“I wasn’t really,” replied Goldie. “I happened to mention you to —”

“Listen,” said Jack coldly. “There is an old Irish expression that says it is better to have fifty enemies outside your house than one in it.”

The comment caught Goldie off guard and he hesitated, unsure of how to respond.

“I understand the need to check people out,” continued Jack, sounding matter-of-fact. “I do so myself on occasion. But there are enough troubles in the world without insulting each other’s intelligence. If you and I are to become better acquainted, I suggest we start by being honest from the beginning. Agreed?”

Goldie stared silently at his glass. After a moment he looked at Jack and said, “Agreed.”

“Good,” said Jack, raising his martini. “Then with that I will propose a toast to new friendships.”

After the three of them clinked glasses, Jack smiled and raised his glass in Goldie’s direction again and said, “May your troubles be as few and as far apart as my grandmother’s teeth.”

Goldie chuckled and sat back and smiled.

Jack smiled back. The hook is in, you bastard. Wonder if you would mind if I drove you to a park? Let you run around awhile …

The next forty-five minutes passed with the three of them making idle conversation before Sammy called Jack.

“You free to talk?” asked Sammy.

“No, not at all. Just sitting with Laura and … a friend, having a drink.”

“Okay if I talk?” asked Sammy.

“You’re not interfering at all.”

“We just took Jojo down in a restaurant bathroom,” said Sammy. “He was showing the operator the kilo. Went like last time except it was a Tim Hortons. Surveillance saw him pick the kilo up from under a bush outside the restaurant. The restaurant is crowded. I’m sure whoever laid it down is probably watching and will soon see Jojo leave in cuffs. Your end will know Jojo was busted soon enough. Still want me to come back there?”

“Of course.”

“Be there in ten minutes. If I get shot, I’m not going down without shooting you, too,” said Sammy as he hung up.

Jack still pretended to talk on his cell and said, “The chat room? I think so, hang on.” Jack looked at Goldie and asked, “Could I borrow the laptop in your office for a moment? Are you hooked up to the Internet?”

“Sure. I’ll bring it out. We’re on wireless.”

“That won’t be necessary. Actually it would be better for you to come with me and talk about something in private,” said Jack, glancing around at some patrons sitting nearby. He spoke back into his phone and said, “Two minutes. Get online.”

Moments later, Jack used Goldie’s laptop while Goldie watched him patiently from his sofa. When Jack was finished, he turned the computer off, shook his head, and snickered.

“Everything okay?” asked Goldie.

“I just found out why the RCMP decided to talk to you about me the other night,” said Jack. “Turns out it was a coincidence.”

“A coincidence?”

“Yes. They’re working on some heroin dealer associated with your club. Guess they started running licence plates in the vicinity and discovered I was a customer. Typical. They jumped to the wrong conclusion and thought I was involved.”

“Heroin dealer … in my club?” said Goldie, looking concerned.

“Nickel-and-dime stuff. Some street urchin dealing a pound or two.”

“You call a pound or two nickel and dime?”

Jack continued as if he didn’t hear him. “Rather insulting that they would think I would stoop to that level.”

“Did your friend say who it was the police were working on?”

“Yes. Some punk. The police realize that my being here was a coincidence. Apparently there was an undercover cop in earlier tonight watching this dealer.”

“Did you get the … uh, punk’s name?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I can’t remember. I deleted everything, including the trash bin. It was an odd name. Something like Mojo. Not really important. My friend also sent me a photo of the undercover officer … hang on, my phone vibrated. Probably it.”

Goldie looked at the photo of Sammy on Jack’s phone and asked, “Would you mind if I show this to my bartender. Just to see if he’s been in?”

“Sorry, no,” replied Jack, deleting the photo. “Purvis seems like a nice guy, but I don’t want word getting out that I have access to cop photos. It could cause a huge problem for the person who is helping me.”

“I trust Purvis,” said Goldie. “He wouldn’t tell anyone about the photo.”

“I had a tough time deciding on whether or not to tell you.” Jack paused, as if deciding upon a course of action. “Tell you what, give Purvis a description of what you remember in the photo, but don’t tell him you actually saw a photo. Ask him if he knows this Mojo character. Okay?”

“Okay,” agreed Goldie.

“I’ll wait. If there are any other concerns you might wish me to help you with, I may need to borrow your computer again.”

Laura saw Goldie come out from the back of the club and hurry over to speak with Purvis. Seconds later, Purvis used his cellphone, but quickly hung up and slammed his fist onto the counter. Goldie said something to him and then retreated back to his office while Purvis paced back and forth behind the bar.

“Did Purvis know Mojo?” asked Jack when Goldie returned to his office.

“Yes. His name is actually Jojo.”

“Jojo! Yes, that was it. If he and Purvis are friends, I would suggest he warn him somehow. But keep in mind that Jojo’s phone could be tapped.”

“He already tried to call him. Someone else answered.”

“Not a good sign,” replied Jack.

Goldie eyed Jack carefully and said, “Remember when you said we should be honest with each other?”

“Of course.”

Goldie nodded and said, “Let’s step out back in the alley for some fresh air. There is something I want to tell you.”

“Your office isn’t bugged,” said Jack.

“You know that? How can you be sure?”

“I’m positive. Otherwise I would not have borrowed your laptop, let alone used this room to tell you what I did.”

Goldie eyed Jack curiously and said, “I take it you have a very good friend to keep you so well informed?”

“Blood is thicker than water and easier to see,” shrugged Jack. “Kinship is important.”

Goldie smiled. “I think you and I will become good friends.”

“Oh?”

“You see, I also have an entrepreneurial spirit. We have things in common, not to mention that I also use chat rooms for communication. We should get to know each other better.”

“If Jojo was arrested, does it affect you?” asked Jack, sounding surprised.

“No, not at all. We’ve never met. As you say, he is a nickel-and-dime operator. Hardly worth —”

Purvis burst into the room. “He’s here! He just walked in!”

“Who?” asked Goldie.

“The … uh,” Purvis stopped talking when he saw Jack.

“It’s okay,” said Goldie. “Jack is my new friend. He knows you and Jojo are acquainted.”

“The guy you described,” said Purvis. “The undercover cop. He just came in and beelined straight for me. Says his name is Sammy.”

“He didn’t try to arrest you?” asked Goldie.

“Not yet. He told me he is in business with Jojo and that Jojo just got busted with a key of smack. He said Jojo got word to him to come and warn me! What the fuck? What should we do?”

“What did you say to him?” asked Goldie.

“Told him my boss wanted something and I’d be back in a second. What the hell should I do? He obviously suspects me from when he was in earlier and saw Jojo meet with me. It could be my neck on the line.”

“Perfect,” snickered Jack. “Sammy the narc is trying to incriminate you or set you up.”

“No shit,” replied Purvis.

“Want to get rid of him for good?” asked Jack. “Nice and clean with no heat on you or the club?”

Sammy was surprised when Purvis came back to the bar and smiled at him and said, “You say you’re Jojo’s partner and he got busted with a kilo of heroin?”