“It went well,” said Danny. “All he had were the basic questions. I could handle it myself. He said we should have the authorization signed by tomorrow or Tuesday.”
“We need to talk,” said Jack.
“Are we meeting our friend?”
“Yes, in about an hour, but⦔
Jack's attention was diverted by a gentle poke in his ribs. “Hi, Jack!”
He smiled politely and then said, “Hi, Susan. Done your shopping already?”
“Afraid so. This cheapskate keeps us on a tight budget.”
Jack looked at Danny and said, “With all the overtime you make?”
“Yeah, right! And when do
I
get time to spend it? I'm always working!”
“A cheapskate
and
a complainer. I don't know, Susan. It must be rough.”
“It is. I just live in quiet desperation and bear the pain.” She grinned and said, “He is pretty good in the sack, though.”
“Only pretty good?” said Danny, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her close.
“Okay. You're great!”
“That's better!” He kissed her and Tiffany each on the cheek. “See ya, hon,” he said, passing her his car keys. “I should be home around twelve-thirty.”
Damien and his family cleared customs faster than Wizard had hoped. Buck entered the public part of the terminal first, followed by his two sisters. Wizard was just hanging up his cell as Vicki and Damien appeared.
“What's going on?” asked Damien.
Wizard tried not to smile as he stuffed his cell back in his pocket. “Had some business to take care of. Tried to reach you but couldn't.”
Damien checked his cell. “It's been on.”
“Must not work down south or on the plane.”
Damien partially covered his mouth with his hand. He was always conscious of the possibility of someone pointing a directional microphone at him. His voice was quiet, but the tone was angry. “What is it? What have you done?”
Wizard partially covered his own mouth and gave Damien an update on what happened during the last week. He saved telling him about killing O'Reilly and his family until last. When he was finished, he added, “Just one pig to go. Jack Taggart. We'll have his address today or tomorrow.”
Wizard expected Damien would be furious, but it wasn't his ass on the line. Besides, the election for national president was only eight days away. Showing enough class to off a pig, or two pigs by then, would prove that he had the balls to do the job. He looked at Damien.
You've only got a few days left. You know it and I know it!
By the look on Damien's face, he knew that Damien was thinking the same thing.
“This is my fault,” Damien said. He didn't sound angry, but calculating and matter of fact.
“What? What do ya mean?”
“I should never have left you in charge. You don't have the ⦠capacity to handle the position. I see that now.”
“Bullshit! I did right! It's easy for you to talk! The cops aren't about to bust you for â”
Damien stabbed a finger into Wizard's chest and said, “You have no idea what you've done! Do you really think there won't be retribution over this?”
“They'll never pin it on us!”
“You dumb fuck! I didn't say that they'd be looking for evidence! I'm talking retribution!” He then turned and walked back to his family.
Wizard watched as Damien herded his family to an airline counter and bought them all tickets to Mexico.
Yeah, well, if you're worried about your family, you shouldn't have one.
Danny rushed out of the mall as Susan was putting the stroller in the car. “There's been a change of plans,” he said, glancing around the parking lot.
“Aren't you going with Jack?”
“No, we're going for a drive right now. Jack is going to follow us. Hurry up and get in.”
Susan could tell by the look on Danny's face that he was either angry or scared. Or perhaps both. “Danny, what is it? What's going on?”
Danny waited until he had backed out of the parking stall before saying, “Jack saw two bikers arrive shortly after we did. He's been watching them. They're parked in a van watching this parking lot.”
“You think they're here because of you? That they followed you?”
“Looks like it.”
“Where are they? I don't see anyone!”
The words were barely out of her mouth when there was a horrendous explosion in an adjacent parking lot. Susan saw the back of a van lift off the ground before bouncing back down. An orange fireball of flame filled the inside and she could see the silhouettes of two people in the front.
