JACK KNIFED (9 page)

Complimentary Laundry

The door handle to his room turned and opened. He breathed a sigh of relief. If this had been a normal hotel, he would have been trapped in the hallway, but Replacement hadn’t locked the door.

“What happened to you?” Replacement snickered as he walked into the room. She sat up in bed, wrapped in a fluffy robe of her own, but her smile quickly vanished. “Where did you get that robe?”

“Um…my clothes were wet. The…front desk offered…to do the complimentary laundry.”

“They do laundry?” Her neck lengthened, and her nose crinkled.

“Yeah. So they gave me a robe.”

“Can they dry my stuff?” She slid out of bed.

“No, they…only do one load per room a day. I’m sorry…I didn’t think.”

“It’s okay.” Her shoulders popped up and down. “I hung mine up in the bathroom. Do you want to take a bath?”

Jack shook his head.

Bath and a cup a tea? I’d have liked Kristine in the bath but… Why do I get the psycho ones?

“Are you going to sleep with me tonight?” Replacement asked innocently.

Jack’s head snapped up at the question, and his neck flushed. Replacement’s expression didn’t change as she continued to wait for him to answer her question regarding sleep and sleep only.

He sighed. “No. Thank you.”

“Please sleep with me.” She scooted around onto her knees in a mock begging position.

Jack swallowed. “I have…my air mattress.” He grabbed the box and held it up, turning away quickly.

“Suit yourself.” Replacement threw her hands in the air and fell back on the bed.

After forty-five minutes of huffing and puffing, the mattress was only half-filled with air. Jack leaned back against the bureau, and Replacement slid off the bed.

“Finally. My turn.” She picked up the corner of the mattress and began to blow air into it. Jack watched her for a few moments, and his eyes rolled up to the ceiling. A debate raged inside him now. On one hand: Replacement was Chandler’s sister and a guy took care of his best friend’s kid sister. On the other hand…

She said it herself…she doesn’t even consider me to be a big brother. She’s right: I wasn’t at Aunt Haddie’s while she was there. She likes me, and I—Stop it, Jack. I’m just worked up because of Kristine, and I haven’t had a date in…

“See?” Replacement hit his leg. “See how good I am? I’m way better at blowing than you. I only did it for a few minutes, and it’s almost all the way up.” She inhaled deeply and then breathed into the valve again. Jack shifted his position and held out his hands.

“Okay. That’s good enough.”

Replacement stopped, put down the mattress, and leaned onto it. It made a creaking sound as she bounced.

“I can sleep here,” she offered. “This is bouncy.” She got up on the mattress on all fours and bounced up and down. The bouncing was loosening her robe and it was slowly opening. He sat up a little straighter as the robe released a little more.

Just a couple more bounces…

Jack sighed and held up his hand to cover the view offered as her robe neared the fully opening point. Replacement saw what he was doing and awkwardly scurried off the mattress, clutching her robe together.

“That’s good. Thank you. I’ll sleep here.” Jack grabbed a sheet and blanket and moved onto the rubber contraption.

Replacement hurried back and wrapped herself in blankets. “Okay. Night.”

Jack lay sleepless as he tried to force himself to remain absolutely motionless. The slightest movement caused the whole bed to wobble like Jell-O. Morbid and dark thoughts slammed into his head, and now he felt helpless to even move. Depression washed over him.

Make a list for tomorrow. Get the info from Cindy. One by one, talk to the three suspects. What the hell happened with Kristine? Did she…maybe she just changed her mind. I didn’t see a ring. No indentation. What about…?

A slight hissing sound started at the top of the mattress. It quickly changed to a noise like a kid’s whoopee cushion, and then stopped. Jack kept his eyes closed and rolled his head in the direction of the noise. The movement alone was enough to cause another noise, as if someone farted, and it lasted for a few seconds this time.

Damn it.

Jack waited. The sound stopped. He listened for several more moments and rolled his head back to look up at the ceiling. Another long farty noise started, but this time it kept going.

Replacement giggled. After another few seconds, he did, too. Soon they both were crying with laughter as his bed slowly deflated.

Jack stopped laughing when his body finally settled onto the hard floor. He stood up, grabbed his blanket and lay down near the door. He lay on his back and stared at the ceiling. Sleep wouldn’t come. Every time he shut his eyes, he could see those faces. His mother’s face would change back and forth between her young self and the woman screaming at the institution. Silently screaming is how he pictured his mother, her finger outstretched, terror in her eyes. Now three more faces tormented him.

The old woman from the store was really his grandmother. He could see the tears roll down her cheeks and her trembling lips.

She touched me. I’m her grandson. Will she believe it? Will she care?

Steven’s face flashed before him, but it was unclear. He couldn’t bring it up in his mind clearly. Jack thought about grabbing the yearbook and looking again but stopped himself.

He was just a kid. Seventeen.

Jack rolled over, and now Kristine’s face haunted him too.

