Above Ground (33 page)

“There's another thing with Leisure Boy,” said Rellik. “Ray paid him a hundred grand to backstab us. Leisure Boy gave him reports from the rat cop before we even saw 'em. Also set up companies for Carlos to launder money here.”

“Maybe that was The Toad's interest in Leitch,” suggested Lance. “Using him to move the money out of Canada for him!”

Leitch shook his head from side to side and let out a muffled protest. It brought him another kick in the ribs from Damien, who then asked, “How many guys they got here?”

“Twenty-one people,” said Rellik. “But only four besides Ray that got balls to do stuff. The rest are mom and pop types used for laundering.”

“Names and addresses?”

Rellik nodded and said, “Phone numbers, too. The four tough asses live in a rented house together. Got someone watching it now. Don't think anyone is home yet. Ray has his own apartment. We got someone lookin' in it now.”

“Anything else?”

“Yeah. Before we got Ray, Carlos was planning to have you personally deliver the last payment down to Colombia. Wanted to see if you would give your life to save Vicki and Katie.”

Damien stared down at Ray for a moment, then said, “Untie his arm. The one that's broken. He can still use it to hold a phone.”

Rellik untied Ray's wrist, and a moment later Damien punched in the numbers on the cellphone. He waited until Carlos answered and then said, “Carlos, your brother wishes to talk with you.” He handed the phone to Ray and said, “I'll let you say goodbye.”

“Carlos!” screamed Ray, then rapidly spoke his native tongue.

Rellik's face betrayed his wishes as he looked at Damien.

Damien stared briefly at Rellik and thought,
You disgust me.
He then said, “Yeah, go ahead. Do your thing. Leitch first.”

Ray looked back in panic as Rellik put on a pair of coveralls and surgical gloves before picking up the broken broom handle. He held it with both hands and closely examined the spiral of barbed wire, then looked down at Leitch's upturned face and grinned.

The high pitch of Ray's voice made it almost unrecognizable as he relayed the details of what was happening as Rellik twirled the broom handle slightly between Leitch's buttocks.

Leitch's body writhed and squirmed against the restraints while he emitted muffled screams. Rellik then thrust deep and Leitch's eyes and fists closed tight as his body arched. His scream was muffled by vomit. A moment later, his body went limp.

Rellik slowly pulled out the broom handle, then walked around and knelt in front of Ray, holding the bloodied implement close to Ray's eyes. He looked at Damien and said, “I better tape his mouth.”

Damien nodded and took the phone from Ray, who pleaded until Rellik applied the tape.

Rellik then looked at Ray and said, “For you, I will not be so kind. It will be much slower.”

Damien held the phone close to Ray's mouth. The gag that Ray wore did not block out the screams broken by the intermittent whimpering of a dying man. In the background, the sound of Carlos's voice could be heard on the phone as he alternated between pleading, offering money, and then screaming when Ray quit speaking.

Damien put the phone to his mouth and said, “How does it feel, Carlos?” before smashing the cellphone on the floor and grinding it with his heel. He then hurried out of the building.

Lance followed and stood silently as Damien vomited before getting in the car.

Jack was awake when he received the text message from Damien. They were to meet at six o'clock.

Jack called Laura and asked, “You awake?”

“Already showered.”

“We meet him in an hour and forty-five minutes. I'll pick you up. It's on the way to the meet.”

“An hour and forty-five! He could have let us sleep longer.”

“I'll buy you breakfast. Something other than olive soup.”

Elvis's eyes were closed, but he was awake when he heard Laura rummaging in the bureau dresser. She then went to the bathroom.

He listened to the sound of her refilling the bullets in her clip ... and then the backup clip.
What the hell happened yesterday?
Moments later, he felt her warm kiss on his cheek, then she was gone.

Jack and Laura were just pulling into a coffee shop parking lot when Jack received another text message. It was from Lance.

“Our friend is still up,” said Jack. “Better cancel breakfast. We don't have much time.”

“Cemetery?” asked Laura.

“You trying to pick up another date? Forget it. We're using a parkade.”

Twenty minutes later, Lance climbed into the back seat.

“The Brit is Ray,” said Jack, before Lance could speak. “Carlos's brother.”

“Yeah, I fuckin' figured you knew that,” mumbled Lance. “I thought I was about to be done with all this bullshit of havin' to work with you, until Damien met ya at the hospital last night. Thought he would tell ya. Didn't know you two were so tight.”

“Actually we figured it out before then,” replied Jack. “So what happened? I know Damien had both Leitch and Ray grabbed.”

“They were more than grabbed.”

Lance recounted what happened and Jack and Laura listened quietly to the grim fate of Leitch and Ray. When Lance finished, he stared quietly at Jack for a moment and then said, “So you knew that Ray was the guy before Damien talked to ya in the hospital?”

Jack nodded.

Lance frowned and said, “Shit! I was close to winning this time.”

“Winning what?” asked Laura.

“An agreement with your partner here. He said if I could identify the Brit before he did, I wouldn't have to work for ya anymore.” Lance looked at Jack and said, “Okay, I better go. I'll be in touch when I need to be.”

“Don't bother,” said Jack.

“What ya talkin' about?”

“We're even,” said Jack. “As far as I'm concerned, you've more than repaid your debt. This is the last time I ever expect to hear from you.”

Lance's eyes opened wide. “You mean it?”

“I mean it,” said Jack, while extending his hand over the back seat.

Lance was quick to shake his hand and then said, “Man, you don't know what a relief this is! Don't take it personal — you've been real solid with me — but not seein' ya anymore is ... well, better than winnin' the lottery.”