The passenger instinctively grabbed at his blown eardrums before slumping over. The driver clawed at his
door, but the van had buckled from the explosion and the door wouldn't open. His body writhed inside the van and then fell from sight.
“My God!” Susan screamed. “Danny!” she said, pointing to the van.
“That's them!” he replied. “They blew themselves up!” He gazed at the van momentarily and then sped out of the mall lot. “They were planning on killing us! You, Tiffany, and me!”
“What are you saying? I don't understand! What's going on?”
“They're the same two guys who murdered Crystal. One guy is a bomb expert.”
“A bomb expert? But why?”
Danny glanced in the rear-view mirror and said, “Guess he wasn't an expert, but you can bet it was intended for us.”
“Why aren't you waiting for the police? Why â”
“I'm getting you and Tiffany the hell away from here! There could be others! You're going to pack, and I'm putting you on a plane. Call your brother in Calgary and stay with him.”
“But why? What are you going to do?”
“They probably know where we live! Jack told me to move in with him while we sort things out. He's going to make a few calls.”
“To who? What for?” said Susan, starting to cry.
“This is against the rules. The bastards have just declared war and they're going to get it.”
Wizard answered his cellphone.
“We've got a problem!” Rolly's voice was high-pitched.
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“Find a television! It's on right now!”
Wizard and Damien went into one of the airport's lounges and saw live coverage of a breaking story on television. An explosion had ripped a van apart. Two bodies were recovered, but the broadcast said they were burned beyond recognition.
“I don't get it,” said Wizard. “Rolly saw them put the package on the pig's car!”
Damien looked at Wizard for a moment, then said, “This being the same Rolly who the cops know killed the little boy and later the Indo? Who else knew he whacked them two?”
“He said he hasn't told anyone.”
“So only you know ⦠and the police.”
Wizard didn't respond.
The two men walked back to where Vicki and the children were waiting.
“You gonna cancel their flight now?” asked Wizard
Damien shook his head. “There could still be retribution. The fact that you failed won't make a difference.”
“But⦔
“Shut the fuck up and listen! We've got a rat in-house! It could be Rolly or someone else in your chapter.”
Wizard was about to defend Rolly, but Damien gave him a long, hard look, and he decided it was in his best interest to stay quiet on that subject. “What about the two pigs?” he asked.
“Unfortunately, because of your stupidity, now I have to deal with them immediately before any more shit hits the fan. Then we'll find out who the rat is. In the meantime, nobody in your chapter is to go anywhere near them. It'll strictly be the east-side boys. Understood?”
“Understood.”
“And that means you, too!”
Jack and Danny made sure they were not being followed, then checked the area around Danny's home. Nothing aroused their suspicions. Six hours later, Danny kissed Susan and Tiffany goodbye and watched them go through security at the airport to board their flight. Jack had taken another car and followed them to the airport.
Jack and Danny were walking back to their cars when Danny's cellphone rang.
“Danny! It's Sid Bishop. I just saw the news! Did you hear what happened?”
“About what?”
“Two bikers were blown up in a van this morning near Willy's Restaurant! It had to have happened right after we left. That's no coincidence!”
“Oh, that. Yes, I heard.” Danny covered the mouthpiece on the phone and whispered to Jack, “It's Sid Bishop!” He then held the phone so they could both hear.
“What do you mean, oh, that? How did they know we were there? They tried to kill us! Christ, I don't want to go home!”
“Sid, relax. If they wanted to kill you, they could have shot the both of us when we were leaving.”
“That's not very comforting! I called Marvin at home and â”
“Marvin?” asked Danny.
“Sorry, Superintendent Wigmore. He gave me the home number for Assistant Commissioner Isaac. He's not home yet; I keep calling. I want to hear what he says about this!”
Jack rolled his eyes, then took the phone from Danny and said, “Sid. This is Jack Taggart, Danny's partner. I'm positive that your life is not in danger. If you think about it, the bikers would have nothing to gain by killing you. In fact, they would have a lot to lose. We don't think this is connected to us. We have intelligence that a drug war is starting. Getting the wire hooked up is the best thing we can do right now.”
