Father Figure (A Jaxon Jennings' Detective Mystery Thriller Series, Book 3)

by Richard C. Hale

  “I don’t do that,” Jaxon said. “You bring him here.”

  Papa considered this. “He might not come.”

  “Tough shit, then.”

  Papa eyed him hard, shifted his feet and came to a decision.

  “Wait.” He walked away.

  After ten minutes, Jaxon was ready to leave. He was signaling for them to get back in their cars when Papa came around the corner with another guy. He shuffled along next to him, his shoulders hunched, and his head on a swivel. He kept looking behind him. When he stepped into the light of the Laundromat, Ray could see his eyes. They looked haunted.

  His eyes darted among the three and settled on Laurelyn.

  “She the cop?” he asked.

  Papa nodded.

  “She looks like a stripper.”

  Ray reacted without thinking. “Shut the fuck up.”

  The guy flinched and then pulled his hand from his pocket. It held a knife.

  “Who the fuck is this?” he yelled.

  Jaxon’s gun appeared from nowhere and the guy found it in his ear before he knew what was happening.

  “Easy,” Jaxon said. “Give me the weapon.”

  “Who the fuck is that guy?” he repeated, still holding the knife.

  “He’s someone who’ll rip your fucking head off if you don’t do what I say. Do you believe me?”

  The guy studied Ray, who took another step toward him. Ray’s eyes must have conveyed his anger, because the guy backed down a bit.

  “Yeah. I believe ya.”

  He handed the knife slowly to Jaxon.

  “Now get that fucking thing out of my ear.”

  Jaxon lowered the weapon but kept it in his hand.

  “Are you all done posturing over me?” Laurelyn asked. “I’ll show you my badge.”

  “I don’t understand you lady,” the guy said. “What the hell is posturing?”

  “It means showing your ass.”

  She pulled out her badge and flashed it to him. He studied it for a second and looked up at her. He nodded.

  “I’m not a stripper,” she said.

  “I’ve never seen a pretty cop before. Sue me.”

  She put the badge away and glared at him.

  Jaxon holstered his weapon and closed the blade on the knife. He pocketed it without another word from the guy.

  “What’s your name?” Jaxon asked.

  “I’m not ready to tell you,” the guy said.

  “Maybe I’m not ready to help you.”

  “I think you guys have it wrong. I’m here to help you.”

  “That’s not what I understand. I think you’re in over your head and you need to disappear,” Jaxon said.

  The guy glanced at Papa. His expression remained hard.

  “Tony.”

  “All right, Tony. What did you drag us out here for?”

  He shuffled his feet and looked up at Laurelyn. “She’s going to be cool, right?”

  “I’m cool,” she said.

  “I heard you’re looking for The Man.”

  “We are,” Jaxon said. “You in a position to give him to us?”

  “I am. But I need protection. I’ll spill my guts only if you keep me safe.”

  “We can do that,” Laurelyn lied.

  Ray was not a cop any longer, but he knew what Laurelyn was saying could not be promised without the assistance of the Jacksonville cops. And then, it had to be cleared with the DA. Apparently she was going to work that out later and if the guy wanted to spill his guts, she was not going to stop him.

  “Rothstein,” Tony said. “The old guy.”

  Laurelyn looked at Ray, shock on her face. Jaxon didn’t seem fazed.

  “Is he messing with us?” Laurelyn asked Papa.

  “I’d listen to what he has to say, beautiful.”

  “That’s a pretty serious accusation,” Jaxon said. “How do we know you aren’t making this shit up?”

  Tony pulled his other hand from his pocket and held it up into the light. His first two fingers were missing and Ray could tell that the wound was fairly new. The tissue around the area was bruised with scabs covering it. The skin looked fused and jagged, like it hadn’t healed up properly.

  “I got this as a warning,” Tony said. “I was lucky. My buddy is dead.”

  “William Rothstein did this?” Laurelyn asked.

  “No. His thugs did. And some psycho they called The Doctor. But Rothstein was there.”

