Free Art and Murder by Don Easton Page B

French say only the higher echelons know his real name and that Anton reports to Roche.”
    â€œAll the more reason not to arrest Roche,” Jack said.
    â€œYou’ve already got some sort of plan, don’t you.”
    â€œI’m working on it.”
    â€œWhat are you thinking?” Rose asked.
    Jack paused, then said, “Will you let me handle this the way I want?”
    â€œDepends on what your plan is,” Rose replied firmly.
    â€œTo start with, I have to protect the informant.”
    â€œWill she accept Witness Protection?”
    â€œIt shouldn’t be offered. She’s young and not all that bright. Her parents and siblings live here, and even if she agreed, I know she’d back out or turn around and return to her family later. That’s if her family’s still alive. These guys seem vengeful.”
    â€œI agree with you on that,” said Rose.
    â€œIt’s not only the Europeans we have to worry about,” Jack went on. “We have our local hoods involved, as well. Liam was crying like a baby tonight, but I saw what they were doing to my informant for fun. Imagine how they’d retaliate if they found out she was an informant.” He paused, then added, “Besides, I gave her my word that I would protect her.”
    â€œI understand.”
    Good. Then there’s no need to explain to you the judicial repercussions if defence discovered I was a cop. Smacking a guy’s teeth down his throat and letting Brandy clean out a wallet while I shove a shotgun up a guy’s ass would likely not go over well.
    â€œSo what do you want to do?” asked Rose.
    â€œTo continue my undercover role and find out who he is,” Jack said determinedly.
    â€œBut you’ve got a murder victim where you are,” Rose replied “You can’t get around that without blowing your cover.”
    â€œI can if I don’t report it.”
    â€œYou can’t do that! You witnessed a murder. You’ll have to report it.”
    â€œOkay, so how about I delay reporting it until I feel it is safe for my informant?”
    â€œWhen would that be?”
    â€œI’m not sure yet. How and when I do it depends on what happens in the next few hours.”
    â€œFor the sake of your informant, I might agree to stall,” Rose conceded.
    â€œMight?”
    â€œDepends on what your plan is — and don’t tell me you haven’t already thought of something. I know you better than you think. How do you plan on getting in with them?”
    â€œAt the moment I don’t know. I want to stall for a couple of hours to figure out my best options.”
    â€œA couple of hours?”
    â€œYes. During that time I want you to find out every detail you can about this organization, including getting a translation of all of Kerin’s undercover notes.”
    â€œI doubt I could get the notes that fast.”
    â€œThen have them read the notes to you over the phone so you can record them.”
    â€œI’ll try.”
    â€œExplain that I’m going undercover into the group, as well. What I learn could be critical to how I go about getting in.”
    â€œI’ll do my best.”
    â€œI also need to know Roche’s level of sophistication,” Jack said.
    â€œFrom what I was told, he’s sophisticated. Travels internationally.”
    â€œBy sophistication, I meant lifestyle. Bikers are international, too, but not the sort to hang out at cocktail parties. Find out his tastes in wine, clothing, cars, women … whatever. I need to know whether to continue on as a pimp or figure out a way to change my image.”
    â€œBut you have a body and two bad guys trussed up. There —”
    â€œâ€” isn’t much time. Exactly. I also need you to find Klaus and set up surveillance on him and report his movements back to me.”
    â€œYes, Klaus.” Rose paused, then, “Why, as you said, are you fairly