Jack Taggart Mysteries 7-Book Bundle

by Easton, Don

  Two hours later, the bottle of Jose Cuervo was three-quarters empty. Jack told Danny to pull out the sofa and go to bed. Whiskey Jake and Sparks heard a bedroom door close, and a few minutes later Sparks turned the speaker down to cut out the sound of Danny’s snoring.

  Jack lay in bed as he thought about Natasha. Love, anger, sorrow, and self-doubt ravaged his brain until the pain became physical and gripped his stomach and chest like a vise.

  An hour later his thoughts were interrupted when he heard a bottle fall and roll across his coffee table. He got to his feet and padded barefoot into the living room. Danny was snoring on the sofa with one foot dangling beside the coffee table. The bottle of tequila was emptying the last of its contents on his rug. He picked up the bottle and was about to return to his bedroom when he stepped on something. He checked the bottom of his foot and found a small shiny screw. It looked like it came from his stereo.

  chapter thirty-five

  Lance hung up the phone and went back to eating his breakfast. He tried to figure out what Jack was up to. Who in the club was Rolly’s favourite friend, besides Wizard? That was easy. Stallion and Rolly were like brothers. Real brothers. Where could you find Stallion alone without any club members being around? That was easy, too. Stallion fit his ethnic roots and, being single, dined at his favourite restaurant most nights after work.

  Lance mulled it over in his brain. Jack had told him they would meet in person soon. Maybe Jack would explain then.

  Whiskey Jake and Thumper watched as Damien reviewed the pictures. They were using a computer monitor at the apartment of one of Thumper’s girlfriends. She had been sent shopping. Damien zoomed in on the digital imaging of Marcie saying goodbye to Jack on the porch.

  Whiskey Jake said, “So what do ya think? I don’t know who this little bitch is, but from what we heard, it sounds like she can identify The Suit. Too bad we didn’t see the picture that the pig showed her.”

  Damien zoomed in on Jack’s face and watched quietly for about a minute, then said, “The copper doesn’t look too happy. My guess is that he either isn’t sure or doesn’t know at all.”

  “Should we get Wizard over for a look?” asked Whiskey Jake.

  “No. Even if this girl can’t point a finger at The Suit, it won’t make much difference. With what’s happened, the coppers will soon piece it together, if they haven’t already. I’ll tell Wizard that The Suit is hot and to never deal with him again. If the cops roll him, they’ll try to use him to get at us. Wizard’s judgement has been clouded lately. I don’t want him knowing about this kid and making another mistake. Once we find out who the rat is, make sure you clean the pig’s apartment. It wouldn’t be good if they found the bug.”

  “Not a problem. We cut a spare key and he hasn’t changed the locks yet.”

  “I’m sure the rat is in the west-side chapter. I’ll get Wizard to call a chapter meeting and pass on something juicy. Something that will make the rat want to meet with the coppers.”

  “It’s church night tomorrow for them. He could do it then.”

  Damien nodded in agreement. “I’ll meet with Wizard today and tell ’im what I want, so keep your ears tuned to that bug.”

  “Sparks is doin’ that as we speak.”

  Damien gestured to the monitor and said, “Good job with this.”

  Whiskey Jake appreciated the compliment and said, “Yeah, turned out pretty good. Didn’t want to get much closer. On a farm like that, they could have a dog.”

  “Stash it someplace safe.”

  Whiskey Jake nodded to Thumper, who disconnected the camera from the monitor.

  Thumper waited until Whiskey Jake and Damien left the apartment before making a telephone call to his friend in Montreal. The election was only five days away. Did his friend think that Wizard would become the new national pres? Oui!

  Thumper smiled to himself as he dialled another number. He was about to become a close friend of the future boss.

  It was late afternoon and Sparks sat in the van reading a magazine while the sounds over the speaker told him that the pigs were putting groceries away. He sat bolt upright when he heard Danny yell from the kitchen, “Hey! Aren’t we supposed to pay our friend tonight?”

