At noon Jack walked into the Griffins bistro and Wolfgang waved at him from a table situated under a high-arched window. Jack took a seat and Wolfgang gestured out the window at a building across the street. “I thought you would prefer to sit here.”
Jack smiled. “The Vancouver Art Gallery. It’s even more impressive inside.”
“No problems with yesterday?” asked Wolfgang, taking a sip of coffee.
“Yesterday?” Jack pretended to be puzzled.
“With Klaus … the car,” whispered Wolfgang as the waiter approached.
“Oh, that.” Jack flicked his hand dismissively. “It’s all been taken care off.”
Wolfgang gazed silently at Jack while the waiter dropped off menus and took Jack’s order for coffee. When he left, Wolfgang said solemnly. “I have spoken with my boss about how quickly you cleaned up the mess yesterday. It was … unbelievable.”
Jack caught the intended hesitation in Wolfgang’s voice and the intensity in his gaze as he studied Jack’s reaction. The Juggler still doesn’t trust me. Jack gave Wolfgang a hard look. “Unbelievable?” he questioned. “Let me assure you that yesterday’s loose ends are permanently cleaned up, and that you can believe. If you doubt my ability, then we should part company.” And you can kiss the painting goodbye.
“No, no, no,” Wolfgang hastened to say. “We believe you are a professional, a master, in fact, at what you do. I did not mean unbelievable in the way you took it. I think the words my boss used were ‘unbelievably amazing’, meaning we are impressed.”
Jack nodded, but his face remained expressionless, leaving Wolfgang feeling unsure as to whether Jack bought his attempted cover-up.
“So —” Wolfgang clasped his hands with a smack “— I have been asked to clarify which countries you are thinking about retiring in. As mentioned before, we will cover your expenses in Europe while you search for a place, and at the same time, we’ll incorporate the consultation with our representatives.”
“Representatives,” said Jack. “You mean the ones you call the jugglers?”
“Yes.” Wolfgang smiled. “You see,” he said, sounding enthusiastic, “you are already fitting in with our company.”
Jack smiled politely. Yes, convince me that we’re going to be friends … asshole. “The areas I have been considering purchasing a villa in are the Tuscany or Umbria regions of Italy, Costa del Sol in the south of Spain, or perhaps Malta.”
“Not France? Roche told me that you were considering it, as well.”
Good, you took the bait. Time to enhance my artsy role. Jack paused as the waiter brought him his coffee. He told him that he’d order breakfast later. He then turned his attention back to Wolfgang. Hope he knows less about art than I do. “Yes, about France. Perhaps the Marseille area would appeal to me. I’m torn on that matter. On one hand, France has so many spectacular museums. The Louvre and Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris and, of course, the Museum of Fine Arts in Marseille itself. The problem is that I have not found the French to be all that hospitable to me when they discover I am English-speaking.”
“I’m not so sure they are fond of Germans, either,” Wolfgang replied, then grinned.
Jack smiled briefly, then furrowed his eyebrows as if in deep thought. “Perhaps France is where I should start. At one time it was foremost in my mind for retirement. I have not been to Paris for years; perhaps things have improved.”
“Our offer would certainly give you opportunity to reassess things,” said Wolfgang, “but I must tell you that our offer may not stay on the table for long. When could you come to Europe, and how long would it take you to complete your consultations after you arrive?”
“As far as looking at retirement property goes, I would like to spend a couple of days in each of the areas I mentioned, perhaps doing consulting work at the same time. That being said, I have to … make arrangements to satisfy certain clients in North America that I’m still contracting out to.”
“We presumed that, but what time frame were you thinking?” prodded Wolfgang.
“First I will need to know how in-depth of a profile the Ringmaster wants in regard to the people being assessed. Perhaps I could meet the Ringmaster and do the jugulars in one location to speed things up.”
“Jugulars?”
Damn it. Freudian slip. “Sorry, I meant jugglers, of course. I’ve never been to a circus and the lingo seems strange to me,” he added lamely.
“You’ve never been to a circus? Not even as a child?”
Okay, time to make him think I’ve had a tough life. Give the impression that my street smarts came from surviving on the mean streets of some city since I was a kid. “My childhood wasn’t much of a childhood.” Jack sounded bitter. “I left home at an early age. Survival did not include the luxury of going to a circus. I take it you have?”
