Above Ground

by Don Easton

  “Exactly,” said Jack.

  “Oh, man...”

  chapter thirty-four

  Anti-Drug Profiteering investigators arriving at work were greeted by Jack and Laura, who had called a meeting. Randy Otto from I-HIT also attended. They listened attentively as Jack and Laura described the Carlos cartel and outlined the Colombians’ money-laundering activity orchestrated by Ray and Leitch through a chain of coffee shops.

  Jack paused as different investigators hastily wrote notes, then he looked at Randy and said, “Yesterday, while I was being detained in the office, Laura did some checking and found several businesses and a warehouse that the Colombians have invested in.”

  “I’ve made copies for all of you,” said Laura, sliding sheets of paper across the table.

  “Laura and I met our informant early this morning,” said Jack. “Last night things went sideways. Leitch was skimming money that he shouldn’t have. Our informant says Leitch met with Ray last night and then disappeared.”

  “The Colombians teaching Leitch a lesson?” asked Randy.

  “Excellent guess,” replied Jack. “It shouldn’t take long to verify. Find Ray and you may find Leitch. If all this is true, and I believe our informant is reliable, evidence of the money laundering is likely in Leitch’s office or in a safety deposit box held by his secretary.”

  “It won’t take long to find out if Leitch is missing,” said Randy, checking his watch. “He should be at work by now. Someone toss me a phone book and I’ll call his office.”

  “I suggest everyone jump on this,” said Jack. “As soon as the Colombians know we’re on to them, they’ll head for the border.”

  Randy quickly learned that Leitch had not shown up to work and had missed a scheduled meeting with a client that morning. His girlfriend reported that he hadn’t come back to his apartment last night.

  Four hours later, Leitch’s secretary went to her bank and tearfully turned over records to ADP involving the laundering scheme. It didn’t take them long to search the warehouse and several businesses. It was apparent that the Colombians had already fled.

  Bloody bolt cutters with traces of human tissue, along with blood on sacks of coffee beans, were located at the warehouse. The investigators submitted the evidence for DNA examination and believed that Leitch had paid the ultimate sacrifice for his crime. Later the DNA was found not to match, but that did little to undermine the Colombians’ violent reputation.

  Elvis watched Laura as she quietly ate her dinner. Her eyes were distant and her face was without expression.

  “Seems you did well today,” he said.

  “Yeah, it tastes good,” she replied.

  “I’m not talking about the chops I just cooked. I heard what you and Jack did at work today.”

  The focus returned to her eyes. She leaned back in her chair and asked, “What do you mean? What did you hear?”

  “I was talking to someone in ADP. Heard they’ve frozen $2.4 million in Colombian drug money. Not bad for your ... second official day at work.”

  “Oh, that. Yeah, it’s a good start.”

  Elvis noticed that Laura’s eyes returned to some distant view. A view that he wanted to see.

  “Menu?” asked Holly, while pouring Jack a cup of coffee.

  “No, thanks. Just on my way home for supper. Natasha’s expecting me.”

  “You just pop in to say hi?”

  “Came to ask you a question.”

  Holly took a seat in the booth across from him and said, “Go ahead.”

  “Do you believe in capital punishment?”

  It was a question Holly hadn’t expected, and the surprise registered on her face. “I never really thought about it before, but ... yes, I believe in it now. Why? It doesn’t really matter. Even if you catch the guys, it’s not done here.”

  “People don’t always know what is done and what isn’t.” Jack reached in his pocket and took out a twenty-dollar bill and said, “Remember this?”

  “That the same one?”

  Jack nodded.

  “I told you I wouldn’t accept it until you caught the guys.”

  Jack nodded, stood up, tossed some coins on the table, and said, “This is for the coffee.” He then ripped the twenty-dollar bill in half and dropped one piece on the table. “I’m working on the second half. Appreciate it if you keep this between the two of us.”

  Holly sat in a stunned silence as he walked away.

