Jack Taggart Mysteries 7-Book Bundle

by Easton, Don

  Laura laughed and said, “He’s never been a runner.”

  “That’s good. Listen, I really appreciate your call. Right now we don’t know what is going on. If I need...” Jack’s voice choked when he flipped over a photo and saw a close-up of Holly. Her anguish and helplessness was vivid on her bloody face. Am I responsible for this? Was this family ripped apart ... because of something I did?

  “Jack? What is it? Jack?”

  Jack shook his head to clear his mind and then said, “Sorry, Laura. Just looking at some crime scene photos from last night. It’s pretty bad. I should go.”

  Jack hung up the phone just as Connie returned. She saw the photos on Jack’s desk.

  “What the hell you doing? I can’t even go to the can for a minute without you snooping in my briefcase! I told you last night to stay out of this...” She caught the stricken look on his face and stopped.

  Jack stared up at her. His eyes were watery and he said, “If this was meant for me ... I thought there might be some clue only I would recognize. There wasn’t. I really don’t have any names for you right now. Let me think about it. Maybe later. If I have any ideas, no matter how remote, I promise I’ll let you know.”

  Connie nodded and said, “Good enough. In the meantime, keep a low profile.”

  “I hear you. I will.”

  “Got your word on that?”

  “Yes.”

  Danny entered as soon as she left. He took one look at Jack and said, “What is it? What did she say to you?”

  Jack shook his head. “It’s not her. It’s me. I’m afraid ... that it’s all about me.” He stood and said, “I need some fresh air. Think I’ll go for a walk.”

  “I’ll come too. Could use the exercise.”

  “No. Thanks anyway. I’m okay. Just give me a few minutes.”

  Jack breathed deeply as he walked outside the building. I just need a little time to...

  His cellphone vibrated and he answered. It was Holly calling from the hospital. Her voice was a monotone. She had some news about Charlie. Wanted to tell him in person.

  chapter four

  Jack saw Holly talking with a doctor in the hallway near the nurse’s station. Jenny clung to her mother’s leg. Jack’s heart sent a silent message to his brain. He knew then that the murder had been intended for him. His brain had rationalized and tried to deny it, but in his heart he knew.

  Jack waited until the doctor left before approaching. An orderly pushed a cart of lunch trays past and he tried to read Holly’s face as she looked at him from over the cart.

  Jack was good at reading people’s faces and body language — his life had often depended upon it. With Holly he drew a blank. Is Charlie alive or dead? Her eyes looked dark from the puffy lids and bags in the skin. There were no tears. Perhaps, for the moment, she was cried out.

  “I came as fast as I could,” he said.

  “I want you to have this,” she said, taking a photograph out of her purse. “It was taken two weeks ago when Charlie took his first steps.”

  Jack swallowed and took the picture from her hand. Charlie’s joy was evident as he beamed up at the camera, proud and delighted with his accomplishment. “Did ... did he survive the surgery?”

  “Oh ... yes, he did.”

  Jack realized that he had been holding his breath and let out a sigh of relief.

  “But he was left paraplegic,” continued Holly. “He won’t ever walk again.”

  Jack felt like a wrecking ball had just taken out his guts. For a moment, he felt his legs buckle and looked for a chair.

  “I’m afraid to go see him alone ... with Jenny. You said you would help me. Please come with me.”

  Jack went with Holly as if he was in a trance. He saw Charlie, his body being kept alive by tubes and machines.

  Jack didn’t remember returning to his car or driving back to his office. Danny had not returned from lunch yet and he sat alone at his desk. His mind felt numb and he looked at Charlie’s picture again. He opened and closed his eyes a few times to try to regain control.

  “Hi, Jack! How’s it going?”

  Jack looked up as Dick Molen entered his office.

  Molen worked as an analyst, more commonly known as the circle and squares job. He would take lengthy intelligence reports and bring clarity to them by encompassing names of people and organizations in various circles or squares. Adding connecting lines made it easier to analyze and understand at a glance how everyone was connected.

