DATA JACK

by Christopher Greyson

  The tires screeched as Pierce hit the brakes.

  The road dipped at the turn.

  The screeching stopped as the tires spun in the air when the Porsche left the tar.

  Jack reached for his seat belt.

  The car landed hard and slid.

  Pierce jammed down the gas and cut the wheel. The guardrail blocked the car from hitting the rocks, but the whole car rocked as it slammed against it.

  Pieces of metal and plastic flew into the air along with a shower of sparks. Pierce fought to straighten out.

  “There.” Jack undid his seat belt.

  Sparks stopped flying behind the Porsche as the rear quarter panel finally ripped free.

  Jack checked the pistol.

  “You can’t shoot,” Pierce said. “You could hit Alice.”

  “I won’t.”

  “You could. We should do that PIT maneuver.”

  “You don’t know it.”

  “I do.” Pierce flew into the turn. “I told you I raced stock cars. It’s just like a bump and run.”

  “This car’s too light.”

  “It makes up for weight in power. Bruce Lee: light is might.”

  Jack looked down at the pistol. “If it starts to go wrong, I’m shooting the tires.”

  Pierce nodded.

  The other car came into view.

  Like a fighter jet, the Porsche glided into place behind the sedan.

  Chapter 50

  ~

  The Mother Bear

  Replacement kept her eyes closed in the backseat. Pain shot down her leg as she tried to move. She clamped her mouth closed. Her hip burned. She flexed her toes. Her hand rested on her thigh and she felt her blood-soaked pants. The bullet struck her in the fleshy part of her butt.

  Replacement focused on the rest of her body but besides her head pounding, everything else felt fine. She tried to move her thigh and her teeth clacked as pain racked her body.

  “Headlights behind us,” Nicholai said.

  “They’re coming fast.”

  She heard Luka pull on the front seat and guessed that he was right over her.

  “That’s no police car,” Luka said.

  Replacement tensed. She tried not to cry out as pain ripped down her leg.

  “It’s a Porsche.” Luka continued to peer over the backseat.

  “They’re almost on us,” Nicholai said.

  The sound of metal on metal clicked from up front.

  “There are two people in the car. The men from the kitchen.” Luka sat back down.

  Replacement bit her lip as the confirmation that Jack was coming for her washed over her.

  “Shoot them,” Nicholai ordered.

  Replacement snapped.

  The thought of these two animals shooting at Jack flipped some switch. Like a mother bear, the need to protect him overran all her thoughts.

  She jumped up and grabbed Luka’s hair with both hands.

  He screamed in a mixture of shock and pain.

  She howled in rage and smashed Luka’s head into the passenger’s side window.

  Nicholai swore and reached for her.

  The car swerved.

  Replacement didn’t let go of Luka’s hair. She pulled his head toward the driver’s side and then smashed Luka’s head into the passenger window again.

  Luka’s gun tumbled to the floor.

  Nicholai swung at her.

  Her shoulder took some of the impact, but his fist continued up and hit the side of her head. Her left hand pulled free of Luka’s head, and a huge clump of his hair was ripped out.

  Replacement’s vision blurred. She still had Luka’s hair in her right hand. All she could think about was him shooting Jack. She planted her right leg against the backseat and thrust forward as hard as she could. Her body dove over the front seat, and she smashed Luka’s face into the dashboard.

  Luka went limp.

  Nicholai’s fist came down like a sledgehammer in the middle of Replacement’s back.

  She screamed. Her arms and legs went out, and she collapsed on top of Luka.

  Nicholai raised his arm again.

  Metal ground together. The car groaned.

  Nicholai swore and grabbed the wheel with both hands.

  Tires screeched.

  Above it all, she heard her name being screamed by the man she loved.

  Chapter 51

  ~

  Not Alone

  “ALICE!” Jack slammed into the door as the cars smashed together.

  The windshield shattered. The Porsche’s front quarter panel buckled.

  Pierce’s forearms strained, and he jammed the gas to the floor.

  The sedan broke free and then swung back and smashed the Porsche. The impact jammed the Porsche to the left.

  Nicholai cut back too far right and swerved straight for the guardrail.

  Pieces of the Porsche’s front bumper crashed against the windshield as the front tire blew.

  The sedan headed straight for the guardrail. The heavy car plowed through the metal and over the edge.

  The Porsche spun one hundred eighty degrees.

  Pierce jammed on the brakes.

  The Porsche slammed into the guardrail on the left side of the street and slid down it.

