“What about his grandfather?” Jackson asked as she released and stepped away.
“He’s right over there.” She pointed to a lonely corner of the waiting room where the old man sat staring off into space. “He looks like he could use a friend.”
Jackson and Jax walked over slowly and sat next to him, one on each side of the old man. He turned his head towards Jax and then to Jackson. He started to sob just as Jackson leaned over and pulled the old man close to him.
“We’re awfully sorry, sir,” Jackson said to him.
Jackson stared helplessly at Jax while consoling the old man. They sat that way in silence for a little while, the old man’s sobs the only noise.
“What’s your name?” Jackson finally asked, breaking the silence, pulling the man out of the depths.
“Robert.” He sat up. “Friends call me Bo.”
“We are really sorry about Toby.”
Robert looked Jackson in the eyes for a moment. “Thank you.” He wiped the tears away.
“I lost my father earlier today,” Jackson offered, fighting tears of his own once again. He had thought about it very little until that moment. “Just this morning.”
“I’m real sorry to hear that,” Robert offered. “What happened to him?”
“He had been sick for a long time. Just his time.”
“You never know how much time you got left. Never thought I’d outlive my child, let alone my grandchild. I never got your name.”
“I’m Jackson. That’s my son, Jax.”
“Nice to meet you both. Wish it was better circumstances.”
Robert shook Jax’s hand.
“Thank you for trying to save my Toby’s life,” he said to Jackson as he grabbed his hand and squeezed it like they had been the dearest of friends.
“Can we help you with anything? Does Toby’s mother know?”
“He’s got no mom anymore. No mom, no dad. They both died when he was just a small boy. Was just me and Toby after all that.” Robert sobbed with his head in his hands. “What am I supposed to do now?”
Jackson looked to Jax, neither knew what to say. “Can we give you a lift anywhere, Bo? You don’t need to be sitting around this place.”
“My car is at the store.”
“We’d be happy to give you a ride back to the gas station if you want.”
“That’s awfully nice.” Robert thought about it for a moment. “You sure it’s no trouble?”
“No trouble at all.” Jackson and Jax stood up and helped Robert to his feet. “Happy to do it.”
“Thank you.”
Robert, unable to straighten his old body out all the way, kissed into the air as he made the sign of the crucifix on his chest.
“Bye, my Toby,” he said with resolve and tears in his eyes. “Let’s go.” They started to walk. Robert had Jax’s hand in one of his and Jackson’s hand in the other. “Left my cane at the store,” he apologized.
“That’s okay. We’ve got you.”
The three made their way to the truck and slid into the cabin. Jax and Jumper squeezed in between the two men.
“Sorry. It’s a little tight.”
“I don’t mind,” Robert said as he pet Jumper and continued to do so the entire short trip back to the gas station. It seemed therapeutic and Jumper clearly enjoyed it. Aside from Jumper panting with his tongue out, not a sound was made.
Yellow caution tape surrounded the store parking lot and another wrapped around the convenience store. Jackson parked the truck on the side of the road. Detective Chambers was still there with a couple other law enforcement officials.
The detective held up his hand in greeting as they all exited the truck, even Jumper. Jackson and Jax waved back to the distracted detective as they followed Robert towards the entryway of the store, glass chunks crunching beneath their shoes as they got closer. Jackson cringed at the sight of his bloody hand smudge on the back of Robert’s shirt.
“Hey! You can’t go in yet!” Detective Chambers yelled from near the gas pump as he looked up and noticed they were about to step inside. Hero or not, Jackson wasn’t a cop working the scene. “Still a crime scene.”
Jackson waived in acknowledgement. “Stop here, Bo.”
The air was still.
The sky glowed red.
Robert stood rigid and starred into the store, distracted for a moment by the bloodstained door that remained. A strip of yellow caution tape across the opening where a door used to be.
It ruffled from a brief, gentle gust of wind, driving Robert’s gaze up.
“Toby,” he wept. “Go.”
He put his hand over his mouth and blew a kiss into the red sky. He then looked at all of the blood everywhere and made the sign of the cross against his torso once more before he reached down and stroked Jumper’s head.
“What’s his name?” he asked his new friends.
“Jumper,” Jax replied.
“How’d you come by that name, fella’?” Robert asked the German Sheppard.
“He used to jump out of planes with me,” Jackson answered while he scratched the mosquito bite, now surrounded by a peculiar red ring. “Canine airborne infantry in the United States Marines. My partner, a long time ago.”
“Seems to me that hasn’t changed.”
The two men shared a brief smile.
Robert paced around in a circle near the doorway. He looked over at the bloodstain near the gas pump where the truck was parked earlier, took an unsteady step towards it.
“You distracted that son of a bitch long enough for your daddy to take his miserable life. Good dog.”
Jackson nodded. “He’s a good soldier and friend. He’s a hero.”
“You are all heroes,” Robert said with his hand extended toward Jackson. “Thanks again for what you did today.”
The two shook hands. “I’m sorry you lost your grandson, Bo.”
“He’s in Heaven now with his mom and dad.”
“What happened to them?” Jax asked.
