“Feeling better?” Replacement stretched her arms above her head as she got out of the car.
Jack stared up the road.
“Hello?” She waved her hand, trying to break his trance.
“Sorry.” Jack shook his head. “The shower, food, and aspirin helped. Thanks for not giving me a guilt trip this morning.”
Replacement’s head tipped to the side. “I might talk a lot, but I’m not a nag. I was just mad about the background check, but I think I understand why you did it,” she said softly.
He wanted to apologize more, explain himself, but realized this wasn’t the time. The background check was all so he could learn more about her, get to know her better, and he didn’t want to blow it now.
“Any other girl would have smothered me in my sleep last night.”
She gave him a fragile but sincere smile. “I thought about it, but . . . all’s forgiven, east from west.”
The pond had a little wooden dock, but Jack headed for a wide, flat rock that stretched out into the water. It didn’t take long to set up the rod and bait the hook, and for a while he fished in silence, and Replacement poked around in the grasses near the edge.
He didn’t find fishing quite as peaceful as he had hoped. After about fifteen minutes, he called over to Replacement, “I need to go there.”
“Where?”
“Buckmaster. I need to see the crime scene.”
Replacement sighed. “I thought you’d take it easy today. Just fish.”
Jack held his hand out to the still water. “I know, but . . . they didn’t dive the pond.”
“They dredged it.”
“It’s not as thorough. And they didn’t do it until the following spring.”
“I could confirm it when I get to a computer. Didn’t the police report say that the pond had iced over?”
“Still, they should have gone diving. Just dredging it isn’t the same.”
“Wouldn’t it be like looking for a needle in a haystack?”
“Not these days—there are good techniques. You need to search in a grid. Slowly. They have metal detectors now that are much better, too.”
Replacement peered into the water. “Look how clear the water is.”
Jack looked over the edge, all the way down to the sandy bottom.
“How deep do you think it is?”
“Right here, about eight feet. Over there where I cast, it’s deeper, I think.” He started to reel in his line.
“What are you doing?”
“I want to get rid of the bobber so I can bottom-fish. It’s deep; look how still the water is there.” The chief was right, Jack thought; this place was perfect for catfish. “Do you want a turn?” He held out the rod.
Replacement folded her hands together and smiled. “No thanks.”
“You’re going to be bored just watching me. Do you want to walk around or something?”
“You wouldn’t mind?”
Jack smiled. “We’re on vacation, right? You can do whatever you want.”
“Thanks.” She looked around. “I’ll follow that trail.” She headed for a path that ran straight up a little hill.
Jack cast out the line again and watched it disappear. He kept his finger loose on the line, feeling it as it continued to slide out. Finally, the line stopped.
When he looked back—a gesture that made his head pound again—Replacement was already at the top of the hill. She saw him looking, waved, and then continued on out of sight. The rod twitched in his hands. He gave a firm, quick tug to set the hook, and the rod bent over. He smiled as he reeled in. It was sluggish. He stopped reeling. The end of the rod was curving toward the water. He waited. The rod didn’t move.
Dang. I must have caught a log.
He began to reel in again, slowly, and the line suddenly went crazy. The gears on the cheap reel slipped, and the line started going back out.
The tension is wrong! I forgot to set it.
Jack tried to adjust the tension while he struggled with the fish on the end of the line. He moved closer to the edge so he could look down. In the depths, he could see a massive catfish trying to escape back into the darkness. A sudden crack in the rod caused him to lower the tip and reel faster.
He finally managed to drag the hulking catfish onto the rock, flopping and twisting. It was enormous; Jack let out a cheer. He was sure it was the largest fish he’d ever caught. After a bit of twisting, Jack freed his prize from the hook, then gently tossed the fish back into the water. With three powerful flicks of its tail, it disappeared in the black depths.
Jack shivered as he washed his hands in the water—and then he froze, not because of the cold, but because of his reflection. As the ripples faded and the water calmed, he stared at himself. He realized his father must have done the exact same thing a hundred times, probably in the exact same place.
Steven wasn’t anything like what I thought he’d be. He wasn’t some guy sleeping with a prostitute. He was just a kid. Seventeen. I had him all wrong . . .
Jack looked around for Replacement, but she was nowhere to be seen. Leaving the rod behind, he jogged up the path after her.
At the crest of the hill, a beautiful field spread out before him. The grass looked like waves frozen in time. In the middle of the field was a large oak tree. Jack saw its branches move, and then he saw a foot dangle. He laughed. Replacement had climbed up into its branches.
Jack walked over to the base of the tree and looked up. “Having fun?”
“Jack, this is the best climbing tree ever.” Her smile was as open to interpretation as the Mona Lisa’s.
He grabbed a low, thick branch, and hung for a moment. He felt like a kid again. He pulled himself up and sat on the branch next to her.
“It’s a romantic spot,” she said. She pointed to the trunk, where the bark had been removed in many places. “You should see some of these. CR loves KD. Billy loves Wendy forever and ever. It’s cute.”
“Must be a local tradition.”
“I found one that may be something.”
“May be something?”