  The following day, Isaac summoned both Jack and Laura into his office and gestured for them to take a seat.

  Isaac smiled and said, “I’ve been apprised by ADP and I-HIT about the intelligence you two gathered this week. A lot of money and assets have already been frozen. It would appear that you’re responsible for destroying a major organized crime family before they could get too established. Well done!”

  “Thank you, sir,” said Jack and Laura in unison.

  “However,” said Isaac, “there are still a few loose ends. For one, that lawyer is still missing and presumed murdered. For another, when it comes to the Colombians, it is obvious that none of the main players have been apprehended.”

  “I warned our units that they would likely flee for the border once the investigation started,” said Jack. “Unfortunate, but not really anyone’s fault. I think the Colombians took that precaution after Leitch was kidnapped.”

  “Your informant in this matter, is it the same person you cultivated last year with O’Reilly?”

  “No, sir. This one just came on board yesterday, but obviously his information is proving to be both valuable and accurate.”

  “Obviously,” said Isaac. “Who is it?”

  Jack paused to take a deep breath and slowly exhaled before saying, “It’s the national president of Satans Wrath.”

  “What?” yelled Isaac.

  “His name is Damien,” continued Jack.

  “I know his name! Why ... how ... why is he talking to you? This is absurd! I don’t believe it. How did you ever convince him to cooperate?”

  “I had approached him the other day, trying to find out if he would tell me anything about the Indos. He wasn’t all that cooperative, but it must have got him thinking. He contacted me and we set up a meeting with him yesterday morning. He said he wants to retire, but the club won’t let him.”

  “He’s the national president. Can’t he quit when he wants? This has to be a trick!”

  “He’s the boss for Canada,” said Jack, “but the club is international. There are still people above him. Some with grandiose ideas.”

  “You expect me to believe that he would turn on his own club? After all these years?”

  “No, and he made it clear that he won’t. He’s willing to cooperate to expedite his own interests, which would also benefit us.”

  “How so?” asked Isaac, leaning forward in his chair and looking closely at the two faces in front of him.

  “He’s been ordered to import tonnes of cocaine into Vancouver from Colombia.”

  “Why him?”

  “B.C. basically has the lowest sentencing rate in the world for drug traffickers. Not only is this the safest place to set up an international distribution centre, but cargo leaving here doesn’t get the same scrutiny it does in Third World countries.”

  “That I understand, but why is Damien cooperating?”

  “He simply wants out. He’s fifty-three years old and has a wife and three children. His values are changing and he doesn’t like to be pressured into doing anything. He’s also worried about the new anti-gang legislation.”

  “Section 467.13 of the Criminal Code. That hasn’t even been tested here yet. I understand that won’t be before the courts until almost Christmas.”

  “I know, but Damien is a visionary. He wants to retire now while things are still good. He thinks that if a major dope deal or two went sour here, then some other location would be selected instead and he would be free to retire.”

  “Is that why he handed over the Colombian
s?”

  “Yes. He wants to slowly extricate himself from everything. He’s been ordered to go down to Cali, Colombia, and order a tonne of cocaine. He is willing to take us along, providing we don’t burn him and seize the ship before his own people get involved.”

  “From the Carlos cartel? The man we think is responsible for the lawyer’s disappearance?”

  “Satans Wrath think they’re too hot now with how they mishandled this business with Leitch. He’s been instructed to meet with the Diego Ramirez cartel. Damien has met with him before but opted for Carlos because he received a better price at the time.”

  “How do you know he’s not blowing smoke? Trying to set us up somehow?”

  “He appears to have been straight with us about Leitch and the Colombians.”

  Isaac nodded, then asked, “And is he willing to let us do what it takes to monitor him and make sure he’s on the level?”

  “He said he would allow that, as long as we promise never to burn him. He’ll give us the ship, the dope, and all the bodies we can snag as long as we keep him out of it and promise to seize it before his guys unload it.”

