LITMIR.BIZ

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Toad’s room.

      Jack adjusted the focus on his binoculars and saw that each held a pistol. He watched as one stepped back from the door, raising his foot to kick, when the door unexpectedly opened in front of him.

      A biker stood for a moment, with an ice bucket in his hand and his mouth drooped open. Jack didn’t hear anything but saw the biker’s head jerk and knew where the first bullet struck him as his body crumpled to the floor. The Colombians ran inside. A few seconds later, Jack saw one Colombian casually look outside before closing the door. Several minutes passed, and then the Colombians left the room and went to the parking lot. They tried two different vehicles before finding the one that the keys matched.

      Their search for the money was fruitless, and Jack chuckled out loud as he watched them gesture and point in anger before running back to where they had left their van.

      Jack drove out of his parking spot and saw the van enter the main street and then drive off in the opposite direction. A minute later, Jack parked behind the motel and went to his trunk and put on some latex gloves and a toque. He walked around to the front of the unit and stepped inside. One biker was sprawled on his back on the floor. One eye was open, but the other eye had been replaced by a bullet hole. The second biker was sitting in a chair, slumped face-down on the table. Blood oozed out of his forehead.

      The Toad was still lying on top of the bed, partially propped up with pillows. His chin was resting on his chest. Jack went over to check his pulse but realized that The Toad had taken two bullets to his heart.

       I wish whoever taught the Colombians to shoot would teach me.

      Jack went to the rear of the unit and opened up a bathroom window overlooking the back of the motel. Seconds later, his cell vibrated. He was expecting a call, but his nerves were taught and his body surged with more adrenalin.

      “You told me to call when it was done,” said Lance. “Did I wake ya?”

      “No,” replied Jack. “It’s only eleven. I was just getting ready for bed,” he said, glancing at The Toad. “How did it go?”

      “Smooth as shit. Went down just like I told ya.”

      “Good. Glad it went okay.”

      “Man, I was a little nervous. Appreciate you sitting this one out.”

      “Yeah, well ... maybe next time. What are you doing now?”

      “Goin’ home and gettin’ some rest. Do you want the details?”

      “Later. We’ll meet next week and you can tell me then.”

      Jack shut off his phone and bent over the bed. Okay, Toad. Hibernation time.

      chapter twenty-two

      It was after midnight when Danny answered the phone on his bedside table. He saw Susan as she walked in and stood in the doorway. She had been sitting in a chair in the children’s room.

      “Danny ... sorry to wake you, but I need help.”

      Danny looked at Susan and said, “It’s Jack.”

      Susan didn’t reply but stood and stared at her husband.

      “What do you want?” asked Danny as he spoke to Jack but continued to look into Susan’s eyes.

      “I need a friend right now. A good friend. Tonight, before the sun comes up.”

      Danny paused as Jack’s cryptic message sunk in, then said, “Forget it! I don’t want you calling...”

      “Please, Danny,” pleaded Jack. “Just listen. I’m really close to identifying the guy that did this to your family. He was at the funeral for Holly’s husband.

      That’s how he ID’d us. Elvis identified him as the same guy who met Leitch in the park. Looks Indo and has a British accent. I’ve got a plan. I’m going to trick Damien into identifying him for us.”

      “No,” said Danny quietly.

      “You don’t get it! We can nail him within the week! He won’t be trying to kill any more babies!”

      “Damn it, Jack! You don’t get it! I don’t care if you catch him! I’m done! I want out!”

      “Danny ... you’re just ... probably PTSD,” said Jack, speaking rapidly. “Try to calm down and think about —”

      “You’re fuckin’ right I’m stressed! So is my whole family! All I want is to get Susan, Tiff, and Jimmy the hell away from here — and from you!”

      “Danny, I’m sorry. I —”

      “Don’t ever call again!” Danny said, before slamming the receiver back down.

      It was after one o’clock in the morning when Laura drove past a cemetery and then spotted Jack parked nearby on a quiet street as per his directions. She parked and then hurried over and joined him.

      “What’s up?” she asked, glancing around. “You got the eye on someone?”

      “No, it’s not surveillance,” replied Jack. “I lied.”

      “You lied? Three or four days before I’m even supposed to start working with you and you’re already lying to me?”

      “I just thought it would be easier to explain once you got here.”

      Laura studied him briefly, then said, “Well, I’m here.”

      Jack took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, then said, “The other day you offered to be my friend.”

      Laura nodded.

      “What I need right now is a good friend.”

      Laura looked at Jack but didn’t reply.

      “Do you understand the difference?” “Don’t know what you’re getting at. Sorry. Maybe I’m not awake yet.”

      “A friend is someone who would help you move.”

      Laura nodded. “A good friend is someone who would help you move a body.”

      Laura snickered, then said, “Yeah, right. Good one. So what’s really going on?” She saw Jack’s face partially illuminated by a streetlight. It was a face that looked desperate. A sense of dread overtook her when she realized he was serious. “Does this have something to do with who tried to kill O’Reilly’s baby?” she asked.

      “Basically,” Jack replied.

      Laura didn’t speak for almost a minute.

      Jack didn’t interrupt her thoughts. What he was asking her was to risk everything she had.

      Finally she spoke. Her words were a whisper. “If this is about the guy who attacked the O’Reilly family, then I could be a good friend.”

      “Are you sure?” Jack asked. “I know you. I remember when I worked an operation with you in Alberta. You made me stop the car to rescue a gopher that was snagged on something.”

      “That’s cuz gophers don’t kill babies.”

      Jack nodded, then said, “Okay. We don’t have much time.”

      “Who, when, and where?”

      “Right now ... and he’s in the trunk.”

      “You’re not serious!”

      Jack quietly handed her the keys and sat in the car while she went to look. She saw the man’s body wrapped in a yellow plastic police emergency blanket. A shovel was also in the trunk.

      “Oh, man,” she mumbled, then got back in the car. “You killed the guy?” she asked.

      Jack shook his head, then replied, “No. He was already dead when I found him.”

      “And he’s the piece of shit who likes

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