Dead Ends by Don Easton Page A

could have been assigned to work with The Brotherhood. There has been a definite amalgamation with how they make meth. We have to presume that they are working together.”
    â€œChrist,” said Connie. “Nothing is ever simple. Why couldn’t I just once get a case where the wife comes home and shoots her husband for screwin’ around on him … then calls us to say she did it.” She waved her arms in the air and added, “All this shit with gangs, juveniles, The Brotherhood, Satans Wrath —”
    â€œAh, come on, Connie,” said Jack, with a grin. “Don’t tell me you don’t like a challenge. I know you better than that.”
    â€œI really want to solve this,” replied Connie, sounding exasperated.
    â€œUs, too,” replied Jack, his voice becoming sombre. “If you saw the look on Gabriel’s face after the doctors told her what they were testing for … holding Faith in her lap …” Jack concentrated on taking a deep breath and slowly exhaling in an unsuccessful attempt to block the memory before continuing. “Believe me,” he said determinedly, “we will solve it.”
    â€œWell, you caught Varrick before,” said Connie. “Let’s catch him again. Any suggestions?”
    â€œWe need to find him and identify who was with him. With the evidence you have so far, you know there is no chance you could convict. If you haul him in for questioning he won’t talk and all it would do is let him know we’re on to him. Once we find him, maybe you could get a wiretap. We’ll work together. Laura and I will liaison with Drug Section and the Biker Unit if the need arises. We still have some more reading to do. With The Brotherhood, it is going to take time to figure out who all the players are.”
    â€œI’ll keep a surveillance team on the house,” said Connie. “Maybe he’ll show up. Let’s see what another day brings.”
    It was ten o’clock at night when Jack arrived home and pulled into his parking space in the underground parking lot. He was glad to see that Natasha’s parking spot was still empty, but knew she would be home from work soon.
    Jack went to their apartment and returned a few minutes later with a toilet plunger. He was successful in that the plunger sucked the ding out of his car door, but as he walked back to the elevator, Natasha arrived.
    She got out of the car and kissed him, before gesturing to the toilet plunger. “I always thought your expression of you don’t catch sewer rats with church mice was what you said about your informants. I had no idea that you really were after sewer rats.”
    Jack sighed and said, “I used it take a dent out of the car door.”
    â€œAccident?” asked Natasha.
    â€œI punched it,” admitted Jack.
    â€œDid it help?”
    â€œNo. Made me feel stupid.”
    â€œBad day at the office, or did the door take a swing at you first?”
    â€œHasn’t been a good day,” replied Jack.
    â€œInvolving that family you brought to BCCH?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œSo you’re after the sewer rats who lived in her basement.”
    Jack nodded.
    â€œSounds like tonight we should have a glass of wine and unwind a little.”
    â€œMake it a bottle.”
    Natasha eyed Jack’s hand and said, “Break any bones?”
    â€œNo, I haven’t caught them yet.”
    â€œI mean your hand, not —” She stopped when she saw Jack smile at her. “Do I need to worry?” she asked, convinced that Jack’s smile was not genuine.
    â€œI think I cracked a knuckle, but as far as the bad guys go, you don’t need to worry.”
    Natasha stared at him silently.
    â€œHey, I’m smiling, aren’t I?” added Jack.
    â€œYeah, and your upper lip looks a bit like a Frankfurter. It always does when you’re trying to pull one over on me.”
    Jack’s chuckle