  Isaac shook his head and said, “I never would have believed he would turn.”

  “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Jack. “Won’t cost us that much, and if we take him to Colombia we’ll find out pretty quick if he is being straight with us.”

  “Corruption among the Colombian police forces is rampant. We can’t risk that someone down there might tip off Ramirez that Damien is working for us, if, in fact, he actually is.”

  “Sir, the Colombian government has formed an elite police squad that is proving to be trustworthy. To provide extra safety, we wouldn’t have to tell everyone down there what is going on. As long as the LO has a few people he can trust, we can make it look like we’re targeting Damien. If Ramirez is tipped off, it would still make Damien look legitimate.”

  “If we don’t do this,” said Laura, “I suspect Damien will simply go ahead and import tonnes of cocaine without our knowledge.”

  Isaac let out a deep breath, then said, “Okay, I’ll approve it.”

  “Sir, I don’t anticipate his cooperation unless Laura and I go along as his handlers. We’ve built up a trust.”

  “That goes without saying.” Isaac then pointed his finger at Jack and Laura and said, “But I want full electronic surveillance on him from the time he lands until he returns.”

  “He won’t be able to wear a wire when he meets with Ramirez. They are bound to sweep for bugs.”

  “Then how will we know he’s not deceiving us?”

  “We’ve already discussed this with him. Laura and I are both operators. I could play the part of Damien’s financial consultant and Laura could play the part of his mistress.”

  “He’ll agree to that?” said Isaac, sounding surprised.

  Jack and Laura both nodded their heads.

  “It would also provide the appropriate cover and protection for us to stay in the same hotel as Damien,” said Laura. “We could monitor him closely and pass on information to our people. As Jack said, it would be safer if not everyone knew who we really were.”

  “I agree. Get on it, but I still want you to bring some equipment with you. If there is a chance to record any of this, it could later prove valuable. I’ll leave it up to your discretion if you think an opportunity arises where it is safe to use it. You’ll need to have Damien sign the waiver forms before you go, giving permission for electronic monitoring between the three of you. It will give you a chance to appraise his integrity, even if you decide not to use it. If he refuses to sign it, then I would look at it as a sign that he is trying to deceive us.”

  “I’m sure he won’t object, sir,” said Jack, “as long as there is no chance of it being detected.”

  “Good. You better get started. I’ll notify Drug Section myself. I’ll have them send a team and contact our LO in Bogota to meet you in Cali.”

  “Thank you, sir,” said Jack.

  Isaac looked pensive, then said, “You will both have to tread carefully. Heed the advice from the LO. Colombia averages over a hundred kidnappings a month, mostly Colombians, but some foreigners as well. Safety comes first. If something doesn’t seem right, I want everyone back here, pronto.”

  “Yes, sir,” they replied.

  On the way out of Isaac’s office, Jack leaned over to Laura and whispered, “I hope Elvis likes redheads!”

  Isaac waited until Jack and Laura left his office before placing a call to Drug Section. They would send a team of four.

  Isaac then called Staff Sergeant Legg in the Anti-Corruption Unit. They would be sending representatives as well, in advance and on a separate flight. Elvis would not be one of them.

  Isaac also informed Legg that waiver forms giving permission for electronic monitoring would be signed, with Jack believing that he was in control of whether to use it. Legg smiled. Dirty pool, perhaps ... but legal. In view of this, it was decided that they would also send two men from a more technical unit. Men whose training and reputation indicated they could plant a bug up your butt without you knowing it.

  chapter thirty-five

  It was eleven o’clock at night when Jack, Laura, and Damien checked into their rooms at the Intercontinental Cali Hotel under fake names. Their flight from Vancouver had taken ten and a half hours. It took another hour to clear customs and then half an hour to rent a car. Despite this, with the two-hour time difference and an added boost of adrenalin, none of them felt like sleeping.

