Jack of Hearts

by Christopher Greyson

  “It’s just us, darling.” Ruby nodded wisely. “It’ll be fine.”

  Alice darted back into the room and turned the T-shirt inside out. The letters felt scratchy against her soft skin. “I wonder if this is some kind of weird test?” she whispered to Lady. She patted Lady’s head before she walked back into the hallway.

  “Looks like we’re ready,” Ginny declared.

  “Let’s get this party started!” Ellie took Alice by the hand, and the five formed a line out the door.

  A green Prius was parked in the driveway. Ginny got in the driver’s seat, Laura in the passenger seat, and Ruby and Ellie sat on both sides of Alice in the back.

  Laura snapped on her seat belt. “Head over to the Swansons’.”

  “The Swansons’?” Ginny repeated. “Oh, that’s right. They’re in Ohio for their son’s wedding.”

  Ginny put her blinker on and took a right out of the driveway. She drove slowly around the complex to a cul-de-sac.

  “Park in the McMillens’ driveway,” Laura said. “They’re still up in New Hampshire.”

  Ginny pulled into a driveway and turned off the headlights, but left the car running.

  Alice looked at the women dressed in all black, and her eyes widened. “Wait a second. You’re not the ones stealing stuff, are you?”

  The three older women looked first at Laura, then at each other, and then back at Alice.

  “Us?” Ruby said.

  “Thieves?” Ginny said.

  “Oh, no.” Ellie shook her head.

  All four women broke into fits of laughter. Ruby laughed so hard the little car rocked back and forth.

  Alice unlatched her seat belt and waved her hands. “Okay, go ahead and snicker and be mysterious all you want, but why else are we parked in a deserted driveway, dressed all in black, watching a house where the people are away? Unless you’re planning to…” It suddenly hit her. “Wait. Are we on a stakeout?”

  “She got it!” Ginny smiled.

  Ruby gave her a thumbs-up, and Ellie clapped.

  Laura sat up straight. “Whoever’s been stealing things from people’s homes crossed a line last night. They came into my home with my son sleeping in the living room. I’m not going to just sit back and do nothing.”

  A knot formed in Alice’s stomach. “Ah, I think we should talk to Jack about this.”

  Laura shook her head. “I did. I spoke to his father, too. But some things fall to the women of the house. And this is one of those things. We’re the protectors.”

  “Like a lioness protecting the pride.” Ginny made a clawing motion with her hand for emphasis.

  Alice tried to look back at the Swansons’ house, but it was hard to turn when she was being squished in the tiny backseat between Ruby and Ellie.

  “Why didn’t you back into the driveway?” Ruby complained.

  “I wanted to look inconspicuous,” said Ginny.

  “Can you turn the car around?” Ellie asked.

  Ginny pointed. “Just look in the mirrors.”

  “We don’t have mirrors back here,” Ruby countered.

  Alice looked out the window at the glow of a streetlight forming a soft circle a few yards from the driveway. “I still think we should run it by Jack.”

  “There are times in your life when you run things by your husband, and times you don’t,” Ruby said.

  “Stakeouts are a don’t time,” Ellie added.

  “How would you know?” Ginny shot back. “You’ve never been on one.”

  “And neither have you.”

  “None of us have,” Ruby said.

  “I have,” Alice said.

  Ruby rolled her eyes.

  “I have!” Alice said defensively.

  “Shhh…” Laura waved her hands for everyone to quiet down.

  “What? It’s too soon for anything to happen,” Ruby said.

  “We just got here,” Ellie agreed.

  “We should have brought some snacks.” Ruby rummaged through her purse. “Maybe I have some gum.”

  “Oh!” Ginny slapped her knee. “I forgot my sweet tea. All I have is this watered-down old Sprite.” She reached over to the cup holder and sipped from an extra-large fast-food cup.

  “Shhh…” Laura was louder now. She pointed. “Look.”

  Alice peered over Ellie’s shoulder. In the back of the house, a little beam of light danced across the yard.

  Laura opened her door, and the rest of the women followed suit.

