He sighed. “Please tell me you have something for me, Shawna.”
Shawna’s long, jet-black poufy wig waggled back and forth as her head rocked from side to side “Well…” Her voice rose higher and so did her hands. “I have the check for the two you just brought in.”
“That’s good, but do you have something new for me?” Jack leaned against the counter.
Shawna’s eyes darted down to a stack of manila folders and then back up to Jack. “I’m sorry, Jack; maybe next week?”
“Come on, Shawna, you’ve got five there. Is Titus in?”
Jack knew Shawna since they were kids. She had a habit of closing her eyes when she talked. When she got real nervous, her eyes slammed shut. Right now, they were clamped closed. “Titus is really, really busy. He said he was going to steer some work your way, but things have been slow—”
“Shawna,” Jack interrupted, “open your eyes and look at me.”
Her lips mashed together, and her eyes snapped open.
Jack continued, “I need to talk to Titus. He can give me one of those.”
“No,” she blurted out. “It’s just…you can’t have those. They’re for Bobbie G.”
“Is there a reason Titus is giving all the work to Bobbie?”
Shawna protested, “He’s not.”
“You’ve got five folders, and they’re all labeled for Bobbie G.” Jack pointed. “I know he’s been here longer than me, and he’s my friend, but I’m talking about throwing me a bone. Should I be talking to Bobbie?”
“NO!” Shawna’s whole body popped up and down. She loudly huffed and blew some strands of wig hair that had fallen in her face up. “Bobbie’s so mad right now he could spit. Please don’t talk to him.”
“Why’s Bobbie mad? He’s getting all the work.”
Shawna shook her head and cast a quick look over her shoulder at the closed door. Her eyes searched Jack’s face for a second, and then she leaned forward.
“Don’t tell that I said anything, okay?” she whispered. “Titus had to hire his brother-in-law, Irwin. That’s what’s going down.”
“So those aren’t going to Bobbie G?” Jack pointed at the folder.
Shawna rolled her eyes. “They are, but Bobbie G is training Irwin. If that’s possible. Irwin got fired from selling cars and Ciella, Titus’s big sister—do you remember her?”
Jack nodded. Ciella was the type of woman everyone remembered. Loud and whiny, Jack recollected how long she could talk without taking a breath. He rolled his eyes at the thought of her rambling on and on about nothing. Her voice alone would wear down anyone, which was probably what happened to Titus.
Shawna nodded as if she read Jack’s mind. “Anyway, Ciella’s here almost every day, and she’s on Titus—like white on rice. Now Bobbie G’s got to do all the work and split the fee sixty/forty with Irwin.”
Jack’s face didn’t hide his disgust. “He has to split the fee sixty/forty?”
“Shh.” Shawna’s hands fluttered like a windmill as she stared back at the door. “Don’t let Titus hear you. Anyway, that’s what’s going down.”
Jack sighed. “Great. Now I understand at least. I don’t like it, but it makes sense.”
Shawna patted the back of his hand. “I’m sorry, Jackie. I’ll try to work on him.”
“Thanks for trying.” Jack straightened up and rolled his shoulders. “I appreciate it. Tell Titus I’m here.”
“What?”
“I need work. I’m not coming with my hat in my hand. I’m good. I’m fast. He can give me one. I’ll talk to Ciella if he wants.”
Shawna pouted, but as her lips pressed together, her eyes narrowed. She looked down at the folders and then back up at Jack. “Hold on.” She spun on her heels and marched over to the closed door. She adjusted her wig, straightened her skirt, lifted her hand high, and then timidly tapped on the door.
“Yeah,” Titus’s baritone rumbled.
Shawna slipped into the office and closed the door behind her.
Jack could hear them talking but not what was being said. From the sound of it, it was a one-way conversation with Titus doing most of the talking. After only a minute or two, the door whipped open and Shawna hurried out.
Her eyes were open wide. “I got you one.” She triumphantly pulled a folder out of the pile. “Here it is.”
Jack eagerly took the folder. “I can’t thank you enough.”
