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    After collecting myself, I said, “When do I leave?”
    “Now,” he said. “You’re to be briefed at eleven at the Central Command Headquarters.”
    I took a deep breath.   “I won’t let you down, sir.”
    “I know,” he said.   “And Jon, you better go plain.”
    Without my uniform.
    I left his office and headed out.   Roberta saw me.
    “So, what happened?” she said, a worried look over her face.   “I think everyone heard you scream.”
    “I’m going to be in the drug unit,” I said.
            “Oh, my…” she covered her mouth. “But…”
    I held up my hand.   “There are always exceptions.”
    “When do you—”
    “Right now.”
    She got up, went around her desk, and hugged me.   “Good luck.   Call me if you need me.”
     
    ***
     
    Ms. Zee looked out onto the silent street.   Every so often a car would drive by.   She had counted three in the last ten minutes.   The neighbourhood was quiet, which was why she had chosen it as their so-called base.    So far they had had no trouble.   
    Kong was in the room, and Joey was still in the adjacent room.   They would not tell him about Armand’s death, but he was smart, and when Armand did not return…   
    Joey.   It had been a mistake bringing him into the operation.   He was supposed to watch Armand.    Instead, Armand had played them like fools.  
    When they met, he had promised so much, a product that would revolutionize the drug business.   It was only when he kept asking for more time that she became suspicious.   She had the previous batches tested and found that each was missing a component.  
    She sighed.   
    This was not going as planned.    She knew they had successfully created the drug at Bantam, and she’d been certain they’d have the prototype by now.    Different versions were already sent out to potential buyers.   But nothing could happen until she had one that was as potent and lethal as they had claimed it would be.  
    There were so many pressures.   She rubbed her temples.   So many forces were pushing her in all directions.    But if her plan worked, she could control the entire city.  
    Kong crossed his arms.    She understood.   He was unhappy about Joey.
    No, Kong,” she said, still not looking away from the window.   “We cannot kill him.”
    Kong snorted his disapproval.
    “Not just yet.   We need someone else who can continue the work.”
    Two men entered the room.   She turned.   One was white and the other brown.   The white man had limp blond hair, as if he’d just come out of the shower, and a long goatee.   He looked like someone who was used to taking orders. The brown man had a flat boxer’s nose and earrings in both ears.   He looked like someone who would rather spend time with his car then people.
    “It’s done,” said the white man.
    She had sent them to dispose of Armand’s body.
    “Where?” she asked.
    “Scarborough Bluffs,” the white man answered.  
    “Good.”   
    Another man entered.   He was wearing a blue striped business suit; stylish round spectacles were propped up on his nose, and his hair was gelled back.
    “Ms. Zee,” said Martin, her lawyer and business advisor.   “You do remember your meeting today?”
    Ms. Zee nodded.   “Yes.”   She turned to the white man.   “ Hause , you’ll be with us and,” She turned to the brown man,   “ Suraj , you’ll follow behind.”
    Kong made a noise.
    “Kong,” Ms. Zee turned to him.   “You’ll stay here and watch Joey.”
    He grunted.
    “You will behave yourself,” she said.
    He was not happy.
    “When I come back Joey better be in one piece.”   
     
    FIVE
     
    I looked at my watch and realized I had only forty minutes.   I drove back home, changed quickly into a blue shirt, cargo pants, and a brown jacket, and left without saying goodbye to Michael Jordan.
    As I was out the door I saw my landlady on top of the roof.  
    What the