“They’re endangered. Weston Industries supports a group that’s studying them there. Where was your last dive, Jack?”
“In the deep end of my bathtub.”
Pierce laughed; Replacement shot Jack a quick glare.
“That’s a good one.”
Pierce stood up. “Would you excuse me for a moment?”
As he walked away, Replacement leaned close to Jack. “Be nice.”
“I am.”
“He was being nice, asking you about diving. That was a snarky answer.”
“A snarky answer would’ve been if I said I went diving in Alaska with giant rare sea pandas.”
Replacement giggled but then glared again. “Look, he’s my new boss. Just go with it. I bet he’s trying to find some common ground you two can talk about.”
“Common ground? The guy’s swimming in the tropics with giant turtles. How am I supposed to go with it?”
“If he asks you again, just tell him where you really went diving last.”
“Really?” Jack imitated Pierce. “So, Jack, where was your last dive?” Jack put his elbows down on the table. “Gee, Pierce, it was a cold water dive in a pond when I went looking for the murder weapon used to kill my father.” He turned his hands out. “That wouldn’t have been a conversation stopper, now would it?”
Replacement whistled low. “Good point. Sorry.”
“He’s coming back. Am I telling him the truth?”
“Nope.” Replacement made a popping sound at the end. “Ask him about his car,” she whispered.
As Pierce sat down, the waiter brought the salads.
“Sorry about that. It looks like the corporate plane landed early. All of the guests arrived at the house about an hour ago. Hopefully all this will be done by Monday. Then I can code.”
“You still write the code?” Jack asked.
“Not typically but I have some new ideas that I’ve been kicking around. At this point, day-to-day responsibilities make writing code impossible.” Pierce put his napkin on his lap. “Now I take a vacation so I can program. How geeky is that?”
“It shows what you love to do.” Replacement smiled. “We always say grace.”
“Okay.” Pierce bowed his head.
“Dear Lord, thank you for this meal. Please watch over all of us, especially Aunt Haddie. In Jesus’s name, Amen.”
The waiter set down a plate of garlic bread, and Replacement wiggled in her seat.
“You have to have some.” She held the plate out to Pierce. “They’re the bomb.”
“If they get you that excited, then I will. Thank you.”
Replacement looked down, and Jack could tell she was counting the bread. He picked up a slice and set it down on her plate. “To the victor goes the spoils.”
She grinned.
Jack took a sip of his water. “The engine on that Porsche purrs.”
“I’m very pleased with the car. She’s a real fun drive.”
“I may be mistaken, but I saw that Porsche on a car show. They said it wasn’t for sale yet.”
“It’s not. I have a weakness for things I can’t have,” Pierce said.
Jack leaned forward.
“Jack has a Charger,” Replacement said.
“That’s a powerful car.” Pierce tipped his glass. “I bet she’s fast.”
“She is.”
“Have you ever raced?” Pierce asked.
“Technically, when I drive fast, it’s called a chase. I’d like to race sometime and not have to PIT someone at the end.”
Pierce laughed. “I heard you used to be a police officer.”
Jack nodded.
“PIT? Is that where you hit the other car and make it fishtail?” Replacement asked Jack.
“Yeah. Replacement’s always working on her police acronyms. If you like driving, you should take a TEVOC class. They’re a blast.”
“Replacement?” Pierce looked between them.
“It’s my nickname.” Replacement shot Jack a sideways look. “So you skydive too?”
“I love it. My next jump’s going to be in a flying suit.”
“I’ve seen those. They have the fabric on the arms.” Replacement held her arms out.
“Have you skydived?” Pierce asked Jack.
Jack nodded.
Pierce leaned in. “When you were standing there, ready to take that leap, what made you step out into the void? What drove you?”
“What drove me?” Jack repeated as he tried not to smirk.
Pierce nodded. “It’s an interview question that I always use. I think it tells a lot about someone. Why someone would jump out of a perfectly good airplane.”
