Jack Taggart Mysteries 8-Book Bundle. Don Easton
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you show up at the motel on Saturday morning with a bullshit story that an informant told you about The Toad and a huge dope deal!”
“Well, that part is true. I did go to the motel. What does that have to do with anything?”
“Nothing with you is true! Who’s your informant? I need a name and an address now!” said Legg, sliding a writing pad across the table.
“I don’t disclose the names of my informants!”
“You will if you don’t want me to read you your rights and put you in jail now!”
Jack glared at Legg for a moment, then grabbed the notepad and scribbled a name and address before tossing the pad into Legg’s lap.
Legg looked at the name. “This is it? A first name and an apartment address? What’s the phone number?”
“Doesn’t have one.” Jack looked at both men and said, “Check it out. Take CC from Homicide. She’ll verify it.”
“Yeah? Well you can sit here until I do!” said Legg. He left Randy in the room with Jack and went to another room and called Connie Crane.
“Don’t know anything about it,” said Connie. “If Jack thinks I’ll lie for him, he’s mistaken!”
“Could it be an alias? Maybe somebody you used to deal with?” asked Legg.
“Possible, but I’ve never handled a source with Jack. I’m kind of busy right now.”
“Isaac wants this done now. Are you going to tell him you’re too busy?”
Seconds later, Connie hurried from her office to meet Legg.
Pussy Paul and Rellik arrived at Damien’s estate as ordered. It was raining and both men soon wished they had brought umbrellas. Damien was the only one who had one as they strolled along the manicured path that led past the koi pond in his backyard.
“What did you find out?” Damien asked Pussy Paul.
“He should be in court all day. Up until about four.”
“Good,” replied Damien. “Meet him at the courthouse as soon as he’s finished. Tell him we have a new source in the prosecutor’s office. Tell him we know that the cops have a tap on him ... including payphones.”
“The fucking pigs are buggin’ our lawyer?” said Rellik.
“No,” replied Damien. “I think Leitch is two-timing us. He might be doing something with The Toad.”
“The fucking Toad!” said Rellik. “I’ve still got guys at the bus depot.”
“Cancel them, except for two. I doubt he’ll show, but if he does ... make sure he’s taken care of.”
Rellik nodded.
“It’s possible that Leitch is using a go-between. Some dark guy with a British accent. Bait him,” said Damien, directing his order at Pussy Paul. “Tell him our rat at the prosecutor’s read something to indicate it involved a meeting he had with the guy in a park. Then leave.”
“Got it,” said Pussy Paul.
Damien pointed his finger at Rellik and said, “Have your team standing by. If he meets The Toad or anyone who fits the description of the other guy, grab ’em.”
Rellik made a motion with his hand, imitating firing a pistol.
“Not yet. I’ll want to talk to them personally. Someplace private,” said Damien.
“Wet Willy’s?” suggested Rellik.
Damien nodded and said, “That will do.”
“Should I bring a talking stick?”
Damien was silent for a moment. The thought of it churned his stomach ... but then an image of Vicki’s finger came to mind. He looked at Rellik and said, “Do what you have to do.”
Legg knocked on the apartment door while Connie Crane stood to one side, keeping an eye on a couple of junkies who entered a room farther down the corridor.
“You sure this is the right place?” asked Connie.
Legg rechecked the piece of paper from his pocket and said, “This is what Taggart wrote.”
A moment later, someone was heard moving around inside and Legg knocked again. Eventually the door opened as much as the chain lock would allow.
Connie caught a glimpse of the woman who stared back at them. She wore fishnet nylon stockings, small satin shorts that allowed the cheeks of her ass to hang out, and a tube top that advertised her nipples.
“Vice?” she croaked. “What the fuck do you want?”
Legg shook his head and said, “Not Vice. RCMP. Are you Ophelia?”
She nodded.
“We’ll make it brief,” continued Legg. “If you don’t want to come with us, then just talk to us now. Will take less than a minute. Do you know Jack Taggart?”
The hooker paused, then quickly closed the door.
Legg looked at Connie and was about to ask what they should do when he heard the chain being removed. Then Ophelia opened the door and glanced nervously down the hallway.
“Yeah, I know Jack,” she tried to whisper, but her voice was raspy and it still sounded loud. “But tell him I’m not working for him anymore. The jerk said he’d never tell anyone.”
It was a voice that Connie knew she recognized ... but from where?
“You know a guy called The Toad?” asked Legg.
“Yeah, I’ve been talking to Jack about him. Fuck! If someone found out, I’m dead!”
“No, it’s nothing like that,” said Legg. “We just want to ask you a few —”
“I know you,” interjected Connie.
The hooker glared at her and said, “No ya don’t.”
“I recognize your voice. Ophelia, we talked on the phone. It was me you spoke to about Spider.”
Isaac listened as Randy told him about Ophelia saying she was Jack’s informant.
“Taggart still in interrogation?” he asked.
Randy nodded and said, “Staff Legg just got back and is with him. I just came out to tell you about this hooker. It’s the same hooker who solved that homicide for us. With the war veteran.”
“So Taggart did have an informant,” mused Isaac. “Guess he doesn’t lie about everything.”
“I don’t think he has her anymore. She was pretty upset that he divulged her identity.”
“So be it,” said Isaac. “I feel bad about that, but this takes priority. Once we get the confirmation report from Mexico, I want you to —”
Isaac was interrupted by his secretary, who brought in the report and said, “You told me to bring this in immediately, sir.”
Isaac quickly read the report, then grimaced and said, “It seems the Mexican police would like to have Taggart return. I’m delivering this message in person. Bring him to me!”
Minutes later, Randy reappeared in Isaac’s office. Isaac glanced up as Jack Taggart entered, followed by Legg. Isaac immediately arose and came around from behind his desk and walked directly up to Jack.
Legg saw the angry look on Isaac’s face. That’s when it occurred to him that Taggart might be armed. He placed his hand on Taggart’s forearm while nodding to Randy to do likewise.
“Damn it, Harry! Let go of the man’s arm!” ordered Isaac.
Legg quickly pulled his hand back in surprise.
Isaac