The following morning, Jack and Rose were summarily called to Lexton’s office and each took a seat in front of her desk.
Lexton gave Jack a look of contempt. When she spoke, her tone was calm but her words were cutting. “Going down there like a renegade cowboy and smashing up a police vehicle — let me guess. I bet you were also wearing your sidearm?”
Jack sighed. “There wasn’t time to leave it at the office.”
“You didn’t have authorization to go to the U.S. Carrying a weapon into a foreign country is a second offence — regardless of whether you had authorization to enter their country.”
“Yes, I realize that, and I’m totally to blame.”
“Did it never occur to you to seek Ottawa’s permission?”
“I didn’t get confirmation until Saturday that Graves was crossing the border and planting guns on innocent cross-border shoppers. Yesterday I was tied up on surveillance, but it was my intention to apply for permission this week.”
“What about Constable Secord? Did she cross the border?”
“Yes, but under my orders.”
“Your orders don’t override policy.”
“Perhaps she thought I had permission,” Jack suggested.
Lexton ignored the comment. “No doubt she was also armed,” she stated.
“Would you believe she turned her weapon over to me?” Jack asked.
“No, I would not,” Lexton replied crossly.
“I guess I wouldn’t either,” Jack replied.
Lexton raised an eyebrow. “Do you think this is funny, Corporal?”
Jack paused to take a deep breath. “No, I don’t, but you must realize that it wasn’t done out of malice. Our hearts were in the right place.”
“Obviously your brains weren’t.” Lexton paused. “Don’t look to the Force to cover the damages sustained to either vehicle or for any civil litigation that may follow.”
“The other driver backed out of a stall and hit me. He admitted fault and our police unit should be out of the body shop in one or two days. The fender was bent into the tire, but it’s mostly cosmetic. It’s only the fender that needs replacing. The other driver was insured, so there —”
“I’m not interested in the details! That will be between you, the other driver, and whatever lawyers may become involved.”
“I understand. I used my own credit card to pay for it to be towed to the body shop.”
“You better understand, because if it ever happens again, let me assure you that the next border you’ll be looking at will be from Baffin Island across Davis Strait to Greenland. Tell Constable Secord that goes for her, as well.”
Jack nodded.
“How is the vehicle being returned to Canada?”
“The ATF agent I was working with will deliver it to the border.”
Lexton paused. “Then we’re done. Get out of my office.”
As Jack and Rose got out of their chairs, Lexton pointed her finger at Rose. “You stay.”
Jack glanced at Rose and discreetly mouthed the word sorry as he left.
* * *
Rose tried to look calm as she faced Lexton.
“I take it you didn’t know he’d entered the United States until after?” Lexton asked.
“I wasn’t aware of it until he called me after the accident.”
“Perhaps he doesn’t respect you, either,” Lexton noted. “It’s obvious he has no respect for commissioned officers.”
“That’s not necessarily true. He held Assistant Commissioner Isaac in high regard,” Rose stated. “I think if you get to know and understand him a little —”
Lexton acted as if she wasn’t listening. “He acts like everything’s a joke,” she fumed. “What’s even worse is that he exhibits a superior attitude to those above him.” She paused to glare at Rose, then said. “His attitude needs to be documented and should be reflected on his annual assessments.”
Okay, how do I reply to that without having you flip out at me? Ah, what does it matter? It’s not like I’m expecting to be promoted above the level I’m at.
When Rose didn’t immediately respond, Lexton said, “You’re his boss. Bringing him into line and documenting his atrocious behaviour is your job. Start doing it!”
Rose took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “Yes, I’m his boss. As such I feel obligated to protect him from false accusations.”
Lexton looked startled. “False accusations? There’s nothing false about his insubordination! If you allow that to continue, it will become like an infectious disease.”
“I agree that insubordination cannot be tolerated. However, what you perceive as insubordination may be a sign of the frustration he has in regard to a recent incident involving another commissioned officer. I don’t believe that he’s intentionally disrespecting you.”
“Another commissioned officer?”
Rose hesitated. “May I talk to you off the record about Corporal Taggart? It’s not something I ask lightly. He asked me to keep what he told me secret, and if he found out I told you it could seriously affect the trust he has in me. Trust which, when it comes to sharing intelligence, is an essential component to a good working relationship.”
Lexton sat back in her chair and appeared to study her face carefully. “Okay, you have my curiosity. Go ahead. What you say to me will remain between us.”
Rose waited a beat. “First of all, let me lead up to it by addressing your concerns, starting with his respect for commissioned officers. You believe that the rank of commissioner should automatically grant respect.”
“It should.”
“Corporal Taggart has good reason not to blindly follow that assumption. Your predecessor —”
“Assistant Commissioner Mortimer.”