“You're president of the west-side chapter,” said Jack. “Think about it. If you don't want to see me, don't look in your rear-view mirror!”

Lance paused as he thought about what Jack said, then laughed. When he got out of the car he turned and automatically said, “See ya around.” He then took two steps and said, “What the fuck am I sayin'? I ain't never seein' ya again!”

Laura waited until Lance left the car before saying, “You're cutting him loose at a time like this?”

Jack shrugged and replied, “I don't really like it either, but fair is fair. I've put the guy through enough. Besides, right now I want Carlos and he can't help me with him.”

“Your call,” replied Laura. “Right now I'm too sick thinking about what Rellik did. A bullet in the head is one thing, but this ... I feel nauseous.”

“I feel the same way,” replied Jack.

“And we're supposed to meet Damien in less than half an hour! He's as demented as Carlos is! ”

“It made Damien sick. Neither of us has thrown up.”

“Yet.”

Jack nodded.
I won't be sick ... but my nightmares are going to become wilder.

“Rellik ... sticking that up a person's bum!” exclaimed Laura. “You heard our friend. He enjoyed what he did! What kind of person would do that?”

“A psychopath, just like Carlos.”

“And you think we should talk to Damien? Rellik wouldn't have done it if Damien didn't let him.”

“You can't show weakness when you're the lead wolf. Besides, we can use Damien to catch Carlos. That is who made this personal for us.”

“Yeah, he made it personal, and I would like to see someone put a bullet in his head. But he's too protected. I think we should go with who we can catch. Concentrate on Rellik and Damien. Which is why I wish our friend — or ex-friend now — was still working for us.”

“I want Carlos!” said Jack, feeling agitated. “Who do you think is worse? Carlos, who is responsible for the murder of Holly's husband, turning Charlie into a paraplegic, and trying to drown O'Reilly's baby ... or Damien, for murdering the people who kidnapped and mutilated his wife and daughter?”

“I know what you're saying, but...”

“But what?”

“After what we just heard? I won't sleep as long as Rellik's above ground! I can picture him grinning as he did it! His long stringy red hair, that thin face and chipped front tooth. I can feel myself vibrate with anger, just thinking about him.”

“You've been studying photographs.”

“He stands out. Now in more ways than one. I'd love to get the chance to double-tap two into his chest.” She then became silent, imagining the horror of what went on inside the car wash.

Jack drove out of the parkade toward their rendezvous with Damien and then said, “Maybe when it
comes to protecting our families, certain actions are made without much rationalization.”

“You condoning what they did?”

“No. Definitely not. Damien's a monster. No doubt. But he does have a human side to him. Can't say the same from what I know about Carlos.”

“Carlos lives in another country protected by an army. He's untouchable. Damien might not be. I think you're making a mistake. Let's nail Damien ... or at least Rellik. That's who I really want. Ray is dead. We're going to have to forget about Carlos.”

“Nobody is untouchable.”

Laura paused, then conceded, “You're right, but neither are we.”

“Are you that upset that Leitch and Ray are dead?”

Laura sighed and then said, “Not that they're dead. Upset with how they died. Wish he had just shot them instead. Treat them like you would a rabid dog. Don't torture them. Just shoot them and be done with it.”

“Oh, I see. Your philosophy. Shoot, shovel, and shut up!”

Laura smiled and said, “Yeah, maybe that is becoming my philosophy. Right now I'm just glad it's over.”

“Over? It's not over!” The anger flashed across Jack's face as he reached to the visor and threw Charlie's picture down on her lap. “Look at that and tell me it's over! Call Susan O'Reilly and tell me then that it's over!”

Laura felt stunned, then said, “I meant over as far as who attacked Danny's baby. That was Ray. He's dead.”

“Ray was a pawn!” said Jack bitterly. “Carlos calls the shots. As long as he's alive, there will be more victims. Think about the ones you and I know ... imagine how many others there are.”

Laura looked at Charlie's picture.

“Carlos has the power to continue his terror,” continued Jack. “When he's dead, then we can say it's over,” he added quietly.

“Jack, you said it yourself. He lives in Colombia. Surrounded by his own army. DEA have tried unsuccessfully to extradite him for years. There's no way.”

Jack gave Laura a hard look. “There's always a way ... but I need a partner who thinks like I do.”

“And how do you think?”

“Not afraid to play dirty.”

“Like torture?”

“I agree with you on that philosophy, but I do consider Carlos to be a rabid dog.”

Laura looked at Jack for a moment, then asked, “You already have a plan, don't you?”

“Yes.”

Laura waited, but Jack didn't elaborate.
He's not going to tell me unless I agree to help.
Laura glanced at Charlie's picture one more time.
Oh man!
She looked at Jack and asked, “Do I need to buy rubber boots and a shovel?”

“Maybe.”

“If it was for Rellik, I'd buy them right now, but Carlos? How can we?”

“My plan won't work without you.”

Laura sighed and said, “I figured that. What's your plan?”

“It's really quite simple,” replied Jack.

Jack left Laura sitting in the car as he walked along the path meandering through New Brighton Park. Damien, freshly showered and clothed, was on time.

“How are Vicki and Katie?”

Damien took a deep breath and slowly let it out
before saying, “They're going to be okay. Thanks for asking.”

“They're both traumatized,” said Jack. “They're going to need special help.”

“I know. They'll get it.”

Damien extended his hand and said, “I should have done this last night in the hospital. I want you to know I wasn't ashamed to be seen shaking your hand ... I was just too upset to think about anything other than seeing them.”

Jack accepted the handshake and Damien said, “Thank you. I will never forget what you did. You saved my family twice.”