“And if he pulls the gun out before he gets in?” asked Laura.

“Drive like hell. Here he comes.”

Sy got in the back seat again and Jack turned to face him, acting nonchalant as he draped one arm over the back of the seat. “So, what do you figure?” asked Jack. “Maybe come back to our place and we can figure out what happened.”

“Maybe after,” replied Sy. “There’s someone I want you to meet, first. He’s waiting.”

“Who?” asked Jack, hoping to hear the name Cocktail.

“A guy you’ve never met. I told him about you two. He has a plan of what to do next.”

Sy’s evasive manner set off a warning bell in Jack’s brain. Is he introducing us to Cocktail … or the Grim Reaper? If I say no, and he’s suspicious, it will make things worse. If I’m innocent, I need to act that way and should go along.

Jack glanced at Laura for her reaction. She stared straight back at him, without expression. Jack sighed. She was leaving the decision up to him. Jack turned to Sy and asked, “Where is this place?”

“A restaurant called Pizza 24-7, near the Guildford shopping centre in Surrey.” Sy looked at Laura and said, “Take the 152nd Street exit and cut across on 96th.”

Jack smiled to himself. Good, a restaurant. Public location should be safe. “Sounds good,” said Jack. “I could use a bite. How about you, Princess?”

She felt numb. Something isn’t right … but I trust Jack … She looked at Jack and nodded. Oh, man …

Chapter Thirty

Half an hour later, Laura parked in a back alley behind a steel door with a sign saying pizza 24-7. She tapped on the horn as directed and the steel door opened as the three of them got out.

Jack followed Laura toward the steel door and looked at the two men who were waiting for them at the door. He recognized Munch’s fat face from having seen him with Sy previously. The other man was large and muscular with short black hair and a goatee. There were some Asian features to his face and Jack recognized him from a previous mug shot as the one they called Mongo. So much for meeting Cocktail …

Jack glanced back at the vehicle. He knew things were looking bleak when he got out of the car and saw Sy hesitate and bend over in the car before climbing out. Sy maintained a safe distance as he followed Jack and Laura, while keeping one hand behind his back. Jack had little doubt about what Sy was holding.

Mongo sneered at Jack and Laura and said, “Follow me into my back office.”

Inside a short hallway, Jack tried to sound naive and spoke to Sy without looking back. “Who are these guys,” he asked. “Are they cool to talk in front of?”

“Oh, yeah,” chuckled Sy. “They’re cool. Cool enough to kill for me.”

They entered a small office containing a wooden desk marred by numerous cigarette burns. Behind the desk was a green plastic patio chair. Two more plastic chairs were in front.

“Jay and Princess, sit down,” said Sy, standing behind them after he closed the door.

“Thanks,” replied Jack, taking a seat beside Laura before he looked back at Sy and said, “So, the cops obviously knew Weasel was the shooter from last night and were set up on his place to see if someone would retaliate.”

Sy smiled and said, “That would make sense except I forgot to mention to you that Weasel only moved in with his girlfriend this afternoon. The cops wouldn’t have known that.”

“Oh, I see,” replied Jack. “Makes it obvious who the rats are.”

“Sure as fuck does!” snarled Sy.

“Good,” replied Jack. “After the shit you got me into tonight, I expect two things.”

“Really?” replied Sy looking puzzled. “And what is that?”

“First, you buy the pizza and second, you take care of those two rats!”

“What the fuck, Sy?” said Mongo. “I don’t understand. I thought you said —”

Sy put his hand up, gesturing for Mongo to be quiet, before looking inquisitively at Jack and saying, “Do you want to run that one past me again?”

“Sure. Pepperoni, mushrooms, black olives, and green pepper.”

“Not the fucking pizza. The part about taking care of two rats.”

“That’s why we’re here, isn’t it?” asked Jack. “To decide how to take out Roach and Bagger?”

“Roach and Bagger!” replied Sy, looking incredulous.

“Yeah,” replied Jack, before gesturing with his hands and saying, “Duh … as if you didn’t figure it out. Well, I’m not stupid, either.” He turned to Mongo and Munch and said, “Last night we just happened to leave Roach and Bagger’s when we fuckin’ near get killed.”

Mongo looked at Sy and said, “Didn’t you tell me earlier that the cops were there, too? That someone saw some guy and later realized he might have been writing down licence plates?”

“What?” said Jack loudly, looking at Sy. “You didn’t tell me that!”

“Wasn’t sure if it was cops or a neighbour,” replied Sy, defensively.

“Figures,” said Jack. “Fuckin’ cops were probably laughing when we were getting our asses shot off.”

“I said it might not have been cops,” said Sy.

“Either way,” Jack said, continuing his conversation with Mongo and Munch, “Then it just happens that Roach and Bagger find the place for us to whack Weasel tonight and the cops just happen to be waiting for us. Guess I don’t need to tell you that it just happened that Roach and Bagger weren’t there with us!”

Munch looked at Sy and said, “Is that true? They weren’t with ya?”

“They’re sittin’ on a hostage,” said Sy. “Couldn’t let him go until we took out Weasel.”

Jack looked at Sy and said, “Guess I’m the dumbass for agreeing to go with you tonight. I tried to talk you out of it. I could have just happened to stay behind, too … you gave me that option, but I went with you.”

“Sy? What the fuck?” asked Mongo.

Before Sy could respond, Jack pointed a finger at him and said, “First I damn near die saving your ass last night and then I have to save it again tonight. You’re lucky we’re not the rats or you would be dead. Either that, or in jail. I think Roach and Bagger are tied in with your enemies and the cops. Being the leader, I’m sure you were the grand prize of who the cops wanted to catch. Lucky for you I talked you into checking things out first.”

Sy stared back. His face was blank as his mind grappled with what happened.

Jack shook his head in admonishment and said, “Yeah, I would say you owe me. As I said, two things, first you buy us some pizza, and then go take care of Roach and Bagger. I’m hungry and tired. Let’s eat.”

Sy hesitated before sticking the pistol in the back of his waistband. Jack knew that he and Laura were safe for the moment.

“You think they’re both rats?” asked Sy. “Roach and Bagger both?”

“Definitely,” replied Jack. “One couldn’t pull it off without the other guy knowing. I bet they’re talking to both the cops and at least one of the other gangs who are trying to take you out. Either that Balvinder guy you mentioned, or one of the other two, Fateh or Quang.”

“Or maybe Roach and Bagger are talkin’ to all three and the cops,” said Mongo.

“I’m gonna call those two fuckers and get them over here,” said Sy.

“Forget that,” said Jack. “There’s already too much heat. How do you know they won’t bring the cops trailing along with them? I’d do it another way.”

“How?” asked Sy.

Jack eyed Mongo and Munch suspiciously before standing up and looking at Sy. “Come on, let’s you and I talk in the hall. You know these guys, but I don’t.”

Laura forced a smile at Mongo and Munch as Jack and Sy stepped out into the hallway. Moments later they returned and Sy stood in one corner of the room and whispered to Mongo and Munch while Jack sat down beside Laura.

When Sy was finished, Mongo looked at Jack and asked, “What the fuck is in it for you? Why have you been hanging out with Sy all of a sudden?”