When the bodyguard came back, Marcus said, “He swallow the tablet?”
“Yeah.”
“And?”
“He wanted another one.”
A huge smile crossed Marcus’ face. Even his deal with the police officer fit into his plans.
TWENTY-EIGHT
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.
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
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:
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…
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.