  Tony shivered in the warm summer night and Ray knew it wasn’t from the cold.

  “If you only lost two fingers, what happened to your associate?” Ray asked.

  The guy glared at him, still not sure if Ray was on his side or not.

  “Pulled his skin from his body and shot him in the head.”

  Ray looked at Jaxon who stood stoic, his face a mask of calm.

  “He was alive when they skinned him,” Tony said, looking down at his shoes.

  “Why aren’t you dead?” Jaxon asked.

  “I’m the message. I’m supposed to scare the shit out of anyone else who wants to muscle in on his action. The prick doesn’t fuck around.”

  “Why are you coming to us with this?” Laurelyn asked.

  “He left me alive. For now. I don’t think he’s done with me.”

  “And you’re scared?”

  “Wouldn’t you be, lady?” he said. “Fuck. My friend had his skin ripped from his body while I listened to him scream. I had to watch him die. Do you know what a guy who’s being skinned alive sounds like?”

  Nobody said a thing.

  “It’s sounds like a wild animal caught in a trap as it burns alive, trying to get away. It’s not human.”

  “All right, Tony,” Jaxon said. “We get it. We’ll get you someplace you can sleep at night. You did the right thing.”

  “I don’t know about doing the right thing. I’m gonna be a snitch now, and I hate those mother fuckers.”

  “But you won’t be skinned alive,” Jaxon said.

  Tony stared at him with his haunted eyes. He turned away after a second and looked to Papa. The drug dealer shrugged, but said nothing.

  Jaxon nodded at Laurelyn who took Tony by the arm and pulled him away toward Ray’s car. She took her cell phone out and dialed a number. Jaxon moved in closer to Papa when Laurelyn and Tony were out of earshot and spoke to him in a quiet voice.

  “What’s your take?”

  “The asshole’s scared.”

  “No shit. Do you believe him?”

  “He’s got fingers missing, man. Yeah. I believe him.”

  “I do too. Look. Has anybody seen you with him?”

  Papa’s eyes narrowed. “You think I’m a fool? Hell no.”

  Jaxon grinned at him.

  “You know better than that, Papa. If you were a fool, I wouldn’t deal with you.”

  “Nobody knows nothing.”

  “How did he find you?”

  “I’m known on the street. Friend of a friend of a friend.”

  Ray could tell Jaxon didn’t like that. He scowled.

  “You watch your back for a few days. You hear me?”

  “I’m always watchin’,” Papa said. “I’m no threat to him anyway. Don’t deal in his shit and I never will.”

  “Still, he might know you’re here. Friend of a friend of a friend.”

  Papa thought about it and then nodded his head slowly.

  “Maybe I’ll take a vacation,” he grinned. “Always wanted to go to Jamaica. Grab the old lady and head south. Sounds good, don’t it?”

  “You do that,” Jaxon said.

  They rejoined Laurelyn who was hanging up the phone as Papa disappeared.

  “They’re sending two patrolmen. I’ll go with Tony downtown, get him squared away. The DA says he’ll cooperate as long as he’s willing to stick with what he told us. They seemed very happy.”

  She smiled and Ray hoped the asshole would stay good on his word. He hated to think Laurelyn would take heat for this if it fell
through.

  “You guys wait with me until the patrol gets here?”

  “Of course,” Jaxon said. “We’ll even go downtown with you if you want.”

  “That won’t be necessary. I’ll get a ride home with an officer when I’m done.”

  “I don’t mind waiting,” Ray said.

  “It’s ok,” Laurelyn said. “I’ll catch up with you later.”

  She pressed something into his palm and gave him a smile.

  “Wait for me?” She said to him only.

  He looked at the key to her apartment and nodded.

  The two patrolmen showed up a few minutes later and they cuffed Tony and put him in the back.

  “Really? You mother fuckers are cuffing me?”

  Laurelyn leaned in closer to him. “In case somebody is watching. Understand?”