  “I heard what happened,” continued Molen. “Sure glad it wasn’t you that was killed. Lucky mistake, eh?”

  Jack looked down at Charlie’s picture. He felt both anger and tears swell from within. “Lucky!” he yelled. “Look at this picture and tell me you think it was lucky!”

  Dick stepped back, shocked by the outburst.

  Jack closed his eyes momentarily, then said, “I’m sorry, Dick. It’s not your fault. You just caught me at a bad time.”

  Dick coughed, then nodded and said, “That’s okay. Guess I’d be a little upset too if someone tried to kill me. Who’s the kid?”

  Jack explained the situation to him and Molen said, “I can’t see it being a coincidence after you took down all those speed labs. How did you get on to them? Maybe that’s where this came from.”

  Jack grimaced and said, “You’re not alone in your thinking. Everyone else is pointing a finger at the bikers too, but I don’t think it’s them. They know what I look like. They wouldn’t make a mistake like that.”

  “How did you find out about the labs? Wiretap? Maybe there is something there that you missed?”

  Jack shook his head and said, “Not wiretap. Just surveillance.”

  “Well, if you want me to take a look at the work you’ve been doing, I’ll be glad to analyze it for you. Maybe something will jump out. Lately all I’ve been doing is analyzing reports on the Indos. They’ve got so many common names that it’s a nightmare trying to sort everyone out. Would be nice to get back to good ol’ names like Smith and Johnson.”

  Louie wondered why he had been summoned back to Isaac’s office. Isaac was alone and motioned for Louie to sit down. Isaac held a report in his hand and said, “I have some information concerning someone your office was working on last year in regards to Satans Wrath.”

  “Yes, sir?”

  “This just arrived from Ottawa a few minutes ago. We need to discuss...”

  Isaac’s secretary then came to the door and said, “Your one-thirty appointment is here, sir.”

  “Tell him to wait,” replied Isaac. “I don’t want to be disturbed now. Or better yet,” he said, putting the report down on his desk, “let’s set another appointment.”

  Louie risked a glance at the report while Isaac spoke with his secretary. Reading upside down was not easy, but some words caught his eye. “A small unnamed settlement near Barra de Navidad, Mexico” ... “Sidney Bishop” ... “deceased, November” ... Damn it! Taggart got him!

  Louie saw Isaac turn his attention back to him, so he smiled politely and said, “You said you received some information, sir?”

  “Yes. But first, how long has Corporal Taggart been working for you?”

  Louie thought for a moment and then replied, “About six years. He worked undercover on Drug Section for about six years prior to that. Is there a problem?”

  “Wasn’t it last November when he married?”

  “Yes, sir. Is there a —”

  “And they went to Mexico on their honeymoon.”

  “I believe so. Costa Rica too, I think.”

  “It’s been almost a year since Taggart’s niece and nephew were murdered when they happened upon those bikers meeting with that corrupt prosecutor, Sidney Bishop. Three or four months after that when the culprits were identified.”

  “Yes, sir. Sidney Bishop is still at large for that.”

  “I’m sure Bishop’s escape must be constantly on Taggart’s mind. How has he been handling it? Is he spending a lot of time trying to
find him?”

  “I don’t think he has any leads to go on at the moment. He won’t give up, though. Last week I saw him pound his desk in frustration, muttering that someday he would bring Bishop to justice.”

  “He did?” said Isaac, sounding surprised.

  “But you know Satans Wrath,” said Louie. “Chapters all over the world. I’m sure Bishop is living under an assumed name someplace. The prospects of finding him don’t look good.”

  “Taggart has an informant in Satans Wrath. Surely by now he could have found out something.”

  “Taggart’s informant wasn’t high enough up the ladder to be privy to the information. It isn’t the type of organization where you can ask questions. If you do, you’re liable to receive a bullet as an answer. Taggart’s rather protective of his informants, and quite frankly, when it comes to Satans Wrath, I don’t blame him.”

  Isaac slowly nodded in agreement, then said, “Well, Louie, I’ve got some good news on that issue. I’ve just received a report that Bishop was located in Mexico.”

