They watched as the dealer returned and spoke with McCall. Over the next hour, three dealers periodically met with McCall.

Jack waited until he saw McCall walking back from the bathroom before approaching him and blocking his path. “I got something to say to you,” said Jack.

“Yeah?” replied McCall, staring down at Jack.

“The coke your guy sold me better be good or you’ll be losing a lot of business.”

McCall’s face showed instant rage and he said, “I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about!”

“Oh, don’t give me that,” replied Jack. “I’m in the business, too. I can see what is going on with the guys you got working for you.”

McCall stepped closer to Jack and cocked his fist. The violent response caught Jack slightly off guard and he could feel the spittle spray on his face as McCall spoke. “You shouldn’t be fuckin’ talkin’ to me! I just got out of jail two weeks ago! I don’t know you!”

“Yeah?” replied Jack calmly. “Well I don’t know you, either. But I want you to know that I’m looking for a steady connection so I can send good quantity back to Alberta. Right now I’m scoring small samples to see who has the best stuff. If your stuff is shit, then you’ll be losing a chance to be making big bucks down the road.”

McCall stepped back, panting heavily as he tried to decide whether Jack was a provocation or a business opportunity. Jack recalled the warning he had received earlier about McCall. He is dangerous … and unpredictable …

“What weight ya talkin’ about?” asked McCall.

Jack shrugged and said, “Well, as you said, I don’t know you, either. I’d prefer to start off small. Maybe a pound to begin with. If it is good and everything goes well, then I’d have no trouble handling a few keys every month.”

McCall said, “Well the stuff you got tonight has been stepped on, I’ll tell you that now. But if you’re buying quantity I won’t dilute it. How about we meet tomorrow around noon and I’ll sell you an ounce as a sample?”

Jack agreed and the following day he waited in an alley behind a Victoria restaurant. Eventually McCall arrived and motioned for Jack to get in his car. Jack complied and was not too concerned as Dave Valentine, along with several other members of the Victoria PD, were hiding in close proximity.

“You got it!” yelled McCall looking wild-eyed as Jack sat in the car and closed the door.

Jack wondered if McCall was planning on robbing him so he nodded toward his own car in the alley and said, “I’ve got my end together, how about you?”

McCall’s demeanour changed abruptly. “Yeah, right here,” he replied softly while reaching in his pants pocket to retrieve a small plastic bag of cocaine.

“A beautiful day,” said Jack, eyeing McCall curiously.

“Yeah, it’s nice here,” replied McCall. “You’ll like Victoria.”

Jack nodded and said, “Actually I’ve got the money with me.” He passed McCall a wad of cash and in return received the cocaine.

As McCall was counting the money a seagull flew low over the car and landed on the ground. “What the fuck?” screamed McCall. The muscles in his face twitched and he bounced around on the seat looking out all the car windows.

“Just a bird,” said Jack.

“Oh,” replied McCall as he started counting the money over again.

“So this stuff is good?” said Jack. “Better than what you sold me last night?”

“Oh, yeah. I didn’t step on it at all.”

“You do some yourself?” asked Jack, wondering if cocaine was responsible for McCall’s mood swings.

“Fuck, no. Don’t do dope.”

You act this way without being on drugs? You are nuts …

“You do dope?” asked McCall.

“Nope. That’s for chumps. I’d rather make money.”

“That’s how I look at it, too.”

Jack returned to his own car and watched as McCall drove slowly down the alley, but before reaching the end he abruptly stepped on the gas. His tires squealed as the car burst wildly out of the alley and onto the street before disappearing amongst a honking of horns.

Moments later Jack met with Laura and members of the Victoria PD.

Jack turned over the plastic baggie of cocaine to Valentine and said, “This guy is dangerous.”

“I know. I warned you.”

Jack looked at Laura and sighed.

“What is it?” she asked.

“In all good conscience I don’t think we should give McCall the opportunity to stay out of jail.”

Laura stared briefly at Jack and said, “It’s your call. I respect your opinion on that. Connie won’t be happy.”

“Neither will some citizen when they cross paths with McCall. He’s a ticking time bomb waiting to go off.” Jack looked at Valentine and said, “Bust him. I’ll testify when the time comes.”

Later, Jack called Connie.

“How did it go?” she asked. “Did he roll? Does he know who Cocktail is?”

Jack sighed and said, “Sorry, Connie. For your investigation, consider McCall a dead end. He’s too dangerous. I’m not giving him the opportunity to talk. We’ll need to find some other way to pursue this.”

“What are you talking about? We need to identify Cocktail!”

“I know that,” replied Jack as he hung up.

Chapter Eleven

On Monday morning Jack received an unexpected call from Gabriel Parsons, inviting him over for tea.

“I don’t know if you know,” said Gabriel, “but we’ve moved to a new home in Richmond. Well … not exactly new. About the same as our other place, but new to us. A new start, I pray.”

That was fast, thought Jack, before realizing three months had passed since Father Brown was murdered. Three months and we’re no further ahead …

Jack arrived at the new address and Gabriel invited him inside for tea and freshly baked chocolate-chip cookies.

“I wanted to apologize,” said Gabriel. “I believe I was rude to you when … well, when we first met. I was blaming you for allowing these men to make drugs in my basement.”

“I’m the policeman, not the judge who let them out,” said Jack.

“I realize that. I also spoke with my neighbour before I moved. Was it you who came and cleaned the back of my house?”

Jack nodded and recalled the numerous sprays of blood that he had scrubbed off. It made him conscious of how much time had passed while a monster remained on the loose.

“That was a very Christian thing to do. Out of curiosity, what church do you belong to?”

“I’m an atheist.”

“Oh … I see,” replied Gabriel, with a frown.

“How is Faith?” asked Jack, intentionally changing the subject.

“She’s still in hospital. She has one more round of radiation to go. The doctor seems optimistic. I have been praying that God does not take her from me this soon.”

“And your son? How is he doing?”

“Noah is … well, he’s had to adjust to a new school. He’s been fighting. I think he is angry at the world. He and Father Brown were close. It was like he lost his father all over again. At least the doctors say he is healthy.”

“Would you like me to talk to him?”

“Thank you, but no. Together, our faith in God will see us through these troubled times. The school counsellor is also involved.”

“I see. And your daycare? Have you started up again?”

“I have one dear little toddler for three days a week when her mother works. Hopefully more will come later. All of my previous clients have taken their children elsewhere. I can’t blame them, I suppose.”

“It wasn’t your fault.”

Gabriel shrugged off his comment and said, “I also have a basement suite, but have been afraid to … well, after last time ... would you happen to know anyone? Perhaps a young police officer or someone who would be interested?”

“Not offhand, but I will ask around,” replied Jack.

The rest of the visit went well, but Jack felt mixed emotions when he left. He was relieved that Gabriel was not blaming him, but at the same time he spotted a photograph of Faith and felt frustrated that he was no closer to identifying Cocktail than he was months earlier.