Page 78 of Being Lost

Strangely, it’s Smoker who raises his hand. “I’ll go.” He might have been going to say more but is overcome by a bout of coughing. As Pennywise opens his mouth, Smoker recovers, holds up his hand, and continues, “I’ll dress as a homeless man, hang around their dumpster, maybe even beg for a few scraps.”

I stare at Smoker. It’s not a bad idea, of anyone he pulls it off. He’s got grey shaggy hair that never looks styled, a long beard that’s always plaited and hangs down to his paunch. He’s pale and thin, which I now know is from his illness. “It could be dangerous,” I warn.

“Look,” Smoker’s husky voice deepens, “let’s not beat around the fuckin’ bush. I won’t be around much longer. Let me work for the club while I can. My lungs are fucked, but there’s nothing wrong with my eyesight and hearing. As for danger? I’ve got the least to lose of anyone.”

There’s a second of silence while we digest that. It’s hard hearing.

“But your cough…” Pennywise observes.

“If anyone was sending someone in incognito, they wouldn’t send someone with a fuckin’ hacking cough. It will add to the authenticity. Might even get me a bit of sympathy.”

“I don’t like anyone going alone without backup,” I object.

Smoker turns his red eyes to me. “I gotta get used to it. Where I’m headed, I won’t have company.”

Another reminder that Smoker is dying makes brothers shift awkwardly. I realise my resolve to talk to the man about getting treatment would probably just be wasted words. He seems resigned and resolute that he’s not going to extend his life laid up sick with radiation treatments, or surgery which might not even work. Maybe I’d be the same, wanting to do something useful rather than just sitting around waiting.

My lips press together. “Okay,” I say at last. “You go in, Smoker. See what you can pick up. But,” I point my index finger toward him, “you don’t take risks, you don’t draw attention to yourself.”

Smoker nods. “I know Token’s probably seen images from Google Earth, but there’s no substitute for checking shit out on the ground. This auto-shop might be a cover for shifting the shit that comes through the tunnel if it’s close. It’s a way of storing transport at least. I’d like to check out the access points.”

“We don’t know, Smoker, if anything’s coming through the tunnel, or even if the tunnel is actually there.” Dart is talking sense. “Just keep your eyes out for anything suspicious.”

“I’ll go in tonight.”

“I’ll drop you off in a cage,” Pennywise, now on board, tells him. “You going to be able to walk a block? Won’t be able to take you to the front door.”

“I can do it,” Smoker insists. “And yeah, didn’t want to take my bike. Might be a bit of a giveaway.” He winks, then coughs.

“What are we going to do if we find there is a tunnel?” Grumbler, quiet up until now, asks.

Niran jumps in. “There’s a tunnel task force. Could report it anonymously, then sit back and watch Alder’s operation take a big hit.”

It’s an attractive option. Border control would be all over that shit, but it wouldn’t serve my purpose. “I want Alder,” I tell them straight. “Niran’s suggestion has merit, but unless Alder’s there at the time of a raid, he’ll get away scot-free yet again.”

“Getting Alder off Patsy’s back is what we are doing this for.” Dart backs me up, his eyes roaming the table in challenge.

Blaze is shaking his head. “How do we get from finding his tunnel to taking out Alder? That’s what I can’t understand.”

That’s the part I haven’t quite got yet.

“We find out if there really is a tunnel they’re transporting drugs through. Then, I say we question the staff.”

Salem’s made a good point, but it’s Kink who points out the flaws. “What if they are paid to turn a blind eye? The staff might not be involved at all.” He gestures at Token. “From the reviews, they run a business most people like. The motherfuckers involved in drug smuggling are unlikely to be able to carry that off.”

“Then I say we stake the place out,” Snips offers. “After hours, when the staff go home.”

“I can check for vantage points we could use when I go tonight.”

I nod at Smoker’s suggestion and take it up myself. “We wait for Smoker’s report. We can learn a lot from how he’s treated, what he can see, and how we might get eyes on this place. If they are running a second business, they might just run him off.” My eyes flick to Smoker’s in warning. He nods back. If challenged, he’ll leave it. “As for Alder, I need something to get his attention and smoke him out.”

“Threatening to blow up his tunnel might do that.”

“Or just the suggestion of involving Border Security might get him moving.” I exchange a glance with Dart. “Dan fucked up one of his routes. If this is his backup operation, doubt he’ll want the feds to close this one down.”

“But would he appear in person?” Dusty challenges clasping his hands and placing them on the tabletop. “Even if you threatened him? He’s not stupid, else he wouldn’t have remained hidden this long.”

“And what if he’s hiding in Mexico?” Scribe asks, looking around.

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