Quick Be Jack: A Jack Nolan Novel (The Cap's Place Series Book 3)

by Robert Tarrant

  I shook my head, "No, unfortunately I haven't talked to her since she left here Sunday."

  Justin gave me a knowing nod and then said, "Guess I'll stick around until we hear something."

  CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

  I didn't even know that Elena was back down from changing until I saw her and Marge come out of the office. She now wore shorts, a loose fitting sleeveless top, and sandals. Marge was carrying a couple of file folders and Elena was carrying a tape measure and her phone. Elena smiled at me as they approached and said, "Hi Jack, we're going to walk around the outside of the building and take some pictures and a couple of measurements. We won't be long." With that they turned and walked out the front door.

  Moe walked up to me and said, "Looks like we're going to get our addition, huh?"

  "What? I didn't say we were going to do it, just that we'd see what Elena thought."

  Moe emitted that deep rumble that he calls a laugh and said, "Boss, those two women are off and running with that project. You might as well get out of the way and go with the flow, otherwise you'll just end up getting run over. If I were you I'd make an appointment with the bank." Another rumble and he headed for the kitchen, leaving me standing in the center of the floor with my mouth hanging open.

  I looked around and found Justin standing at an open spot on the bar, drinking a Landshark. He had a second one sitting in front of him. I walked up and said, "Drink 'em two at a time now?"

  He picked up the second beer and handed it to me, "No, that one's for you. Sissy set it there, saying you'd be along in a minute." I looked up and Sissy was grinning at me from the other end of the bar. She was smiling, but I know her well enough to know it was a forced smile. I raised the beer in salute to her and smiled back. My smile was as forced as hers.

  Justin and I made small talk as the time dragged on waiting for the 7:00 p.m. press conference. I told him about my last attempt to reach PJ's cell phone. Through tight lips he said, "I don't like the sound of that. Sounds to me like she is not in possession of her own cell phone. That's not a good sign."

  Elena and Marge had come back in through the back door, but they were engaged in conversation when they walked by and I don't think they even noticed Justin and me. They went into the kitchen for several minutes and then came out and went back toward the office. I couldn't help but think that Moe was exactly right. I should just stay out of the way.

  The after work crowd was starting to thin as 7:00 p.m. approached. My usual end of the bar opened up so Justin and I moved down there. Marge and Elena came out of the office and we gave them our stools and stood. I could see Sissy getting edgier and edgier as the time dragged on. As the television picture switched to the press conference scene, Elena pulled me close and whispered, "Don't you think you better get behind the bar?"

  I nodded, walked to the other end and around behind the bar. Sissy looked up and met me at center bar. She leaned into me and said, "Jack, I'm so scared." I just put my arm around her and gave her a squeeze. Suddenly, the volume on the television increased and I noticed Moe with the controller again.

  A somber and tired looking police chief stood behind a bank of microphones. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are now in a position to release the names of the detectives ambushed today. Killed in the violent gun battle was Detective Timothy Donovan. Detective Donovan was an eighteen year veteran of the Hollywood Police Department and prior to that served ten years with the New York City Police Department. Detective Donovan leaves behind a wife and two daughters. Our hearts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Detective Donovan."

  At the first mention of Tim's name Sissy had collapsed into me. A hush fell over the entire group gathered around the bar. Even those who didn't know the significance of his name could sense that most around them were impacted and seemed to quiet out of respect.

  The chief continued, "The second detective, who remains unconscious and in critical condition at Memorial Regional Hospital, is Detective Patty Johnson. Detective Johnson is a sixteen year veteran of the Hollywood Police Department. Detective Johnson has one daughter. We ask that you keep Detective Johnson in your thoughts and prayers. A press conference will be held at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow morning at which time medical representatives of Memorial Regional Hospital will provide a briefing on Detective Johnson's condition."

  Sissy buried her face into my shoulder and sobbed softly. The hush around the bar had turned to near silence. The voice of someone sitting in a far booth with a group who seemed oblivious to the attention being given the television news report was the only sound I heard in the entire room.

