Race

times.”

It felt like Joey and I were two little children whose fates were being decided by strangers.

There was a pause and then Aldrich said, “Detective Beadsworth, I respect your opinion. It may be better if the witness stays with Officer Rupret.”

“Thank you, sir,” Beadsworth said with a slight nod.

Aldrich turned to Joey, “Give us something to begin our investigation.”

Joey thought about it; his eyes searched for what information to divulge. “I overheard them talking. At the Scarborough Bluffs you will find the body of Armand Dempiers.”

This caused a reaction. Aldrich spun around and was out the door, followed by Garnett who was dialing on the phone.

Beadsworth turned to me and whispered, “Do not let him out of your sight.” With that he disappeared around the door.

The chicken wings were cold and shriveled up. Joey shrugged and said, “I’m full.”

Everything was packed and in the process of being moved. They could no longer use the current location. If Joey spoke, the police would be paying them a visit very soon.

Ms. Zee had taken certain precautions just in case something like this ever happened. Everything in their small headquarters was portable, from the furniture to the pharmaceutical equipment.

There was another problem that she had to resolve. The new technology required that they produce in one location. It was not financially feasible to purchase several freeze-dryers and other expensive equipment.

They needed a good location, not only for the production of Nex, but also for the distribution of it. Martin had been dispatched to search for one.

Her cell rang and she knew who it was. She listened and then hung up.

She already knew Joey was at the home of an officer named Jonathan Rupret. But this officer was not to be harmed under any circumstances. One officer had already been assaulted and injuring another would place more attention on them. She was not happy with this information.

She would have to find a way of getting to Joey without harming the officer. She couldn’t rely on anyone in the group. Kong would snap the officer’s neck at the first chance he got. Hause and Suraj weren’t known for their smarts. She would have to do something on her own.

TWENTY-TWO

It was the next morning and Hause dropped Ms. Zee off a block away from Greenwood Avenue. She was wearing a beige skirt and a white blouse. Her auburn hair was untied and flowed freely to her shoulders.

Hause waited in the car for her signal. She walked in the direction of the officer’s home but stopped at the corner of Gerrard and Greenwood. The plan was to get the officer out of the house, giving Hause enough time to go in and finish Joey. How she was going to do this she had no idea.

She looked across to the house and tried to think. Should she walk up to the door and say that she was lost? No, that didn’t make any sense. She could ask anyone on the street for help. What if she went up to him and said she had just been robbed? No, then she would have to go to the police department to report it.

She put her hand through her hair, thinking of a plan.

I woke up and found Joey sleeping peacefully on the sofa. The coffee maker was brewing so I went to the bathroom. After I was done, I filled my cup and went to the balcony. The air was semi-fresh but the sun was shining brightly. I leaned on the metal railing and took a sip. The coffee needed a little more sugar.

I spotted a woman standing at the corner of the street. She looked distressed. She looked up at me. I smiled.

She looked around. I suddenly understood. I motioned her to wait and I went back inside.

Ms. Zee saw the officer come out onto the balcony and then smile at her. He then waved and disappeared. What was he doing? She didn’t have any time to think when the front door swung open and the officer, still in his pajamas, came out running toward her. His nose was covered in a bandage.

“Has your car been towed?” he said.

“Sorry?” she said.

“Your car was towed, right?” he pointed to spot beside the sidewalk. “You parked it here last night and this morning it was gone.”

“Uh…yes,” she understood. “How did you know?”

“I just do,” I said. I wasn’t going to tell her my car had been towed several times from the very same spot.

She said, “I don’t know what I was thinking. I parked here, but this morning it’s gone.”

“From seven-to-nine it’s a tow-away zone,” I said.

“I didn’t know that,” she said.

“Did you just move down here?”

“My sister lives over there,” she said pointing to a street adjacent to us. “What am I going to do?”

She had amazing green eyes and even more amazing long red hair.

I said, “It’s towed to Joe’s Towing.” I read her the address. “Just tell Joe Coultier I sent you.”

“I didn’t get your name,” she said, smiling.

She had a great smile.

I don’t know why but my face flushed. Maybe it was the way she looked at me. “It’s Jonny Rupert.”

NO!

My face burned. “Rupret. R before the E,” I said, collecting myself.

“Rupret,” she said, repeating it to herself. “R before the E. Different but unique.”

Now my knees were getting weak. Maybe it was the pajamas.

She said, “If it isn’t too much trouble can you take me to Joe’s Towing?”

“Sure,” I said.

She smiled even more.

Suddenly I remembered. Joey. “Um…I can’t.”

Her smile faded.

“I’ve got…to…go somewhere.”

“It’ll be a quick drive,” she said. “You can just drop me off and come back.”

“I’m sorry, I can’t.” I hated doing this. I really did. But I couldn’t leave Joey alone. Our investigation was relying on him. “I really cannot.” I gave her the directions again.

She was disappointed, but she still smiled. She thanked me and headed in the direction of the streetcar.

Ms. Zee waited until the officer was out of sight and then went to the car. She entered the Lincoln and then shook her head. Hause was ready and waiting with the shotgun. Without saying a word he started the car and they were gone.

As I got to the door I realized I hadn’t asked her name. Damn, what an idiot I was. Going up the stairs I cursed myself for being so stupid.

I heard the toilet flush and a few seconds later Joey emerged from the bathroom.