Shawna bit her lip and wiggled her eyes. “Oh, I bet I could think of someway you could.”
“Seriously. It means a lot.”
Shawna stuck her tongue out. “Don’t go getting all mushy. His name’s Kayden Wilcox. Twenty-eight. Drug possession with intent to distribute in a school zone. No violent priors. I’ve got everything in there.”
“Anything else?”
“We only got a week left to catch him.”
“Wait, I only have a week?”
“Yeah. We got his file from Bronson Bail Bonds. He was their bail, but they asked Titus for help. They were on it for two months.”
“Trip-B had two months, and I have a week? Come on, it’ll take a miracle to pull it off.”
“There is one wrinkle. In his family, he’s got a—”
“Shawna?” Titus called out from his office, and it caused her to jump.
“It’s all in the folder.” She gave his arm a squeeze and then hurriedly disappeared into Titus’s office.
Jack grinned as he gripped the manila envelope.
Good deal. I got paid, and I got a new one. Hopefully, I’ll catch this guy quickly.
Jack hurried back to the Charger. Along the way, he opened the folder and began to study the face of Kayden Wilcox. Kayden had a thin nose, and his eyes were set a little too close together. The mug shot showed an angry man with a tattoo of crossed swords on his neck. Jack made a mental note of the address and tossed the folder on the seat.
He started the Charger and headed for Patton’s Supply. He chuckled at the name. The owner, Benny Duggan, was a diehard Patton fan. He even dressed like him and went everywhere in military clothing. Benny was unconventional to say the least, but Jack had come to like the eccentric guy.
As Jack pulled into the parking lot of the strip mall, Benny was busy trying to set up a new mannequin in the store window. Jack tried not to laugh. Benny was a little guy with a large potbelly; the mannequin looked like a tall version of him.
“New mannequin?” Jack asked.
“Isn’t it great?” Benny beamed as he whipped his brow and stepped back to admire his work. “I’m expanding to a big and tall offering.”
“Well, that guy’s both.” Jack chuckled.
“There’s more.” Benny turned and marched toward the back room like a five-star general.
“I’m just doing a quick pick up,” Jack called after him.
Benny reappeared again through the double doors, carrying a giant, fake police dog. “Check this out. It’s like the King Kong of dogs.”
Jack took a step back when Benny set the dog next to the mannequin. “It’s about as big as my dog. She’s a King Shepherd.” Jack took out his phone. He held it out, and Benny peered at the screen.
“Is that a girl next to the dog? That dog’s enormous.”
“I told you.” Jack grinned. “Big as a bus.”
“A bus? Why not make her look like a tank?” Benny reached behind the mannequin and pulled out a huge dog vest with golden stars on both sides.
“It’s awesome,” Jack said.
“You should get it.” Benny held out the vest.
“No way. She’s not a police dog.”
“What about a bounty hunting dog?”
“A what? They don’t have bounty hunting dogs.”
Benny’s eyes widened. “You can start a trend. Think about it? If you brought that dog with you, I’d surrender in a second.”
“Good point.” Jack looked at the picture of Lady on his phone and then to the vest. “It’s a ballistic vest, right?”
“
She’d be a Sherman tank with teeth.” Benny’s heels clicked together as he snapped to attention.
“I bet it’d cost as much as a tank.” Jack shook his head.
“What else are you getting?”
“Two cans of mace. Four refills for my Taser, and I was going to pick up another round for my girlfriend just to make her happy.”
“Ammo?”
“No. I still don’t have my guns.”
Benny looked up at the ceiling, and his face contorted. “Tell you what. Five hundred covers everything.”
“Benny, I appreciate it, but that vest alone has to run three times that.”
“I got two as floor models, and they’re triple large. Someone screwed up on their end. I didn’t even think they made dogs that big. Besides, I have my name and number on it too.” Benny held up the vest, and Jack noticed the text printed in gold along the side. “It’d be good advertising. Think about it. Jack Stratton, the guy who caught the Giant Killer, and his trusted sidekick shop at Patton’s Police and Military Supply Depot.”
