Read Dead Ends for Free Online Page B

Jack, I’ll lose, anyway . “Okay,” she replied. “I’ll save the statement taking for some other time.”
    Jack looked at Laura and added, “Grab a ride back to the office with uniform.”
    Laura nodded and said, “I’ll talk to the narcs and see if we can come up with an address for Varrick. Also go through our intel and see who he was with when he was arrested last time.”
    â€œCareful about who you talk to in Drug Section,” cautioned Jack.
    â€œI know. I’ll use Sammy’s team and tell them to be discreet.”
    â€œYou, uh, mind filling me in on that?” asked Connie.
    â€œThis stays between us,” answered Jack. “A year and a half ago when we raided the labs, someone in Drug Section tipped off the bad guys and two of the labs had been cleaned out.”
    â€œBastard,” replied Connie. “Who did it?”
    â€œNever identified as far as I know,” replied Jack, looking at Laura for confirmation.
    â€œThat true, Laura?” asked Connie who knew that Laura’s husband, Elvis, worked for the Anti-Corruption Unit, which handled the heavier cases coming out of Internal Affairs.
    â€œNot yet,” replied Laura. “I spoke to Elvis about it. He says they’re narrowing it down. The office is broken into teams who work on different projects. By moving members around to different teams it basically becomes a process of elimination to figure out what is being leaked and who knew about it.”
    â€œThe old shell game,” commented Jack.
    â€œSo far they still don’t know,” added Laura. “Elvis does assure me that Sammy’s team is clean. In fact, Sammy has been helping disseminate bogus info for Elvis on occasion.”
    â€œSo we have a dirty narc to hinder us. Isn’t that lovely,” said Connie sarcastically.
    â€œDo you want Varrick arrested if I locate him?” asked Laura.
    â€œWe need to identify his two playmates,” replied Connie. “If you find him, do surveillance and see who he hangs with. I’d like to give Forensics a chance to see if they come up with something. The more nails we have to put in their coffins the better.”
    Jack sat with Gabriel at her kitchen table while Noah and Faith were in the living room. “The men in your basement were running a clandestine lab,” said Jack.
    â€œYou found an illegal drug lab in my basement!” said Gabriel in astonishment.
    â€œAll their equipment and chemicals are gone, but they were definitely running a lab.”
    â€œNo, you don’t understand,” said Gabriel. “I told you before. They were running a janitorial supply service. What you smell is —”
    â€œNo,” replied Jack firmly. “I know the man that Noah identified. He is a criminal. I’m sorry, but I am positive they were not operating a janitorial service.”
    â€œOh, dear,” said Gabriel. She glanced toward the living room and said, “I really am dense.”
    â€œThese guys are good at deceiving people,” said Jack. “They easily manipulate judges and juries. It’s their profession. We have found lots of labs operating right under people’s noses.”
    Gabriel looked at Jack and muttered, “I really am stupid.”
    â€œNo, you simply aren’t familiar with how criminals operate. Hind sight is 20/20.”
    â€œThey seemed so nice …” Gabriel sighed and added, “My sister often commented that I was a little too naive.”
    â€œOur concern is that these labs can be very carcinogenic,” said Jack. “My wife feels it would be a good idea for everyone to be checked out as a precaution. I would like to drive you and your children to B.C. Children’s Hospital.”
    â€œYou want to drive us to the hospital now?” asked Gabriel, glancing nervously at Faith who was back lying on the sofa. She paused and stared at Jack briefly. “What