eight hundred seems odd to me.”
“Many bank transactions in different countries have to report amounts of ten thousand and up. I am not a greedy person and that amount simplifies things for certain clients.”
“I see. So, back to your profiling. How do you do that?”
“Fairly simple, actually, although because you’re one of the people I would assess, I won’t tell you all the secrets until such time as you have been cleared.”
“Ah,” said Wolfgang. “I guess that makes sense.”
“What I can tell you is I would want to know everyone’s background. Things like what kind of families they came from, poor or wealthy. Do they have siblings. Are they married and do they have children.” Jack paused as the waitress brought them their orders, then continued, “I would ask them to complete a questionnaire designed to identify their level of intelligence and personality traits. Can they easily be deceived? Are they prone to bragging? Are they disgruntled and apt to talk to the competition or grasp an opportunity to take more than their share? Are they the type to snap under a police interrogation? Things of that nature. Then I would follow up with interviews to flesh out any problems.”
“You are very professional.” Wolfgang spoke matter-of-factly before biting into a blueberry scone.
“These days, so are the police,” Jack said. “Cameras are everywhere, it seems, and police have scientific laboratories at their disposal.” Jack enjoyed a bite of his order of Southside Huevos, then added, “Of course, it’s not only the police you need to worry about. Sometimes the competition can really make a killing … literally.”
“Once you are convinced that our executive level is okay, what would follow?”