“I don’t know.”
“What’s not to know?”
“I can’t. I don’t have the funds.”
“You can. Now it’s free advertising. You can have it. The streets are a dangerous place, my friend. You need backup. Even Batman has Robin.”
Chapter 14
~
You’re Beautiful
Replacement hustled around the large living room, peeking behind and under furniture. She checked off the location of the jacks and tried to work out where they could put the wireless equipment.
She slashed another line through the word JACK and frowned. As she stood in the middle of the room, her eyes burned. Her arms wrapped around her chest protectively as she worked to hold back the tears.
Why doesn’t he want me?
Just asking herself the question opened the floodgates. Different answers to her question rattled through her mind like pinballs. They all led back to one thing—it was her.
She wiped her eyes and headed out the back door. It was fall, but the day was still warm. She took in a deep breath of air and walked toward the lake.
As the entire lake came into view, she stopped cold. She looked over at the green slope on the far side and more tears ran down her cheeks as she thought about Michelle. How she wished she could talk to her sister right now. Replacement never had many friends, and now there was only Jack she could go to.
The wind blew the grass, and she sniffled. As she looked at the hill, she knew what Michelle would tell her: It’s not you. You’re beautiful.
Replacement smiled as she remembered Michelle’s voice. Michelle, although technically not related, had been the perfect big sister. Teacher, friend, confidant, and protector. While others shied away from the quirky little girl, Michelle didn’t. Her first day at Aunt Haddie’s, they’d become friends.
Replacement squared her shoulders and looked back across the lake. “Miss you,” she whispered and then turned and headed back to the cottage.
She walked into the living room and picked up her phone. Every room was now complete except the small den in the back. As she went into the hallway, she noticed Pierce with his back to her as he peered into the last room. The door was partly open, but he leaned slightly as he gazed inside.
“Hi,” she said.
His shoulders popped up, and he spun around. The laptop in his hands slipped out. He grabbed for it, but it landed flat on the floor.
“I’m so sorry!” Replacement gasped. She rushed forward and scooped up the laptop.
“I’m the one who dropped it. It’s okay. It’s solid state, and with that case, you could jump on it and it’d be fine.” He held his hand out.
Replacement handed him the case and followed him over to a desk in the corner.
“The company who designed it said I could drop it down a flight of stairs, though I’ve never tested that out.” Pierce awkwardly grinned. “I didn’t hear you behind me.”
“Sorry,” Replacement said. “I stepped outside for a second. I didn’t know you were over here. I’ll pack up and go find Gerald.”
“No, no need.” The laptop beeped, and the screen prompted a log-in. “Yeah.” Pierce exhaled. “It still works.”
“You were worried.”
“The case is bulletproof, but you never know.”
“I lost a portable hard drive that tipped over on a desk. It fell like two inches onto its side.” Replacement stuck out her tongue.
“When I was in college, I tipped a thirty-two ounce Slurpee onto my laptop. Fried it,” Pierce said.
Replacement chuckled. “Save and save often.”
“A computer creed I live by.” Pierce turned to the laptop. “I know you’re helping Mr. Mathis, but what’s your computer background? Did you go to school?”
She nodded. “I went to the Haddie Williams Military Academy.”
Pierce typed his log-in and took a USB stick out of his pocket. “You? A military academy?”
Replacement laughed and shook her head. “I was homeschooled. My sister and I used to kid and call it that. Aunt Haddie’s my foster mother. It was actually a lot of fun.”
Pierce looked perplexed. “Did you teach yourself computers?”
“My sister, Michelle, got me started. I took a lot of online classes too. You use double encryption?” She pointed to the USB stick.
“Yeah. It’s my development box.”
“I read that you wrote VE-Life in your own hybrid of C.”
“You did?” Pierce shook his head. “I mean, I did.”
“The storage looks fine.” Replacement leaned against the desk. “You should still run a diagnostic. It fell hard.” She wrinkled her nose. “Sorry.”
