When Ms. Zee and Kong were inside the Lincoln, Hause turned and said, “We’re being followed.”
“Who?” Ms. Zee demanded.
“The black officer whose house we burned down.”
Jonny Rupret, she realized. What’s he doing here?
“Where is he?” she said.
Hause motioned to the back. Ms. Zee turned slightly and saw a gray car parked in the distance.
“How long has he been there?” Ms. Zee asked.
“After you went inside.”
“Try to lose him.” She hoped the officer hadn’t recognized her.
Two people came out of the building. I couldn’t see clearly but I had a hunch it was the bodyguard with the same man I saw going in. A few minutes later two more people came out. I squinted, trying to get a clearer picture, but they quickly entered a white Lincoln.
I couldn’t believe I had missed the Lincoln. It was right there in front of me.
I started my car and waited.
The Lincoln backed up and turned in the direction of the street I was parked on.
I ducked, then peered over the dashboard, and saw the Lincoln enter Gerrard and drive past me.
I did a U-turn and followed.
The Lincoln sped ahead. I was only half-a-block behind. I didn’t accelerate. I didn’t want them to think they were being followed. My purpose was only to find out where they were going.
They continued on Gerrard, passing Broadview then Greenwood and then they turned left on Coxwell. They were going north when they turned right onto O’Connor. It was when they entered Eglinton that I realized we were going toward Scarborough.
They went left, right and then left again. I had a feeling they were trying to lose me. How could that be possible? I hadn’t even been close to the building. I’d been so far away that I couldn’t even see anyone come in or come out.
I kept chase.
They entered a one-way street and accelerated. I did, too. They turned into another street but I was right behind them. A highly qualified parking enforcement officer was following them-me.
We’d done this cat-and-mouse chase for almost fifteen minutes when they exited onto a main road and began going at the required speed.
When we were back on Eglinton I found myself getting a familiar feeling. My Civic was only two cars behind when I recognized where we were. The LLPM Import amp; Export building was a traffic light away.
Maybe RACE did do operations at that building.
I expected the Lincoln to turn left into the building’s parking lot, but instead it turned right. What the…?
Hesitantly, I did so too.
The Lincoln went into an alley beside a shop.
It hit me like a thunderbolt.
They went behind the BUBBLE T SHOP.
What was RACE doing at my-now favourite-tea shop?
I found a parking spot in front of the shop and got out. I pulled out my cell, ready to dial a number, but stopped.
I wasn’t going to call Beadsworth. I was now certain he was part of their operation, maybe not as a full-fledged member but as an accomplice.
I wanted to call Aldrich but first I had to be sure this was where RACE was operating. What if Marcus gave me the wrong information? What would happen if I called Aldrich and he came down with half the force only to find out they weren’t producing Nex but making delicious bubble tea? How would I save face then?
My face would surely be splashed across all the major newspapers: Ex-PEO screws up, yet again. Force humiliated with raid at quiet bubble-tea shop. John Rupert does it again! NO. I could not let that happen.
I had this heavy feeling that I should make sure first.
I peered through the window. As usual, Susan was behind the cash register. A handful of teenagers sat in one corner and a guy was reading a magazine in another.
I decided to go around into the alley.
Garbage and old cardboard boxes littered the pathway. When I was at the end I took a peek and saw the white Lincoln parked to the side. There was a door open, with sounds coming out. The sounds were probably from the staff of the BUBBLE T SHOP.
I scanned the back area. There was no one around. They must have gone inside the shop. But what were they doing here?
I carefully entered the open door and found another door on the left somewhat ajar.
I grabbed the door handle and pulled. A flight of stairs went down.
This was absurd. I wasn’t going down someone’s basement.
I turned, when something hard hit me across the cheek. I reacted and fell forward, stumbling and then rolling down the steps. I realized I was on the ground when my head thumped on concrete.
