Jack made eye contact with Laura and stared silently at her as Connie complained. Laura paused for a moment before giving a subtle nod.

“We’re all tired,” said Jack. “Let’s go home early and reintroduce ourselves to our spouses.”

“The day has turned out pretty good,” said Laura. “We’ve discovered his lab and know what apartment building he is delivering it to.”

“We only think we’ve discovered his lab,” replied Connie. “And what good is that if Rodine won’t talk? We don’t even know if he knows Cocktail.”

“As I said,” repeated Jack, “we’re all tired. A few days of surveillance on Sy and his people could turn up something.” He turned and stared at Connie and said, “Trust me, we will come up with something. I’m nauseated from the reports rolling in every day on what meth is doing to people. A lot of innocents are getting hurt.”

“Hope you don’t think I’m blaming you,” said Connie. “I feel so frustrated. Maybe a good night’s sleep would help.”

It was two o’clock in the morning when Jack took the small leather case out of his jacket pocket. Laura, holding a flashlight, stood quietly as Jack picked the lock. When the door opened, they caught the strong smell of an odour that they knew did not come from the brewery. Seconds later, their sense of smell had been annihilated. It would be several hours before they would be able to smell again.

“Not healthy in here,” whispered Laura.

“I know. A quick peek and we’re gone.”

The first room was a kitchen with an old table and chrome chairs with ripped plastic seat cushions. Down the hall was a bedroom. The door was open and Jack could see a grubby mattress lying on the floor. Opposite the bedroom was another door that was closed. Laura shone her flashlight on the door and Jack saw a picture of a small animal.

“What’s that?” he said.

“It’s a picture of a hamster,” replied Laura. “Gee, it’s really cute.” Her mind came back to the reason they were there and she gestured to the door. “What do you think?”

“The lab room in Gabriel’s basement had something taped to the outside of the door,” said Jack. “About the same size. The room was also booby trapped.”

“You think the hamster is a terrorist?”

“I don’t know what the picture has to do with it. He does have beady eyes.”

“How do you know it’s a he?”

“He has whiskers.”

Laura snickered and said, “Well, one thing is for certain. You’ve convinced me not to open this door. From what we smelled when we first came in, we know the lab is here.”

“I’d feel better if I could see it,” replied Jack. “Go back and wait. I’ll be done in a second.”

“No! You come, too. I’m not bringing you home to Natasha in a garbage bag.”

Jack chuckled and said, “The booby trap was dismantled at Gabriel’s, but they left behind some eyehole screws above the door. I’m sure you can open the door a little to turn it off, but I want you to go.”

“I’ll stay and hold the light,” she replied.

“I’ll hold it in my mouth. Get out of here.”

“If you think it is safe enough for you, then it is safe enough for me.”

“You’re really stubborn, do you know that?” said Jack in exasperation.

“Must be contagious. Hurry and get it over with.”

“Okay, but at least stand to one side … and there won’t be any hurrying,” replied Jack, as he slowly turned the door knob. They both winced as the door clicked open a crack.

“I’m going to hold the door steady,” said Jack. “Shine the light at the top of the jamb.”

Laura did as instructed and Jack saw a slim metal lever extending up from the far side of the top of the door. He ran his fingers up the piece of metal and detected a strand of wire passing along the far side. He gently pushed on the side of the metal lever until it moved below the height of the wire. After exhaling audibly, he slowly pushed the door open.

The room contained the lab. The wire wound its way through a couple of eyehole screws to a large glass carboy filled with liquid. There were several benches containing glassware and numerous bottles of chemicals. A wooden rack contained numerous cookie sheets with traces of white powder. “Don’t think that was cookies he was making,” commented Laura.

“We’ve seen enough,” said Jack. “Too bad we have to keep this to ourselves.”

Over the next few days, the surveillance team discovered that Rodine would go to the meth lab during the day, only to return home at night where he and Venice would spend their time watching videos.

It was Thursday afternoon and a week had passed since Rodine had won his court case. As usual, Connie sat slumped in the back seat of Jack and Laura’s car where they were parked down the street from Rodine’s house. Her disposition had become grumpier as the days passed.

Occasional surveillance of The Brotherhood apartment building identified numerous criminals coming and going, including three prospects for Satans Wrath. Nobody had any name or occupation that would warrant the nickname of Cocktail. Jack believed that Rodine was the key and surveillance concentrated on him.

“He’s not meeting anyone,” said Connie. “At least no asshole by the name of Cocktail that we know of. Maybe we should follow the prospects from Satans Wrath.”

“Those guys are too well trained to lead us to Cocktail,” replied Jack. “Relax, I’ve got a plan to get an informant. Hopefully soon.”

“What? This is the first I’ve heard of it,” said Connie. “Who? How —”

“Who is on a need to know basis. Sorry, at the moment you don’t need to know. It would be better in court if you never knew.”

“I suspect there are a lot things where it would be better if I didn’t know about you two,” said Connie. “Dare I ask how you’re going to do it?”

Jack remained silent.

“Okay,” said Connie. “Never mind … just do it.”

After Connie left, Jack looked at Laura and said, “You free for a date with me tonight?”

“Sure. You buying dinner?”

“Only if you like baking soda.”

“You’ve piqued my curiosity. Who is this new informant?”

“Rodine … if he lives.”

Chapter Twelve

On Friday morning, the surveillance team watched Rodine make another trip to The Brotherhood apartment. Minutes later, he returned home.

“Nothing changes,” said Connie.

“Nice to confirm he has a schedule,” noted Jack. “You’re right, though. No use wasting manpower. Last Friday and Saturday he spent all day at home. Let’s break off the surveillance. I’m sure you have things to do and Laura and I need to do some things.”

“Things like working on getting an informant?” asked Connie, hopefully.

“Exactly.”

“Sounds good to me. I’ve got a ton of paperwork and an upcoming trial to prepare for. Call me if you need a hand.”

Jack and Laura drove away as Connie broke off her surveillance team.

“Thought you would want to stay around for the action,” said Laura.

“I want Connie to think we left. She’s too ethical. If the bikers realize they bought baking soda and show up and decide to torture and possibly kill him, I don’t want to take a chance on Connie putting a stop to it.”

“Good chance they might kill him.”

“I hope they don’t because we would need to find another informant, but if they do, it seems like a fair punishment for running a meth lab.”

“I agree, so don’t be hauling out any pictures of Faith in the hospital or something. I couldn’t stand it.”

“I don’t have any.”

“Only because you knew I would be on board with this. Rodine’s girlfriend is in there. It could be a double murder. Did you think of that?”

“She put herself into this. If you fly with the crows —”