  “That’s great! Taggart will be elated to hear this! We’ll get an extradition order and —”

  “Hold on,” said Isaac, gesturing with his hands for Louie to stop. “Bishop is dead.”

  “Dead?”

  “It happened last November. The Mexican police say he tripped and fell beside his swimming pool, knocking himself out and falling into the water and drowning. He was living under an assumed identity from the U.S. Things didn’t match up there and it took until now for a fingerprint search to reach Ottawa, where he was properly identified.”

  Louie let out a deep breath and said, “I see. Well at least that wraps things up. Connie Crane from I-HIT was handling the case, but with your permission I would like to tell Taggart. He’ll want to inform his sister and brother-in-law.”

  “Not a problem. I’ve discussed this with Staff Sergeant Randy Otto.”

  “I-HIT doesn’t mind if Jack breaks the news?” Isaac shook his head and said, “Staff Otto said he had no objections.”

  Louie stood to leave, and Isaac said, “By the way, just out of curiosity, do you happen to know where in Mexico it was that Taggart spent his honeymoon?”

  “I believe it was around Mexico City. I’m not sure.”

  “Bishop was living on the Pacific side. Some little settlement that doesn’t even have a name. Near a village called Barra de Navidad. Quite a coincidence that Bishop died during the same week that Taggart was in the country.”

  Louie briefly allowed his mouth to droop open in surprise and then said, “Good God! You’re not thinking that Taggart had anything to do with...?”

  “It certainly crossed my mind, but I feel reassured that you said he is still upset about not finding him. Go and tell him now. Maybe it will help provide him some closure to all this.”

  Isaac waited until Louie left his office before dialling Staff Sergeant Harry Legg, who was in charge of the Anti-Corruption Unit and was waiting for his call.

  “Louie just left,” said Isaac.

  “Taggart is still in his office,” replied Legg. “How did it go with Louie?”

  “Not good. He scanned the report when I gave him the opportunity. Later he feigned surprise when I told him that Bishop was dead.”

  “Louie is in charge of Intelligence. It’s his nature to be nosy. He might have been covering up that fact.”

  “I considered that, but I still don’t like it. I asked Louie where Taggart went in Mexico. His reply was, I believe it was around Mexico City. I’m not sure.”

  “That’s the opposite side from where Bishop was.”

  “It’s also a vague response. Hard to pin down. Just like Taggart not using any credit cards in Mexico, yet you say he did in Costa Rica.”

  “Could be he started with cash, then used his Visa when the money ran out.”

  “Or he didn’t want to leave a paper trail. You sound like you support his innocence?”

  “Sir, I’m not saying that. I’m just considering other possibilities, or what Taggart could say if he was interviewed.”

  “You said that Louie’s nature is to be nosy. Yours is to be suspicious. I want to know for sure. If Taggart is responsible, find out how he knew where Bishop was. Was it his informant in Satans Wrath? Louie said the informant wasn’t in a high enough position to know at that time. From what I know of Satans Wrath, I believe that to be true. But if Taggart is responsible, how did he find out where Bishop was? If only the top dogs in Satans Wrath knew the location ... Taggart might have not only committed murder but could now be working for them.”

  “All this is purely speculation, sir. We don’t have grounds for a wiretap, and surveillance, except for today, isn’t likely to shed much light and could jeopardize Taggart and his investigations if he is innocent.”

  “I know, but see if you can find out exactly where he went in Mexico. Also give the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit a call. I know they’re also monitoring Satans Wrath.”

  “CFSEU? They’re independent. Do you really think we should be passing on our suspicions about Taggart this soon? He could be entirely innocent, and even if he isn’t, it might jeopardize our —”

  “No need to point fingers. Just say that we’re investigating potential leaks and would like to be kept apprised should they become aware of any involvement between any of our members and Satans Wrath.”

  “Yes, sir. One moment, please.... I just got word that Taggart is leaving the office,” added Legg.

  “See if the news was a surprise.”