  “Um, I’m going to call the police.” Alice reached into her pocket for her phone, only to realize it was still on the Strattons’ kitchen table. “I don’t have it on me. Who’s got a phone?”

  All four women shook their heads.

  “We can’t call the police until we’re sure anyway.” Laura quietly closed her door. “Let’s go get a look.”

  “Bad idea.” Alice shut her door just as quietly. “Trust me. This is not a good idea.”

  Two other doors clicked closed, and they all hurried across the street. Laura moved to the corner of the house and stopped, leaning against the stucco.

  Alice tried to peer around the back of the house. Jack is going to kill me for this. I should have talked sense into these ladies. They should know better!

  As they stood in the shadow of the house, considering their next move, Ginny’s car’s headlights flashed, and a loud electronic beep caused everyone except Ginny to hop in the air.

  “Sorry,” Ginny whispered. “I forgot to lock it.”

  Ruby looked as though she were about to let Ginny have it, but instead she held up her finger and pressed it to her lips.

  “I don’t see the light anymore,” Ellie whispered.

  “Maybe the car scared them off,” Ruby grumbled. She glared at Ginny, who scrunched up her face.

  “You’re right. They’re gone. We should go.” Alice jerked her thumb back toward the car.

  “Wait.” Laura held up her hand. “Listen.”

  The women clumped together, one giant mass of black, and strained to hear any sound out of the ordinary. And then, behind the house, the little light clicked on again. It swept briefly across the yard before it clicked off once more.

  “Someone’s in the house.” Ellie’s voice trembled.

  “I think they’re in the backyard,” Alice said.

  “No, they’re in the house,” Ruby said. “The light is shining out through the back window.”

  Ellie nodded.

  “What do we do?” Ginny asked.

  “Let’s go call the police,” Alice suggested.

  “But we can catch them red-handed,” Laura whispered.

  “No.” Alice shook her head. “That’s a really, really bad idea.”

  “Come on.” Laura moved toward the front door.

  “How are you going to get in?” Ellie asked.

  “Mary keeps a hide-a-key in that fake rock next to the front steps.” Ginny picked up the rock and took out the key.

  “Mrs. Stratton,” Alice whispered, “this is not safe. Really not safe. He may have a gun.”

  “It’s Mr. Hubbard, I’m sure of it,” Ruby said. “He ate my brownie right off my napkin once at bingo. That is theft. And he doesn’t have a gun.”

  “It is not Mr. Hubbard,” Ginny said. “It’s Flo. I saw the way she kept looking at Mary’s china set. She even offered to buy it. Flo is in there right now taking it!”

  “Shhhh. It isn’t either of them,” Ellie whispered. “I know it’s—”

  Alice rushed in front of the women and planted herself directly in front of the door. “You could all be wrong. It could be a real bad guy. This isn’t a game. I can’t let you do this.” She set her feet shoulder-width apart and held her arms out.

  Ginny faked left and Ruby darted right. Ruby slipped behind Alice, opened the door, and slipped inside. Ginny, Ellie, and Laura followed.

  “No, no, no, Mrs. Stratton.” Alice hurried after them.

  When Ginny shut the door behind them, they were plunged
into complete darkness. Drawn shades kept out all but little slivers of light from the streetlights outside.

  “I’ll call the police,” Alice whispered. “Where’s the phone?”

  “Boy, for someone who says they’ve been on a stakeout, you sure have your panties in a bunch,” Ruby said.

  Laura nudged Ruby and Alice. “You’re both far too noisy. Shh.”

  The group made their way down the hallway, feeling along the wall as they went. Laura slowly opened the door to the kitchen. It appeared empty.

  “I can’t see anything,” Ellie whispered.

  Alice sighed. “If anyone was in here, they already know we’re coming…unless they’re deaf.”

  “Mr. Kendric’s almost deaf,” Ellie said. “That’s who’s got my vote. He’s an ex-cop. He knows how to disable security.”

  Security systems… Oh, no.

  “Mrs. Stratton! Did someone shut off the alarm to the house?”

  “Mr. Kendric must have disabled it!” Ellie’s fist pounded into her palm. “I knew it.”