Why? Why did she freak out? Now I’m stuck here for another five days, or I eat that money but—

Just outside the door, someone placed something down. Jack silently drew his legs up, rolled over, and crouched. He hadn’t heard the footsteps approach, but he did hear them leaving. His hand hesitated on the doorknob for only a moment before he cracked the door open. Next to the door were his clothes, neatly folded in a pile with his shoes on top. He was tempted to sprint down the stairs after her, but instead quietly picked up his clothes and retreated into the room.

He’s A Keeper

Jack shook.

Another nightmare…

He looked at his little hands and the pajamas he was wearing and started to panic. Jack sat on an old couch, in a grimy room. He pulled his legs up tightly against his chest and wrapped his arms around them. His focus was on the cartoon playing on the old television set, but when the bedroom door creaked open, he slid as far over on the couch as he could. His eyes darted to the bedroom door and his throat tightened when he saw a man come out instead of his mother. He clutched his legs and tried to keep his eyes on the television.

The man sat down at the cluttered kitchen table and wiped the back of his mouth with his hand. His shirt was open, and so was the top button on his jeans. Jack started to rock back and forth as the man continued to stare at him.

“This the one with the mouse and cat?” The man leaned forward and put his arms on the table. “I know this one.”

Jack nodded, but tried to keep his eyes straight ahead.

“You like cartoons, kid?” The man stood up, and Jack froze. “I like cartoons, too.” He walked over and flopped onto the other end of the couch. Jack could smell him from there. Smoke and other foul odors turned his stomach, but he tried not to make a face. The man grabbed a small cigarette from the ashtray and lit it.

“How old are you?” He turned his head toward Jack as he exhaled, and the cloud wafted over the little boy like a smoky blanket. The man’s voice was deep and, when he talked, Jack could see his yellowed teeth.

“Six.” Jack kept his eyes on the television, but he could feel the man move slightly closer to him.

“Do you—?”

Jack jumped off the couch and sprinted for the bathroom. He didn’t turn around when he heard the footsteps behind him, but Jack yanked over the kitchen chair as he passed it to block the man’s path.

“Stupid,” the man snarled from behind.

Jack slammed the bathroom door, and his heart sank as he looked at the knob.
No lock.
He turned his back to the door and pressed his legs against the bathroom cabinet. The man crashed into the door, partly forcing it open before Jack was able to slam it shut again.

Jack braced himself, and the man pushed hard against the door. Slowly, it opened until the man’s arm appeared. His hand grabbed vainly as it reached for Jack.

“Out,” Jack screamed as he shrank down and pushed harder. His legs burned, and the man’s hand got closer to him.

Don’t stop! He’ll get you. Push, you stupid idiot.

Jack shoved harder, but his little legs began to shake.

The man grabbed Jack by his hair and slammed his head back into the door. Jack’s eyes rolled back, and he fell on the floor. The man’s fingers tightened around a clump of Jack’s hair and he dragged him out from behind the door.

Jack twisted around and bit his wrist. The man screamed, and his hand opened so that Jack could scramble backward to the far end of the bathroom.

I’m trapped.

Jack turned back around, and the man slowly pushed the door the rest of the way open. The man rubbed his wrist, his face twisted in pain.

“You’re gonna pay for that, you little—”

“Get away from him!”

Mommy!

The man backed away from the door. Jack’s mother crouched low and stood between Jack and the man. She clutched a knife in her hand.

“You crazy whore,” the man shrieked, and Jack heard him fall over the chair.

“Get out!” His mother waved the knife in front of her.

Jack ran up and hid behind her legs. The man stood up and glared at her.

“Put the knife down,” he ordered.

“Get out, or I’ll kill you,” his mother growled.

“You couldn’t hurt a fly.” He lunged forward and screamed as she cut him. He grabbed his right hand with his left as blood ran down his arm.

“You won’t be the first man I’ve killed,” she confessed.

The words froze Jack, and everything began to slow. He watched as she waved the knife in front of her, and a large drop of blood fell off the blade and then splattered on the grimy floor. She turned to look at Jack, and her lips trembled. Jack fell backward, and the floor seemed to disappear from underneath him as he tumbled downward…

Jack sat up, gasping for air. He panted as he listened to the silence. He heard Replacement roll over, but her steady breathing told him she was still sleeping. He lay back on the floor and stared up at the ceiling again. His right hand kept shaking, so he grabbed it with his left.

It’s over. In the past. I’m good. I…

Jack looked up and made sure the door to the room was locked and bolted.

Four hours later, Jack was reading over the reports Cindy had sent him. Replacement was taking a shower. He’d already read through the first three reports, but curiosity got the better of him and he went on to read Replacement’s background check. Instead of the standard report, there was a note from Cindy.

“I went to run her file through DYS, and it was still sealed. That doesn’t make sense, but after what you told me about her ‘undercover’ identity, I thought I shouldn’t look deeper until getting your okay. Let me know. Love, Cindy.”

