JACK KNIFED (13 page)

Her eyes followed Jack’s to the car. The Impala still sat in the parking lot, but it leaned at an odd angle. Jack moved in front of Replacement and scanned the area. Besides them, the area was deserted.

As he walked closer to the car, he could see that all four of the tires had been slashed.

Jack smiled.

Steak And Cheese, Baby!

The tow truck took over an hour to get to the pond. It was another two hours before the new tires were on and they could leave. When they finally returned to the inn, it was getting dark. As they headed up the walkway, Replacement turned to look back at the car and then exhaled. “I thought you’d be beyond crazy mad about your car, but I have to give it to you, you totally didn’t flip out.”

Jack kept walking but smirked. “I guess that was sort of a compliment?”

“Yeah. I mean…you love that car. You’ve been super short-fused, so what gives?”

Jack stopped and looked back for a second. “Someone came out to the pond to go after me. That means I’m rattling someone’s cage.”

“Do you smell that?” Replacement moaned as the odor of a roast drifted out from the inn.

They walked through the front door and Jack stopped, but Replacement kept walking a few steps. Kristine Foster stood at the desk and stared at Jack. She pressed her lips tightly together but the corners briefly twitched up.

“Head up to the room, kid,” Jack whispered to Replacement. “Order whatever you want to eat.”

Replacement walked back over to Jack and glared at Kristine.

“Are you okay?” Replacement asked Jack, not taking her eyes off Kristine.

“I’m fine. Go order something to eat.”

Replacement frowned and held her ground.

Kristine took a step toward them. “Jack. Can I speak to her for a second?”

Jack’s mouth fell open.

Why does she want to talk to Replacement?

Before he could think of a response, Replacement marched forward. She was much shorter than Kristine, and the taller woman leaned down as she whispered to her. A few moments later, Replacement turned around and her eyes were wide. Her expression now matched Kristine’s, and Jack was left staring at her, puzzled.

Replacement walked back to Jack and swallowed. “I think you should go talk to her.”

Kristine gestured to the back room. “Can we talk in here?”

“Are you sure you want to?” Jack didn’t move.

“I’m sorry. I…I’d like to explain. There’s something else I need to talk with you about.”

If this chick goes psycho again…

Jack looked down at Replacement, but she only nodded at him again. Her eyes were rounded, and her smile was as open to interpretation as Mona Lisa’s. He exhaled and followed Kristine into the same room they’d been in before, but he paused in the doorway. A tray with four teacups and assorted cookies sat on the table.

“Please sit down.” Kristine motioned to the couch.

“Are we expecting company?”

“I didn’t know if your friend would be joining us.”

“That still leaves a cup.”

“It’s for a friend of mine.” Kristine held up a hand.

Jack noticed it shaking. He stepped into the room and shut the door.

“I…I want to apologize for my behavior the other night.” She slightly bowed her head. “I don’t normally behave that way around men, but there was…something about you.”

Jack stood up straighter.

“When you kissed me, and I looked into your eyes…” She inhaled deeply and her lip quivered. “I couldn’t understand how it could be.”

Jack shook his head and shrugged.

Great. I’m not following, and she’s going to start crying.

“Your eyes are the same as…my old boyfriend’s.” She rubbed her trembling hands together. “Steven Ritter.”

Jack sat down.

“I thought I was losing my mind. When I first saw you, I thought you resembled him, and I was being foolish. It was so long ago, but when you held me, I knew. I’ll never forget his eyes, and yours are the same. Steven didn’t have any kids. I didn’t know what to do. I’ve always been close with Mrs. Ritter, so…”

“The other cup. Is she here?” Jack was on his feet.

Kristine held up her hand.

“She is. I didn’t say anything about…us.”

“Us? There is no us. You dated Steven?”

She nodded. “We dated all through high school. I was actually a grade above him. I went to college and…I thought…I called it off.” She wrung her hands. “I came back, of course, when I found out he was…” She wiped her eyes. “How?”

Jack shifted uncomfortably. “How?”

“You?”

“Do you mean who?”

“I’m sorry. Yes. Who? Who’s your mother?”

Jack cracked his neck. From the reactions he was getting around town, he didn’t want to see the look on her face when he said her name.

“Patricia Cole.”

The look on Kristine’s face was not what Jack expected. There was no disgust or haughtiness; it was a look of understanding.

“Patty.” She closed her eyes.

“Aren’t you going to say something about her? Everyone else in this town has.”

“No. Who am I to judge? I know Patty had it rough. It’s just that…that’s how Steven was. He had a soft spot for the hard-luck cases.”

Tears now rolled down her face. Jack moved over and she held up a hand.

“Don’t. If I start, I won’t stop.”

She quickly rose and marched over to the far door. She paused for a moment, straightened her dress and wiped her eyes. She turned back to Jack.

“Please don’t say anything about…”

Jack shook his head.

A brief smile crossed her face, and she opened the door. A moment later, Mrs. Ritter slowly walked into the room. Jack moved to the center of the room, and the old woman trembled as she approached. Her blue eyes stared at Jack; she smiled as she held up two hands and walked forward until she gently cradled his face.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you in the store—” Jack began, but the old woman clutched him to her and wept.

Jack lost it. The two of them shuffled over to sit on the couch, crying. Kristine quietly left the room.

The old woman held his hands.

