by Don Easton
Jack Taggart Mysteries
Loose Ends (2005)
Above Ground (2007)
Angel in the Full Moon (2008)
Samurai Code (2010)
Dead Ends (2011)
Birds of a Feather (2012)
Corporate Asset (2013)
The Benefactor (2014)
Art and Murder (2015)
A Delicate Matter (2016)
To the families of those on the front lines:
Few people recognize or appreciate what you have endured and continue to endure. Thank you for the sacrifices you’ve made.
Table of Contents
Cover
Jack Taggart Mysteries
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Nine
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty-One
Chapter Fifty-Two
Chapter Fifty-Three
Chapter Fifty-Four
Chapter Fifty-Five
Chapter Fifty-Six
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Copyright
Chapter One
It was early afternoon when Corporal Jack Taggart slouched back in his office chair, massaging his temples with his fingertips. Unfortunately the images he’d seen a few hours earlier remained — along with any chance of erasing the knowledge of what had taken place next.
Three people had been tortured and murdered where they lived, in a farmhouse an hour’s drive away. The atrocity was horrible to see, and when he thought his brain couldn’t handle any more, he learned that a fourth murder had taken place at an unknown location somewhere else within the lower mainland. That victim was Damien Zabat — a man who’d recently given Jack information in exchange for keeping his wife and son out of jail. Damn it, Damien, I’m sorry. I never meant for this to happen.
Staff Sergeant Rose Wood cleared her throat as she entered his office, and he sat up, hoping to hide his emotions. She was his boss and in charge of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Intelligence Unit in Vancouver. She was also a person he respected and liked, someone he protected by not sharing all the details of the methods he used — methods Jack referred to as the grey zone.
Rose’s arrival caused him to worry about someone else — Laura. She was more than his subordinate. She was his partner and his close friend. Both worked undercover together and she was not someone he hid details from. Their survival often hinged on their ability to instinctively know what the other thought and how the other would react when the unexpected happened. He glanced at her empty desk, then looked at Rose and raised an eyebrow.
Rose’s face expressed her concern. She sat down in Laura’s chair. “You were right to have me check on her. When I first went into the washroom she was hiding out in a stall. I could hear her sobbing.”
Pure E, you son-of-a-bitch. You’ll pay for this.
“I calmed her down. She’s quit crying but isn’t ready to come out yet. She’s still in shock … trembling.”
“Not to belittle your master’s in psychology, but should I go in and talk to her?”
“No. Definitely not you.” Rose’s tone was sharp.
“You say that like I’m to blame.”
He watched as Rose paused, as if she was unsure of how to respond.
Maybe it is my fault.
“I’m not blaming you,” she finally said, “but let me explain. Laura’s suffering from feelings of helplessness, intense fear, revulsion —”
“She said that?”
“Not in those exact words, but we discussed what you two have been through in the last week.”
In the last week? Try this morning.
“Her feelings were pretty obvious.” Rose appeared to study Jack’s face.
“What is it?” he asked, touching his face. “Blood on me from the crime scene?”
“No, but the dark circles and bags under your eyes say something. How much sleep have you had in the last couple of days?”
“I don’t know. Maybe three hours Tuesday and another three last night. Laura likely didn’t get much more.”
Rose shook her head. “That’s insane. Especially when you were undercover with someone who commits murder without hesitation.”
“It wasn’t like we had a choice. We did a UC with his associates Tuesday night in Vancouver. That set up our meeting with him in Victoria. Last night we did the arrest. By the time I did my notes, then caught the first ferry back … well, I’d hoped I’d be taking today off — until all hell broke loose.”
“Exhaustion compounds how Laura’s feeling, increases the stress she’s under.”
“Exhaustion, yes. But you said she felt helpless? She’s anything but helpless. Believe me, I couldn’t do what I do without her.”
Rose studied Jack’s face. “What you do is part of the problem. Six days ago you staged being shot — something Laura was against, despite her loyalty to you. But she felt helpless to put a stop to it because you’re her boss. And then when it did happen, it didn’t go according to plan and she thought you’d been killed.”
“I know, I know,” Jack muttered. “I feel bad about that. She made it clear from the beginning that she was against the idea.”
“As I’d have been … if I’d known,” Rose replied icily.
“You have to admit it worked. Damien thought Vicki tried to kill me. He never suspected she was my informant.”
Rose’s face hardened. “Don’t even go there. I told you what I’d do if you ever pulled a stunt like that again.”
“I know.”
“Then there was last night at the marina in Victoria. Laura heard the shot and again thought you’d been killed.”
“She thought the bad guy had fired. It was the cover team who let off a round.”