  Jack was in the living room, and his reply was easily heard. “Yeah, I’ll slip out in an hour and do it. I have to go to the bank first. It won’t take long. Why don’t you stay and cook dinner?”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  Sparks was already using the portable radio. The timing was perfect. Within an hour they would have a complement of eleven vehicles. More than enough to follow this porker!

  An hour later, Jack drove out of his underground parking stall and onto the street. The traffic was heavy, forcing him to drive slowly. The bikers followed him from a distance and watched him take money out of a cash machine.

  Jack signalled a left turn but quickly changed lanes and turned right. Sparks squeezed the button on the microphone and said, “Did ya see that? Piggy is paranoid!”

  Whiskey Jake’s voice replied, “Everybody stay cool. We’ve got lots of wheels.”

  The bikers watched as Jack made a variety of moves, including parking for a few minutes and watching traffic pass him before pulling back out onto the street.

  After about twenty minutes, Jack’s driving returned to normal and they followed him and watched him park.

  “You got an eye?” asked Whiskey Jake.

  “No problem,” said Sparks. “He’s out and going into a restaurant called Giuseppe’s. There’s a place right out front where I can park.”

  Seconds later, Sparks swore under his breath and kept his binoculars to his eyes as he radioed again. “I can see who he’s meeting — but I don’t believe it!”

  Jack entered the restaurant and saw Stallion sitting by himself at a table. Jack walked over and sat down with him.

  “Who the fuck are you?” said Stallion. “Get your own fuckin’ table!”

  Jack bent down and pretended to scoop something up off the floor and said, “Hey, buddy, I think this is your lucky day!”

  “What the fuck you talkin’ about?”

  Jack held a rolled wad of money in his hand and said, “I saw this on the floor under your table. I presumed you dropped it.”

  “What? Oh! Yeah! That’s mine! Must’ve fallen out of my pocket when I sat down.” Stallion grabbed the money and said, “Thanks, man!”

  “At least you could buy me a beer! Looks like quite a bit of cash there.”

  Stallion thumbed through the money. What a chump! He chuckled and said, “Yeah, no problem. I’ll have one too.”

  Later that night, Lance anxiously hurried up to Jack and Danny in a small park near the pier where Wizard kept his boat.

  “What’s up?” Jack asked casually.

  “I was hoping you would tell me! I’m supposed to meet Wizard on the dock in thirty minutes and bring a barrel. I’ve seen this picture before! Either I’m getting whacked or else they’re gonna whack somebody else.”

  “Trust me. You’re not getting whacked,” replied Jack.

  “And if they want me to kill someone? What should I do?”

  “Do what you must to survive. We won’t bust you for anything you need to do, but you also have to understand that you don’t have immunity from any other cops.”

  “Puts me in a fuck of a spot.”

  “It’s better than being in the spot of whoever’s getting whacked.”

  “You’re sure it’s not me?”

  “It’s not you. Meet us at the cemetery as soon as you’re done.”

  Danny passed the binoculars over to Jack and said, “I can make out Wizard and Rolly. Our friend is still sitting on the barrel by the gate to the marina. Looks like they’re just talking.”

  Jack peered through the binoculars for a moment, then said, “Here comes someone else pushin’ a wheelbarrow. Looks heavy. It’s … Stallion who’s pushing it.”

  Moments later, the four men boarded the boat and it
slowly chugged out of sight. It was two hours later when the boat returned and three men got off.

  Jack and Danny met Lance at the cemetery. His pale face shone in the moonlight as he leaned against a tombstone and folded his arms across his chest to try to stop the trembling.

  “Was it quick?” Jack asked.

  Lance slowly shook his head, then paused and said, “I guess it was quicker than it was supposed to be. Stallion didn’t have a clue. He figured we were makin’ a meet to whack someone else. When we were about forty-five minutes out, Wizard came up behind him and busted out half his ribs with a bat. I then hog-tied him. It was bloody awful. Rolly started blubbering like a baby and kept sayin’ that he hadn’t told him anything. Wizard didn’t believe him. As punishment, he told Rolly that he would have to finish him off after.”

