by Easton, Don
Bien held the black and white photocopy of Hang and Linh standing in front of The One Pillar Pagoda. Minutes later, he put it down on the floor in front of him, afraid that his tears would damage the picture.
Bien knew that his mother had barely survived the war. She had experienced more pain and death in her life than any human should have to endure. He had believed she was incapable of crying anymore, her well of tears run dry. But now, her eyes were wet and she rocked back and forth, her arms folded across her chest and her hands resting on her shoulders.
Bien thought about Linh. He wanted to be the one to tell her, but he knew it wouldn’t be possible. She would be devastated. Mister and Missus Pops ... they too must feel the grief ... and in three weeks, when Linh arrived, they would have the unpleasant task of telling her that her sister is dead.
At seven-thirty in the morning Jack and Laura were on their way to work, unaware that at the same moment, Dúc was picking up the two Russians in front of their apartment building.
The three men went to a restaurant to discuss business over breakfast.
“We have been checking,” said Moustache Pete. “There are many places a ship could come in undetected.”
“But it was only a fishing boat going out to sea,” said Dúc. “My man has his own fishing boat there and his house for the passengers. It is much easier.”
“And if the men on the fishing boat that saw the ship unloading have talked, what then? Next time the police could be waiting.”
“It is a small town. The fishermen all know each other. My man says he would have heard something if that were true. Next time, if the ship were to come in two hours earlier, there would be nobody around to see.”
Moustache Pete and the Fat Man looked at each other and nodded in agreement. “Okay, we do it the same way next time, but if the load is lost, it is you that must pay.”
“I understand. It will not be lost.”
“The money?” said the Fat Man, gesturing to an attaché case that Dúc carried.
Dúc nodded and passed it over.
“All there?” asked the Fat Man.
“Yes.... No!” replied Dúc.
“What do you mean?” asked Moustache Pete. “Is it, or isn’t it?”
“All there except for the young girl. I forgot to pick that up.”
“Ah, our insurance policy,” said Moustache Pete with a smile as he looked at the Fat Man.
“Insurance policy?” asked Dúc.
“Just a joke between the two of us,” replied Moustache Pete.
“The money is arranged,” said Dúc. “He paid all of the deposit the first time, but I gave it back when only one girl came. Please, one moment, I know he works Tuesday to Saturday, but he may not have left for work yet.”
Dúc used his cellphone and made a quick call. When he hung up he said, “Yes, he is home and will wait, but I must go now.”
“That is not a problem,” said Moustache Pete. “We will go with you and wait in the car. You can drive us back to our apartment later. Maybe by then the bank will be open and we can stop there first.”
Jack stared at Quaile as he made a pretext of looking at them as he sat behind his desk.
“Yes. You look much more appropriate,” said Quaile, avoiding Jack’s stare. “That is how you should be attired on all occasions. Now, I’m going to call Inspector Penn and tell him that the both of you are now available to ....” Quaile paused to answer his telephone.
“May I speak with the NCO in charge, please?” asked a feminine voice.
“You are. This is Staff Sergeant Quaile.”
“Stand by, one moment please. I’m going to connect you with Deputy Commissioner Simonson.”
“Deputy Commissioner Simonson!” said Quaile aloud.
It was a name Quaile knew well. Deputy Commissioner Simonson worked in Ottawa and was only one rung below the actual Commissioner himself. Someone so far up the chain of command that for him to call someone in Quaile’s position was virtually unheard of.
Quaile glanced at the call display and recognized the Ottawa prefix and put his hand over the receiver and looked at Jack and Laura and whispered, “Get out.”
“Sorry,” said Jack. “I couldn’t hear that.”
“I have an important call. Get out!”
Jack and Laura obediently returned to their own office.
Back in their own office, Laura looked at Jack and said, “I was afraid to even look at you in there in case I couldn’t keep a straight face. Deputy Commissioner Simonson?”
Jack smiled and said, “Quaile would never have the nerve to call him, let alone question what he wants.”
“Good one. Who are you using?”
“Remember Bob from Edmonton?”
“Thought he was retired now? Working for the Insurance Corporation of B.C.”
“He is, but still has all the contacts. Including someone to provide him with a call forwarding number out of Ottawa.”
“If this doesn’t work, Quaile will have you transferred.”
“I have the feeling that I’ve nothing to lose.”
Quaile drummed his fingers on the desk for thirty seconds, but sat upright when a gruff voice asked, “Staff Sergeant Quaalude?”
“Ah, it’s pronounced, Quaile, sir.”
“Sorry to keep you waiting. Things are hectic here this morning. What’s the weather like out there in Vancouver?”
“Windy and raining right now, sir. Kind of miserable.”
“That’s good. Listen, I’m calling about the reports you submitted. The Commissioner is personally interested in this.”
“The Commissioner! What reports sir?”
“On those two Russians your section is working on. I don’t have their names. You must know who I mean?”
“I do sir.”
“Their names surfaced in an international investigation we’re involved with here. It’s a high priority case involving very bad apples. We’ve discovered that there is corruption at the highest level. Indications are that it is even amongst our own ranks.”