  The chief held up his hand to silence the reporters shouting questions, "At the conclusion of this briefing we will be distributing packets with biographical information on both detectives. I will say that these were two seasoned police officers who were investigating two armed and dangerous suspects. These officers performed their duty with the upmost bravery and professionalism. We ask that you respect the privacy of their families during this most difficult time."

  Several reporters asked questions about PJ's injuries and condition, but the chief steadfastly deferred them until the press conference in the morning. I didn't like his body language as he refused to comment on PJ's condition. I felt like he was holding something back. His demeanor didn't look like a man who was withholding good news.

  Several questions were asked about what was now known about the shootout, but he deflected most of those saying that information would be released when the on-scene investigation was completed. After a respectable period of giving non-answers, the chief concluded the press conference.

  Sissy look up at me, mascara was running down her cheeks, and said, "Poor PJ. Poor Angela, what will become of her if PJ dies? I should try to contact her, see if I can help her."

  Attempting to sound confident I said, "No one said PJ is going to die. Let's not even think that. She's a tough gal, she'll make it. I'm sure Angela's grandparents are with her by now." I thought about Angela's grandparents, who I'd never met, first they lose a son to the dangers of law enforcement and now maybe their daughter-in-law.

  I felt a presence behind me and looked around to see Moe standing there. He said, "Boss, why don't you take Sissy upstairs for a while." Gesturing around the bar, "I got this."

  I asked, "Sure you don't want us to call Dana back in?"

  Moe shook his head, "No need, I can handle things here, you just take Sissy upstairs where it's quiet."

  I started to move toward the open end of the bar with my arm around Sissy. She froze and said, "Where are we going? I gotta take care of the bar."

  I pulled harder and said, "No you don't. Moe's got things under control. Let's go upstairs. I can make some calls and maybe find out something about PJ's injuries." I knew there was no way for me to find out her medical condition, but I thought it would be an incentive to get Sissy to leave the bar. It worked.

  As we reached the other end of the bar, I heard Elena say to Marge, "Why don't you go upstairs with Jack and Sissy. Sissy could probably use a woman's support right now."

  I didn't know if I should be insulted or not, but I did feel relief. No matter how well intentioned I am, I have a tendency to say the wrong things at times like these. Marge cast a knowing look in Elena's direction and joined Sissy and me. When we got upstairs, the three of us sat down around my dining table. It's actually my kitchen table, my dining table, and my desk all rolled into one. Fortunately, tonight it was moderately unoccupied. Some days it's stacked high with whatever I happen to leave behind over the past week.

  I got Sissy a glass of water and Marge and I began to tell her all of the reasons that everything would turn out okay for PJ. Neither of us really believed what we were saying, at least I know I didn't, but that's what you do at times like these. It wasn't that I didn't want to believe it, it's just that I didn't have enough information to give me anything to even cling to, except unfounded positive statements. That's what we had, so that's what we went with.
r />   Sissy starting asking about Angela. I assured her that the police department would see to it that the families were getting all of the support they needed. That was one thing I was confident in telling her. I'd seen it several times during my years in the prosecutor's office. Cops are great at supporting other cops and their families. I reminded her that Angela's grandparents were close by and that they would no doubt be with her.

  After a few minutes, I told Sissy I was going down to the office to make some calls and see if I could find anything out. I had no idea who to call, but I also knew that's the promise I made to get her up here in the first place and thought I should at least act like I was following through. Besides that, I was confident Marge was much better at this comfort stuff than I would ever be.

  When I got downstairs, I saw that Elena was no longer sitting at the end of the bar. Moe was leaning on the end of the bar in the classic bartender at rest pose. I asked, "How's everything going?"

  He said, "Piece of cake, Boss."

  I asked, "No drink orders you can't figure out?"

  "I serve the beer," indicating toward the other end of the bar, "and she makes the drinks."