I was still conscious when I heard footsteps come down. I lifted my head, felt dizzy, then decided against it. Maybe if I closed my eyes for a second it might help. I felt a shadow over me and I opened my eyes
A huge bald Chinese guy stared at me menacingly.
“Hey, man,” I said. “I know how this looks. But I wasn’t trying to steal nothing. I’m a co-”
He grabbed my collar and lifted me up like a doll.
“Thanks,” I said once on my two feet.
The guy didn’t say anything; he just towered over me, threateningly.
My right cheek stung when my fingers touched it. It was going to leave a bruise. My nose hadn’t healed entirely from the last time, and now I had to worry about my cheek. I hoped make-up would cover the mark.
I sucked air and looked up. The big guy had his arms crossed. The bulges underneath his shirt told me this guy worked out. I had to be careful.
“I know it was a mistake,” I said raising my hands as if these things happened all the time. “You saw me snooping around and you thought I was going to steal something. So you…kind of…bumped into me.” I winked at him. He didn’t wink back. “So it’s no problem. I won’t charge you with assault-if you’re worried about it.” He didn’t look too worried to me.
He stared silently.
“I’m Officer Jon-R before E-Rupret of the Toronto Police Service.”
In a blink of a second a hand shot out, grabbed my throat, and pulled me closer.
The grip was immense. Blood rushed to my head and my eyes bulged out.
He brought my face closer and I could feel hot air come out of his large nostrils.
I tried to say something, but I needed air to do so, which was now suddenly in short supply.
I grabbed his wrist but I couldn’t even circle it with my fingers.
I was about to kick him in his privates when I heard a voice.
His fingers released my neck and I flopped on my bum.
I knew sucking air quickly would be hazardous so I closed my mouth and inhaled slowly through my nose.
My neck was raw. I would need more makeup to cover that, too.
I looked up and nearly lost my breath. Again.
Laura, with her red hair, was standing beside the big guy, who I was now going to charge with assault and even attempted murder. She had a smile on her face.
“Laura, wh-what are you doing here?” I asked.
“I should ask you the same question,” she answered.
“I’m here for the tea,” I said, collecting myself. “What about you?”
She smiled the smile I had earlier found endearing. Right now it felt intimidating.
I managed to get up.
“Shouldn’t you be in the States?” I said.
“You don’t get it, do you?”
“Of course, I get it.” Get what? I narrowed my eyes.
She laughed, rolling her head back. “You have no idea.”
“I have many ideas, but I can’t discuss any of them with you…at this moment.” I looked around.
She motioned to the big man, who moved toward me.
I moved back but hit what felt like a metal door.
Feeling cornered, I pulled on the handle and fell back into darkness.
I looked around and everything was black.
Someone switched on the lights.
“Better?” she said.
There were several machines, all covered with blue plastic, at one end of the basement. Equipment-the science lab kind-was scattered everywhere.
“This looks like a clan lab,” I said, turning to them.
Then it hit me.
“You,” I pointed. “You’re making Nex.” It suddenly dawned on me that I had infiltrated RACE. Something else dawned on me.
“You’re part of RACE?” I said to Laura.
She smiled, “Good. We are finally making progress. Kong, tie him up on that chair.”
The big guy moved toward me. I doubled back and planted myself on the chair. If this gigantic bone-crushing-type-of-guy wanted to tie me up, who was I to protest? I placed my hands behind my back and smiled.
He looked disappointed. He was looking forward to roughing me up. I wasn’t going to give him any satisfaction. I may be a wimp, but I was a partially damaged wimp.
He bound my wrists.
She walked over and leaned down. I could smell her perfume.
Was that Elizabeth Taylor’s Black Pearls?
“I liked you,” she said. “But you had to follow us and then enter our establishment.”
“You’re name isn’t Laura Spencer, is it?” I said.
She shook her head.
“You never had a sister in Toronto, did you?”
“Everything was a lie, Officer Rupret.”
I had opened up to her. I couldn’t believe I had told her about Nigeria and my grandfather. I felt used.