Damn. Replacement hacked the Department of Youth Service computer when she was younger, but did she do something to her own file? Of course she would have…

Jack flipped back to the first Terry on the list; Replacement rushed out of the bathroom. She wore her new “I Love Hope Falls” shirt and hat.

“You look like crap,” she said as her lip curled up.

“Thanks. Are you ready?” They’d already eaten breakfast, and Jack wanted to get moving. Kristine had been nowhere in sight this morning, but Jack had been jumpy the whole time.

He looked into the mirror in the bathroom and he had to admit that Replacement was right: he looked like hell. His skin was pale and there were dark circles under his eyes. He walked toward the mirror as he looked at his reflection. Even his pupils seemed black.

“Let’s go.” He spun around and stormed out of the room. Replacement chased after him.

“What’s the first stop?” She had to jog to stay beside him.

“Terry Bradford. He’s working at K and K Construction. It’s a ten-minute drive.”

“How did you find that out?”

“Cindy got me his information. Guy has bounced from one low-level job to another. One DUI. Married three times. Divorced. Four kids. Three mothers. Two bankruptcies.”

“Boy, he’s a keeper. Do you want me to drive?” Jack shot her a crooked frown so she headed for the passenger side. “Do you have a plan?” she asked hopefully.

Jack started the car and sped out of the little parking lot.

9:04. Construction. They’ll be there now. Do I have a plan?

“No. I’ll play it by ear.”

Replacement pursed her lips and raised her eyebrows. “Well…shouldn’t we come up with a plan first?”

Jack’s hands rubbed the steering wheel, and he pushed his shoulders back. He hit the accelerator while he forced himself to keep his eyes open.

Don’t scream. Don’t yell. What the hell do I say? I’m going to ask him if he had anything to do with Steven, and if he gives me a sideways glance, I’m going to beat him to death.

“I have a plan.” Jack punched it.

The Impala slid into the parking lot at K and K Construction. The mini-mountains of gravel, sand, dirt, and stone behind the structure dwarfed the lot and the building. Giant machines loaded large trucks while a group of men gathered out front.

Jack parked and opened the door. A couple of men who were loading a pickup truck stopped and turned to watch Jack as he stalked up.

“Do you know Terry Bradford?” Jack asked.

The men just looked at each other and then back at Jack.

“Just point me in the right direction,” Jack grumbled.

They looked at each other again. As a cop, Jack had seen the look a thousand times.

No one wants to be a snitch.

Replacement tapped Jack’s shoulder and tilted her head toward the building. A group of five men in green shirts, jeans, and work boots marched out of the office. Jack zeroed in on the guy in the middle.

Mid-forties. Five ten. Two hundred pounds.

Terry Bradford was twenty-six years older than the yearbook photo and apparently shaved his head now, but Jack knew it was him.

“Terry, you got a second?” Jack let his hands relax and moved closer. Four of them stopped. Terry kept walking.

“You a cop?”

“Not on duty. I just have a few questions.”

“I’m workin’. Talk to me later.” Terry held up a hand.

“It will only take a second.” Jack walked in front of him. “Did you know Steven Ritter?”

“Who? No. Get the hell out of my way, or I’ll break your nose.” He stopped and made a face as if he drank extra sour lemonade. “Who?”

“Steven Ritter. You went to high school with him.”

“Ritter? That the kid who got killed at the pond?”

“Yes.”

“I didn’t know him. He was a year under me. He didn’t play football, right?” He glared at the men, who’d stopped a couple of steps behind him. “We gotta be someplace,” Terry snapped before he pushed Jack, but Jack wasn’t in the mood to be pushed.

Jack stepped to the side and cut him off. They stood nose to nose and glared at each other. “Did you know Patricia Cole?”

“Patricia?” Again he made the lemonade face. “Patty? Put-out Patty?” His tongue hung out of his open mouth as he laughed. “Everyone knew Patty…if you know what I mean.”

Jack’s hand twitched into a fist, and Replacement put her hand on his arm.

“You guys on vacation?” a large man bellowed from the building’s doorway. “Get your asses in gear, now!”

“I gotta go. Get out of my way,” Terry sneered.

Replacement kept her hand on Jack’s arm, while Terry walked around him and got behind the wheel of the truck. The veins in Jack’s neck stood out.

“Not now,” she whispered. “Get him alone.”

As the truck pulled out of the parking lot, Terry stopped, leaned out the window, and called back to Jack. “Patty might be a little old for you, so how about we trade? I’ll take the little girl, and you get Patty?” He roared with laughter and pounded the side of the door as he ripped out.

Jack turned and stormed back for the car. Replacement dashed over to it and stood before his door.

“Out of my way, kid.”

“Not now, Jack.” She put both hands on his chest. “You taught me that. Wait until you can ask him alone. You know where he lives, okay?”

“He could be the guy.”

“He could, or he might not be.”

Jack shut his eyes and looked at the sky.

Damn it. I’m too close to this. I can’t think straight.

He looked back down at Replacement. “Keep me in check.”

She nodded and smiled. “Can I drive?”

“No.”