“A few times,” replied Wolfgang, eyeing Jack curiously.
“Anyway,” continued Jack, “how long I would need is dependent on the service wanted. Is it the basic background check, including close associates? Or one that would provide a psychological profile, necessitating a written test coupled with interviews?”
“That is a decision for my boss,” replied Wolfgang.
“You mean the Ringmaster?”
“Yes.” Then Wolfgang added, “I have said this before — you are a man of many talents.”
“Ah, not really,” Jack replied. “The truth is, I have contacts who assist me with certain aspects. It’s more about who I know than what I know.”
“Of course, but you are an exceptional man. I watched you when Anton killed Klaus. You didn’t flinch. It struck me that you are no stranger to such an event.”
Jack frowned. “Talking about something like that makes me nervous.”
“I’m sorry —” Wolfgang lowered his voice and glanced around “— but there is nobody nearby to hear us.”
“Please don’t take this personally, but I don’t know you well enough to talk so openly about such matters,” Jack explained.
Wolfgang’s eyes widened in surprise. He’ d just realized that Jack was concerned Wolfgang may be trying to set him up to the police. “You want to search me for a wire?” he asked.
“It was Anton who put a bullet in Klaus’s head under your direction, was it not?” Jack said.
Wolfgang’s eyes narrowed. “Yes.” Now he looked puzzled.
Jack smiled. “Your response tells me that searching you is not necessary. I was simply making a point about how easy it might be for someone to gather information that could destroy an organization. My consulting service provides protection against that sort of thing.”
Wolfgang nodded slowly to indicate he understood.
“Now, back to when I can go to Europe and for how long. To begin with, for my first trip, I would like two weeks. Then, depending upon what type of consulting work is required, future visits can be arranged at a price and upon terms agreed to by your boss and myself.”
“Two weeks is not a problem. I have already been authorized to tell you that we would pay for a minimum of three weeks and perhaps longer, if need be.”
“Thank you, but I have other clients I wish to finish up with. Two weeks is the most I can afford to be away for the time being.”
“And out of the two weeks, how much time do you think would be spent on actual consulting work versus searching for a retirement home?”
“How many profiles would you anticipate need to be done?”
“I’m not sure,” admitted Wolfgang. “At the moment we have five jugglers … but that could change. We also have people under them who may need screening.”
Good, I am trusted enough to be told about some of the corporate structure. But will they trust me enough to discuss the way they conduct business, such as committing murder? Jack nodded, then replied, “It would depend on how in-depth of a profile your boss would want. As far as the jugglers go, if they were together, I would only need a day with them to get the information I need to start the ball rolling. If it is not possible to meet them all at once, then I would like to start with Roche.”
“Why him?”
“He told me he didn’t want to come to Canada because of recent legal difficulties. He indicated that the problem had been taken care of, but at the same time said there could be some aftermath. If he thinks that, then the problem has not been fully taken care of. As I have been involved with Roche on, shall we say, a delicate matter involving Clive Dempsey, I would feel more relaxed if I focus on him first and learn the details of his legal problem.”
“I understand,” replied Wolfgang. “You wish to evaluate your own risk of contamination first.”
“Exactly. Then once I meet everyone it could take several months of work, depending on what I discover. Have the jugglers lived in one place most of their lives, or have they moved every couple of years?”
“Roche, Anton, and I have pretty much lived in one place, but I don’t know about the other two,” Wolfgang said.
“One place makes it easier. Regardless, you get my point. I need to do a preliminary assessment, which, for obvious reasons, would only be given to the Ringmaster for whatever action he deems necessary. If all goes well, my assessments may indicate no changes are necessary, or if they are, I would offer my own suggestions about how to incorporate them.”
“I see. How soon could you get started?”
“I should be able to clear my calendar in about two weeks. Today is Thursday, so let’s say the fifteenth of February. That’s a Saturday. I know I’ll be available by then.”
“That would be great,” Wolfgang said. “I’d planned on staying until at least the eleventh of February, so the delay of another few days won’t matter. By then, Anton and Bojan will have completed their assignment and will have returned to Europe.”