“Stop apologizing. It was my fault.”
Replacement looked back to the door.
Pierce stood up straight. “Are you going to be working over here long?” he asked.
“This is the last room I need to do, then I’ll be out of your hair.”
“Actually,” Pierce stuck his hands in his pockets, “I was hoping I could ask you a few questions.”
“What kind of questions?”
“Computer.”
“Me?” Replacement’s hand went to her chest.
“Well, I’m putting together a presentation about the next version of VE-Life, and I wanted some fresh eyes on it.”
“But why me? I’m like nothing—I mean, you must have tons of Ivy League techs who’re better qualified.”
“I think you’re smarter than you realize.”
Replacement lifted her chin a little higher.
“And sometimes execs are so interested in corporate ladder climbing they’re not honest.” Pierce stared for a second at the back wall. “I mean, it’s hard to get an unbiased opinion.”
“Well, if you think I can help—fire away.”
“Great.” Pierce opened the laptop. “I’ve started this conversion…” He went on about the modifications he was envisioning. Pierce was like a kid with a shiny new toy. He spoke fast and his hands danced through the air as he explained.
She smiled. As she watched him, she tried to stay focused on what he was saying, but she had a hard time concentrating on his words and not on him.
Chapter 15
~
There is One Wrinkle…
Jack decided to swing by Kayden’s last known address. Traffic was light so he stuck to the main drag. He took a right and stopped as the light turned red. The sun was now right in his eyes. He pulled down the visor of the Charger and grinned. Tucked next to the mirror was Replacement’s picture. Jack felt like a fighter pilot whenever he looked at it before going out on a bounty. He wasn’t superstitious, but it was a habit now.
He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel as the walk signal came on. An assorted herd of humanity paraded by the front of the Charger. Jack scanned their faces. Most turned and looked away. Kayden Wilcox strolled across the crosswalk directly in front of him. Jack di
d a double take from the wanted poster on his seat to the man who casually glanced at him before stepping up on the curb.
Jack looked at the sky. “Thank you!”
A few stragglers ambled by, and the light changed. He cut the wheel and pulled over to the curb. Jack hesitated about grabbing a can of mace from the trunk but decided against chancing losing Wilcox.
Wilcox was about twenty yards ahead of him. People moved along both sides of the wide sidewalk. As he hurried after him, Jack mentally ran down Wilcox’s list of priors and came up with no violent offenses.
Wilcox was four inches shorter than Jack and thinly built. Jack scanned his waist and pockets for any telltale bulges of possible weapons but saw none.
A group of four teenagers jostled one another between him and Wilcox. Jack stayed a few feet behind them. Three of the teens chatted away while one texted and looked up occasionally.
Wilcox glanced back at the group. His face soured but he kept walking.
The teens turned in to a store.
Jack made his move. He surged forward. “Kayden Wilcox,” Jack announced in his police voice as he slapped a cuff on him. “I’m taking you in on an outstanding warrant.”
“Wait!” Wilcox blurted out. “You got the wrong guy.”
Jack looked at the tattoo on Wilcox’s neck and scowled. “Save it.” He clicked the other cuff closed.
“I’m his brother.”
“Right.”
“My name’s Jayden Wilcox. Check my license.”
Jack grabbed Wilcox’s arm and pulled him back toward the Charger. “You can explain that to the judge.”
“When I sue you for false arrest, I will. My name’s Jayden Wilcox, and Kayden’s my twin brother.”
“You both have the same tattoo?”
“Yeah, we do. Call the bail bonds. This happened before, and my lawyer sent them papers.”
There is one wrinkle… Shawna’s unfinished warning echoed in Jack’s mind.
Jack looked at Wilcox and his eyes narrowed. “You’re his twin brother? Where’s your license?”
Wilcox huffed. “Inside coat pocket. You better take these cuffs off now.”
Jack took his wallet out of his pocket and flipped it open. He scanned the license and scoffed, “It’s a dupe.”
DATA JACK Page 7