“Yes. He basically tried to shut down our office. He didn’t want any criminal organizations to be targeted. At one point he ordered all undercover operations to cease and for Corporal Taggart to turn over any informants he had to someone else. He wanted our office to collect statistics or look at drug smuggling trends instead of going after the groups responsible.”
Lexton’s brow furrowed. “What was his rationale?”
“He didn’t provide any rationale to me, but warned Corporal Taggart that his career would be finished if he submitted any reports that would force him to make any decisions that had the potential to bring about criticism from Ottawa.”
Lexton looked skeptical. “Was this alleged interaction between Assistant Commissioner Mortimer and Corporal Taggart witnessed by anyone else?”
“He held his meeting with Corporal Taggart in private. There was nobody to corroborate what was said. If Corporal Taggart had said anything, it would have been his word against the word of a commissioned officer.”
“Yet you believe what Corporal Taggart told you?”
“Yes. I also had conversations with Assistant Commissioner Mortimer. His orders support what Corporal Taggart told me as far as redirecting our office to collect statistics and cease investigations like the ones we had targeting Satans Wrath.”
Lexton put an elbow on her desk and stroked her chin with her fingertips as if in deep thought. When she lowered her hand, she said, “Years ago when I was stationed on I-HIT, there was a situation where Corporal Taggart was accused of wrongdoing by a Superintendent Wigmore. Are you familiar with it?”
“No, it must have been before my time,” Rose replied.
“At that time, before downsizing, Superintendent Wigmore was in charge of the intelligence units throughout the province.”
“I don’t even know the man,” Rose replied.
“The allegations that Superintendent Wigmore made were discredited. In fact, he was institutionalized for a thirty-day psychiatric assessment after threatening the assistant commissioner.”
God, Jack. What did you do to the guy? Is that where I’ll end up?
“While he was in the psych ward, his replacement discovered that Superintendent Wigmore was into child pornography. It was rumoured at the time that the reason he wanted to get rid of Corporal Taggart was because he’d been investigating a child pornography case.”
“I never heard about it,” Rose stated.
“Later on, Superintendent Wigmore admitted to consuming child pornography, but strongly denied the accusations and circumstances that first led to him being sent to the psych ward. He claimed he’d been framed by Corporal Taggart in a series of events to make it look like he was mentally unbalanced.”
Should I act surprised? Rose opted to remain stoic instead. “I don’t understand why you’re telling me?”
“You don’t think it more than coincidental that Superintendent Wigmore went after Corporal Taggart and was committed to a psychiatric ward and then Assistant Commissioner Mortimer tried to shut Taggart down and a squad of biker hit men showed up at his house?”
“I’m not one to deal in rumours,” Rose stated. “I deal in facts, and the facts of the matter regarding Assistant Commissioner Mortimer indicate that Satans Wrath and some Russian drug dealers were responsible. There’s nothing to indicate that Corporal Taggart had any involvement whatsoever. In fact, the opposite was true. Corporal Taggart’s own family were threatened by Satans Wrath.”
Lexton appeared to ponder her words for a moment. “This problem that Corporal Taggart and you had with my predecessor is what you wish to keep secret? I’d hardly think it necessary seeing as Assistant Commissioner Mortimer has retired.”
“No, what I am about to tell you is what I wish to remain between us. It’s in regard to another commissioned officer. Chief Superintendent Quaile.”
“In charge of Staffing.”
“Yes, but years ago he was a staff sergeant in charge of the intelligence unit. He only lasted a few months and was transferred due to his incomp … I mean, inability, to handle operational duties. His inability was exposed in part by an investigation headed by Corporal Taggart.” Rose paused, wondering how deep a hole she was getting herself into.
“Continue,” Lexton said. “Inability … incompetence, whatever it is, don’t dance around the issue. Tell me what you have to say.”
“Recently it came to Corporal Taggart’s attention that Chief Superintendent Quaile is holding back his performance evaluation to prevent him from being short-listed for promotion. I submitted it four months ago and it’s remained in his basket ever since, despite repeated reminders by his secretary.”
Lexton appeared taken back. “He’s holding it until after the promotion board sits in two weeks.”
“Exactly.”
“How does Corporal Taggart know this?” Lexton questioned.
“The secretary called him because she was so upset at what she perceived as being wrong.”
“It is wrong,” Lexton stated. “Why haven’t you or Corporal Taggart reported it?”
“Because Corporal Taggart knows it would jeopardize the secretary’s job. Considering Chief Superintendent Quaile’s personality, I’d have to agree.”
“So he is willing to forgo his own promotion to protect the secretary?”
“Yes.”
“I take it they’re friends?”
“No, he’s never met her. I presume she’s someone with a strong sense of what’s right or wrong.” Rose paused, and when she didn’t get a response she continued. “Corporal Taggart holds some commissioned officers in high regard, but for him, that respect doesn’t come automatically and perhaps for good reason.”
“I see.”