“In my case I don’t think it’ll tell you much.”
“I think it will. Try me.” Pierce settled back in his chair.
“I jumped out of the plane because the guy ordering me to had a gun.”
Pierce’s mouth dropped open.
Jack smirked. “I was in the Army.”
Pierce’s laugh was a mixture of relief and understanding.
“Did you ever jump into any action?” Pierce asked, fascinated.
Jack blinked. In that fraction of a second, he could still almost feel himself slowly float to the ground. Watch the flashes below him. Listen to the bullets that streaked up unseen, knowing they were aimed at him. As he remembered that sensation of drifting helpless while the seconds seemed like days, his heart thumped against his chest.
Jack looked down at his glass, and it took all of his will to force his hand not to shake as he finished the drink. “I don’t really talk about it.”
After dinner, Replacement headed to the ladies’ room while the maître d’ walked over to the table with the bill in his hands. Pierce went to pay, but Jack waved him off. A minute later, the maître d’ returned. “I’m terribly sorry, sir, but there seems to be an issue with your credit card,” he whispered.
Damn.
“Could you run it again?” Jack’s stomach tightened.
“We have, sir. Do you have another?”
Jack’s hand turned into a fist. He had another credit card, but he knew it was already maxed out too.
“I’m ready to go.” Replacement walked back over. She looked at Jack’s stern face and whispered, “Is there a problem?” Her voice rose higher.
“I’m afraid there is,” the maître d’ said.
Jack cleared his throat.
“Oh, it’s my fault.” Pierce reached for his wallet. “When I reserved the table, I used my old card. I’m terribly sorry.” He handed a credit card to the maître d’.
Replacement exhaled and settled back into her chair. A big smile spread across her face.
Jack looked at Pierce.
Pierce gave the slightest wink.
Jack nodded.
Chapter 22
~
It’s Bad
While Replacement talked with Pierce about work, Jack watched Manuel, who stood near the restaurant’s front door, as he answered his phone. The soldier’s head tilted slightly to the side and his shoulders squared. Something about how he reacted to the call put Jack on alert. Manuel approached the table.
“I’m sorry to bother you, sir. But there’s an urgent phone call.”
“Excuse me.” Pierce and Manuel walked toward the restrooms and stopped in an alcove.
Jack looked over his shoulder and frowned.
“I think he just got some bad news,” Replacement whispered.
Manuel stood at attention as he spoke to Pierce. Pierce’s face got noticeably paler. He nodded twice and then hurried back over to the table. Pierce paused for a moment before he addressed Replacement.
“Alice, there’s been an accident at the house. Mr. Mathis was hurt.”
“What? What happened?” Replacement stood up, and so did Jack.
“He was in the server room, and one of the server racks fell on top of him. They’ve taken him to the hospital here in Darrington.”
“It’s bad.” Repla
cement grabbed Jack’s hand.
“I know the way. Why don’t you two follow me?” Jack said as all four headed for the door.
*********
Jack leaned against the wall outside the hospital room while Pierce spoke with three people at the end of the hall. Replacement paced back and forth. Jack recognized Manuel, but he’d never seen the man in the dark gray suit and the older woman before.
“He wasn’t trapped there long, was he?” Replacement asked Jack again.
He shook his head. “Manuel said the maid heard a crash and called security. An ambulance came right away.”
Pierce, the man in the suit, and the woman walked toward them. Manuel turned and stood ramrod straight next to the door.
“Alice, Jack,” Pierce began, “this is my executive assistant, Mrs. Lydia Maier.”
The older woman tipped her head. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Her eyes scanned both Jack and Replacement up and down. Jack smiled, but he had the distinct impression the woman summed them both up, categorized them, and filed it away.
“I’m Roger Braxton, an old college roommate of Pierce’s.” The man in the suit took Replacement’s hand and shook it firmly. “You know Mr. Mathis?”
Replacement nodded.
“I’m sure he’ll be fine,” Roger continued. “It looks like you’ve got a great hospital here, and I’m certain he’s getting the best care.”