  They adjourned to the hotel bar and all ordered a local beer called Aguila. Jack noticed that four members from the Vancouver RCMP Drug Section were already seated in the bar, but they pretended not to know each other. Jack and Laura were scheduled to meet with them the following morning upon the arrival of the RCMP liaison officer stationed in Bogota.

  “Narcs?” asked Damien, with a nod of his head toward the other table.

  Jack nodded silently.

  “They get to pack pieces?”

  “Not allowed,” said Laura. “None of us have any authority to pack heat.”

  “Trust me,” said Jack, “the local authorities covering us will be armed to the teeth.”

  “You, I sort of trust,” said Damien. “The local authorities, I don’t!”

  “Tomorrow, when we meet Ramirez ... how much do you trust him?” asked Laura.

  “Diego? Well, he sounded okay when I called him last week. A little surprised but seemed friendly enough.”

  “We’ve got to do this fast,” said Jack. “In and out quick.”

  “Just like a boy losing his virginity,” said Damien. “You don’t have to tell me. Can you imagine what Carlos would do if he knew I was here? Fuck!” He glanced at Laura and said, “Sorry about that ... but think about it. Carlos is less than an hour’s drive away. I’d be happy if we could fly back tonight!”

  “Any chance of us meeting Ramirez someplace public?” asked Jack.

  “I doubt it,” said Damien. “His place is probably safer. Lots of bodyguards and less chance of some rival trying to take him out. If he did agree to a restaurant, his guards would kick everyone else out and the whole place would be jittery.”

  Jack looked into Laura’s eyes and knew they were both thinking the same thing. If anything went wrong tomorrow, there would be no hope of a cover team being able to extract them — at least, not alive.

  “Down here, you also got to really watch for bikes,” warned Damien. “Small ones, like Yamahas or Suzukis, with two riders. One guy drives and the other one shoots. They can disappear in traffic before the victim hits the ground. Real pros.”

  Jack took a sip of beer and thought about the men who killed Holly’s husband. He knew the sound of motorcycles would haunt her for the rest of her life.

  “I’m going to call it a night,” said Laura. “I want to give Elvis a call before I turn in.”

  Jack nodded. He would call Natasha as well. Tell her how much I love her
... but try not to have her worry...

  It was nine o’clock the following morning when Jack and Laura went to a room two floors above where they were staying to meet with the other RCMP investigators.

  Jack shook hands with the RCMP liaison officer, who introduced himself as Jean-Louie. He knew Jean-Louie by reputation as being a top-notch undercover operator before taking on the job of foreign liaison officer. He was also fluent in French, English, and Spanish.

  Jack felt the firm handshake and saw the flash of a smile as Jean-Louie’s eyes met with his.

  “I know you by reputation,” said Jean-Louie. “Old-school operator. Not too many of us around. I’m glad our paths have finally crossed.”

  “Likewise,” replied Jack.

  Jack watched as Jean-Louie shook hands with Laura. He admired him for the work he was doing. His own paranoia of working narcotics in Colombia for only a day or two was bad enough. It was hard to imagine how Jean-Louie could handle the pressure on a full-time basis.

  Jean-Louie then gave a thumbnail sketch of Diego Ramirez and the local area. Ramirez controlled an army of men in Cali, which was located in the Valle de Cauca, the heart of Colombia’s cocaine business.

  A short distance away to the north, a place the locals called Norte del Cauca was home to several militant factions who protected the cocaine labs in return for an infusion of cash to support their war with the Colombian government. Over a thousand people in this vicinity had been murdered in six months because of rivalry in the cocaine trade.

  Ramirez owned a chain of stores selling leather goods, including shoes and jackets. He was also known to be heavily invested in the petroleum industry in Costa Rica, where he laundered his money. In short, he was one of the top drug lords around and had been targeted unsuccessfully by the DEA for years.

  Jean-Louie said he basically trusted the special police unit that came with him to provide protection in Cali, but even they would be kept in the dark about the real identity of Jack and Laura.

  “And our friend, obviously,” said Laura.