  “We’re on him. Will let you know.”

  Jack was glad that he had the rest of the afternoon off as he crossed the Port Mann Bridge and headed east on the Trans-Canada Highway. He replayed the scenario in his head from when Louie had broken the news. Danny had been excited and anxious to call his wife, Susan, and let her know. She too had almost become a victim of Bishop’s assassination plot.

  Louie had then taken Jack into his own office and told him about Isaac’s concern. Louie’s advice was welcome but something Jack would have done regardless. Naturally he would want to tell his sister and brother-in-law that the man responsible for their children’s murders was dead.

  At first, Jack was careful not to move his head while scanning his rear-view mirror. Advertising paranoia could be construed as evidence of a guilty mind. Then again, if someone is trying to kill me — who wouldn’t be paranoid!

  He decided to make no pretence of hiding his actions and carefully studied all the vehicles around him. Nothing aroused his attention.

  It was almost three-thirty when he arrived at the farm. He gave his sister a big hug and a kiss as she came to the door.

  “What a pleasant surprise! Come on in. Where’s Natasha?”

  “Still at work.”

  Elizabeth hollered to Ben and he appeared from out of the barn and came over.

  “You have time for tea?”

  Jack nodded, then asked, “Is Marcie home yet?”

  “Her school bus should be along any minute. Why?”

  “Nothing. Just haven’t seen you for a while. How’s she doing?”

  “Doing great. I was worried when she turned thirteen that her hormones would kick in and maybe give us a challenge. Just the opposite. She’s now top in her class. Not bad for a kid who was on the street last year and ... you know, getting into that sort of life. The adoption is coming along great. She’ll soon be officially ours.”

  “That’s fantastic, Liz. I needed to hear some good news for a change.”

  Once Liz had plugged in the kettle, the three of them sat at the kitchen table.

  “When you called this morning,” said Ben, “you said a guy with your name was murdered. You here because of that?”

  “Are you in danger?” asked Liz.

  Jack shrugged. “Nothing new on that. The infant who was shot is going to live, but...” Jack stopped. He knew he couldn’t finish without losing control of his emotions.

  “But what
?” asked Liz.

  “But ... that’s not why I’m here. The brass received a report today that the Mexican police found Bishop’s body. They suspect accidental drowning.”

  “Good,” said Ben.

  “Glad, that’s over,” added Liz. “Do you want a cookie?”

  Marcie burst through the kitchen door. “Hi, Jack!”

  He stood as she came, and she gave him a strong hug and a kiss on his cheek. “You here for dinner?” she asked, taking a seat.

  “No, I can’t stay long. Natasha will be off work at five. I want to be home.”

  “Those your friends out on the road?” asked Marcie.

  “What friends?”

  “Two cops driving by in an unmarked car. Really eyeballed our mailbox. Either cops or Jehovah’s Witnesses, but this is only Tuesday, not the weekend, so they gotta be cops.”

  Everyone exchanged glances and nobody spoke for several seconds. Then Jack said, “Heard it’s supposed to rain tomorrow.”

  chapter five

  Jack awakened feeling groggy. The memories of Bishop had been reawakened and it had been a long, restless night. He knew today wouldn’t go any better when Natasha looked across her breakfast and said, “I hadn’t told you before ... but I bumped into a Mexican policeman less than a kilometre from Bishop’s home the day before he died. I used the opportunity to practise my Spanish.”

  Jack felt a piece of egg rise from his stomach and swallowed again before asking, “Why?”

  “I didn’t know at the time what you were up to. I thought we were just on our honeymoon.”

  “No. Why didn’t you tell me this sooner? After ... it happened?”

  “I didn’t want you to worry. Now that they’ve said it’s an accident, it’s no big deal, right?”

  Wrong! It is a big deal! Jack looked at Natasha and thought, Why let her worry? “You’re right. I think it was just routine to follow me out to the farm. Tying up loose ends.”

  “Do you think they will continue to follow you?”

  “No. It wouldn’t gain them anything. As far as Ben and Liz go, that makes sense.”