Rose sighed in exasperation. “Put yourself in her shoes. She was watching with binoculars when he pulled his gun. When the shot rang out, you dropped from sight below the gunwale on the boat. She thought you were dead.”
“I tackled the guy. I was fighting to save my life and there was —”<
br />
Rose put her hand up to silence him. “Jack, quit being defensive. I’m trying to explain to you why Laura feels helpless and why I want you to give her some space. In my opinion you’re in shock yourself. Yes, Laura was crying, but at least she’s able to express her emotions. You’re trying to bury everything.”
I’d like to bury Pure E.
“Being in denial will complicate and worsen your emotional well-being.”
Jack glared at the staff sergeant. “How do I deny that without proving your point?”
“I wasn’t making a point. It’s an observation. We’re discussing Laura. Twice within a week she thought you’d been killed.” Rose stopped for a moment, as if giving him time to let her words sink in. “Of course she felt helpless. Then there’s this morning. As soon as you get off the ferry you’re both taken to that farmhouse. How revolting was that? A man you set up to look like your informant murdered in that manner.”
Jack closed his eyes. Burned hair and blackened flesh — the smell is all over me. Wish I could go home and get these clothes off and shower.
“How do you feel about that?” Rose asked.
“How do I feel?” Jack was surprised by the question. “I’m angry! Three people tortured to death and later a fourth murdered because his own wife set him up. That was after he risked his life to save her. Damn right I’m angry! Aren’t you?”
“It’s upsetting.”
“Upsetting?” Jack exclaimed. “That’s an understatement. I expected Neal to be killed, but I’d no idea that Pure E would order the torture and murder of his brother and sister-in-law.”
“Neither did Laura, which adds to her feelings of helplessness, not to mention revulsion.”
“Her feeling of helplessness will pass once we do something about it,” Jack replied.
“And if you can’t do anything about it … how will she feel then?”
Jack was incensed. “Can’t do anything about it? You know me better than that!”
Rose’s face hardened. “I don’t like your tone — but will attribute it to exhaustion.” She paused, then added, “Don’t let anger cloud your judgment. You’re better than that.”
Cloud my judgment? It’ll hone it like a knife.
“Furthermore, I suggest you display a more professional attitude when we meet with Assistant Commissioner Isaac.” She glanced at her watch. “Which will be shortly, so get it together.”
Jack sighed. “Okay, I admit I’m tired. It’s difficult to stop thinking about the farmhouse.” Who wouldn’t stop thinking about it? Two grotesque figures … blackened and twisted, tied to chairs. The third disembowelled … He looked at Rose. “It makes me feel nauseated just thinking about it.”
“The same feeling I’m sure everyone has.”
Not Pure E. He ordered it.
“It’s bad enough hearing what happened in that farmhouse. You and Laura saw it. The both of you smell of … well, you know. If we weren’t meeting with Isaac, I’d send you home. I am sending her home right away — or at least as soon as she calms down.”
Jack nodded in agreement.
“Then there was the message left at the crime scene,” Rose added. “Seems right out of a horror movie.”
Yes. The 4 U JT painted across the wall with a broom dipped in blood. Jack felt his rage rise to the surface again. “Pure E made it personal. That’s something Damien would never have done.”
“Purvis Evans,” Rose said. “The new national president of Satans Wrath. After what happened, I’d say his nickname ‘Pure Evil’ or ‘Pure E’ is deserved.”
“‘Sick Bastard’ would suit him, too,” Jack replied bitterly.
Rose gestured with her hand for Jack to calm down. “Let’s continue. I think I’ve covered Laura’s feelings of helplessness and revulsion. Let’s talk fear. Six days ago you took down Damien Zabat when he was national president.”
“I took him down? His wife, Vicki, did that. She’s the one who made a bogus phone call and intentionally leaked it that he’d provided me with information. I was simply stupid enough to put the nail in his coffin by trying to call and warn him. Then to have Pure E answer Damien’s phone and goad me …” Jack shook his head in self-recrimination.
“The point is,” Rose said, “Damien’s been replaced by a psychopath. Damien was dangerous, but Pure E is far worse. The message at the triple murder in the farmhouse was directed at you, but Laura has every right to feel threatened as well.”
“Okay … I can see why she’s scared.”
“Why she’s scared? What about you? If you don’t feel scared, then you’re definitely in denial. And if that’s the case, I seriously question whether you’re fit for duty.”
“Of course it scared me. I’m married with two kids. I worry about my family — but we can’t back down. If Pure E gets away with leaving a message to taunt me at a murder scene, it’ll give him the confidence to do worse things.”