“What’s your name?” She sniffled and then straightened herself in a very dignified manner.

“Jack Stratton.”

“Who…who’s your mother?”

Slowly, Jack told her the whole story. He told her about Patty and his life until he was seven. Jack decided to include it all, so he told her about being left at the bus station, Aunt Haddie’s, and his adopted parents. The summation of his life took less than an hour, but he could see that the old woman fought to hold back tears.

“Why? I don’t understand why she didn’t tell me…” Her voice trailed off.

“She was pretty messed up. I don’t know why she kept me so long.”

She pulled Jack close. “I’d never have let you go.”

Jack held the old woman while she cried some more. He held out a tissue as she sat up again.

“From your reaction in the store, I don’t think you came here to find me.”

Jack shook his head. “But I’m very glad I did.”

She smiled. “Why did you come?”

Jack felt himself grow cold.

Why am I here? To stop the nightmares? That’s a pansy reason. And it’s not true. Not now. Now it’s different.

“I’m here to find my father’s killer.”

His eyes met the old woman’s, and she angled her head slightly as she pursed her lips.

“Vengeance is not for you.” Her words were clear and she leaned forward as she spoke.

“It’s for the Lord. My Aunt Haddie said that when I went after the man who killed my foster sister.”

“She sounds like a wise woman.” Mrs. Ritter smiled.

“I need to do this. I’m going to do this.”

“How can I help?” She squeezed his hand.

“I’ve read the police report. I need to know how Steven got to the pond that night.”

One gray eyebrow slightly rose. Jack assumed she noticed his omission, but it wasn’t the right time to tell her he knew why Steven was at the pond. That was way more than what the cops had learned.

“I don’t know.” She looked down at her hands. “Your father…” She cleared her throat. “Excuse me. I was at work, and your father was home. We only had one car. When I got home, his bike was still there, but he wasn’t. I assumed a friend had picked him up.”

“Who would that have been?”

“Steven didn’t have many friends. It’s not that he wasn’t popular, but he was…careful whom he befriended. I can only think he’d have gotten a ride with Dennis, Terry, or Trent. The four were nearly inseparable.”

“None of them said anything?”

“Dennis and Trent said they talked to him at school, but not after.”

“What about Terry? How did you feel about him?”

“He was a nice boy, and he’s a good man. His wife passed. He’s a widower now. He teaches art at the high school.”

“Did he and Steven get along?”

“Oh, yes. Steven was like a protector of Terry.”

“He watched out for him? Why?”

Mrs. Ritter folded her hands on her lap before she continued. “Terry was always extremely sensitive. A great artist needs to be thoughtful. He loved everything about art, but for a boy back then… Other children can be cruel.”

“They picked on him? Steven stood up for him?”

She straightened up and smiled. “I didn’t like Steven to fight, and he didn’t get into many, but he was fiercely loyal. He did get into a fight with a group of boys about Terry. He came home with a black eye.”

“When was that?”

“When he first started high school. I was so glad that pictures weren’t until the end of the year.”

Probably not connected. Too much time.

“Terry’s parents moved?”

She nodded. “He wasn’t home at the time.”

“How about Dennis? What can you tell me about him?”

“Dennis has been the chief now for, oh, twelve years. He’s married to Helen. They’ve been together since middle school. If you ask me, it was an arranged marriage.” She smiled. “Helen’s father was the mayor. Dennis’s son is running for the office next year.”

“Dennis the III?” Jack made a face.

Mrs. Ritter’s brows knit together. “Dennis was one of your father’s best friends, and he has always been extremely good to me. Be nice.”

Jack nodded. “Dennis said Steven didn’t call. Did he have a car?”

“No. Not his own. Dennis didn’t hear from Steven, and neither did Trent.”

“What can you tell me about Trent?”

She thought for a moment. “Trent was the wild one of the group. He was a nice boy, but Trent drove too fast, and I always worried about him. He’d drive his mother’s gargantuan pepper-green station wagon.”

“What about girls?”

Mrs. Ritter looked up at the ceiling as she tilted her head to the side. “Steven was getting his bearings again. He took the breakup with Kristine exceptionally hard. She broke up with him when she went away to college. He cared for her so. I was worried, but I know Steven forgave her. Still, he was hurt and I didn’t even know about Patty. Did the police talk to her?”

Jack nodded. “It was a long list.” He shut his eyes and cracked his knuckles, but his fingers flew open when she swatted the back of his hand.

“That’s bad for your hands,” she chided.

“Sorry.” Jack looked away to hide his smirk. “What about Dennis Senior?”

“Dennis Senior was a wonderful man. He really took all those kids under his wing. Scouts. Fishing. He did everything with them, and he always was so thoughtful to include Steven, even when he was just a boy.” The old woman suddenly laughed. It was a bright, light laugh. “You should have seen them when they were little. Dennis and Steven wanted to be policemen. They’d both ride in the chief’s cruiser, playing. Steven would have been so proud.” She let out a large sob. The door popped open, and Kristine and Replacement tumbled into the room. Jack had to suppress a laugh as the two straightened up, trying not to look as guilty as they did.

“We heard.” Replacement cleared her throat and took a step forward. “I’m Alice.”

Mrs. Ritter took her outstretched hand.

“Kristine has always kept an eye on me.” She shot a disapproving look toward the tall woman, who wilted slightly. “Sometimes she’s a little overprotective.”