  “After?” Jack asked.

  “Wizard sat on his legs. He had a drill and started to work on his kneecap. I had to gag him after a few seconds because Wiz was worried about noise travelling over water, especially at night. Wiz barely got started again when Rolly lost it and put a slug through his forehead. Wizard was pissed off at him for killing him so soon.”

  Jack caught the solemn stare that Danny gave him but looked at Lance instead and asked, “How are you doing?”

  “I’m not exactly thrilled about it, but at least it takes the heat off me. Might do the same for you. With what happened, I think Wiz won’t be so tight with Rolly. I could see it in Wiz’s eyes tonight. Rolly’s got no respect now. He’s lucky that Wiz didn’t waste him too. I’m sure I’ll be able to slide in there and find out who The Suit is. Maybe not before the election, but soon.”

  Jack and Danny were silent until they got back to the apartment. Danny flipped open the sofa and then said he was going to call Susan tomorrow and move back to his own house.

  “Do you want a drink?” Jack asked.

  “No. I’m sick enough.”

  Three hours later, Jack got out of bed and went to the bathroom to get a glass of water. He turned on the light and looked at himself in the mirror. He didn’t like what he saw.

  chapter thirty-six

  Natasha was more than a little surprised at the message she got from her receptionist. A moment later she stood to give Marcie a hug as she walked into her office. Marcie stiffened and turned away, taking refuge in a chair.

  Natasha sat back down and asked, “What are you doing here? How did you get here?”

  “I hitched.”

  “Aren’t you supposed to be in school?”

  Marcie nodded her head.

  “I bet the school has already called Liz.”

  “I phoned the school and pretended I was Liz. Told them I was sick and she was keeping me home.”

  “Why are you here?”

  “Don’t tell anyone. Especially Jack! He’d kick my ass. I mean, my butt.”

  “No problem there. Jack and I are no longer seeing each other.”

  “Yeah, I know. I heard Liz talking to him. That’s why I came to see ya. I wanted to tell you that Jack’s a really neat guy.”

  “I guess I see him a little differently than you.”

  “I don’t understand why … and I got the feeling that it’s got something to do with me.”

  Natasha stared at Marcie for a moment, then said, “It’s personal.”

  “I want you to know that Jack is the only guy I’ve ever trusted. He cares for me. Even though he wants real bad to catch the guy who murdered Ben and Liz’s kids, he’s told me that I would never have to get involved. Like testifying or anything. He said that he would look after it himself. The same goes for the freak who hurt me in the cabin.”

  “Interesting.”

  “You don’t believe me, do ya?”

  “It’s sweet of you to try to do this, but I think it’s best that I put you on a bus and —”

  “Sweet of me! Fuck you! Don’t treat me like a little kid! I wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for Jack! And you’re the one who is supposed to be a doctor!”

  Natasha paused for a moment, then said, “I apologize. I didn’t mean to imply that you were a little child. What do you mean that I am supposed to be a doctor?”

  “Jack sees things. Things that you probably should, but don’t.”

  “Such as?”

  “Such as the night you met me out on the farm. I was going to commit suicide.”

  “Suicide! What on earth for? You —”

  “As soon as you and Jack came into the loft, he knew it right away. In fact, I think he already knew.”

  “I didn’t see that. I thought you were just playing. What —”

  “Yeah, I know you didn’t see it. Maybe you should get your eyes tested. But Jack did. He’s talked to me lots since then. I feel better about myself now. I would never think of doing something stupid like that again.”

  “That’s good. You know if you ever feel —”

  “If you and Jack don’t click, then so be it. But if it’s got somethin’ to do with me, then I’m really pissed off, because I think he’s a really good guy. He really cares about people. I think you’re pretty stupid if you don’t know that.”

  Thumper watched as Wizard let The Suit into the motel room.

  The Suit gestured to Thumper and said, “I take it this is Lance?”

  “No. I changed my mind on that. This is Thumper. He’s … better positioned than Lance. Wait till you see what he has to show ya and you’ll know why.”