“As you are likely aware, I have my masters in psychology. I am well acquainted with people’s behaviour patterns and have known Corporal Taggart for a number of years. You mentioned he acts like everything is a joke. Were you to consider the number of attempts on his life and the severe stress he has endured, you might be surprised there is any humour left in him.”
“You may think of it as humour, I don’t. I didn’t find it humorous when he asked if I’d believe that Constable Secord turned her firearm over to him, then acknowledged that he wouldn’t believe it, either.” Lexton leaned forward in her chair and her face darkened. “He was playing with me. I had the same experience when I spoke to him last Friday. He backed me into a corner to make it sound like I told him that being overly candid was not always advisable.”
“Overly candid?”
Lexton ignored the comment. “He was being intentionally provocative to judge how I’d react.”
“I think judge is the wrong word,” Rose said. “To assess how you’d react, perhaps, without being judgmental.”
“Judge … assess … whatever. I felt as if he were treating me like I was a lab rat.”
“That doesn’t surprise me about him. Little doubt he was assessing your cerebral level, personality … and perhaps sense of humour.”
“Exactly!” Lexton replied as she slapped her desk with the palm of her hand. “How dare he! I’m a commissioned officer. If anything, it should be me who is assessing him.”
“Did you consider his motive behind what he did?” Rose asked calmly.
“His motive?” Lexton sat back and looked puzzled.
“Corporal Taggart’s intelligence reports are second to none. He has a proven track record of developing high-level sources. With that comes responsibility. Responsibility to those who have placed their lives in his hands.”
“What does that have to do with it? Everyone understands, or should understand, the need to protect their informant’s identity. I’ve backed him on that.”
“Yes, but you know how much protection is needed. We’ve had previous cases where groups like Satans Wrath developed their own sources within our organization, as well as other police bodies.”
Lexton made a face. “Highly disturbing, I admit, but that is not a reason for him to be flippant with me.”
“There’s no doubt in my mind that how much Corporal Taggart reports, verbally or otherwise, has a direct correlation with the amount of trust he has in those who he passes the information on to. Obviously his trust and respect for you has risen considerably since you backed him on protecting his informant over the Kondrat and Pratt murders.”
“Hold on a second. Are you telling me he holds back information? I find that unacceptable. He should report everything of any significance to his superiors and let them decide what should be passed on and to whom.” Lexton eyed Rose suspiciously. “Or is it less of an issue of protecting his informants than it is of something else?”
“Something else?” Rose questioned.
Lexton’s words were blunt. “Has Corporal Taggart been breaking the law?”
Breaking the law? I can’t imagine how many times. He carries a small set of lock picks in his wallet, for Christ’s sake. Rose locked eyes with Lexton and her words were firm. “I do not believe that Corporal Taggart would ever commit a criminal act for his own benefit.”
“That is not what I meant. Would he break the law in his own blind quest for what he perceives to be justice?”
Rose paused to take a deep breath and give herself a moment to compose a response. “There have been several Internal Affairs investigations involving Corporal Taggart over the years, including the use of wiretap and surveillance on him. They’ve never come up with an iota of evidence to say that he has ever broken the law.”
“So are you saying he hasn’t broken the law, or could it be that he’s smart enough to never get caught?”
“He is highly intelligent, but —”
“So that’s it.”
“I’m not implying that he has ever broken the law by that comment.”
“No, but that might explain why he’s never been caught.”
Rose felt the tension rise in her body. I feel like a mother bear trying to protect her cub. She made a conscious effort to keep her tone one of reason and not of anger. “Would it make you feel better if you had a less intelligent person working for you? Perhaps a sycophant so that you’d never need to challenge your own cerebral output?”
“That’s —”
“Or someone who has a keen sense of justice and is highly intelligent — who, granted, may be challenging at times over some of the delicate matters he brings forward?”
The irritation showed on Lexton’s face, but then she appeared to reflect on what was said.
Was that a hint of a smile?
Lexton’s face became passive and her tone was matter-of-fact. “It would appear that backing people into a corner is a common tactic in your unit.” She paused. “Out of curiosity, when did Corporal Taggart discover that Chief Superintendent Quaile was holding back his evaluation?”
“About three weeks ago.”
“Interesting that out of two previous commissioned officers who crossed paths with Corporal Taggart, one was institutionalized in a psych ward for thirty days and the other retired after a Satans Wrath hit team showed up at his house. It makes me wonder what the future might hold for Chief Superintendent Quaile.”
“I’m sure it was a coincidence,” Rose scoffed, in a tone and manner as if to say that any other conclusion would be ridiculous.
Lexton stared at her. “Trust is a two-way street. You and I have had an enlightening conversation. Don’t spoil it by trying to be deceptive.”
Rose swallowed, then acknowledged her guilt with a nod. Okay, you’re good.…
“You may go. Be sure to remind Corporal Taggart that if he plans any more forays across international borders … to obtain written authorization first.”