Read Online Seaweed in the Soup by Stanley Evans - Free Book Online

about a damaged bumper. I said, “Are you worried, Bernie?”
    â€œGoddamn right. I’m worried because I’m worried. It used to be I didn’t take stuff personally, I didn’t give a damn either.” Bernie’s scowl deepened. “Two months ago, on a quiet Sunday morning at about 3:00 AM , near the intersection of West Boulevard and 41st Avenue in Vancouver, an SUV boxed in a black Bentley driven by a recent Southeast Asian immigrant with gang ties. A masked man got out of the SUV and opened fire through the Bentley’s windows. Two of Vancouver’s finest, who were drinking coffee in a nearby McDonald’s, heard gunshots and took off in pursuit. The killers got away. When the coffee drinkers went back and checked, the man in the Bentley was dead. He was Devander Raj, aged 23. Raj’s assassination brought to 12 the number of gang-style killings in Metro Vancouver this year. Since then, there have been 11 more gang-style assassinations. Vancouver’s serious crimes squad thinks that Raj’s death and many other violent killings are linked to the murder of Ivor Wright, another gangster. You probably remember that case; it was front-page stuff for weeks. Ivor Wright was a member of Twinner Scudd’s Vancouver crew. Now it’s no-holds-barred open warfare. Vietnamese gangsters are involved. The Triads are involved. Gangs from Richmond and Surrey and Vancouver’s Chinatown are involved. Big Circle Boys are involved.”
    â€œYou mentioned Twinner Scudd, and I know the way your mind works. Do you think that Scudd is involved in Cho’s murder?”
    â€œIt’s possible, why not? Twinner Scudd is a Native Indian who also happens to be the biggest villain on Vancouver Island. I’m not jumping to any conclusions yet, I’m just pointing out that there’s another possible Native involvement in this case. And don’t forget, Silas, that Nicky Nattrass’ mutts found that slavekiller club near the Echo Bay house. Face it. The Native connection is getting stronger all the time.”
    I thought that Bernie was talking crap, but kept that opinion to myself.
    Looking down his nose at me, Bernie went on, “I just had a long phone conversation with Harry Bryce, in Vancouver. He’s an inspector with BC’s Integrated Gang Task Force.”
    Bernie had my full attention. He went on, “According to the BCIGTF, these guys are battling for turf and Raymond Cho was an assassination target. A lot of gangsters stand to benefit from Cho’s death, and several attempts were made on his life before somebody finally nailed him.”
    â€œSo that’s why Cho moved here, to escape the heat?”
    â€œRight. Cho moved here and masqueraded as a gardener. It was a clever ruse. Too bad for him that it didn’t work. Whatever. For me, it’s a serious development. A quarter of Vancouver’s crimes squad detectives are tied up with gang-related issues. Victoria is already stretched to the limit, so the last thing I want is Asian hit men and stickup crews coming over here from the mainland. Knocking people off and thinking they can get away with it.”
    â€œI think I know where you’re going with this now. Twinner Scudd stands to benefit from Cho’s death. That’s what you’ve been getting at. You think Cho was bumped off by a Native hit man.”
    Bernie took his glasses off, laid them on his desk, scratched his head and said, “Hit man ? No, I don’t think he was killed by a hit man . Because forensics says that there was dried semen on Cho’s penis and on his lower belly. Shortly before his death, Cho was involved in sexual activity with female partners, and we know who they were because we have photographs to prove it. We don’t even need DNA evidence. It’s simple. Two Native girls killed Cho. Afterwards, as a little bonus to themselves, the girls helped themselves to some jewellery. For us to