Birds of a Feather. Don Easton

a trained undercover operative. Like most officers with police training, they portrayed a degree of self-confidence. Coupled with a strong Alpha-male attitude, it tended to make them stand out for who they really were.

      It was one of the first lessons Adams would later learn when he worked with such an operative. There are times to act aggressive and times not to. Instinctively knowing when to do which could be a matter of life or death.

      “Okay, we’re moving again and he’s turned down a side street,” said Patton. “I’ll call you back when I’m done and let you know when I can pick you up.”

      “Sounds good. Don’t take any —”

      “Shit, looks like I got company,” said Patton, his voice going up an octave. “A black-and-white tucked in behind me and one of their crew cab pickups is coming up alongside. The cop driving is really giving me the hairy eyeball.”

      “Forget the Mercedes and get the hell out of there!” urged Adams.

      “You don’t have to tell — fuck!”

      Adams heard the sound of crunching metal and Patton’s high-pitched yell. “I got rammed into a row of parked cars! I … I —”

      “Don’t stop!” screamed Adams. “Step on it! Get outta there and run for the border!”

      “Can’t! I’m blocked in!” came the frantic reply. “Fuck, here they come. They got their automatics out!”

      “Don’t hang up! Can you get one of their plates?”

      In response, all Adams heard was the sounds of men shouting, followed by breaking glass and Patton screaming in pain before the phone went dead.

[1] The DEA investigation into the torture and murder of Special Agent Enrique S. Camarena was the most in depth and longest-running investigation in DEA history.

      chapter two

      On Friday afternoon in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Jack Taggart rose from his chair in the front row of the high school auditorium and clapped when Marcie finished giving her valedictorian speech. Beside him, Natasha, holding their seven-month-old baby, Michael, also rose. On his other side, Jack’s sister, Liz, and his brother-in-law, Ben, also stood, clapping loudly.

      Jack was proud of Marcie. She was still only seventeen years old, but was graduating from grade twelve with top honours.

      Marcie had not had an easy life. Jack was a trained undercover operative for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who was assigned to an Intelligence Unit targeting organized crime. Marcie was twelve years old when Jack rescued her from a life of drugs and prostitution. Half the credit to her success, he believed, went to Liz and Ben, who officially adopted her at that time.

      The other half went to Marcie. She was intuitive, intelligent, and a hard worker. Her plans were to go to university and become a child-protection worker. Not an easy job, but one she had her heart set on. She was a caring person and, given her challenging background, he knew she would make a good one.

      Jack thought she gave an excellent speech, but could see there was something else on her mind. Part way through her delivery, some late arrivals came into the gymnasium. He saw the optimistic look on her face, followed by disappointment as she continued to talk.

      She’s worried and it’s not stage fright. Someone didn’t show up…

      As the audience sat back down, he locked eyes with Marcie. She was smiling, but he could tell it was not sincere. Jack quit smiling at her and raised one eyebrow. What’s up?

      Marcie’s smile disappeared. She gave him a slight nod.

      During a break in the ceremonies, Marcie took him aside and the words spilled out of her.

      “My friend … Lily, she’s not here tonight!” said Marcie.

      “Who is Lily?”

      “I told you. She’s my friend. Lily Rae. She should have been here! We were supposed to graduate together!”

      “Maybe her car broke down or something.”

      “No! You don’t understand. I haven’t seen her for over two weeks.”

      “Have you called her home? What about her parents or family?” asked Jack.

      “She only has her mom. She never knew her father and doesn’t have any brothers or sisters. Her mom called me this morning. She hasn’t seen her, either. Lily told her she was going away with her boyfriend for a couple of days, but that was a week ago. Her mom tried to call her on her cell, but turns out Lily had left it at home.”

      “Intentionally?”

      “I don’t think so. Since meeting this guy she is always forgetting stuff. I mentioned it to her once and she just got all dreamy-eyed and said I would also be that way when I fell in love. Both her mom and me figured she would be back before today. She was really excited about the graduation. We had made plans to be together tonight. Well, sort of.”

      “Sort of?”

      “Lily and I had a fight a month ago,” confessed Marcie. “We haven’t talked to each other since. Still, I thought we would make up tonight and be friends again.”

      “What was the fight about?”

      “It was my fault.” Marcie sighed. “I should have kept my yap shut. I told her I didn’t like her new boyfriend. She said I was jealous because I don’t have a boyfriend. I said no way. I don’t trust the guy. There’s somethin’ not right about him. I think he’s a player.”

      “A player? As in dealing dope or into gangs?”

      “Well … I’m not sure. She only met him about three months ago. His name is Earl Porter. He’s like, thirty years old. She told me they’re in love. I met him a couple of times when he picked her up at school. He drives a black Mustang convertible and comes across as a real charmer. Real slick. Lily mentioned he likes to gamble and throw money around. That’s when I told her I didn’t trust him.”

      “Sounds like Lily should know better.”

      “She said he’s rich because his parents died in a car accident and he got a lot of insurance money. Maybe he did. I don’t know.”

      “Is Lily into the dope scene or hanging out with gangsters?”

      “No way.” Marcie shook her head vehemently. “She wouldn’t have been my friend if she was. She’s really straight. Doesn’t even smoke pot.”

      “What? Do you?”

      “Hell no! Come on, Uncle Jack! Are you kidding? After what I’ve been through I won’t even take a sip of wine because I’m scared I’ll end up back on the spike. I like to be in control of my body and my mind.”

      “So why is Lily hanging around some guy who is a dozen years older? He sounds like a loser.”

      “The thing is, Lily will believe anything a guy tells her if he gives her a little attention.”

      “A lot of teenage girls are like that,” Jack remarked.

      “Yeah, but I think she’s more needy than most. The only real family she has is her mom. Even that is not good. Her mom was in a car accident four years ago and has been in a wheelchair ever since.”

      “Sounds like Lily has had to grow up fast.”

      “Yeah, it hasn’t been easy on either of them. Her mom is in chronic pain. Lily told me she thinks her mom is addicted to prescription drugs. Since the accident, Lily has been more of a mother to her mom than her mom has been to her. Don’t get me wrong, her mom’s a real nice lady, but, well, you know, sometimes life sucks.” Marcie shrugged.

      “Does Lily have any history of running away from home?”

      Marcie