Going Under_ A Bill Roberts Thriller - Silas Payton Page 0,25

"Sorry to cut this short, but I just got word -- this latest lead was able to tip the judge's mind on signing a search warrant. The team is heading out." he turned to Bill. "Since this could involve homicide, would you like to join us in the search?"

Bill said he'd appreciate it.

Staff Sergeant Brooks nodded towards Evans and Cliff and said to Bill, "You and your guys can ride with me, but you know the drill -- vest up and stay out of harms way until I give the all clear."

"No problem", said Bill, wondering as the words came out of his mouth, what 'out of harms way' meant.

Maybe I should call it a night. Go home, sip some Brandy and hang out with the kids. That would be 'out of harms way'.

Bill vested up and joined his guys and the rest of the Tactical Team on the way to the underground parking.

Chapter 26

Bernie Leduc

Surrounding the North and West sides of the Darksiders Clubhouse, wrapped a veranda, raised three feet above the ground. Over the veranda was a solid roof which overhung the porch by two feet, allowing the bikers who were on watch duty to remain protected from the weather. The roof of the veranda was supported by brick pillars at the corners, and at the edge of the stairs. In the corners, there were partial brick walls, three feet high, extending six feet out on each side of the pillars. Each brick section was separated by a white-painted wood railing. In the centre of the front and side of the building, there was a wide staircase leading up to the veranda. On the front of the building there was a set of solid doors with peep holes in each.

Behind the building was a small parking lot for about twenty cars with a single steel door to the building. The East side of the building was separated from the next by a small alley, leading to the back parking lot. This had been sealed off by a fence at each end, to limit access for security reasons.

In each of the three corners of the veranda, were chairs where the bikers on duty could sit. In front of each chair, on the inside of the brick railing, was a four foot long wood planter box holding foliage which hung down over the outer edge of the brick.

Unknown to all but the gang members, the panel of each planter box was a false front. Hidden latches could be quickly unclipped and the front dropped down on inner hinges, exposing a hidden compartment. During times of high tension, or when higher than normal security was needed, these compartments were well stocked with a variety of weapons and ammunition. For the past two months, these boxes had been stocked.

On the roof of the Northeast corner of the building was a fourth post, hidden from street view. On occasion, a fourth guard was posted here for a better vantage point.

Tonight there was a full complement on, as there had been most nights over the past two months. The hit of one of their members at the docks, was the first in a number of attacks. It was the only one the media paid any attention to, as it was suspected to be linked to the gang. However, there had been a number of other minor attacks since then: a couple of small drug dealers, a pimp, and a few personal threats to members. There was a definite message being sent, but as of yet the message was being ignored.

In the past three years their leader, Louis Duprey, had turned a struggling group of misfits into the most powerful motorcycle gang in Toronto. He had recently expanded his business by moving in on areas long controlled by the Italian mob.

Duprey had recently drawn the attention of the Devil's Warriors, an international motorcycle gang, he grew up admiring in Montreal. Over the past six months he had worked on a few joint ventures with the Warriors, and these had successfully increased his power in the city. But he knew in doing so, his gang was making enemies.

Bernie Leduc had been welcomed in by Duprey, as a new member, for which he was grateful. He had a solid reputation in prison, that must have gotten back to the gang leader. He was fully aware that Duprey was going somewhere and wanted to be a part of it. When Duprey asked something of him, he was quick