  “Mary never turns it on,” Ginny said. “I water their plants. I know.”

  “Shhh…” Laura whispered. Something in her hand flashed, blinding everyone.

  “Laura!” Ruby snapped.

  “Sorry,” Laura grumbled. “My phone’s got a flashlight app. I just don’t know how to use it. That was the camera.”

  Alice put her hands on her hips. “You do have a phone.”

  Laura smiled sheepishly. “Oops.”

  Alice exhaled. She never imagined she’d be the responsible one in this group.

  “I can’t see at all now. Just spots.” Ellie rubbed her eyes.

  “Just…keep your eyes closed,” Ginny advised.

  Alice covered her mouth. They were making so much noise, if there really was a real thief, he would be long gone by now—she hoped. But she had another problem. She was starting to fight a losing battle with a case of the giggles, and the last thing she wanted was for Jack’s mother to think she was laughing at them.

  Flashing blue lights streamed in through the front windows as a car skidded to a stop out on the road.

  The women all turned to stare at Laura. She rushed over to the back window, opened it, and pointed at Alice. “Go.”

  “I can’t leave you.”

  “We’ll come right after you. Go!” Laura grabbed Alice’s shoulder and pulled her toward the opening.

  The front door banged open. “This is the police!” a voice yelled. “Come out of the house now with your hands over your head!”

  Alice dove out the window. As she rolled to her feet, Laura closed the window.

  “What are you doing?” Alice mouthed.

  Laura mouthed the word “run.” She even wiggled two fingers, charade-like.

  Alice crouched low and sprinted away, sticking to the shadows.

  “Come out of the house with your hands above your head!” the policeman shouted again.

  Two more cruisers raced down the street with their lights and sirens flashing.

  “No, no, no,” Alice repeated as she circled around the house.

  The two cruisers stopped in front of Ginny’s car, and while one policeman hopped out and joined the first officer, another trained a spotlight on the front door.

  Alice slipped into the gathering crowd.

  “You in the house!” one of the policemen bellowed into a bullhorn. “Come out with your hands over your head!”

  Alice’s breath came in rapid little puffs as Laura appeared at the doorway with her hands over her head.

  No, no, no… How am I going to tell Jack that his mom just got arrested?

  14

  I’d Like to Join

  “Did you like your coffee, Jack?” Ted parked the car in the driveway.

  Jack laughed. “You’d better take some acting lessons before you try that line in front of Mom.”

  “That was good. It was natural. Wasn’t it?”

  Jack climbed out of the car, smiling and shaking his head. “I think you’ve lost your acting touch since the talent show, Dad. You can honestly say that you stuck to your diet for lunch and dinner. That’s the truth. We won’t even bring up breakfast. Now I’m going to walk Lady while you go inside, change, and throw on some sneakers. We’ll go to the gym in the community center when I get back.”

  “You’re kidding, right?” Ted closed his door.

  “You have to work off those pancakes.”

  “But it’s father-son night.”

  “And I want many more of them,” Jack said. “We can talk on the treadmill.”

  Ted sighed. “You’re right. Besides, I’m no good at keeping secrets from your mother.”

  “You need to change your shirt anyway. You left a little pancake evidence.”

  “What?” Ted looked down at a spot of dried syrup on his shirt. “Well, no wonder I’m no good at keeping secrets.”

  When Jack and Lady returned from their walk, an ivory BMW had just parked in the driveway. A tall, chic woman with silver shoulder-length hair eased out of the driver’s side and walked straight up to Jack.

  Lady strained at the leash, and the woman held out a graceful hand for the dog to get her scent. Jack smelled the lilac, too. Lady’s thick tail wagged and the woman gave her a light pat.

  “What a magnificent animal.” She shook Jack’s hand firmly. “You must be Jack. I’m Janet Ferguson. It’s nice to meet you. I’m here to see your mother.”

  “I’m sorry, but my mother is out with my girlfriend. Is there something my father can help you with?”

  “I believe he can. Thank you.” She tucked her white Prada handbag under her arm. Jack couldn’t help but notice how perfectly the color of the bag with its gold clasp matched her expensive-looking high heels and embroidered linen tunic. Everything about her said opulence.

