He heard Mike and Steve charging around the living room. Mike would yell out, “Batman!” which would then be reiterated by Steve.

Natasha tried to get them to lower their voices. He felt bad. It’s only the middle of the afternoon. They’re boys … they should be allowed to play.

His thoughts drifted to Amanda and Megan and the guilt he felt when he met them face-to-face. More guilt soaked through his brain when he thought of the picture that Dyck had rammed into his face, showing Amanda shortly after being attacked.

He picked up the map booklet from off the bedside table and skipped through it, looking at the pages where the page numbers had been crossed off, but realized he was too tired to concentrate.

He thought of a man with his throat slashed being found by his family at Christmas time. What Tom told me helps verify that Virgil was telling the truth …but having an informant who is a serial rapist ... I don’t know if I can handle it.

Maybe they’ll catch him with the knife … he thought, before drifting off to sleep.

Virgil waited in the ferry cafeteria until the ferry was midway to Victoria, before returning to the car-deck. He did not see anyone following him, but was still cautious as he went to the trunk of his car on the pretence of getting a jacket, which he folded over his arm. He then wandered over to a portal on the car-deck and leaned out, as if enjoying the view.

He knew he had panicked when he was first caught and went over things again. Turning me over to the Americans … fuck, I would really go to jail. Still, telling them about the rape … I should have kept my mouth shut … but did I really have a choice?

Virgil’s jaw set in rigid determination.

One thing is for certain … the panic is over.

Nobody saw him drop the jungle knife, wrapped in a ski mask, into the ocean, where it immediately sank from sight.

Virgil stared into the dark waters and breathed a sigh of relief. You really think I didn’t know the real reason you gave me the knife back? I’m not a stupid man, Mister Taggart. All you have accomplished is to make me change my … what do you cops call it? My modus operandi.

As Virgil walked back up the stairs to the cafeteria, he gave an evil grin as he fantasized. Ah, my lovely … it is Mister Taggart’s fault that you must die …

Chapter Twelve

On Friday, Jack arrived at his office at eight o’clock in the morning. Laura was already in, as was Rose, so they sat in Rose’s office while Jack outlined what he had learned.

“Paul Jennings’s death may have been an accident,” noted Rose. “Perhaps your informant knew about it and decided to weave it into a scam to deceive us.”

“Possible,” admitted Jack, “but it is interesting that Tom Donald also thinks Oskar is dirty.”

“I don’t think the opinion of some guy in the music industry will cut much weight with Inspector Dyck this afternoon.”

“It doesn’t discredit what we were told, either,” observed Laura.

“And these other guys … Pike the Spike and Killer Rabbit. What’s their story?” asked Rose.

“Nothing on Ben Pike yet,” replied Jack. “I’ll make more inquiries to see if anyone can come up with someone who goes by the nickname of Rabbit.” He gave a small, half-grin and added, “Will probably end up with a lot of Bunnies and no Rabbit.”

“Bunnies?” asked Rose.

“A lot of hookers and strippers use the name Bunny,” said Jack.

“We’re looking for a guy, not a woman,” said Rose.

“You’re being sexist. There are a lot of male prostitutes, not to mention transvestites and —”

“Okay, okay,” said Rose. “I believe you,” she said, putting her hands up for him to stop. “But tell me, is your knowledge of male prostitution and transvestites something you discovered in your off-hours?” she added with a grin.

Jack felt relieved that Rose was joking with him. It made him feel less stressed about the choice he had made to protect the informant. He knew Rose would support him in the meeting with Dyck. But then what? We’ll end up going to the assistant commissioner… and what will he decide?

“Now, about the rapist,” said Rose. “Inspector Dyck seems convinced he will strike again. What are your thoughts on that?”

“I agree with Dyck,” said Jack, gravely. “I think he will cool it for a month or two and start again.”

“And you’re hoping MCU will catch him on their own before then?”

“That would be nice.”

“And if they don’t? After what he told you, he’s liable to change his MO to hide the fact that it’s him.”

“I know. I’ve thought of that,” replied Jack calmly.

“What else have you thought of?”

“What do you mean?”

“I know you. You’re not upset. Means you have a plan. What is it?”

“Well … hang on, my phone.” He glanced at the number. “It’s our new friend.”

“No friend of mine,” Laura muttered.

“Sorry man, it’s only eight-thirty. Too early to call ya?” asked Virgil.

“I told you before,” replied Jack. “It’s never too early or too late. What do you have?”

“Remember when I told you Oskar said they were going to do three more before Christmas and that he would then sell his company and retire?”

“Yes.”

“They’ve already got one of the chumps lined up. In fact, he might already be dead. I couldn’t get his name, but he’s an American from Seattle.”

“Is he in Seattle now?”

“No, that’s why I’m calling you. Last week they sent him to Moscow. Oskar bitched that he should have only got him a one-way ticket, but said he had to make it look good.”

“Isn’t there anything else you can tell me about the guy? What reason did they use to send him to Russia? Did he go alone? Does he have a car? Maybe one left at the airport? Anything?”

“My brother was giving me the hairy eyeball for asking what I did. If I push him any further, he’ll clue in that something’s not right and clam up.”

Jack took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

“He did tell me he is going to recruit another person around the time of the Swiftsure Yacht Race. He’s looking for somebody from the Victoria area.”

“That starts the end of this month. You said three more. If the guy in Russia is one and someone from Victoria is another one, where is the third victim going to be from?”

“I don’t know. Maybe he hasn’t decided yet. I don’t think he wants the chumps to be from the same area. Might get people talking.”

“How does Oskar hire them? Newspaper ads?”

“No. He uses head-hunter agencies. He looks for professional-type people. Someone with credentials ’cause they do legit work, as well. Whoever he picks has to be able to fit in with the white-collar crowd.”

“And the next guy he is hiring is at the end of the month?”

“Yup. Here in Victoria. Oskar mentioned he has some investors coming in for Swiftsure. He wants to see how whoever he is thinking of hiring fits in with them.”

“Does he have any paperwork or stuff lying around that you could see? Names of people, phone numbers, anything?”

“He carries a brief case around. Maybe I could look in it, but if I get caught we’re finished.”

Jack thought about it. If he ordered Virgil to do something and he got caught, it would be Jack’s fault. Virgil would be off the hook and the murder investigation would be compromised because Oskar would be suspicious as to why Virgil was snooping.

“You hear me?” asked Virgil.

“I heard you. Forget about the briefcase. Getting more information on the fellow in Russia is a priority, but you are not to do or say anything if it could possibly compromise the investigation.”