“He must somehow. He met with Wang in the alley.”

“You’ve got a point there. I’m going to call Sammy and see how they feel about approaching some of the dealers associated with Wang. Those guys are punks in comparison to the players who hang out at Goldie Locks. If heroin is about to be moved through there, it might be an opportune time.”

Drug Section was glad to assist, and over the next few nights they managed to get an undercover operator to meet some of the Chinese associated with the restaurant. By the following Monday, another meeting was held amongst the investigators in the boardroom.

“Good news, bad news,” said Sammy. “The good news is that Jack and Laura gave us a hell of a good tip on the Chinese restaurant. We’ve got two operators in with some of the bad boys connected to there. One operator is Chinese. She is being offered large quantities of ecstasy and crystal meth. She scored a sample of the meth and it is high quality. I tell ya, the bad guys are tossing weights and numbers around like it was the Toronto Stock Exchange. Anything goes, providing you’ve got the cash. We’ve also seen Wang using the pay phone out front. We’ve submitted a new operational plan to start a new UC there and I think we’ll have a wiretap up and running on Wang that will include the pay phone out front.”

“How long to get wire?” asked Jack. “With the action you’re talking about, I imagine it will take you a month or so to push the paperwork through.”

Sammy smiled and said, “Normally, yeah, but we got the Asian Heat on board with us.”

“Asian Heat?” asked Jack.

“That’s what I call her,” replied Sammy. “She’s of Chinese ancestry and is attached to the Asian Based Organized Crime Unit within our office. Tina is a real pit bull when it comes to catching bad guys. Before joining the Force, she was a loans officer in a bank. She’s good with the paperwork. Don’t worry, we’ll get the wire. We’ll also bug his car if we get the chance.”

“Tina sounds like someone we could use in our office,” Jack said, looking at Laura.

“Hands off!” replied Sammy. “I shouldn’t have told you about her.”

“You said earlier that there was some bad news,” interjected CC.

“Our operators have been turned down flat when it comes to heroin. Maybe Arthur Goldie isn’t into heroin. Maybe it’s his clientele who is.”

“Then why the back-alley meeting?” asked Jack.

Sammy shrugged and said, “It’s summer. The restaurant kitchen was probably hot and steamy. Outside would be cooler.”

Jack shook his head and said, “If he’s innocent, why not phone? He drove all the way over for a two-minute chat.”

“Well … whatever, but with a new UC in the works on ecstasy and meth, we’re going to be shutting down the heroin operation soon. Maybe we’ll get Wang talking to Goldie, but as it stands now, as far as the heroin operation goes, we hope to set up the final buy and bust within the next two weeks.”

“Mind if Laura and I start a little UC of our own in Goldie Locks?” asked Jack.

“Uh … hang on, Jack,” said Rose. “Are you proposing that you and Laura start buying heroin? We also don’t have a budget for that.”

“Not buying heroin,” replied Jack. “Just an intelligence probe. Basically go in and watch. See who’s who in the zoo. Might claim a few drinks, but nothing too expensive.”

Laura glanced at Jack. A few drinks, a few laughs … nobody gets hurt … right, Jack?

“That I can approve,” replied Rose, “provided we’re not interfering?” she added, looking at Sammy.

Sammy shook his head and replied, “Not at all. It could help us. If Jack and Laura can figure out who is who in there, next time we score from Jojo they might be in a position to figure out what is going on if he shows up at the club after.”

“Keep us in the loop,” said Jack. “We’ll start going inside and getting acquainted.”

“As long as you don’t cause us any heat before we’re done with our operation.”

Jack smiled. That is exactly what I intend to do.

13

It was Wednesday and relatively quiet at eight o’clock at night when Jack and Laura walked into Goldie Locks. The nightclub was tastefully decorated with well-spaced leather furniture and dim lighting. Classical music played softly through speakers and it, along with the expensive drink menu, ensured that the establishment catered to the over-thirty crowd — over thirty and wealthy.

A bouncer, who Jack figured had a taste for steroids, nodded politely to them from where he stood near the front door. He had short, blond hair trimmed in a buzz cut and wore a tan-coloured suit with a bright pink tie. His colleague, who looked like he could have been his twin brother, was dressed in a similar fashion and loitering near the bar where he was flirting with a waitress.

“Looks nice. How do you want to play it?” whispered Laura, as they made their way inside.

“Classy, wealthy, and friendly for now,” replied Jack.

“And later?”

“Once we get in with Goldie, he should be impressed by who he thinks we are. Then maybe we’ll add a touch of intimidation or psychotic behavior to the recipe. Keep him a little off balance … but interested. He’s used to being in charge. I want him to like and respect us, but we’ve got to keep control.”

Jack and Laura took a seat together on a white leather sofa facing an etched-glass oval coffee table.

“Martini, gin,” ordered Jack, to the young woman who quickly arrived to serve them.

“Bombay or Tanqueray?”

“I prefer Tanqueray Number 10, but if you don’t have Number 10, then Bombay.”

“Sorry, we don’t have Number 10, so Bombay it is. And you, madam?”

Laura frowned and replied, “Bellini.”

Jack saw Laura glare at the waitress as she left to get their order. “Okay, what’s up?”

“What’s up,” seethed Laura. “Didn’t you hear what she called me?”

“I thought she was polite?”

“She called me madam. I’ve never been called that. Do I look that old to you? I’m not even thirty-four yet. Do I look older?”

Oh, Christ. “Maybe she thought you owned a brothel,” offered Jack, hoping to make light of the situation.

“I bet it’s my makeup,” replied Laura, sounding concerned. “I was running late and in a hurry. I’m going to the ladies’ room,” she added, abruptly leaving.

The cocktails arrived before Laura returned and Jack asked the waitress her name.

“Patty,” she replied with a smile.

“Pleased to meet you. My name is Jack. My girlfriend Laura and I recently moved here from Edmonton. Have you been working here long?”

“Just started the end of June. Only for the summer. I’m going back to Simon Fraser in the fall. Getting my degree in education.”

“Good for you. Waitressing and dealing with the public is a learning experience. Something that will come in handy when you’re a teacher.”

“Hadn’t thought of it that way,” replied Patty.

“Speaking of which,” continued Jack, “between you and me, Laura hated being called ‘madam.’”

“I’m sorry, I —”

“Not a problem, but perhaps mention to her that you noticed she looked upset and —”

“I upset her?”

“And that you feel awkward being ordered to call all women by that —”

“The boss didn’t order us. I just —”

Jack put up his hand, gesturing for her to stop. “It would enhance your tip if she thought you were following orders from the boss.”

Patty paused and then smiled. “I’ll take care of it,” she said.

Jack noticed Patty go up to Laura as she was returning from the ladies’ room.

“It wasn’t me,” said Laura happily as she sat down.

“Wasn’t you what?”

“The waitress. Her name is Patty. She was only following orders on calling women ‘madam.’”