  Jack led her inside and put Lady into the bedroom before he returned. “Can I offer you a drink?”

  Janet’s smile was disarming. Jack felt himself shifting awkwardly from one foot to another. This woman seemed in a class well above his usual social circles. “No, thank you. I won’t be keeping you long.” She strolled into the living room, her eyes traveling all over like a real estate agent appraising a new property.

  Ted walked out of the bedroom dressed in gym shorts and sneakers. He had no shirt on, as he was carrying his T-shirt in his hand. When he saw Janet, he darted back behind the cover of the door.

  “Hello, Ted.” Janet’s lips curled up into a tight smile. “My apologies for stopping by unannounced.”

  Ted reappeared, red-faced, wearing his shirt this time. “You’re always welcome, Janet. It’s not your fault that no one told me you were here.” He shot a stern look at Jack.

  “I didn’t make you—” Jack started to say, but the continuing glare from his father made him think better of what he was about to say.

  “Nice of you to come by, Janet,” Ted said. “I’m sorry, but Laura’s not here.”

  “Your son informed me.” She turned to look at Jack. “I am parched. Would it be any trouble to have that drink you so kindly offered, dear?”

  “Of course. We have, uh, coffee, sweet tea, juice, water…”

  “An ice water would be lovely, thank you.” She looked at Ted and held out a hand to the couch. “May I?”

  “Certainly.” Ted smiled, but Jack picked up on the tightening around his blue eyes. This lady makes Dad uncomfortable too.

  “I’ll be right back.” Jack went to the kitchen and poured two glasses of ice water. He returned and handed one to his father, who had sat in the club chair next to the couch, and the other to Janet.

  “Thank you.” Janet crossed her long legs. Her tan linen skirt had a slit in it that now exposed a good deal of her toned thigh.

  If a retirement community ever had a poster girl, Jack thought, Janet Ferguson would win hands down. She exuded a polished elegance, with model good looks and the magnetism of a movie star. The water droplets forming on her glass passed
over her slender fingers.

  “Well, I don’t want to delay your workout,” Janet said, “so I’ll try to get right to the point. I’d like to spend some time with you.” She set down her glass on a coaster; the slight bump didn’t cover the sound of Ted gulping at her words. “And the book club,” she added.

  Ted took off his glasses and started cleaning the lenses. “I beg your pardon?”

  Janet glided over to the end of the couch and leaned in closer to Ted. “An old Chinese proverb says a book is like a garden carried in a pocket. I’m not terribly fond of getting my hands dirty, but I do like flowers. I thought the offer to join the book club was open to all Orange Blossom residents.”

  Ted cleared his throat and put his glasses back on. “Yes, of course. I’m sure they’ll be glad to have you join them.”

  “Them?”

  “My wife and the other members.”

  “You’re not a member of the club, Ted? Don’t you find pleasure in books?”

  “I do. I mean, no, I’m not a member but I do find pleas—I like to read.”

  Janet set her elbow on the edge of the couch and cradled her chin in her palm. She stared at Ted as if studying a painting. “And what do you enjoy reading?”

  “Thrillers. Mostly. And—”

  Jack’s ears perked up. Police sirens wailed in the distance, and they sounded as if they were coming closer. Lady started to bark.

  “I wonder if there’s been another break-in?” Ted hopped up, hurried to the window, and peered out.

  Police lights flashed on the trees as a cruiser sped down the street.

  Janet stood. “That’s a frightening thought.”

  “I’m sure the police will handle it,” Ted said reassuringly.

  “Of course.” Janet picked up her bag. “They’re the ones with guns, after all. But I do need to be going. I’ve taken up far too much of your time.”

  “Not at all. I’ll let Laura know that you stopped by. She will be sorry she missed you.” Ted followed Janet to the door.

  “Thank you, Ted. Please do. And if it’s not too much trouble, would you be a dear and drop off the book the club is reading? You can bring it by any time.”

  Ted opened his mouth, promptly closed it, and nodded.