“DJ + PC.” She pointed to a large heart that had at one time had three arrows in it, but two of the ends were broken off. “PC. Do you think that’s Patty Cole?”
Jack shrugged. “It could also be Penelope Cruz. You ready to go?”
“I guess.” She swung down from the branch, and Jack dropped down after her. “Did you catch anything?” she asked.
“Yeah.” Jack smiled smugly. “A giant catfish. Huge.”
“Where is it?”
“I put it back.”
“Then why did you catch it in the first place?”
“I just like trying to catch them. It’s the hunt. Race you!”
Jack jogged for the hill, slowly at first. But when Replacement blazed past him, laughing hard, he quickly geared up into a sprint. She was small, but her pumping legs were a blur, and he was surprised how hard he had to push himself. He made it back to the pond first, but not by much.
“I almost beat you!” Replacement bent at the waist and gulped in air. “We need to run more. As a cop, you should be super-fast.”
“I am fast.”
“But you should be super-fast. Like the Flash.” She struck a pose that he assumed was meant to be Flash-like. “Cops are supposed to be able to run super-fast, right?”
Jack grinned. “Sure, that’s why we use cars.”
She laughed and skipped a rock across the pond. “So, where to now?”
“Actually, I thought of something. I want to go back over the police report.” Her face fell, and he knew she’d been hoping he would keep things lighthearted for a while longer.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I got to. It won’t take long, and tonight, why don’t we get something to eat at the inn. Or we can get delivery. Whatever you want.” He knew she loved delivery. “Hey, can you hold the rod and tackle box for a sec?”
Replacement looked perplexed. “Sure, why?”
“Just stop for a second.” Jack walked backward toward the car. “Hold up right there.” A grin slowly spread across his face as he continued to back up. Then he shouted, “Race you to the car!”
He turned and bolted.
“Cheater!” Replacement cursed, and she sprinted after him.
Jack didn’t look behind him as he ran. He hoped the pole and tackle box would be enough to ensure his win, and he was right—though he was surprised to hear her clacking and clunking close behind. Maybe he really did need to run more.
When the Impala came into view, Jack skidded to a stop.
“You can’t let me win now, you—” Then Replacement slammed to a stop, too.
The Impala leaned at an odd angle; all four tires had been slashed. Jack moved protectively in front of Replacement and looked around. The area was deserted.
Replacement wasn’t scared, though—she was outraged. “It’s a warning! They want to scare us off.”
The corner of Jack’s mouth ticked up. “So, we’re getting closer. Someone’s getting nervous. They’re getting scared.”
“What do we do now?”
“We keep digging.”
22
Steak and Cheese, Baby!
The tow truck took over an hour to get to them, and it was another hour before the new tires were on and they could leave. By the time they got back to the inn, it was already getting dark. As they headed up the walkway, Replacement turned to look back at the car. “I’m impressed, Jack. I thought you’d be beyond mad about your car, but I have to give it to you, you didn’t flip out.”
“I guess that’s sort of a compliment?” Jack said.
“Yeah. I mean . . . you love that car. And you’ve been super short-fused. So what gives?”
Jack smiled. “Someone followed us out to the pond.”
“Whoa, that’s weird.”
“Yeah. When we first arrived, I heard a car somewhere down the road, but I thought it was just someone backing up.”
“And why would this make you happy?”
“Because now I know I’m rattling someone’s cage.”
“In general, or because you’re investigating the murder?”
“I’m hoping the latter.”
As they walked through the door of the inn, the aroma of a roast drifted toward them. Replacement moaned. “Do you smell that?”
But Jack wasn’t paying attention to the smell. Kristine Jenkins was standing behind the desk. She pressed her lips tightly together when she saw Jack, but the corners briefly twitched up.
“Head up to the room,” Jack whispered to Replacement. “Order whatever you want to eat.”
“Are you okay?” Replacement asked.
“I’m fine. Go order something to eat.”
Replacement held her ground.
Kristine walked over. “Hello, Jack. Can I speak to your friend for a second?”
Jack’s mouth fell open. Why does she want to talk to Replacement? Before he could think of a response, Kristine had escorted Replacement back behind the counter. They spoke in low voices, so Jack couldn’t hear what they were saying. Jack waited, impatient, puzzled, and now very hungry. When they returned, Replacement’s eyes were wide.
“I think you should go talk to her,” she said.
Jack eyed Kristine, but he didn’t move.
“I . . . I’d like to explain,” Kristine said. “There’s something I need to talk with you about. It’s important.”
If she goes psycho again . . .
Replacement gave Jack an encouraging look. “Please.”
Jack exhaled. “Fine.”
Kristine led him into the same room as the night before. A tray with four teacups and assorted cookies sat on the table.
“Please sit down.” Kristine motioned to the couch.
Jack stayed where he was. He pointed at the teacups. “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.”
Jack noticed her hand was shaking. He stepped into the room and shut the door behind him.