  At the other end of the bar Elena, was just finishing pouring a drink from the cocktail shaker in her hand into a tall glass full of ice. She stuck a sprig of mint and a straw into the drink and set it at the station where waitresses pick up the drinks. I walked down the bar and said, "I didn't know you were a bartender."

  She gave me that coy smile of hers and said, "Lots of things about me you don't know Jack."

  CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

  I went back to the office and pawed through the stack of business cards in the desk drawer and the Rolodex in an effort to jolt my mind into thinking of someone to call for information about PJ's condition. I couldn't think of anyone. I didn't have cards from any of the other cops who sometimes stopped in and I didn't really know anyone else in the police department. I thought about going to the hospital, but knew that would be a total waste of time, the cops would no doubt be limiting access to the hospital to people with legitimate business, so I'd never get close enough to get any information.

  Being totally out of ideas, I was just coming out of the office when Marge and Sissy came down the stairs. Sissy looked a little better. It looked like she had washed her face. Marge said, "Sissy and I are going out to get something to eat. We realized that neither of us have eaten. We thought a change of scenery would do us good. If you hear anything call us right away. You've got everything under control around here, don't you?"

  I replied, "Everything's fine here. Good idea for you guys to go out. I'll sure call you if we learn anything."

  Sissy gave me a quick hug, "Thanks Jack."

  After Marge and Sissy left I looked at the dwindling evening crowd. I finally saw Justin standing on the back deck leaning on the railing talking on his cell phone. I waved at Elena who was showing Moe how to make some type of drink and wandered in the general direction of the open doorway to the deck. Justin turned around and, seeing me, waved for me to come out. There was one other couple sitting at a table on the far corner of the deck, but they had their heads so close together in intimate conversation that I doubt they even knew Justin and I were there.

  Justin ended his call and said, "I made a couple of calls around town, hoping I could find something out, but came up dry. You have any luck?"

  Shaking my head, "Nope. None at all. I can't even think of who to call."

  He asked, "How's Sissy doing?"

  I shrugged, "I guess okay, Marge took her out to get something to eat."

  Justin nodded, "Probably a good idea. I'm afraid we won't know anything until tomorrow. Frankly, I'm not too hopeful. If it wasn't grave, I think they'd be saying something. The longer it goes without them releasing any information, the worse I think it is."

  "Yeah, usually I'd say no news was good news, but in this case I tend to agree with you."

  Justin said, "You want to go in and get a drink? I hear there's a new good looking bartender mixing drinks."

  I said, "You mean that huge black guy?"

  Justin and I both chuckled, forced chuckles, as we headed back inside.

  We took up residence at my end of the bar and Moe set a Landshark in front of each of us saying, "I'll put these on your tab, Jack. If you two are gonna take up my bar stools and gawk at my bartending partner, you're gonna pay for your beer."

  As he walked away I called after him, "Hey, I always pay, and who's gawking? I'm not gawking and Justin sure as hell better not be." Turning to Justin I said, "Sure didn't take him long to take over." Justin shook his head and took a swig of his beer.

  Elena came down to our end of the bar and said, "Hi guys." She smiled and her voice was upbeat, but I could see a sadness in her eyes.

  Justin said, "Jack never told me you were a bartender, Elena."

  I said, "That's because I didn't know."

  Elena purred, "A woman can't tell a guy everything, there's got to be a little mystery, don't you think?" Then noticing Moe attempting to put something into the blender she turned and left us.

  Justin watched her walk away and then turned to me and said, "I feel sorry for you, Jack."

  "Why?"

  "So many beautiful bartenders and so little time."

  Before I could respond to defend myself, my cell phone, laying on the bar, starting vibrating. It was Marge. I answered. She asked if we had heard anything and when I told her no she said she was going to take Sissy home with her for the night. She told me I should call either of their phones if I heard anything at all about PJ. I promised I would.

