“Guess it leaves us time to party,” said Jack.

Goldie’s waterfront home on Lower Bellevue Avenue in West Vancouver afforded a view of Burrard Inlet from the rear. A towering hedge along the front of the property ensured privacy to anyone passing. An interlocking brick driveway wound its way up to the two-storey Tudor-style home.

It was ten o’clock at night when Jack and Laura were let in by one of the caterers, and the house was crowded. They were late, but Jack wanted to ensure that none of the two dozen licence plate numbers obtained by CC belonged to anyone he or Laura knew from their past. None did, although many of the owners were known in police intelligence reports as either suspected drug importers or financial backers for those who did.

“Hey! My Irish rogue!” shouted Goldie gleefully as he pushed his way through the crowd, slopping champagne onto his pants leg as he walked over.

“Looks like he started the party at noon,” whispered Laura.

Goldie embraced Jack like he was a missing relative and then leered at Laura and said, “A birthday kiss for an old gentleman, my lady?”

“Certainly,” replied Laura, sidestepping away as Goldie lurched forward. “But that will be next Thursday, so you will have to wait.”

“Ooow, wicked you are to make me wait,” said Goldie, “but I’ll hold you to it. Come on in and make yourself at home. I’ve hired a bartender who you’ll find set up in the dining room, and there’s plenty of food.”

The next two hours went by without incident and Jack and Laura mingled with the crowd, making small talk, while Goldie spent the time draped over a young woman.

“Notice our Chinese friend from the restaurant isn’t here,” observed Jack, quietly.

“Yes, I noticed dear Mister Wang is conspicuous by his absence.”

“I suspect their affiliation is strictly business. Between them and The Enabler,” replied Jack.

“Making The Enabler a rather interesting character if he controls two completely different drug syndicates.”

“Exactly.” Jack nodded toward the young woman who was receiving Goldie’s attention. “Any idea who she is?”

“Told me her name is Candy,” replied Laura. “Coke slut, I think. She offered me some earlier on the way to the washroom. Her sister is with one of the other guests.”

Jack saw Candy giggle as Goldie peeked in the top of her blouse before pretending to slap his hand away.

“Nice,” commented Laura. “I was with her for about a minute and she mentioned twice about how rich Goldie must be. Coke slut or hooker. Take your pick.”

“Is there a difference?” asked Jack. “Either one will do anything for —”

“To Arthur!” yelled one of the guests. “Hope you have the best birthday ever!”

Goldie seemed to appreciate the applause and his head wobbled around looking at the crowd until he spotted Jack. “Hey, Jack, my buddy! You got one of them Irish toasts you could give me?”

The crowd fell silent as everyone turned to look at Jack. He nodded, raising his glass and said, “We drink to your coffin.”

Laura heard the gasp from several people. Oh, man …

After a pause, Jack continued, “May it be built from the wood of a hundred-year-old oak tree …” He looked around the room and added, “that I shall plant tomorrow.”

Goldie howled with laughter and made his way toward Jack.

Jack looked at Laura and whispered, “You have any idea how much I hated adding that last part?”

“Jack, Laura,” said Goldie. “Come with me. You gotta see this!”

Jack and Laura followed Goldie as he led them down a hall and through a door leading into his three-car attached garage.

One spot was empty, one was taken up by a speedboat, and in the third spot was a Ferrari 612 Scaglietti that reflected the overhead light like a shiny black emerald.

“What do ya think?” asked Goldie, beaming while groping inside his pants pockets with both hands at the same time. “Wanna, want … want me to take you both for a spin?” he said, pulling out a keychain and dangling it in the air.

“Not tonight,” replied Jack. “You’ve had too much to drink. This car is too beautiful to risk damaging.”

“Ah, my lucky rabbit’s foot will protect us,” said Goldie, indicating the white stump of animal hair dangling from his keychain.

It reminded Jack of a three-legged cat in an alley and he unconsciously clenched his fist. He glanced at Laura and saw a quick flash of disgust cross her face before she regained her composure. He knew she felt more compassionate about animals being killed than people. Or at least, some people. Now I’m starting to feel the same way …

“So what say? The cat got your tongue?” asked Goldie.

“No, not tonight,” Jack said. “It really is awesome. I’ve never seen a car like it.” Jack then approached the car and slowly walked around it, looking inside as he went.

“Take a look inside,” said Goldie opening the car door. “Go ahead, sit behind the wheel.”

Laura felt it might be an opportune time to let Jack talk in private with Goldie so she said, “It’s beautiful, but I’m not really into the car thing. I’ll see you when you come back inside.”

“Laura, wait!” ordered Jack. He glanced at Goldie and said, “Would you show her the car? She won’t appreciate it until she sees all the detail. I have to go to the bathroom, but I’ll be right back.”

“Sure thing,” replied Goldie, getting in to the driver’s seat. “Laura, hop in beside me,” he yelled.

Jack pretended to kiss Laura on the side of her neck as he was leaving. “Keep him busy,” he whispered. “Don’t let him out of the garage until I get back.”

“Not a problem. Did you see his keychain? I’m going to slap a sleeper hold on him, start his car and euthanize him. Why, what’s up?”

CC answered her phone and recognized Jack’s voice.

“I was just in Goldie’s garage. There’s a workbench there with a box of garbage bags on it. The clear plastic type. Same as what was over Melvin’s head.”

“It could be a coincidence,” replied CC.

“Yeah, it could be, but what if it isn’t? Are you sure we can’t get a warrant? If the next bag on the roll is sequential to the one used on Melvin, the lab can match it.”

“Goddamn it,” muttered CC. “I’m going to call the prosecutor at home. Can I call you back?”

“Hurry.”

The minutes ticked by and Jack hoped that Laura was keeping Goldie occupied. What am I thinking … Goldie is loving the moment. That’s if Laura hasn’t killed him. He answered his phone on the first ring.

“Sorry,” said CC. “No can do. Wrong foot size, all that bullshit.”

“What do you want me to do?” asked Jack.

“Without a warrant we could never get it admitted as evidence,” said CC.

“The bag could be used or gone soon. It has to be the next bag in sequence or there’s no use.”

“That’s if it is from that roll and if it’s not already gone,” said CC.

“Would you like to find out?”

The seconds ticked past as CC thought it over.

“There is a limited window of opportunity at the moment,” said Jack. “Has to be now or never. Going, going —”

“Okay, damn it. Do it!”

21

The RCMP laboratory opened Monday morning. Jack was the first in line. The lab still had the other plastic bag provided to them by CC.

Later that afternoon, Jack received the call from CC that he had been waiting for.

“Jack, the lab says it’s a match,” said CC. Her voice sounded hollow and empty. “Guess you were right about Goldie. I can forget about my kids theory.”

“That’s great it matched,” replied Jack. “The bastard did bring Melvin to the park. We’re on the right track. Now we have to find out who The Enabler is and the guy in the suit described as having dead eyes.”