“Corruption amongst our own ranks, sir?”
“Yes, Quaalude, I just said that. Now, whatever you get on these guys, I don’t want you to dilly-dally with the reports. Send them in pronto! I don’t know how you got on to them, but I can tell you, the Commissioner is pleased. There are other countries involved and it’s about time we had something to make us look good.”
“Yes, sir! My instincts told me these guys were bad from the get-go. Should I have my investigators contact someone?”
“No. Don’t talk about this to anyone or have anyone make any calls at this time. Weren’t you listening when I said there is a serious indication of corruption?”
“Yes, sir. Of course.”
“Simply proceed like normal. We will contact you if the need arises. Just keep those reports coming.”
“Would you like me to direct the reports to your personal attention?”
“Jesus ... of course not, Quaalude! I have better things to do than distribute reports around the building. My God, what do you think I do here? Send them through ordinary channels as always. You got that?”
“Yes, sir!”
Moments later, Jack and Laura were summoned back to Quaile’s office.
“Listen, I’ve had overnight to rethink what you said yesterday and have reconsidered this whole Russian matter. I’m going to allow you to continue working on them, but I expect results—don’t let me down!”
“Staff ... are you sure?” asked Jack, ignoring the roll of Laura’s eyes. “What about Commercial Crime?”
“That can wait for now. You told me these Russians are worth taking a look at. You better not fail. This is your one and only chance to prove it.”
“Will do,” said Jack as he and Laura turned to leave.
“Not so fast,” said Quaile.
“Staff?” asked Jack.
“I see our overtime budget is healthy at the moment, so don’t hesitate to work a few extra ho
urs if necessary.”
Upon returning to their office, Laura looked at Jack and said, “Bob was a good operator.”
“One of the best. He still is.”
Dúc parked his car down the street from Pops’s house and got out while Moustache Pete and the Fat Man waited. They watched as Dúc hustled down the street before disappearing up the inclination of a driveway that led around to the back of the house.
“It is good,” said the Fat Man. “This degenerate. He pays us for our insurance.”
“Soon the other child will be here,” said Moustache Pete. “It will be double indemnity.”
Both men chortled.
Jack and Laura were parked near the entrance to the Russians’ apartment building and Laura used the steering wheel to steady the binoculars as she looked at a car that just arrived. “Oh, man,” she said, passing the binoculars to Jack.
Jack adjusted the binoculars and yelled, “Damn it! That’s Dúc dropping them off! Damn it, damn it, damn it!”
“Only ten in the morning,” commented Laura. “Wonder what they were up to? Maybe just meeting for breakfast.”
“Maybe. Would have been nice to know for sure instead of seeing if my tie matched my shirt. Dúc isn’t usually an early riser. Something was up.”
“Stay with the Russians or go with Dúc?” asked Laura.
“Let’s sit on the Russians. They’re our main targets.”
It was late in the afternoon when Quaile called Jack and told him to return to the office.
Jack returned and walked into Quaile’s office alone.
“Close the door,” said Quaile, “and have a seat.”
Jack did as instructed.
“What have you learned about the Russians today?”
“This morning they were dropped off at about ten by Dúc. Laura and I sat on them all day but they haven’t moved.”
“You just sat out there wasting an entire shift?”
“These guys haven’t been supplying me with their itinerary. They’re not a couple of boys who work in offices. It takes time.”
“You’ve had plenty of time. I would have expected a competent investigator to have come up with something more substantial by now.”
“Is this what you called us in for? Perhaps if we were still out there, we would have something more substantial,” said Jack, crossly.
“Your annual assessment couldn’t wait any longer,” replied Quaile, “otherwise it would be overdue. I am a firm believer in punctuality.” He gestured to the forms in front of him and said, “A few questions. Do you speak French?”
“No,” sighed Jack, while checking his watch. “I have passable Spanish and am learning some Russian and Vietnamese, however.”
“That’s ridiculous!” said Quaile, looking dumbstruck. “Canada is bilingual ... French and English. Stop learning those and take French.”
“I don’t believe the Russians I’m working on know French,” replied Jack innocently.
Quaile glared at Jack and said, “How far did you ever expect to get in the RCMP?”
“To the rank of corporal,” Jack replied bitterly.
“I didn’t ask you what your rank is now! I asked you how far you ever expected to get!”
“I heard you. As I said, to the rank of corporal.”
Quaile continued to glare at Jack for several seconds without speaking, before saying, “I don’t believe we have anything further to say to each other.”
“Neither do I,” replied Jack, before returning to his office.
Hang lay curled on her mattress, her tongue exploring the holes in her gums from her missing front teeth. She knew that soon her father would be expecting her to call. When I don’t, questions will be asked. People will look for me ...
Her thoughts were interrupted by the familiar creak of the passage door. She did not feel the fear she once did. She was still another day away from a red circle on the calendar ... and knew Pops would wait until then to do something to her.
Today she expected Pops to smile and mark another X on the calendar, which he did, but he also had a message.