  He looked at her, then looked around nervously. “Yeah. I got it.”

  She climbed in the back with him and the car took off. Ray watched her drive away and turned to Jaxon. He had a look on his face.

  “What’re you thinking?” Ray asked.

  “I want to be there when they bust him,” Jaxon said.

  “Rothstein?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You were right, huh?”

  “Hunches are usually a cop’s best friend.”

  “Or their worst enemy.”

  Jaxon looked at him sideways.

  “You are correct, my friend. Be ready in case it bites you.”

  Jaxon walked to his car and drove off.

  Ray headed to Laurelyn’s apartment to wait.

  * * *

  Ray opened his eyes to find Laurelyn smiling at him, her head leaning against her hand, propped up next to him on the couch.

  “Hi, sexy,” she said and kissed him.

  He stretched and held his arms open and she moved inside where he pulled her close.

  “What time is it?” He asked.

  “A little after three.”

  “Wow. They kept you a long time. I guess I dozed off.”

  “You were out cold. I’ve been watching you.”

  He turned to her, a grin on her lips.

  “Copycat,” he said.

  “Hey, you’re fun to watch too.”

  “Yeah. Probably about as much fun as dirt on a dog.”

  “Dirt on a dog?” She said with a twang. “Where did you get that one?”

  “All right, I’m a loser. You can leave me now.”

  She moved her face closer to his. “You couldn’t drag me away.”

  “I remember a girl who didn’t want to get picked up.”

  “She still doesn’t. She just wants you.”

  “You can share me,” he said. “Do you have a girlfriend?”

  She punched him in the arm. “I didn’t know you were all about that.”

  “Oh, I’m all about that. I’ve got a phone number.”

  He held up his palm and showed her the number she had written on it.

  She looked at it and then looked up into his eyes.

  “You still have this?” She whispered.

  He nodded.

  “You haven’t washed it?”

  He shook his head.

  “But we took a shower.”

  “Ok. I kind of filled it back in. It had faded a bit.”

  She smiled at him. “You’re such a softie.”

  “I said I’d never wash it.”

  She kissed his palm softly and moved her lips to his fingers. She kissed the tips and then pulled one into her mouth, sucking on it gently. Her warm tongue felt like heaven moving over his sensitive fingertips.

  “If you don’t stop that we’re never going to get any sleep.”

  She smiled with her eyes and moved to the next one. “I’m not sleepy,” she said.

  “Can I play too?”

  She nodded and he took her hand in his free hand and brushed his lips across her palm. She shivered and sucked harder on his finger. He drew her first fingertip into his mouth and sucked it gently, then harder, their eyes locked together, a sexy smile touching the corners of her mouth.

  He moved to the next finger and then the next, making them moist and slippery with his saliva. The softness of her mouth around his fingers was driving him crazy so he took her hand and pushed it to his waistband urging her lower. She shook her head, teasing him, and pulled her hand away. She had other ideas.

  * * *

  “That was amazing,” she said. “We’re good at this.”

  He laughed, lowering his lips to her and kissing her as she laughed with him. He stood, picked her up and carried her into the bedroom, laying her on the bed. He lay down next to her, their faces almost touching, and ran his hands across her back and the curve of her hip. He let it rest there, her own hand pressed against his chest, her fingers playing with his hair.

  “I love how you carry me everywhere,” she said.

  “I’m trying to prove I’m tougher than you.” He grinned.

  She smiled and pulled the hair on his chest.

  “Ow!”

  “Wimp,” she said.

  He laughed at her and kissed the tip of her nose.

  “Yeah. I guess I am. I have this irresistible urge to protect you.”

  “I like it.”

  “You’d think you wouldn’t, as tough as you are at work.”

  “That’s work. When I’m with you, you do something to me. It’s like I feel safe with you and I want to be held. It’s so strong.”

  He pulled her in closer, wrapping his arms around her and cradled her head in his hand. “That’s funny. Because I want nothing more than to keep you safe.”