“Yes, and we’ll talk about him when you’ve had time to rest and think things through. We’re discussing Laura. I want you to understand why you shouldn’t talk to her at the moment. It would only trigger another emotional outburst. Give her time.”
I feel like shit. She’s my partner. I should’ve —
“Are you listening to what I’m telling you? If she comes to you, fine, but don’t you go waltzing into the women’s washroom and —”
“I won’t. I trust your judgment on that.”
“Good.”
“When you sum things up the way you have, I realize what an ass I was. I’m her boss. I should’ve done a better job of looking after her.”
“You must be doing something right. I know she cares deeply about you.”
“The feeling goes both ways, but I was so pigheaded about catching Damien that I trampled over anyone I thought was getting in my way. And for what? I thought he was a monster. Turns out I’d no idea what a monster was.”
“Do you think that weenie-wagging informant of yours would know anything about what they did to Damien?”
“He doesn’t know about it yet. I called him when you went to talk to Laura. He’s already drunk and I suspect he’s swallowed a handful of pills to get high. You think Laura and I had it rough seeing what happened at the farmhouse? Imagine what it was like for him. He was there and watched it happen. He was so shaken by what took place that he could hardly tell me the details.”
“If he’s combining drugs and alcohol, he’s liable to —”
“I know. I’ve been trying to get him to straighten out. He’s on the verge of a mental collapse, what with being an informant and then seeing three people murdered the way they were.”
Rose glanced at her watch again. “We’re meeting Isaac in fifteen minutes. Have you calmed down enough not to come across sounding like a cowboy in a lynch mob?”
“I’ll behave. As far as a lynch mob goes, I’d love to, but I’ve got a family. Pure E’s proven he’s not averse to killing family members to spite someone. He has the backing of his club. Any action against him will have to be carefully thought out.”
Rose nodded. “Sounds like you’re regaining your senses. Isaac told me that his replacement, Assistant Commissioner Mortimer, will attend. First impressions and all … I want you to be on your best behaviour.”
“I thought Mortimer didn’t start until a week from this coming Monday.”
“Yes, but today he met Isaac for lunch while waiting for the moving truck to show up from Ottawa. Isaac thought it would be good for him to sit in on the debriefing as a way to bring him up to speed. He’ll be in again next week, too, before officially taking over the reins the following week.”
“Great,” Jack replied, scowling. “This is a guy who spent the better part of his career in an admin job in Ottawa. He’s never been on the front lines. I can only imagine what he’ll think.”
“Ja
ck —” Rose eyed him briefly “— are you sure you’re up to the meeting? Isaac only wanted you to know that the triple murder was a consequence of his decision and not yours. I could tell him that I relayed that to you.”
“He doesn’t know what happened afterward … with Damien?”
“Not yet, but I know enough of the details that —”
“Thanks, but no. It’s best he hear it from me. I need to face up to what I did.”
“What you did was try to warn Damien. We’d all have done the same.” When Jack didn’t reply, Rose went on, “I’m going to check on Laura and send her home.”
“Tell her she’s not alone. I’m so frustrated I could put my fist through a wall.”
“Maybe I should take that as a good sign,” Rose said.
“How so?”
“Your frustration indicates you plan to play by the rules and aren’t planning to do something foolhardy.”
“You think I’m prone to acting foolhardy?”
“It’s more polite than saying homicidal.”
“Yes, we must remember to be polite,” Jack said. “Should I apologize to Pure E before or after I put a bullet in his brain?”
Rose tossed Jack a dirty look, then left.
Chapter Two
Lance Morgan parked his blue Honda Odyssey minivan and sat for a moment to take in his surroundings. Stanley Park was situated in the heart of Vancouver, but at this time of year it was largely deserted. Being early October, the tourist rush was over. And the usual lunch crowd had gone back to work.
He reached for the glovebox and grabbed a bottle of antacids. As he munched on the tablets he reflected on the morning’s activities — and his own life. As president of the Westside chapter of the Satans Wrath outlaw motorcycle gang, he’d seen more than his share of action. He glanced in the rear-view mirror at his reflection. Christ, I look old. Mid-forties? Hell … I look mid-sixties.
He rubbed the half moon scar on his forehead. When he was stressed, as he was now, it tended to redden. The scar was obtained in his early days with the club — someone had caught his attention with the broken end of a wine bottle. He’d viewed the scar as a badge of honour.
In those days he’d also had a beard and long hair. Coupled with the scar and his height — he stood half a head taller than most men — he was someone most people instinctively feared. And when he was younger, he took delight in intimidating others. But with age came maturity and that line of thinking was gone. These days he was clean-shaven and kept his thinning hair closely cropped.
