Laura waited until Lance left the car before saying, “You’re cutting him loose at a time like this?”

Jack shrugged and replied, “I don’t really like it either, but fair is fair. I’ve put the guy through enough. Besides, right now I want Carlos and he can’t help me with him.”

“Your call,” replied Laura. “Right now I’m too sick thinking about what Rellik did. A bullet in the head is one thing, but this ... I feel nauseous.”

“I feel the same way,” replied Jack.

“And we’re supposed to meet Damien in less than half an hour! He’s as demented as Carlos is! ”

“It made Damien sick. Neither of us has thrown up.”

“Yet.”

Jack nodded. I won’t be sick ... but my nightmares are going to become wilder.

“Rellik ... sticking that up a person’s bum!” exclaimed Laura. “You heard our friend. He enjoyed what he did! What kind of person would do that?”

“A psychopath, just like Carlos.”

“And you think we should talk to Damien? Rellik wouldn’t have done it if Damien didn’t let him.”

“You can’t show weakness when you’re the lead wolf. Besides, we can use Damien to catch Carlos. That is who made this personal for us.”

“Yeah, he made it personal, and I would like to see someone put a bullet in his head. But he’s too protected. I think we should go with who we can catch. Concentrate on Rellik and Damien. Which is why I wish our friend — or ex-friend now — was still working for us.”

“I want Carlos!” said Jack, feeling agitated. “Who do you think is worse? Carlos, who is responsible for the murder of Holly’s husband, turning Charlie into a paraplegic, and trying to drown O’Reilly’s baby ... or Damien, for murdering the people who kidnapped and mutilated his wife and daughter?”

“I know what you’re saying, but...”

“But what?”

“After what we just heard? I won’t sleep as long as Rellik’s above ground! I can picture him grinning as he did it! His long stringy red hair, that thin face and chipped front tooth. I can feel myself vibrate with anger, just thinking about him.”

“You’ve been studying photographs.”

“He stands out. Now in more ways than one. I’d love to get the chance to double-tap two into his chest.” She then became silent, imagining the horror of what went on inside the car wash.

Jack drove out of the parkade toward their rendezvous with Damien and then said, “Maybe when it comes to protecting our families, certain actions are made without much rationalization.”

“You condoning what they did?”

“No. Definitely not. Damien’s a monster. No doubt. But he does have a human side to him. Can’t say the same from what I know about Carlos.”

“Carlos lives in another country protected by an army. He’s untouchable. Damien might not be. I think you’re making a mistake. Let’s nail Damien ... or at least Rellik. That’s who I really want. Ray is dead. We’re going to have to forget about Carlos.”

“Nobody is untouchable.”

Laura paused, then conceded, “You’re right, but neither are we.”

“Are you that upset that Leitch and Ray are dead?”

Laura sighed and then said, “Not that they’re dead. Upset with how they died. Wish he had just shot them instead. Treat them like you would a rabid dog. Don’t torture them. Just shoot them and be done with it.”

“Oh, I see. Your philosophy. Shoot, shovel, and shut up!”

Laura smiled and said, “Yeah, maybe that is becoming my philosophy. Right now I’m just glad it’s over.”

“Over? It’s not over!” The anger flashed across Jack’s face as he reached to the visor and threw Charlie’s picture down on her lap. “Look at that and tell me it’s over! Call Susan O’Reilly and tell me then that it’s over!”

Laura felt stunned, then said, “I meant over as far as who attacked Danny’s baby. That was Ray. He’s dead.”

“Ray was a pawn!” said Jack bitterly. “Carlos calls the shots. As long as he’s alive, there will be more victims. Think about the ones you and I know ... imagine how many others there are.”

Laura looked at Charlie’s picture.

“Carlos has the power to continue his terror,” continued Jack. “When he’s dead, then we can say it’s over,” he added quietly.

“Jack, you said it yourself. He lives in Colombia. Surrounded by his own army. DEA have tried unsuccessfully to extradite him for years. There’s no way.”

Jack gave Laura a hard look. “There’s always a way ... but I need a partner who thinks like I do.”

“And how do you think?”

“Not afraid to play dirty.”

“Like torture?”

“I agree with you on that philosophy, but I do consider Carlos to be a rabid dog.”

Laura looked at Jack for a moment, then asked, “You already have a plan, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

Laura waited, but Jack didn’t elaborate. He’s not going to tell me unless I agree to help. Laura glanced at Charlie’s picture one more time. Oh man! She looked at Jack and asked, “Do I need to buy rubber boots and a shovel?”

“Maybe.”

“If it was for Rellik, I’d buy them right now, but Carlos? How can we?”

“My plan won’t work without you.”

Laura sighed and said, “I figured that. What’s your plan?”

“It’s really quite simple,” replied Jack.

Jack left Laura sitting in the car as he walked along the path meandering through New Brighton Park. Damien, freshly showered and clothed, was on time.

“How are Vicki and Katie?”

Damien took a deep breath and slowly let it out before saying, “They’re going to be okay. Thanks for asking.”

“They’re both traumatized,” said Jack. “They’re going to need special help.”

“I know. They’ll get it.”

Damien extended his hand and said, “I should have done this last night in the hospital. I want you to know I wasn’t ashamed to be seen shaking your hand ... I was just too upset to think about anything other than seeing them.”

Jack accepted the handshake and Damien said, “Thank you. I will never forget what you did. You saved my family twice.”

“Twice?”

“First time on Sunday when you found the money.”

Jack shrugged and said, “You helped me become a Mexican hero.”

“That was one favour. You saved two of my family. Then did it again yesterday. Figure I owe you three more favours.”

“Yesterday I wasn’t alone,” replied Jack. “My partner was actually the one who found out where they were being kept.”

Damien nodded.

“How are you going to explain Vicki’s injury?” asked Jack. “They’ll know it’s not fresh.”

“Accidentally chopped it off when she was backpacking in the wilderness. Was a two-day hike to get back out. Katie said she fell.”

“Their clothes aren’t what you would call hiking clothes.”

“The docs know it’s not true ... but they also know who we are. All they needed was an excuse to write down on some form. They’re too afraid to call the police.”

“Good thing you didn’t try and pull that stunt with Natasha.”

Damien grinned and said, “I know better. She’d probably slash my throat with a scalpel.”

“You find out the answers to my questions?” asked Jack, choosing to ignore the remark.

“Yeah, I did.”

Jack listened closely as Damien told him everything he had found out. He didn’t mention how Leitch and Ray died. He summed it up by saying, “There are some details that are best left unsaid. If I was psychic, I might make a prediction that Leitch and Ray are deep-sea diving. Bet they remembered their weights but forgot their tanks.”

Jack gave Damien a long, hard stare. He realized he was holding his breath and slowly exhaled. He then asked, “So now what? You know Carlos is going to come after you.”

“Yeah, I know. But what was I supposed to do? By the time I figured out who Ray was, it was too late for apologies. Besides, Carlos was going to kill me anyway. He wanted me to make the last payment myself in Colombia. Once I did that, he would have whacked me and my family.”