Jack looked at his pearly white teeth, dirty blond manicured hair, and expensive suit. He looked like a sharp salesman.
“Mr. Weston,” Mrs. Maier said, “may I have a quick word?”
The three retreated back down the hallway. Jack watched the animated conversation. Pierce stood straight while Roger paced back and forth. After several minutes, a doctor came down the hall and spoke with them. The conversation was brief, but all three listened intently.
After the doctor walked away, Mrs. Maier and Roger both left, and Pierce came back to Jack and Replacement. “They’re going to go back to the house. There’s still no word. Mr. Mathis is still in X-ray.” Pierce sighed and sat down hard on the bench.
Replacement moved next to him and put her hand on his back. “He’ll be okay.”
“Does he have any family?” Jack asked.
“He has a brother in Maine. I called and let him know.”
The hours slowly ticked by. Staff switched, and they all waited. Finally, a doctor opened the door to Gerald’s room and stepped out.
“Alice Campbell?” he asked.
“Yes?”
“Mr. Mathis requested to see you.”
“Me?” Replacement swallowed.
She turned to Jack. Jack and Pierce walked with her to the doctor.
The doctor stood at the door but didn’t open it. He spoke softly. “Gerald has a hairline skull fracture and a concussion. He’s sedated, but he keeps asking if he can speak with you. You should try to keep it light and brief.”
They followed the doctor into the room. Replacement winced when she saw Gerald’s swollen face. Machines hummed and beeped. Monitors next to the bed flashed charts and numbers. A nurse adjusted a drip tube.
“Alice?” Gerald’s voice was just above a whisper.
She hurried over next to the bed. “Yes, Gerald.”
He tried to sit up.
“Just lie back down, Gerald. You need to take it easy.”
“No. I need to finish the job.” His voice rose and fell like a wave as he spoke.
“It’ll wait.” Replacement put her hand on his arm.
“No.” He shook his head and winced. “Please. It’s important. Can you do it?”
“Me? Finish the job?”
“Please?” Gerald’s eye opened wider. His pupil was dilated and couldn’t seem to lock on hers.
“Sure. I’ll do it. Just don’t worry about it, okay?”
“Thanks,” he mumbled.
“I’m so sorry you got hurt.”
Gerald’s eye snapped wide open. His leg pressed against the rail of the bed. “I don’t know what happened. They said,” he grimaced, “they said the rack fell on me.”
Jack stepped forward. “Who told you the rack fell on you?”
“I don’t remember. The ambulance people…or someone.” Gerald’s voice faded off. His eyelid drooped and then closed.
The nurse walked over close to Replacement. “We should let him quiet down.”
Replacement nodded. “We’ll be back,” she whispered but Jack could tell that Gerald had already fallen asleep.
They followed the nurse to the door. The nurse picked up a manila envelope off the table and handed it to Replacement.
“Mr. Mathis asked if you would hold onto his things. He thought that you may need them for a job that you’re working on.”
Replacement looked into the envelope. It contained some network plugs, some cabinet keys, and a metal case. She closed it and looked at Gerald.
“Thank you. I’ll hang onto them.”
Chapter 23
~
Bad to the Bone
Jack woke before dawn and snuck out of the house. He needed to find Kayden today. As he drove away from their apartment, he glanced back up at Replacement’s window.
What would Alice’s life be like with me? Maxed-out credit cards, a dinky apartment, and no good job prospects on the horizon. I’m a hell of a catch.
Jack wanted what was best for her, but when he looked at the facts, he wondered whether he could provide that.
Traffic was almost nonexistent as he made the trip to Fairfield. He got on the highway and stayed in the high-speed lane the whole way. Replacement needed his help later so he had to move fast. He let the windows down and breathed deep. One lone guy on a huge mower was cutting the grass. The smell filled the car but did little to improve his mood.