“I . . . I want to apologize for my behavior the other night.” She bowed her head. “I don’t normally behave that way, but there was . . . something about you.” Her eyes searched his, and the look on her face made Jack’s chest tighten. “When you kissed me, and I looked into your eyes . . . I couldn’t understand how it could be. Your eyes were the same as someone I once knew.” Her lip quivered.
Was she going to cry? Jack gripped the arm of the sofa.
She rubbed her trembling hands together. “Steven Ritter.”
Jack’s heart thumped so hard, he wondered if she could hear it.
“When I first saw you, I thought I was losing my mind. But I thought you resembled him, nothing more. I was being foolish.”
Jack didn’t know what to say, so he stayed silent.
“It was so long ago, but I’ll never forget his eyes, and when I looked into yours . . . I knew Steven didn’t have any kids, but I thought maybe you were a distant relative. I didn’t know what to do. I’ve always been close with Mrs. Ritter, so—”
“The other cup. Is she here?”
“She is.”
Jack leapt to his feet and Kristine reached out to him. “Wait, please. I’m trying to help.”
Jack sat back down.
“Steve and I dated all through high school. I was a grade above him. I went to college and . . . called it off.” She wrung her hands and cried suddenly, “How . . . ?”
Jack shifted uncomfortably. “How what?”
“You. I mean . . . Who’s your mother?”
Jack hesitated. He hadn’t been pleased with the reactions he’d gotten around town when mentioning Patty’s name, and he didn’t want to see that same look on Kristine’s face.
“Patricia Cole.”
“Patty.” Kristine closed her eyes with a sigh.
“Well? Aren’t you going to say something about her? Everyone else in this town has.”
Kristine seemed anxious not to be lumped with “everyone else,” shaking her head vigorously. “Who am I to judge? I know Patty had it rough. It’s just that . . . that’s how Steven was. He had a . . . he had a soft spot for the hard-luck cases.”
She was close to tears, but suddenly she rose and marched over to the far door. She straightened her dress and wiped her eyes. “So. Are you ready to meet her?”
Jack nodded nervously. A brief, sympathetic smile crossed Kristine’s face. She opened the door, and Mrs. Ritter stepped into the room.
Just like the first time she had seen him, the old woman fixed her blue eyes on Jack, trembling as she approached him.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you in the store—” Jack began.
She gently touched his arm.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know . . .” Jack tried again, but stopped when the old woman clutched him to her and began to weep. Kristine quietly left the room. Finally, Mrs. Ritter stopped weeping and took a step back.
“What’s your name?” Kristine didn’t tell her?
“Jack Stratton.”
“And who . . . who’s your mother?”
“Maybe we should sit down. It’s a long story.”
Jack decided to tell her everything. As they sat together on the sofa, he told her about being left at the bus station, Aunt Haddie’s, and his adoptive parents. The summation of his life took over an hour, and throughout, he could see that the old woman was fighting to hold back tears.
“I don’t understand why Patty didn’t tell me . . .” she said when he was done.
“She was pretty messed up. I don’t know why she kept me so long.”
She put her hand on Jack’s. “I’d never have let you go.”
Jack held the old woman while she cried some more. “Steven would have been so proud,” she said, and let out a large sob.
Just then the door popped open, and Kristine and
Replacement tumbled awkwardly into the room. Listening at the door, Jack thought. I should have known. The two women straightened up and tried not to look guilty.
Jack grimaced. “Well, Alice, since you’re here, there’s someone I’d like you to meet. This is Mrs. Ritter. My . . . grandmother.”
Replacement cleared her throat and took a step forward. “Hello, Mrs. Ritter.”
“Nice to meet you, my dear.” Mrs. Ritter shook Replacement’s outstretched hand.
“It’s nice to meet you, too.” Replacement’s eyes were large with unanswered questions.
Jack turned back to Mrs. Ritter. “Well, I guess this is our cue to stop. I’m sure you’re feeling overwhelmed.”
She grabbed his hand. “I am, for now, but please, I’d like to talk some more later. Would you come and visit? Lunch?”
“That would be fine.” Jack gave her a reassuring smile, and Kristine placed her arm around the old woman’s shoulders. “I’ll get your number from Kristine.”
“Good.” Mrs. Ritter hugged him, long and hard. “It was so nice to meet you, Jack.”
Jack relaxed into the hug. “I’ll see you soon.”
Mrs. Ritter stepped back and smiled, and Kristine walked her out the door.
Replacement and Jack watched them go. “Well,” Jack exhaled. Eager to change the subject, he turned to Replacement and asked, “Hungry?”
“Starving.” Replacement spun around. “I was waiting for you.”
“You could have grabbed something in the dining room.”
“You told me to order in. It’s waiting in our room.”
“What did you get us?”
“Subs. Steak and cheese, baby!” She raced up the stairs.
Replacement came out of the bathroom, ready for bed, and started pulling a blanket and pillow off the bed.
“Don’t.” Jack kicked off his shoes.
“Care to elaborate?”
“You can sleep in the bed,” Jack said. He grabbed some sweats and headed for the bathroom.
“And you have another nuclear meltdown? No thanks. I’ll take the tub.”
Detective Jack Stratton Box Set Page 39