“Don’t feel bad,” she said. “At least you didn’t burn in your house.”
What?
“Why didn’t I?” I said.
“Think. You’re part of the police.”
Yes, I was part of the finest police force in the country, and at this moment I was damn proud of it. “I have seen where you produce Nex. Why don’t you give up? You won’t get away.”
“Yes, you have seen everything.” She looked at Kong. “But you won’t get away. Alive.”
Up until then I had had the feeling that I was not in any life-threatening danger. But suddenly I was feeling differently. I had to do something.
“Half the police department is outside,” I bluffed.
“No, they are not.”
“Yes, and I’m wired. You’re being recorded.”
“Really?” She ripped my shirt open-the buttons flew everywhere. “You’re lying.”
“Code red. Code red. Abort mission,” I mouthed to my armpit. “Officer down. Officer down.”
“Oh, shut up,” she said and slapped me. Hard.
That would leave a mark.
“Don’t you understand,” she said, getting agitated. “The police will not come to help you.”
“Why is that?” I said.
She said nothing.
Then it hit me. “The mole,” I said slowly.
Her face betrayed nothing.
“Yes,” I laughed. “You wouldn’t think I would know. Would you?”
She licked her lips.
“You thought I wouldn’t find out who your mole was?” I said. “But I did. I put two-and-two together.”
“You know?” she finally said.
“I know.” I was proud of myself. Seeing her squirm like that made my chest inflate. It deflated immediately when I caught sight of Kong.
She said, “I didn’t think you were-”
“-Clever or intelligent enough,” I said.
“Bright was the word I was looking for. I didn’t think you were bright enough.”
“Well I did. Your mole was part of Operation Anti-RACE so that he could spy for you. He fed you information so you could be a step ahead of us. Whenever possible he misguided us. But he didn’t misguide me. I was onto him from the beginning. The way he talked. The way he walked. It wasn’t normal.” She listened attentively. “Then the incident with Officer Barnes at the House of Jam-” I stopped. I turned to Kong. The bald head Barnes was talking about. Kong was the one who’d hurt Barnes. I wasn’t about to start pointing fingers at anyone, seeing as I was immobile. I just ground my teeth and continued. “The missing camera tape was my first indication.”
“What camera tape?” she said.
She was testing me.
“The missing camera tape from the House of Jam. So he doesn’t tell you everything, does he?”
“Only what is necessary,” she half responded.
“He had insisted Joey stay with me after he had run away from you.” This part was difficult for me but I wanted it off my chest. “He insisted Joey stay with me. You! You kept me away so that your goons could get to him. Isn’t that right?”
Her eyes betrayed her.
Anger rose in me. “He was just a kid.”
“He was a stupid kid,” she said.
My whole body was energized with rage. I roared and with all my might tried to break free of the restraints on my wrists. As I did so the rope cut deeper into my skin. The pain was immense and soon all my energy faded. My shoulders slumped and I lowered my head. This would have worked in the movies.
“The money,” I finally said.
“What?” she said.
I lifted my head. “The money he gives his wife at night. Why would someone do that if they weren’t hiding something?”
“He’s married?” she said confused.
“Oh, so you don’t know?”
“He only tells me what is necessary.”
“Well, let me tell you. He also has children. You didn’t know that either?”
“I was not aware,” she said, clearly taken aback. “He doesn’t seem like the fatherly type.”
“You also wouldn’t know anything about his mansion, would you?”
“Mansion? I thought he lived in a condo.”
“He has a tiny little mansion in Forest Hill.” I was working on the make-the-partners-enemy-ploy. After I was done she was going to hate Beadsworth. She was then going to free me and help me stop the production of Nex just to get back at Beadsworth. Well, maybe not exactly like that, but I was working on it.
There was a sound in the back. She turned. I tilted to get a better view. There were footsteps coming down. All three was of us waited anxiously. At least, I did.
Once I saw the shoes, I relaxed.
“Speak of the devil,” I said.