“Your dad thinks you are dead. Killed in a car accident.”
Hang’s emotions played havoc with her brain. Father will be crying because of me! Then she came to a horrible conclusion—the real reason Pops was smiling. Nobody will miss me! Nobody will come looking!
“That’s right,” said Pops. “Everyone thinks you’re dead. Nobody will ever look for you now.”
Hang turned her face into the sponge mattress and wept.
“Do not cry,” said Pops. “Soon you will have your sister to love. And I do mean love!” Pops snickered as he left.
Eventually Hang stopped crying and found herself staring at the calendar. She looked past the red circles to something more horrific. Linh’s arrival! It will be soon ... and it is up to me to do ... whatever ... to save her.
She stared around the room. She knew it well, right down to the number of brass screws in the ceiling. Now, her attention focused on the toilet tank ... and a plan began to formulate.
chapter ten
It was eleven o’clock at night when Jack and Laura saw the lights flick off in the penthouse suite. Jack was glad the Russians decided to have an early night. He was tired ... and depressed. He was home an hour later and was glad to see that Natasha was still awake as she lay in bed reading a book. Twenty minutes later, he got in bed beside her as she put the book down.
“You close to catching these Russians?”
“Not that. Quaile did my annual assessment today. It went badly.”
Jack sighed and told Natasha about his differences with Quaile.
“In the morning he wants me to bust my ass and find out what the Russians are all about. In the afternoon he does this to me. The guy doesn’t have a clue about management.”
“You told me before that you didn’t think he would last long. You expected him to be transferred soon.”
“Now I think I’ll be transferred first, if my assessment is any indication.”
“To where?”
Jack shrugged and said bitterly, “I suspect I’ll be going back to harness, but who knows where. I guess the good news is I’d be working regular shifts. More time to spend with you,” he added, forcing a smile.
Natasha gently pulled Jack closer so that their naked bodies could entwine as one, with their heads sharing the same pillow. “As much as I would like to spend more time with you—twenty-four-seven, actually—I know that is not feasible. And going back to uniform? You wouldn’t be happy.”
“I may not exactly get a choice in this matter,” replied Jack.
Natasha lifted the covers and looked at Jack’s body.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Looking for the man I married,” she replied, dropping the sheets. “That guy wouldn’t have given up so easily. That guy always found a way to solve a problem.”
Jack took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “Believe me, I’ve been trying. Laura and I have been putting everything we have into catching these two Russians. I thought that if we did, it might give Quaile reason to reflect. Perhaps adjust his thinking. Now, thinking about how he screwed me on my assessment, I’m not sure that would even work.”
“You’re tired, stressed, and depressed.”
“Tell me about it.”
“If you actually took some time off to relax, maybe enjoy life, it would clear your head. Give your brain a chance to re-energize.”
“I know,” sighed Jack. “What you say is right, but it’s a Catch-22. If I take time off, then I might miss something with the Russians ... then I’d really be screwed.”
“It would still be good to give yourself a small break from it.”
“I can’t. Maybe in a couple of weeks ...”
“You have to lower your stress level. It’s not healthy. Mentally or physically.”
“And how the hell do I do that? Quaile’s riding my—”
“Shut up about Quaile!�
� said Natasha angrily. “Complaining about him won’t help.”
“Then what do you suggest?” snapped Jack in exasperation. “I’m trying damn hard to go by the rules and look what it’s gotten me! If I had screwed up or got caught doing something I shouldn’t, then fine. I deserve it. But this is bullshit. I know life isn’t fair, but it’s eating me up inside.”
The two of them silently stared up at the ceiling.
Eventually Jack rolled over to face Natasha. “I’m sorry,” he said. “That just didn’t come out right. I really love you. I think you’re an amazing person and sometimes wonder how you put up with me ... and what I do. I just have so many things on my mind. Now is not the time to take a holiday. I wouldn’t be able to relax anyway.”
Natasha sighed and said, “Yeah, I know. I sometimes wonder myself how I put up with you. Laura once said that I was a brave woman to be married to you.”
Jack felt relieved that Natasha wasn’t angry. “Laura told you that? That wench! Don’t believe anything she says.”
Natasha smiled and said, “Of course she was joking, but in a way, it made me think.”
“Think of what?”
“Of how much I love you—to put up with all the crap you do put me through.”
Jack reflected on his relationship with Natasha since they had met and admitted, “There has been a lot of stress—I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” sighed Natasha. “It’s not entirely your fault. I brought home my own bag of stress.”
“Oh?” said Jack. “Want to talk about it?”
Natasha swallowed and said, “Today I had a patient. A young mom with cancer. She’s pregnant with her third and refuses chemo ... the only thing that might save her at this point.”
“That’s awful.”
“It makes you think. I can put up with just about anything as long as we’re together,” she added, bringing her face close to his.
Jack felt her warm mouth linger on his lips. When she pulled away, he said, “I guess we really should remember to put things in perspective. You look around at our apartment, all the things we have ... but the really important things in life aren’t things.”