Jack would’ve liked to have found out exactly how Anton and Bojan were moving the stolen goods, but asking that might arouse suspicion. He took a sip of coffee, then said, “Once I get to Europe, if I were to meet with everyone to start with, I might be in a position to provide preliminary profiles to give to the Ringmaster before I return to Canada. That way he’d know he’s getting his money’s worth.”
“You’ve already impressed the Ringmaster,” said Wolfgang, “so I do not believe that is an issue.” He gave Jack a warm smile. “I can assure you that you will be put up in the best hotels with the finest restaurants.”
Until you get your hands on the painting. Then where do you plan to put me?
“Now, if you’d be kind enough to give me your full name and passport number,” Wolfgang went on, “I will arrange to have an airline ticket available for you to leave on the fifteenth.”
Jack made a grimace. “You probably won’t believe it, but my last name is Smith.”
“Why shouldn’t I believe it?”
“It is a common name in North America,” Jack replied. “So common that it’s often a joke for unimaginative people to use it as a fake name.”
Wolfgang shrugged. “Then it must be your real name, because I know you have imagination. I’ll need your passport number, as well, to book the ticket.”
“I don’t have it memorized. I’ll give you all the details later.” Jack reached for the menu. “I’m going to order a martini to start with.”
“Yes, I’ll have a drink, too,” said Wolfgang. “We shall toast to doing business together.”
Jack smiled in response.
* * *
Rose leaned forward with her hands clasped on her desk and listened intently as Jack outlined his meeting with Wolfgang. Laura listened, too, but sat with her arms folded across her chest. Her face hardened as her concern grew.
When Jack was finished, Rose said, “So your plan is to speak to Roche and perhaps get an admission about Kerin’s murder on the pretext of ensuring your own insulation from the law? Are you hoping to get it all on a wire?”
“In Kerin’s notes he mentioned being scanned for a wire. I can’t risk it. At least, not at the beginning. Ideally it would not only be Roche. I’m hoping the Ringmaster will also be there and trust me enough to open up. Considering what his men have seen me do, I think they would have a certain amount of faith in me.”
“Perhaps even more than the brass have for you,” said Rose dryly. She glanced at her desk calendar. “Europe on the fifteenth … doesn’t give us a lot of time. I know Ottawa will approve, but you’re going to need to get a fake passport and arrange the co-operation of European police agencies.”
“We have liaison officers stationed in Paris and Rome, so that’ll help,” Jack said.
“But not in Spain or Malta,” noted Laura, “which are the other two places you tossed out as potential retirement spots.”
Jack nodded. “I’ll look into seeing what the protocol is there. Ottawa will have some kind of agreement. But regardless, I don’t want a cover team breathing down my neck.”
“Like hell you don’t!” said Rose sharply. “If you think you can traipse around Europe by yourself with a group who murdered an officer right in front of his cover team, you better think again. You should have a team that includes the French, as well as officers from whatever country you’re in.”
“Having a cover team is why Kerin was murdered,” Jack argued. “That, and trying to save me,” he added bitterly. “It’s for my own safety that I don’t want anyone holding my hand every step of the way.”
“Our policy would never allow it,” said Rose. “If you feel that way, then you shouldn’t be going.” She looked hard at Jack for a moment. “Think about it. Would we allow a policeman from another country to work undercover in our jurisdiction without protection? Not a chance.”
She’s right of course, but policy can get you killed. Better pretend to go along with it. “You’re right,” said Jack. “I wasn’t thinking. I’d definitely want Otto around to see if he can identify the swarthy-looking man who met Roche in Frankfurt.”
“Good,” Rose said.
Laura eyed Jack. I know you. When the time comes, all you’ll do is lose the cover team or send them on a wild-goose chase someplace else.
Reading her mind, Jack turned to Rose and said, “I would also like Laura there to guide the cover team. She’s experienced and knows how I operate.”
“That won’t be a problem,” replied Rose. “Undercover is new to the French. We need someone with you who knows the ropes.”
Laura looked at Rose and nodded in agreement, before glancing at Jack. Yes, I do know how you operate. You want me to play Mother Goose and help lead them away from you. Oh, man …