  I told Justin what Marge said. He shook his head and said, "She thinks it's bad, too. Doesn't want Sissy to be alone when the news comes out. You know she's good people, Jack. Here she's sick herself, but she's jumping in to take care of Sissy. You find out anything about her illness?"

  I shook my head, "No. Dana tried and got the same vague answer that I did. I don't think Sissy's had a chance to try yet. Maybe with them spending all of this time together Sissy will find out something."

  "Yeah, I hope it's nothing serious." There was a caring tone to Justin's voice that I'd never heard before.

  A short while later, Justin had finished his beer and gone back to his boat. The crowd had continued to dwindle and Elena had come out from behind the bar to sit with me. She was drinking a glass of Chardonnay and I was still nursing my beer. Even the beer didn't taste very good tonight. Moe must have gotten tired standing because he'd pulled a stool around behind the bar and was sitting on it motionless. From the other side of the bar he looked like a giant black Buddha.

  I think the atmosphere of depressed emotions being emitted by all of us finally overwhelmed everyone else and the last party left. Well, there were a couple of guys sitting near the other end of the bar, but they're locals who spend more time here than I do. Moe looked at me and I nodded. He got up off his stool and walked down to them to ask if they would like anything for last call. They both looked questioningly at the clock behind the bar that said 10:45 p.m., back toward the mountain of a man standing in front of them with his arms folded across his chest, and said they were fine, that they would just finish their beers and get going.

  I helped Cindy, who had been waiting tables, wipe down the tables for the night and Elena helped Moe close up behind the bar. Thirty minutes later everyone was gone, the lights were off, and Elena and I were on our way upstairs. Moe had made me promise to call him if I heard anything about PJ.

  After coyly asking permission, Elena had brought a bottle of Chardonnay upstairs with us. I opened it and poured her a glass. I poured a stiff drink from the bottle of scotch that constituted my entire private liquor stock. I've been attempting to acquire a taste for scotch, with limited success to date. Never let it be said I'm a quitter.

  We slumped into a couple of chairs out on the balcony and gazed our over the marina into the black of the ocean. The silence was an indicator that we were both spen
t, more emotionally than physically. Finally I said, "With all of the activity, I never asked how your tour with Marge turned out. Do you think her ideas for expansion are possible?"

  Elena said, "Oh, anything's possible. It's just a matter of whether it's economically feasible. In this case I think it's potentially a pretty straightforward project. I'm going to rough up three alternative approaches and you guys can see which you like best and then I can put some cost estimates with it."

  "That sounds like a lot of work for you. What's that going to cost me? I know your time can't be cheap. Do you even have time to do something like that, what with the new project you're starting for your dad?"

  Elena replied, "This provides me a perfect opportunity to talk to my dad. I've been thinking about leaving his employ and opening my own one woman firm. I would sell services back to his company as needed, but could pursue other types of projects as well. This might be the perfect time to make that break. He has this large project that will keep me afloat for some time, but there will still be time for me to pursue other smaller scale projects like yours."

  "Why would he go for that, isn't it cheaper for him to have you as an employee than to contract with you?"

  Elena nodded, "It is hour for hour that I'm working on a project in my capacity as an architect, but there are lots of hours I'm doing work well below my pay level, or I'm just killing time between projects. In the end I don't think it will be a bit more expensive. In fact, his financial guys think it would be cheaper."

  "You've already talked to people in the company about this idea? You've been thinking about it for some time then?"

  Elena smiled, "Of course, you don't think I just came up with this idea because the good looking bar owner I'm sleeping with has a project I'm interested in do you?"

  I stammered, "Ah, no . . . no, of course not." Of course that's exactly what I thought. Sometimes my ego does run amok.

  We fell into another comfortable silence. I started to think that having Elena somewhat detached from her father would be a good thing. She'd still be the daughter of a gangster, but at least she wouldn't be working with him everyday. Somehow that seemed better. I broke the silence with, "By the way, you never mentioned your fee. What's the workup of these alternative proposals going to cost me?"