Subverting Justice. Don Easton
handing out traffic tickets. We have to send the bikers our own message.”
“Of course you’ll have my support for that,” Rose said. “There are what, about 115 Satans Wrath members in the province?”
Laura spoke up. “I think 127, if you include prospects.”
“Okay … and as a rule of thumb, for every member, there are about ten hardcore criminals affiliated with them,” Rose noted. “So altogether you’re talking about 1,270 professional criminals.”
“Yes. I realize we are badly outnumbered, but —”
“‘Outnumbered’ is an understatement,” Rose said. “Then there’s the puppet clubs who work for them, such as the Gypsy Devils. Also we’re only talking about the army they have in this province. These guys cross borders and intermingle on a daily basis.”
“I know, but we can’t give up. Something needs to be done.”
“I totally agree, but if extra manpower is allotted, they’ll be looking to you to provide them with specific targets. Have you given any thought to that?”
“Only briefly,” Jack admitted. “I’ve got one source who might come around.”
“Weenie Wagger.”
“Yes.”
“Who you told me is stressed out, drinking, and using drugs.”
“I’ve tried the drinking,” Laura said dryly. “Doesn’t work.” She must have seen the sour look on Jack’s face, because she elbowed him in the ribs. “Hey, only teasing. I’d never turn down one of your famous olive soups.”
Jack eyed Laura briefly. Her humour seemed forced. She’s trying to show me that she’s not stressed out and that it’s game on as usual. He gave her a smile, then turned back to Rose. “He’s more than paid his debt, but I might be able to turn him around.”
“Money?”
“No, I think he’ll be looking for a friend. Offering money would negate that. The problem is, even if he does co-operate, he’s only a peon. He’s not even allowed to speak to Pure E or chapter presidents unless they expressly okay it.”
“Are there any other avenues of investigation available?”
“Possibly. I’m expecting to receive some intel from down south that might help.”
“You’re talking about the connection Satans Wrath has with the West 12th Street Gang in Texas and the money-laundering scheme Damien had going in Mexico?”
“Yes.”
“I read a preliminary report that International Proceeds of Crime did from their raids last week. Except for Damien, none of the other bad guys in the files they seized were Canadian. I don’t think there’s anything there that could help us.”
“I-POC doesn’t know everything,” Jack replied quietly.
“Oh?” Rose raised an eyebrow. “You holding something back from me?”
Jack waited a beat. “I had the distinct impression when Mortimer spoke to us yesterday that protecting informants wasn’t his priority. He’d rather get his name in the newspaper.”
Rose frowned. “That’s Mortimer. You’re talking to me.”
“I know, but someone stuck their neck out to get some information for me. The info is in Spanish and needs to be translated. It might take a week or two. Once we get it, I’m optimistic it’ll give us the leverage we need to turn a high-valued source.”
“This person who stuck their neck out — how far out?”
“Far enough to be fired if found out.”
“I see. How much time do you need to get an operational plan together in the meantime to get the ball rolling in the event this new source doesn’t pan out?”
Thank you for not digging deeper. “Two or three weeks.”
“Two or three weeks?” Rose sounded dismayed.
“We definitely need to target the prospects and the three-three.”
“The three-three is obvious. I presume you said ‘the prospects’ because they’re responsible for taking most of the risks?”
“Yes. We’ll need to verify where everyone lives before submitting any operational plan. These guys move around a lot. Two or three weeks isn’t long to do all that.”
“It’s said that vengeance is a dish best served cold,” Laura added.
Rose peered at Laura over the top of her glasses. “Not you, too,” she muttered. She looked at Jack. “I was actually questioning if two or three weeks is long enough to put an op plan together. I don’t want you to rush into this. We need to be thorough.”
“We’ll have to work night and day, but it’ll be thorough,” Jack said adamantly. “After that, if we do get a new informant, we’ll have to adjust the op plan depending on what we learn. Money laundering, drug dealing, prostitution, credit card rip-offs … it’s all handled by different factions within the club.”
Rose nodded. “Even if you get this new source, it could still take a long time to nail Pure E.”
Jack glanced at Laura. “We know, but we’re optimistic. The potential source is a chapter president and is able to consult with Pure E directly.”
“Chapter president?” Rose pursed her lips. “Sounds good.”
“That being said, we may not be able to act on a lot of things he’ll tell us for fear of putting him in jeopardy,” Jack cautioned.
Rose looked reflective, then said, “I came away from yesterday’s meeting with the same sense of foreboding over Mortimer’s lack of concern about informant safety. I understand your worry.”
“If we get this new source, and I think we will, protecting him will be my top priority.”
“I’m sure you’ll come up with some way to protect him,” Rose said.
Like pointing a finger at someone else? Another sacrificial lamb like Neal Barlow? That makes me sick.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean what you thought I meant,” Rose hastened to say, apparently reading Jack’s expression. “I’m sure you’ll think of other ways.”
Jack decided to change the subject. “So we’re set for the meeting? We have your backing?”
“Not quite. You never mentioned I-HIT in the equation,” Rose said.
“They’re already involved, what with the four murders yesterday.”
“I realize that … so I think they have enough work. Don’t you agree?”
“We’re dealing with Pure E. I’m sure more bodies will surface sooner or later.”
“Bodies attributed to Pure E aren’t what I meant,” she said, staring at Jack.
Chapter Nine
When Jack and Laura returned to their office, Jack took out a laptop to watch a video.
“What is it?” Laura asked, coming around to look over his shoulder.
“A copy of the video they took when they caught Weenie Wagger exposing himself that day in the parkade in Surrey.”
Laura spun on her heel and returned to her desk. “I know his face. I don’t need to see the rest of his anatomy.”
Jack stared silently at the video, then shut it off.
“Didn’t know some guy exposing himself would be your type of show,” she commented.
Jack grimaced. “Initially I got a copy