Counterfeit Lies

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Jake wasn’t too sure what to expect when Tommy stuck his arm out his car window and waved them to the curb just three blocks from Park’s residence. The only thing he knew for sure was that the young Korean criminal was furious at him for being forced to stand in the hallway with the two security men while Jake and Park conversed in private.

Both cars pulled to a halt midway between two lampposts. As Jake hastily inserted loose rounds into his magazine and reloaded his Glock in the front seat of the Range Rover, Tommy jumped out of his car and headed toward the undercover vehicle.

Jake could see the agitation in Tommy’s face and quickly activated the hidden recording device. By the time the enraged Korean criminal opened the Rover’s passenger-side door and sat down, Jake had both hands on the steering wheel but was ready to react if necessary.

“Why didn’t you want to talk back there?” asked Jake, trying to defuse what he now believed to be a potentially volatile situation.

“Why did you carry a gun into Park’s residence?” demanded Tommy, his anger flaring.

“Whoa, partner. Let’s turn it down a notch or two,” said Jake, a take-command expression on his face.

Tommy repeated the question a bit more sedately but the hostility simmered.

Jake was turned in his seat facing Tommy, watching his eyes, prepared to strike should the street thug decide to attack; never underestimate the enemy. Jake responded with subdued sarcasm. “I always carry a gun. We live in a dangerous world.”

“I’ve had enough of your crap. Are you a cop?”

“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” said Jake, shaking his head.

Tommy inched closer, seeking to get in Jake’s face, not the wisest move in this situation, his dark eyes raging. “No, I’m serious. Are you a cop?”

“No, Tommy. How many deals have we done?”

“That’s not important.”

Jake took the offensive. “What do you mean it’s not important? We’ve done close to a half-dozen deals. I’ve brought your containers across the border. I’ve been to your warehouse where you store all kinds of swag. Has it ever been raided? Has anyone been arrested? Have you even been stopped by anybody in law enforcement? Cops? Deputies? Chippies? Feds? Would a cop allow you to get away with all that?”

“Tell me again you’re not a cop. If I ask, you have to tell me; otherwise it’s entrapment. I know the law.”

In at least half of his undercover assignments, the target asked the same question. Thanks to Hollywood the bad guys believed a law enforcement official if asked had to answer honestly. Jake wasn’t about to take the time to educate this criminal entrepreneur. From experience Jake knew Tommy would be able to discuss the finer points of the law with his attorney after the indictment.

“Tommy, read my lips. I’ll speak very slowly. I… am… not… a… cop.”

Tommy still wasn’t convinced, his eyes boring through the undercover agent.

Jake threw up his hands as if in mock surrender. “Okay, you got me. I’m a supersecret undercover agent assigned to thwart international criminal conspiracies. I’m MI6, CIA, FBI, as well as LAPD and somewhere at home I think I have a sheriff’s badge. I’m really the Lone Ranger and I’m here looking for Tonto, my faithful Indian companion.…”

Jake could tell his over-the-top rant had worked to calm his accomplice. He continued in a quieter tone, intending to sound conspiratorial. “Do you want to know why I needed to meet with Park? Would that make you feel better? But since you’re so big on the law, as I understand it, if I tell you, you’re part of the conspiracy. In on the score, in on the beef; that’s the way the game is played. So tell me, do you want in?”

Tommy thought hard. He stared out the passenger window, the night growing darker by the minute as Jake’s aggressive offense played with the Korean street thug’s mind.

“Yeah, I want in,” said Tommy with some reluctance.

There was a pregnant pause before Jake answered, “Reid hired me to kill Park’s daughter, Jenny.”

“What?”

“You heard me. Reid’s willing to pay fifty thousand dollars for me to kill Jenny, and if I take the contract you get a third.”

“Why?” asked Tommy, now almost pleading for an answer.

“The why isn’t important.”

Tommy sat there trying to gather his thoughts.

“So do you want your third of the fifty grand?” asked Jake.

Tommy sat in disbelief, his head pounding, his hands beginning to shake. He began to massage his temples, believing that might relieve the stress. There was prolonged silence before he spoke again. “Did you tell Park I brought Reid to you? Please, Jake, tell me you didn’t tell Mr. Park I had anything to do with this.”

“Tommy, are you in or out?”

“Jake,” said Tommy, again almost pleading.

“Your name never came up. I gave Park a chance to buy out the contract. There is no way I’m going against a man as powerful as Park. I may be crazy but I’m not stupid. I want to be on his side when this comes down. Besides, he knew about it.”

Tommy jumped on Jake’s last statement, incredulous at the thought as his head snapped to the left, focusing on Jake’s eyes. “What do you mean he knew about it?”

“Those gunslingers he had in his office, the two boneheads he sent to babysit you in the hallway… they were at the pier when I met with Reid.”

“Are you sure?”

“Tommy, I was there and so were they. The best thing we did was come here tonight. Park knew all about it, or at least he would have figured out the details eventually. We’re golden. We’re on the A-team, the varsity, and if all goes well, we’re in the starting lineup.”

Tommy breathed an audible sigh, slowly blowing out the tensions that choked him seconds before. He smiled as he turned to Jake. “Do I still get a third?”

Jake gave his passenger a playful swat to the back of his head.

“Are you happy now?” asked Jake.

“Yeah,” said Tommy, still with the smile on his face. “But if I find out you’re a cop I’ll kill you.”

Looking Tommy in the eye, Jake said, “Good! That makes us even.”

“How so?” asked Tommy.

“If I find out you’re a cop I’ll kill you.”

Tommy offered a nervous smile as he exited Jake’s car. “I’m going back to Mr. Park right now and clear this up. I need to get out front on this. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“Whatever.”