“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?”

chapter forty-nine

On Wednesday morning, Assistant Commissioner Isaac received a call from the commissioner in Ottawa, who skipped any pleasantries and immediately asked, “What are you doing about Taggart?”

“In what way?” asked Isaac.

“In what way? That is the question. I’d like him charged with a criminal offence.”

“A criminal offence? Are you questioning the validity of his report in regards to the seven bodies found at the house in Mexico?”

“No, not that, but I appreciate your thinking. I’ve already looked into it. Our liaison officer in Mexico City was contacted by a police commander in Juarez. One of his own detectives was one of the seven bodies they found. The commander wanted to thank us for the work we did in identifying the corrupt officer and also for finding the tunnel.”

“He wasn’t upset to find out a Canadian policeman had gone there without authorization?”

“Apparently not. The commander said he understood there were some tight time restraints and a life was at risk. Anyway, our L.O. asked him about the victim who was shot anally and the other victim who died of multiple injuries. The commander said it happens all the time where these guys get drunk and fight amongst themselves. Also the retribution on the other five men was predictable, considering the damage done to the cartel’s smuggling route.”

“So what criminal offence are you talking about in regard to Corporal Taggart?” asked the commissioner.

“Birds of a Feather. Taggart deliberately told the subject of a wiretap investigation there was a bug in the car. That is an offence. At lease it is in Canada. I’m sure it is in the U.S., as well.”

“Corporal Taggart was also targeted.”

“It doesn’t matter. Even if a criminal trips over a bug in his own house, it is a criminal offence for him to tell anyone else about it.”

“I don’t have any transcripts of the conversation that took place in regards to Birds of a Feather. Did Corporal Taggart actually tell Special Agent Adams there was an electronic eavesdropping device in the car?”

“Not in those words, but it was obvious he changed the conversation when Adams was about to tell him what he did.”

“That would hardly hold up in court.”

“That’s the problem. I said I would like him charged with a criminal offence, I didn’t say we could. You know Taggart … do you think we could get him to crack under interrogation or at least say something incriminatory?”

“I’m certain he wouldn’t. Look how it went with Birds of a Feather … and that was when he should have felt safe to talk openly.”

“This is really embarrassing. A national disgrace.”

“A national disgrace?”

“We sent Taggart down there for the purpose of helping the Americans catch their rogue agent. This was supposed to make us look good. Instead, this happens. They’re absolutely furious down there.”

“I thought the primary objective was to find the girl. Corporal Taggart did that,” Isaac said.

“That’s incidental. We didn’t even get any press on it. Right now the issue is Taggart. If we can’t charge him criminally, then at the very least, I sure as hell expect you to give him an official reprimand for his personnel file.”

“As you wish, but we still shouldn’t overlook that he did do an admirable job down there under extreme risk of his own personal safety.”

“Admirable job? What are you talking about? He went down there without authorization!”

“I don’t think Lily or her mother cares about that.”

“Who? Oh, them. That’s not the point. Besides, as far as rescuing the girl, Taggart simply got lucky.”

“Lucky?”

“It was a lucky coincidence for him that the Mexicans started fighting each other when he was rescuing the girl, or things might have turned out much differently. His overall stupidity and complete disregard for policy could have gotten them both killed.”

“There’s no doubt he placed himself at extreme risk.”

“You’re damn right he did. It was totally unacceptable. I have to go, but I want you to send me a copy of the official reprimand you put on his file.”

“Yes, sir.”

After Isaac hung up, he muttered, “Lucky coincidence?” and shook his head. His next telephone call was to Staff Sergeant Rose Wood, telling her he expected to see Corporal Taggart in his office first thing the following morning.

At eight-thirty Thursday morning, Jack entered Isaac’s secretary’s office and was told to go directly in.

Isaac sat behind his desk and with an angry nod, gestured to a chair across from his desk. After Jack sat down, Isaac said, “You went into Mexico without authorization … even after it was made totally clear in the operational plan that you were not to do so.”