“They died in a car accident when Toby was little. Was a miracle Toby lived. He stayed in the hospital for a month.”
“You going to be okay getting home from here?” Jackson asked.
Robert nodded and turned his attention to the broken glass on the ground that used to be a door to the store. He stared into the store again, slouched. His thin, white hair, bald at the crown, contrasted against the blood his grandson left behind.
“Guess I’ll sell this place. Don’t think I can ever set foot in there again.”
“This is your store?” Jackson asked.
“Was my father’s. He left it to me. I left it to Toby’s daddy, my son. Then I…” He choked up. “Got it back again.”
Jackson patted him on the back. “Sorry, Bo.”
“I was gettin’ ready to turn it over to Toby in a couple more years. Finally retire and let him run it. Now…” Robert couldn’t stop himself from crying. “Ain’t nobody left to pass it down to no more.”
“You sure you should let it go? Sounds like it’s been in your family for generations.”
“I’m an old man, Jax, is it?”
“Yes, sir.”
“My sunrises, they’re runnin’ out, Jax. This place will never be the same again. Nothin’ will be.” Robert looked at the blood on the door and kicked around some of the broken glass on the ground. “Can’t hardly look at it. This place died today with my Toby. Think I’d rather watch it burn.”
“We’re finishing up in there now,” Detective Chambers said to Robert as he joined the group while Jackson imagined the old man throwing gasoline all over the store. “You’ll be able to go in.”
“No matter.”
“We should be getting back on the road,” Jackson said aloud. He hugged Robert. “Once again, I’m so sorry about what happened here. Best of luck to you, Bo, whatever you decide to do.”
“You too,” Robert said as he hugged Jax. “Take care of this boy of yours. Keep him safe.”
“I will.”
Robert pet Jumper one last time. “You’re a good boy, Jumper. You’re a good man, Jackson.” The men shook hands one last time, as firmly as Robert’s arthritis would allow. “That’s a good dog you have there.”
“I agree.”
“Nice family,” Robert said as he looked around for answers, finding none. “I’m sorry about your dad.”
“Thank you,” Jackson said as he nodded and then looked to his son. “Let’s get going, Jax.”
“Where you all heading?” Detective Chambers asked as he followed Jackson, Jax, and their dog to their truck.
“Maine.”
“Ah. Nice this time of year. Safe travels. Let me shake your hand one more time.”
The two men shook hands with firm grips.
“You sure I don’t know you from somewhere, man?”
Jackson studied Detective Chambers. “Something about you does seem familiar. Not sure, detective. Maybe in another life.”
“Maybe so.” Detective Chambers laughed. “Have a safe trip. Try not to kill anyone else,” he said with a grin.
“I’ll do my best,” Jackson replied with a half-smile.
Moments later, the truck was back on the interstate heading to Maine.
“Wow, dad,” Jax said to his father a few seconds into the ride.
“Wow what?”
“What you did. Amazing.”
“You mean take a couple lives and fail to save another? Not too amazing.”
“Get real. You did everything you could. I hope I can be as awesome as you if I ever find myself in a situation like that again.”
Jackson smiled at Jax. “Let’s hope you never do. I’m sure you will do what’s right should you ever be. You are a natural protector. Natural leader. You can do anything you want in this life, be anything you want to be. All you have to do is believe, Jax. Destiny will take care of the rest. I promise.”
With that, the three beating hearts inside the truck were ready for a quiet, uneventful drive as far north as they could reach before turning in for the night.
They were only six miles away from the Quickie Mart when Jackson stared bewildered at the unfamiliar numbered displayed on his ringing phone. The next hotel would have to wait a little longer.
Chapter 27
“It’s Gus,” he said on his phone to Chief Special Agent Cavanagh.
“You have her?” Cavanagh asked.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because her husband blew her brains out with a shotgun before we got there.”
“Really?”
“Uh huh. So we have the husband in the cage instead.”
“Does he have symptoms?”
“He has a fever. She bit a chunk out of his side before he splattered her brains all over the wall. And his mental state is… off. We figured he needs to be checked out at the lab.”
“Agreed. Good work. What did you do about the wife?”
“Left her in the house, but we baked another Thermite pie in the oven. Should be nothing left but the foundation by now.”
“Good.”
At that moment, Hector began to scream out in pain so loudly in the cage that even Cavanagh could hear it.
“What’s that?” he asked Gus.
“That’s the husband.”
“What’s he doing?”
“No idea. But is sounds bad, sir.”
“Keep him alive.”
“Shouldn’t be a problem as long as he doesn’t start eating himself or bust out of that cage. We’re on our way to the transport plane now.”
“About that.”
“Sir?”
“I was actually just about to call you. I need you to head back to Peterton, to the high school there.”
“What’s going on there?”
“That reporter is there now doing reports on graffiti some kids painted all over it. She’s burning up phone lines, making everyone nervous. You need to end that.”
“Yes, sir. It will be taken care of. Do we go there now or do you want us to deliver this guy to transport first?”
Hector was still screaming in the back of the van.
“The reporter needs to be dealt with first.”
“Yes, sir.”
“She needs to be taken alive.”
“What? Why?”
“The Chief of Staff wants to speak with her.”
