“The story I heard was that the so-called informant came about as a result of being caught with drugs — after you started working down there.”

“That’s someone else. That’s who Jack’s first informant tipped us off about.”

“Is that a fact?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I see. Well … all the more reason for you to keep me posted so that I fully understand what is going on. Dealing with informants is acceptable, but you are aware, aren’t you, that you and Taggart are not to do anything other than surveillance down there?”

“Yes, sir.”

Wigmore paused, then said, “Don’t wait until Monday night to call me anymore. It will be up to you to call me as soon as possible if Taggart is not obeying orders or following policy.”

“I’ll do that, sir.”

“Keep up the good work, Danny. I expect to hear from you soon.”

Danny felt a sense of relief flood over him when he hung up the telephone. No more weekly calls needed — as long as Wigmore didn’t find out what Jack was up to.

It was 8:15 Tuesday morning when Superintendent Wigmore called and spoke to the inspector in charge of Internal Affairs.

“Yes, we need to meet,” he said. “We now have two rogue officers to discuss.”

Mid-week, Jack and Danny started making periodic visits to the Black Water, but there was no sign of Red or Leonard. Marcie was not around either.

It was not until the following Saturday night that Red showed up.

“Where ya been?” asked Jack. “I’ve been lookin’.”

“I had other business to take care of. You want another two?”

“How long would it take to get me three? I don’t want to wait around all day like before.”

Red went to the lobby and then returned a few minutes later. “It’ll be here in about an hour, maybe an hour and a half.”

A few minutes later, Jack had a quick visit with Danny in the men’s room.

“Make your anonymous call,” said Jack. “I don’t have the money for this!”

Leonard cautiously made his way down the darkened alley. He took three ounces of speed out of his boot and carefully slid the brick out of position. Then he saw two shadows appear on the wall in front of him and he darted to the left.

Leonard had about as much chance as a baby lamb being jumped by a grizzly. Bart’s large, muscular hands compressed his throat while the force of his body simultaneously smashed him down into a puddle of water.

“Police! Open your mouth! Open your fuckin’ mouth or I’ll rip your throat out!”

Leonard automatically tried to pull at the hairy hands holding his throat. The grip tightened. He was stunned and blinked his eyes. A smear appeared on his lips. He had bitten the end of his tongue when the back of his skull bounced off the wall. His legs jerked a little as his brain told him to run before realizing it was impossible.

Bart sat on his chest, choking him. Water in the puddle slopped around his ears and up his back. His eyes bulged as his lungs fought for air. He blinked, then obediently opened his mouth.

“Move your tongue around so I can see if you’re hidin’ somethin’!”

Leonard moved his tongue.

“Never mind, Bart, it’s in the wall.”

Bart released his grip, and Leonard made a gasping, gurgling sound as air rushed back into his lungs.

Leonard was jerked to his feet and slammed back against the wall. He didn’t realize until later that the warmth he felt in the crotch of his jeans was from his own body.

Leonard was completely soaked, and a combination of fear and cold made him shake.

Bart barked, “Put your hands on your head and don’t fuckin’ move, asshole!”

Leonard watched silently as Rex removed three small plastic baggies from the hole in the brick wall. He squirmed a little when he heard Bart’s deep voice comment on the putrid odour.

“Oh, Christ, Rex! He shit himself! So help me, this job makes me wanna puke sometimes! An’ my jeans are wet from the knees down!”

Rex turned his head slightly away so Bart wouldn’t see him grinning.

“Next time, you do the honours. I’m gettin’ too old for this bullshit. What’ve we got?”

“I’d say about three ounces.” Rex waved the baggies in Lenny’s face and said, “Care to confirm this for us? We’re going to have it analyzed anyway.”

“I want my lawyer!”

Their moment of silence as they went through the papers in his wallet gave him a little more courage.

“Besides,” he added, “I don’t think you got reason’ble and proper beliefs to grab me in the first place! You’ll be lucky if my lawyer don’t sue you or somethin’.”

“Shut up, asshole, or I’ll make you eat your shorts,” growled Bart.

Leonard paled and stood quietly, looking down at his feet. Minutes later he was half-dragged down the alley and tossed unceremoniously into the back of an unmarked police car. His pale face became whiter yet when he was driven to an underground parking lot several blocks from the hotel.

“Where ya takin’ me? This ain’t no police station!”

“Relax, Lenny. We’re just going to have a little talk, is all,” said Bart. “But we’ll do it outside the car. You stink too much, even with the windows rolled down!”

The three men got out of the car before Bart continued. “You’re goin’ to tell us who you got this from.”

“Fuck you, I am.” Leonard looked around at the empty parking lot and said, “What are you going to do? Beat me? Go ahead!”

“Don’t be impolite,” said Rex. “I get real pissed off at people who are impolite!”

The conversation was interrupted when the police radio informed Bart and Rex that Leonard was still on probation for trafficking in drugs.

“How about that, Lenny!” said Bart. “Caught again while you’re still on probation. You’re lookin’ at doin’ some serious time!”

“Don’t care. I ain’t rattin’.”

Leonard leaned and stretched his head forward as Bart and Rex whispered to each other, then jumped nervously when Bart unexpectedly laughed.

“Okay, Lenny, you can go. We’ll keep the dope, but go ahead, fuck off!”

Leonard stood with his mouth gaping, looking back and forth at the two faces in front of him. “You’re gonna shoot me for escapin’!” he said, his eyes nervously darting back and forth.

“Naw, I ain’t gonna shoot you,” replied Bart.

“I can just walk away?” said Leonard in disbelief. “Just like that?”

“Sure, Lenny, just like that. I’d suggest you use what little time you have left to wash out your shorts so you won’t smell so bad at your funeral.”

“What do you mean?” asked Leonard suspiciously.

“Well, the way I got it figured is you’ve got three choices.”

Leonard stared at Bart without answering.

“Number one is you can tell everyone about the two nice narcs who relieved you of a few thousand dollars worth of dope but didn’t arrest or charge you.”

“I won’t do that! Everyone would think I was a rat! My life —”

“If we find the prints of your supplier on these baggies, we’ll tell ’im you ratted!”

Bart let this message sink in and then continued.

“Number two is you could just say you lost it or were ripped off. But I got a feeling that a low-life like you doesn’t have enough money to pay for this up front. So I think you still owe money … which means someone will be awful pissed off at you. In fact, they’ll probably think you ripped them off.”

Lenny’s head drooped down. “You guys have pretty well got it all figured out, don’t you?” he mumbled.

“It’s our business. Do you want us to spell out your third option?” asked Rex.

Lenny raised his head. “No, I know how the game is played. But if someone finds out I squealed … I’m dead!”