The Charger sped down the off-ramp. He weaved down the side streets until he reached Grant Street. Gripping the steering wheel hard, he pulled over to the curb. The blue duplex that Kayden called home was in the middle of Grant Street. Today must be trash day because green bins and bags lined the curb.
Jack flipped the folder about Kayden back open. He scanned the letter from Kayden’s lawyer again. Kayden was certainly covering his tracks. The letter stated that Jayden frequently stayed at the residence too. The bounty hunter from Trip-B had tried to arrest who he thought was Kayden at home. Jayden called the police and the police almost arrested the bounty hunter.
“How convenient,” Jack grumbled. “The perfect excuse to walk around free while you skip bail.”
The duplex door next to Kayden’s opened and an older woman carried out a small trash bag. Jack watched her as she came down the walk. He got out of the car.
“Hello.” He gave her a small wave.
The woman eyed him suspiciously as she pulled back the trash lid and tossed in the bag.
“I’m looking for Kayden Wilcox.”
“He lives there.” She pointed to the right side of the duplex before she turned toward the driveway.
“Have you seen him this morning?”
“I ain’t seen nothing.”
Jack nodded. “Thank you anyway. Can I leave you my card?”
“Nope. I don’t need him thinking I helped you, and I didn’t help anyway.” She walked to the driveway and opened the car door.
Jack walked back to the Charger.
The woman pulled the car to the end of the driveway and stopped. She eyed Jack up and down. She rolled down her window. “Are you a cop?”
Jack walked closer to the car. “Bail bondsman.”
“He left an hour ago. I heard him go out. There’s a breakfast place on Ellis. Sunnyside Café. I may have overheard that he’s meeting his brother there for breakfast.”
Jack grinned. “Thank you.”
“I didn’t do anything or say anything, so don’t thank me.” The woman waved her hand and drove off.
Jack headed back to the Charger. He glanced down at the orange prisoner jumpsuit he’d b
ought at Patton’s Supply. If Jack’s plan was going to work, he’d need the brothers together.
Main Street traffic was light. Jack would have preferred to keep an eye out for Kayden as he drove to Sunnyside but instead opted for the back roads to get there quicker.
He was glad he did.
As Jack pulled down Winsor Street, he spotted Kayden and Jayden strolling down the sidewalk. Jack scrunched up his shoulder and looked to his right to shield his face as he drove by. Once he was clear, he punched it. He spun the wheel and took a right. The Charger zipped down the side streets as Jack doubled back so he could cut off the brothers. He pulled back onto Winsor and into the deserted parking lot of an out-of-business auto parts store.
Jack grabbed the bright orange jumpsuit, rolled down the rear window of the Charger and got out. Then he walked over to the middle of the parking lot and waited.
A minute later, both Jayden and Kayden strolled into view. One of the brothers elbowed the other and pointed to Jack. Smirks crossed both of their faces.
“You got a second?” Jack called out as he waved them over.
“Screw you,” the one on the left yelled back.
The one on the right piped up, “You don’t get it, do you? There’s nothing you can do to us.” He stormed over to Jack and his brother followed. “Arrest me. Arrest him. Arrest us both. Roll the dice. We’ll sue your sorry ass.”
“That’s the thing Jay-Kay. I’m not going to guess. I don’t make sucker’s bets. But I’m taking Kayden in today.”
They both laughed. The one on the left pulled on his brother’s arm. “Let’s go.”
“You don’t bet, huh? Go ahead. How do you know which one’s which?”
“I don’t know.” Jack grinned. “But my partner does. And she’s never wrong.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
Jack whistled. The Charger rocked back and forth on its chassis. Lady leapt out of the window. With the ballistic vest on, she did look like a tank with teeth.
They backed away. “Don’t move!” Jack warned. “I don’t know how she’ll react.”
Both men froze.
Lady’s claws clicked on the asphalt as she strode over and stood next to Jack. Her mouth was closed and her brown eyes stared at the two men. Her chest swelled as she pressed up against Jack.
DATA JACK Page 10