  “I’d trust you with my life,” she said, staring into his eyes.

  “I’d give mine for yours.”

  She searched his eyes, so intense, he couldn’t look away.

  “What are we going to do when I leave? I’m terrified of how I’ll be. I want this job more than anything in my life, but I just found you.”

  “I could never keep you from your dreams. It would destroy what we have. I don’t want you to go either, but you would hate me if you stayed.”

  “What are we going to do?” Her eyes were moist and shone in the low light.

  “We’re going to be together, happy, for as long as it lasts.”

  She nodded, a sad smile on her lips. She snuggled in close, her face pressed to his neck and her arm over his waist.

  “I want to fall asleep in your arms.”

  “I’ll sing to you if you want.”

  He felt her smile against his skin. “I’m being serious.”

  He sighed, and pulled her in tight. “I know. I’ve got you,” he said. “I’ve got you.”

  He drifted off, her soft breathing lulling him to sleep.

  His life could not be any better.

  Chapter 16

  Jaxon stepped out of the shower and found Vick sitting on the side of the bed. She had been crying.

  He knew she was still not feeling well and he was worried. She was always such a healthy person, exercising every day and eating every good thing that he avoided, so it made little sense that she couldn’t fight this thing off. Maybe it was time to go see the doc.

  He approached her and she looked up into his eyes, hers, ringed red and puffy. She tried to smile as she held something out to him.

  “I’m pregnant,” she said.

  He took the white stick and looked at it. It was a pregnancy test and the blue plus sign was unmistakable. He sat down next to her.

  “Are you sure?”

  She nodded. “Pretty sure. This has all been morning sickness.”

  He smiled then, unable to believe what she was telling him, yet excited at the news.

  “You’re really pregnant? That is great Vick. We’re going to have a baby?”

  She smiled too, and then turned serious.

  “I’m so old. I don’t want you to get your hopes up,” she said.

  “You’re not old. You look great and you’re in
great shape. We’ll get you a maid. I want you to take it easy. I’ll hire a secretary to handle your stuff and you stay in bed and get all the rest you need…”

  “Jaxon…”

  “We’ll make sure you see the doc every week and I’ll cook so you don’t have to and…”

  “Jaxon. Stop.”

  “Really. I can do this. WE can do this.”

  She reached out her hand and touched his face.

  “Stop. I don’t want you to get your hopes up. Late life pregnancies often end in miscarriage. And I’m not going to sit in a lounge chair the next eight months. I’ll go crazy.”

  “You do want this, don’t you?”

  “It’s scary,” she said. “But yes. I want this.”

  He kissed her and she clung to him.

  “I can’t believe this has happened,” she said. “I’m scared.”

  “I’ll be there with you. I’ll hold your hand when he comes.”

  “I know you will, but that’s not what frightens me. I’m afraid something will happen. I’m afraid this old body will fail this child and the life I’m carrying will be taken from us again. I can’t deal with that.”

  Jaxon took her face in his hands and said, “This is a gift. We’ve been given a gift and we can’t look at it that way. You’ll be fine. I promise.”

  “You can’t promise, Jaxon. You have no idea.”

  “But I can be here with you through it. We can do it together.”

  She smiled at his enthusiasm. “Why is it the men always say, ‘We can do it’?”

  “It’s a guy thing. We have to feel like we’re contributing somehow.”

  “Do you remember how to change a diaper?”

  “I never changed any the first time.”

  She smiled and leaned into him. He held her and felt something new in his life already, a priority now that took precedence over everything else he thought mattered.

  It was a good feeling.

  * * *

  Ray woke and found Laurelyn missing.

  He wondered where she was and then he heard the shower running. He got up and went into the bathroom where he opened the shower door and slipped in with her.

  She smiled at him and said, “Hi sleepyhead. I didn’t want to wake you.”

  He pulled her in tight and couldn’t believe how one person could make him feel so good. Her wet skin was smooth and soft to his touch and, pressed up against him it was the best feeling in the world. He kissed her neck.