Sid sounded surprised. “You think it's a drug war? That it was a coincidence?”
“I'm certain of it. We heard that Satans Wrath killed a speed dealer by the name of Bobby Singh. This is probably retaliation for that.”
Sid paused, then calmed down. “So you don't think I'm in danger?”
“No.”
Jack heard Sid turn away from the phone and say, “Oh, God, thank heavens.” He then spoke to Jack: “I must admit, this incident has shaken my composure. I'm glad to hear you say that. It took me a long time to get through on Danny's cell. He should get a new phone!”
“There's no need to panic.”
“I don't panic! I was just concerned.”
“I'll give you my home and cell numbers. Danny will be staying with me for a couple of days, so if you need to, you can reach either of us there.”
“Why is he staying with you if there's no need to panic?” said Sid, his voice rising.
“Just coincidence. His wife is out of town and we decided to bach together. By the way, how well do you know Superintendent Wigmore?”
“Not well. Just socially on occasion. He didn't speak very highly of you.”
“Oh?” said Jack, feigning surprise. “He's had some emotional problems lately. I won't hold that against him. I'll call you as soon as we know something further.”
“Now what?” asked Danny, after Jack hung up.
“If Isaac thinks our lives are in danger, he'll transfer the both of us so far north we'll need a dogsled team. If that happens, I'll quit and stay here to finish this on my own.”
“After what happened, how can you convince him otherwise?”
“Play up that it's a drug war. I'll have a report on his desk first thing tomorrow morning saying our informant told us a drug war is starting. Convince him that today was a coincidence.”
“Isaac will want to know who is dumb enough to take on Satans Wrath.”
“I'll say it's conflict within Satans Wrath. That way when more of them start dying, it'll make sense.”
“You think he'll swallow that?”
“I hope so. Otherwise you and Susan better develop a taste for whale blubber.”
“Speaking of our friend?”
Jack glanced at his watch. “This should be interesting. When I cancelled the meet with him at noon, he sounded like he didn't know anything yet. Since
then he's left half a dozen urgent messages for me to call him.”
“Why not call him?”
“I will, but I want to see his face when we talk.” Jack called Lance's number. His message was brief. “Cemetery! Two hours!”
Jack then said to Danny, “Tell me you've got your vest on?”
“It's on.”
Two hours later, Lance made sure that his jacket covered the handle of the 9 mm tucked in the front of his jeans before quietly making his way into the cemetery. He didn't approach from the normal direction, but circled around and came in from behind instead.
Minutes later, he heard whispering and saw Jack and Danny standing near a grave marker. Their backs were toward him and they continued to whisper as he approached. Lance stopped behind them and said, “Glad to see you guys didn't bring a shovel with ya!”
Jack and Danny turned to face him. “It's not that far away,” said Jack.
“How come ya didn't get back to me? I've been phonin' and leavin' messages all day!”
“Why didn't you call before it happened?”
“I swear to fuckin' God I didn't know about it! The first I heard was when Wiz called a meetin' around noon. That's when he let everyone in the chapter know that Nails an' Axle got blown up. He said that they were takin' care of business when somethin' happened. It was after the meetin' that Wiz and Rolly let me know that it was supposed to be for you guys.”
“What did they say?”
“Wiz apologized for not lettin' me in on it but said that there wasn't time. I asked him what happened.” Lance looked at Danny and said, “Rolly was there. He thought he saw Nails put the bomb on your car and then drove about a block away and waited. He mentioned that some broad had driven in when Nails was doin' it. At the time, he thought it had been planted but realizes now that it wasn't.”
“Who else was there besides Rolly? Wasn't Wizard around?” asked Jack.
“It was just the three of them. Wiz was at the airport meeting Damien. He was just getting' back from the Grand Caymans.”