Jack Taggart Mysteries 8-Book Bundle. Don Easton

      “When we catch the Brit you’ll feel like you did the right thing.”

      Laura sighed and said, “I know. I’m not blaming you. I made my own decision.” She paused a moment and then added, “Although it bugs me that you made me look at Charlie’s picture. I feel manipulated.”

      “Kind of late to change what we did now.”

      “I’m not saying we should. I’m just not sure what we did was right.”

      Jack felt the acid in his empty stomach as he worried about Laura having second doubts. He glanced at her and said, “What we did was right.” He then paused and said, “Sorry about the manipulation. Won’t let it happen again.”

      “Yeah, right. As if I really believe that. You’re an operator.”

      “You’re an operator too.”

      “Exactly,” Laura said, and then smiled.

      “Were you just jerking my chain?” “About having second doubts? Yes. You should have seen your face. But not about the manipulation part. I don’t like being manipulated. I was just getting even.”

      Jack smiled. “Are we even?”

      “Sure. Now how about we get some sleep.”

      “Let’s have brunch first. It would be better if you relax a little before going home. I know this great little café. Excellent service as long as you don’t try to leave a tip.”

      It was almost noon when Damien received a text message from Carlos. A cold phone is at your front house. I will talk at you in one hour!

      Damien chuckled. Carlos’s attempt to use English slang sometimes sounded funny.

      My front gate perhaps? Probably means a delivery service will bring me a cool phone. Damien went to his communications room and checked the television monitor near the front gate. Vicki’s Hummer was parked there, but she was not in the driver’s seat.

       Maybe she’s picking a package up from the ground. I’ve warned her about packages! He zoomed the camera in on the Hummer. Where’s Katie?

      He paused as he received a text message from Lance. Two bros from Q were murdered last night at the motel. Coming over.

      Damien stared at the Hummer. It was still deserted. He ran from the house.

      chapter twenty-five

      Connie Crane called her boss and briefed him on the double homicide. She spoke of Taggart and Secord’s involvement and said that Drug Section was canvassing their members for any leads.

      Randy hesitated when he hung up. Any reason for calling the assistant commissioner on a Saturday had to be extremely serious. He soon knew he had made the right decision.

      Isaac listened to the details with a keen interest and thanked Randy for updating him. Isaac then called Staff Sergeant Legg and ordered him to contact Elvis immediately.

      Elvis took the call and listened carefully as Legg explained the situation.

      “I don’t really know anything,” said Elvis. “She’s not home yet.”

      “It’s after twelve. You haven’t heard from her?”

      “She called about an hour ago. Said she was going to have a bite to eat with Jack and would be home after. That’s all I know.”

      “What time did she start working last night?”

      “We were asleep. I didn’t really check the time. It was late, after midnight for sure.”

      “She didn’t mention why she was called out?”

      “I asked her if it was undercover. I thought she said surveillance, but I’m not sure. I was half asleep. Do you want me to ask her?”

      “A little gentle prodding might not hurt.”

      “She should be home any minute. I’ll ask.”

      “Be discreet! As I said before, we’ll just keep this between the two of us. The road to hell is slippery and steep. Let’s make sure Laura doesn’t reach that part.”

      Damien stopped when he reached Vicki’s Hummer and looked around. Nobody was in sight. Something was wrong. Really wrong.

      It was with a sense of dread that he opened the driver’s door and looked inside. He felt relieved to see that it was empty, except for a plastic bag on the driver’s seat. He peeked inside the bag and saw that it was just a cellphone, partially wrapped in a rag. The keys hung from the ignition. He parked the Hummer in the garage and brought the plastic bag inside to the kitchen table.

      What the hell is going on? He took the cellphone out and set it on the table. He picked up the rag and saw a small blue jeweller’s box in the bottom of the bag. He was about to set the rag aside but something caught his eye. The fabric had pictures of Disney characters on it. They were panties that Vicki had bought for Katie during the Easter break. They had been slashed off with a knife.

      Damien felt the bile from his stomach burn his throat. He abruptly grabbed the jeweller’s box and opened it. He saw Vicki’s wedding ring. It was still attached to her finger.

      Elvis greeted Laura as she came through the door, then gave her a warm kiss and a hug that lasted longer than normal.

      “Everything okay?” she asked.

      “Just missing you,” he said. “That was a long shift. I didn’t think you were supposed to start working with Jack until Tuesday.”

      “He needed a hand.”

      “Something couldn’t wait?”

      “A lot of action right now. Some bikers just got wasted in a motel.”

      “Some?”

      “Two guys. Both with Satans Wrath. Drug deal went sideways. Jack has a good source. He introduced me. Pretty heavy stuff.” Laura turned away and headed for the bedroom. “I’m going to shower and go to bed.”

      “You’re not on Homicide. How come you were called?”

      “We found out about that later. It was Jack’s source we were meeting. We knew a major deal was going down. Just didn’t know where until we heard Homicide radio it in.”

      When Laura finished her shower, she was about to get into bed when she saw a penny on her pillow. She paused, then slipped on her housecoat and walked into the kitchen where Elvis sat in a chair staring at her.

      “What’s wrong?” he asked.

      “Nothing,” she replied.

      “You’re avoiding looking at me. Can you talk about it?” he said, then saw the tears in her eyes. He rose quickly and wrapped his arms around her. “What is it? What the hell happened?”

      Laura wiped her eyes with her fingertips and then said, “Everything is okay.”

      “Bullshit,” said Elvis quietly. “I’m your husband. Talk to me.”

      Laura sighed, then said, “Jack has a picture ... he just got me to do something.”

      “To do what? What is it?”

      “To meet someone.”

      “This informant?”

      “Not about that. The mother. This baby’s mother! The ... oh, the picture was of a little guy taking his first steps. His name is Charlie. He was shot last month when his dad was killed.”

      “The one in the news?”

      Laura nodded. “Now Charlie is paraplegic. His mom is a waitress. Her name is Holly. Now she’s trying to raise a four-year-old and Charlie by herself.”

      “Why