chapter forty-eight
The flight Jack and Lily took back to Vancouver went as scheduled and Jack used the time to prepare his report. They cleared customs at the Vancouver International Airport Friday night.
Jack was acutely aware of the psychologist’s recommendation about keeping Lily’s ordeal away from the media. He knew the reunification between Lily and her mom would be an emotionally charged event that could draw unwanted attention, so he had made arrangements to drive her directly home to her mother instead.
Jack and Lily were greeted at the airport by Natasha and Mikey. After a quick introduction and hugs, they drove Lily home.
Upon arrival at the house, Jack saw the tree in the front yard was adorned with a large yellow ribbon. He had not yet shut the engine off when Lily burst from the car and ran to hug her mom, who appeared on the porch in her wheelchair. Marcie, standing under a “welcome home” banner strung over the door, anxiously waited for her own hug.
Jack was right in his prediction about it being an emotionally charged moment. The only one who didn’t have tears in their eyes was Mikey, who remained asleep in his car seat.
Monday morning saw Jack back at the office. He gave a copy of his undercover notes to his boss, Staff Sergeant Rose Wood, along with his report. She read them carefully while he sat across from her desk.
“Basically what you said when you called me Friday afternoon,” she said, leaning back in her chair and nodding at the report.
“That’s about all there is to say,” said Jack, gesturing to the report.
“All there is to say? I think not,” she said firmly.
“Oh?”
“It goes without saying I’m pleased everything turned out okay, but why the hell didn’t you call me before Friday? You went into Mexico totally on your own, without authorization and without so much as even a phone call to me or anyone else to get permission.”
“Three reasons,” replied Jack. “First of all, there wasn’t time to sit and wait for Ottawa to make a decision … and even if they did make it in time and give authorization, policy dictates the police in Mexico would have to be informed. That would have jeopardized both Lily’s life and my own.”
“You might be right, but Ottawa will still be furious. You could be facing disciplinary action.”
“I feel what I did was right.”
“There is no moral servitude in Ottawa. They dance to what the politicians want, no matter the cost. If they think you upset some Mexican politician they’ll land on you with both feet.”
“I’m aware of that, but nothing they could do to me would take away how good I felt Saturday night when I brought Lily home. Let them take their best shot — it was worth it.”
“What were your other two reasons for not seeking permission?”
“If I called you and gave you the details, you would have come to the same conclusion about Ottawa as I did, leaving you with two choices. Tell me I couldn’t go, knowing Lily would die because of it, or give me permission to go on your own and risk both Lily and myself being murdered … which really would have put you in hot water.”
“I would have given you permission. I know you would have gone anyway,” said Rose.
“I know. That was the third reason. You would have been in trouble from Ottawa for something I was going to do, anyway.”
Rose drummed her fingers on her desk for a moment. “I don’t need you to judge what is in my best interest. Should something like this ever occur again, let me make that call.”
“Will do. Is that all?”
“No, it is not all. Besides the fact you went into Mexico without authorization, I have no idea what Ottawa or Isaac will think of all this,” she said, gesturing to Jack’s notes and his report. “You’re basically saying you went down there, found the girl, and escaped with her when the bad guys were fighting amongst themselves.”
“Timing was fortunate,” replied Jack, being careful not to use the word coincidence, which had been used all too often in his past investigations.
“Then the next day the police discover there are a total of seven bodies. Was that all good timing … what the hell … a coincidence, too?”
“No, that was not a coincidence. Five of those men were killed by the cartel for letting me escape.”
“I see. So it is only two out of seven who died coincidentally with you being there?”
“Uh, yes, I guess you could say that, although I understand Clive Slater is missing. I am sure he was killed, as well.”
Rose sighed and flipped through Jack’s notes again before looking up. “You said you were clubbed over the head, stripped naked, handcuffed … and Big Al was going to ask you questions about colleagues and … family,” she noted, putting the emphasis on the last word.
“Correct.”
“You were then poked with a cattle prod by El Pero and passed out.”
“Correct.”
“And when you regained consciousness and were picking the lock on the handcuffs, El Pero was actually in the act of raping Lily.”
“I believe so. That’s when I saw another guy going —”
Rose’s face hardened. “Stop it right there!” she snapped. “Don’t you ever —” She paused, and after letting out a deep breath and regaining her composure, she said, “I think I’ve got a clear enough picture of what happened, despite my belief there are certain omissions in your report and your notes.” She stared hard at Jack. “What? No acting surprised? No look of concern followed by denials?”
“I had the distinct feeling you didn’t want me to lie to you.”
“Good. I hope we understand each other. Who knows, maybe someday you will trust me enough to tell me exactly what those omissions were.”
“I should put you in touch with Special Agent Adams on that issue.”
“Oh? Would he be more forthcoming?”
“On the contrary. He almost got in trouble for telling a friend something.”
“I see,” replied Wood with a frown. “Well at least I know you had nothing to do with Miguel and Ramiro.”
“Who are they?”
“Two Mexicans from the auto body shop here in Vancouver. The same shop where they took Slater’s truck, just before you left to go to El Paso. On Friday, the narcs followed them to Stanley Park and saw them meet Damien.”
“When I was being tortured, Big Al said, thanks to me, they were thinking of going into business with Satans Wrath.”
“Guess the business proposal the Mexicans offered wasn’t accepted. After the bikers left, the narcs found both Miguel and Ramiro in bad need of medical attention. They’re both still in hospital.”
“Did the Mexicans identify who did it?”
“No, they’re not that stupid.”
“Guess I should thank Damien.”
“He had a message for you, too. He said if you want to stay above ground, never to use his club like that again.”
“Yes, I figured he was irritated when he told Big Al to kill me.”
“I want you to go home for a couple of days. I’ll have the secretary type up your UC notes and forward them with the report. Ottawa won’t be happy you didn’t get permission, but I’ll do what I can to support you.”
“Thank you,” replied Jack, getting up.
“There is one more thing,” said Rose, “about your torture … the cattle prod … were you prodded where I suspect they would have prodded you?”
“Yes.”
“Explains why you passed out.”
“I’m glad I did.”
“Any long-term bad effects?”
Jack grinned and said, “The boys seemed to work fine last night. The only thing I wonder about is if I father another child, will it have really curly hair?”