  “So now who do I contact if need be?”

  “If you can’t reach me, contact Thumper. Use Rolly only as a last resort. Forget Damien altogether.”

  “This gentleman now makes four who know me. I don’t —”

  “I know how ya feel. There’s no need for anyone else to meet ya. Thumper is from a different chapter. Gives us more knowledge about what’s going on. At least until the election. Then everyone will report to me.”

  “Provided you win.”

  “I’ll win.”

  Moments later, Thumper hooked up the camera to the laptop computer. Wizard glanced at The Suit and said, “Take a look at who Taggart is meeting!”

  The Suit’s response was exactly what Wizard had expected.

  “That little cunt! What’s she doing with him?”

  “I know. I fuckin’ near had a heart attack when I saw it too. He’s got her stashed out at his sister’s farm. His sister is the ol’ lady of the kids we —”

  “I know who his sister is! What is this little cunt doing there?”

  Thumper cleared his throat and said, “We think that maybe she can identify you. Taggart has got her stashed there for safekeeping.”

  “Jesus Christ!”

  “It’s good that Thumper let us know. That fuckin’ Damien wasn’t gonna tell us!”

  “Jesus Christ!” The Suit repeated.

  “Now that the pigs don’t have a rat anymore, she’s the only other loose end,” said Wizard.

  “Her and that fucking Taggart! He needs to be dealt with as well!”

  “Exactly. I’ll do ’em both, but we should wait until after the election on Monday.”

  “Forget that! We could be in jail by then! Or from what I know about Taggart, we could be dead.”

  “If we whack them, Damien will be pissed. If I don’t win the election, he’ll have me whacked for doin’ it.”

  “And me too,” added Thumper, looking at Wizard. “So you better fucking win.”

  “You’ll win — especially if you do exactly as I tell you,” said The Suit. “I’ve got a plan that will earn you enough — what do you call it? — class to become national president for as long as you want.”

  “How?”

  “Simple. Grab the little bitch when she’s alone someplace. As soon as you do, I’ll set up Taggart and O’Reilly so they’re easy to kill. If Taggart’s body is never found, and O’Reilly and the little bitch are killed with Taggart’s gun, it’ll make it look like Taggart flipped out and shot them. Especially if there are no ligature marks
.”

  Thumper leaned forward in his chair and said, “I can handle six guys and not leave a visible mark on ’em. Ten, if I was in a locked room with ’em.”

  “But how?” asked Wizard. “This will never work! They…”

  The Suit raised his hand and gestured for Wizard to stop. “I have a plan. Don’t you think I know how cops think? All you need is the proper evidence. This will work. If we have to, kill his sister and her hubby, too. Won’t really matter. Use a shotgun on them, just like their kids. Leave it in Taggart’s trunk and the police will conclude he was also responsible for murdering their children. Arrange for the appropriate evidence in his apartment.” He paused, then said, “It would be prudent to have one or two others to assist. How about this Lance fellow?”

  “Lance’s loyalty might be with Damien. I think it would be better to keep him out of this. I’ll get a couple of strikers. T-Bone and Booger. Neither one would question whatever I tell them to do. But you still haven’t explained how or when.”

  “Tomorrow is Friday. We do it this weekend. And I’ll tell you exactly how.”

  Late Friday night Jack lay in bed gently running his fingers through Natasha’s hair. Her head lay on his chest, and Jack knew by her breathing that she was asleep.

  He reflected on their evening. Natasha was a great cook. She was also coy about why she called to apologize for having doubted his sincerity. She said a good friend had opened her eyes but wouldn’t say who. He had the feeling that she enjoyed keeping a secret from him.

  He watched the luminous numbers of the digital clock in the bedroom as the minutes slowly flipped by into hours. He tried to sleep but his brain wouldn’t shut off. He took slow, deep breaths to calm himself but had to repeat the process often. He couldn’t stop thinking about two small coffins and the promise he had made to Maggie and Ben Junior.