“Really? Why?”
“I think he has some personal connection to her. Take her into custody, but keep it PG.”
“Yes sir. Will do.”
“Let me know when you have her in custody so I can update the Chief of Staff.”
“Yes sir. We’ll be in touch with that update shortly.” Gus hung up the phone. “What a pain in the ass.”
“What now?” Will asked, talking over Hector’s blood curdling screams. “What is it with this guy? None of the others have done that.”
“That girl from the park did it right before they threw her in the crematory. What was left of her.”
“Oh yeah,” Will replied, scratching his head, remembering what he saw on the crematory’s black and white closed circuit recording of it. “This is some scary shit, Gus! What the hell’s going on?”
“I don’t know, but we seem to be right in the middle of it partner.”
“Yep. What did Cavanagh say?”
“We have to pick up the reporter and keep her on ice for the Chief of Staff. No rough stuff.”
“I don’t see her being cooperative.”
“Me, neither. Get that dart gun ready. We’ll need one of those sleepy rags ready to go too.”
Chapter 28
“Over here,” Detective Chambers called out while he waved to Jackson, Jax and Jumper as they walked into the Blind Shark Tavern in Virginia.
It was a small bar with decor showcasing the owner’s love for fishing everywhere the eye could see, including the artistic rendering of a smiley Great White shark with an eye patch. Every table was made of redwood. Many of them were high tops; all but two were empty. A row of electronic dartboards lined the wall to the right of the entrance with two pool tables to the left.
Jackson waved back to Detective Chambers and made his way to the high table the detective sat at with Jax and Jumper right behind him.
“I’d started to think you weren’t coming,” Detective Chambers said with his hand out.
“We had to make a quick stop after your call,” Jackson said as he and Jax approached the table with Jumper by their side. Jackson was still wearing the bloody, ripped up t-shirt. He shook the detective’s hand.
“Go ahead and have a seat,” Detective Chambers insisted as he half stood up and pulled out a chair for Jackson. “I’m really glad you came. I knew I recognized you from somewhere,” he continued happily. “It was really bothering me. Then it came to me!”
“You sure it’s cool for Jax and Jumper to be in here?” Jackson asked as he pulled one of the other vacant chairs away from the table with his left hand and then grabbed his wounded shoulder with the other hand. He kept his hand gripped on the back of the chair, awaiting a response. “Sign on the door says no kids. No pets.” Jackson looked at Jax and then Jumper who was panting. “I got both.”
“If anything might get you kicked out, it’s your shirt. Looks like you shot up a mall or something.”
Jackson shrugged.
“My brother owns the place. It’s all good. Have a seat.”
Jackson let go of the chair. “Go ahead, buddy,” he said to Jax. “Sit, Jumper. Stay.”
Detective Chambers stared at Jackson’s shoulder, the blood all around the tear.
“Do you need to borrow a clean shirt, man? I think I have a button down in the car.”
“I’ve got a change of clothes in the truck. Just haven’t had… been a busy day.”
“I’d say so. You get a pass. Hey, by the way, I’m really sorry about your dad. How long was he sick?”
“What’ll it be for you, han’som’?” an attrac
tive, casually dressed, young barmaid said as she rushed up to the table just as Jackson winced, never answering the detective. She looked at Jackson as if she wanted to devour him, before being distracted by the blood. “What the hell happened to you?”
“I was shot.”
“When? On your way into the bar?” She looked quickly at Detective Chambers as if they should be doing something to help the patron. “Do you need help?”
“The robbery at the Quickie Mart,” Detective Chambers told her. He motioned to Jackson. “That’s him.”
“Oh,” she said with a big smile. “The hero everyone has been talking about.”
“I’m fine,” Jackson said, seeming frustrated by the banter. “I’ll have a Corona please. With a lime, if you have it.”
“Sure,” she said without hesitation. “You got it,” she continued as she put her hand on Jackson’s hand, resting on the table. “You poor baby.”
He stared at her hand on his and then at her face. She was cute, barely over twenty-one, her dark hair nicely styled in a bob.
“What about you, mister?” she asked as she lifted her hand off Jackson’s and turned her attention to Jax. “What you drinkin’?”
“Uh… Coke… with a lime,” Jax replied as he looked to his father for approval. Detective Chambers chuckled, as did the barmaid.
“You got it. Ready for another Bud Light, Gary?”
Detective Chambers nodded. “Sure. Off duty now. Finally. Thanks, Sally.”
“Anything for him?” Sally asked Jackson as she bent down and leaned forward a little to pet Jumper. The angle made it impossible for Jackson not to see down Sally’s loose midriff shirt, revealing the absence of any bra. She had taken it off just minutes earlier, as it was itching more than usual.
Jackson watched her hands massage Jumper’s fur and felt himself become aroused, unable to get the thought of her stroking him that way out of his head.
“What’s his name?” Sally asked as she looked up at Jackson and smiled after she looked down to see what caught his eye. Me, she thought, proud of her small, perky breasts. She was glad she took that bra off so the hero could see what it would have hidden. Her intense attraction to the Marine was instantaneous.
And We All Fall (Book 1) Page 21