  Before it even came to a stop, Jack rammed against the door, but it was wedged closed. Jack grabbed the roof of the car and pulled himself out the window. He ran across the hood and jumped to the ground. He raced past the twisted pieces of metal and shattered glass as he sprinted across the street.

  The sedan had gone through the guardrail and landed upright fifteen feet out in the water. Steam roared out of the engine as the front end of the car started to sink.

  Jack took two long strides, planted his foot on the guardrail, and jumped feet first. The water wrapped around him and he was plunged into darkness. Jack stretched his legs out as he felt for the bottom, but he didn’t hit ground.

  Jack’s head broke the surface. He pulled himself along the car and over to the passenger door. Nicholai was slumped over the steering wheel. Replacement was lying on top of Luka.

  Her head rose, and she started to struggle.

  “ALICE!” Jack pulled on the car door. Metal groaned as he wrenched the door open.

  “JACK!” Replacement tried to lift herself up, screamed, and fell back down.

  There was a loud splash at the end of the car.

  Jack grabbed Replacement, and she wrapped her arms around him. He pulled her forward, and she screamed again. “My leg! It’s stuck.”

  A blast of steam poured out of the dash. Jack shielded her face.

  Pierce swam up next to Jack.

  Water now poured into the car.

  “Where’s it stuck?” Jack yelled.

  Pierce pulled open the back door.

  “Next to the seat.” Replacement struggled to keep her head above the water.

  Pierce moved into the backseat while Jack reached down to feel Replacement’s leg. It was wedged fast between the seat and the frame of the car.

  Jack pulled up, and she screamed.

  “Can you get it from there?” Jack shouted to Pierce.

  The car listed toward the driver side. Replacement struggled as the water lapped at her mouth.

  Pierce pulled.

  Replacement cried out.

  “BREATHE!” Jack shouted.

  Replacement inhaled.

  Jack filled his lungs with air just as water washed over the car.

  Jack started to pray.

  Green eyes searched Jack’s as the car sank beneath the surface. Jack jammed his right elbow against the doorframe and his left hand grabbed the seat back.

  The dashboard lights flickered and died.

  As the darkness swept over them, desperation poured through Jack. It was as if Alice were being devoured by some beast; she disappeared into the void. He saw that look of sheer terror in her eyes, and fear washed over him.

  He knew he couldn’t save her.

  He
knew she was going to die.

  But he knew that if she did, it wouldn’t be alone.

  Jack pulled his legs up and pressed them against the seat. He jammed his back into the doorframe and heaved.

  All of the air was being forced from his lungs as he pushed. He didn’t care. He kept going.

  Even underwater, he heard the metal grind.

  Suddenly, Replacement started to pull herself up and he knew she was free.

  Jack wrapped his arms around her waist and swam for the surface. As he pulled away from the car, Luka’s hand grabbed his ankle.

  Jack kicked and broke Luka’s hold.

  He swam hard. His right arm pulled down, and his legs kicked furiously. Replacement and he shot upward. Gasping, their heads broke out of the water.

  A second later, Pierce appeared.

  “Take her,” Jack yelled.

  Replacement coughed and shook her head.

  “The guy’s alive,” Jack said.

  “I’ll go,” Pierce offered.

  Jack shook his head.

  Pierce wrapped his arm around Replacement.

  “Keep her safe,” Jack growled.

  Replacement reached out for him, but Pierce started to swim for shore.

  Jack took three deep breaths and dove. He swam hard as he tried to keep the picture of the car in his mind. Bubbles floated past him, but he couldn’t see anything below.

  His hand hit the roof. He could feel the open door. Reaching in, he felt the limp body in the passenger seat.

  Jack pulled but Luka was stuck. Jack’s body started to rise, and he pulled himself partway into the car.

  The sedan finally hit bottom.

  The car tipped toward the roof. The door hit Jack’s back. The car dragged Jack over. The car turned to lie on its roof, and Jack was pulled along with it. His legs went over his head.

  The sedan rocked on the bottom of the lake.

  Jack couldn’t see. He knew his eyes were open but it was a black void.

  This is what hell will be like.

  Jack grabbed Luka’s wrist and braced his feet on the side of the car.

  He pulled Luka free.

  Jack wrapped his arm around Luka’s chest and pushed off. Pulling with one arm and kicking as hard as he could, Jack struggled with the limp body.

  Jack’s face broke the surface. He gulped in air.

  Pierce swam toward him.

  Jack pulled Luka toward shore. Luka’s face was blue.

  Pierce grabbed Luka’s shoulder while Jack held the other one.

  As they neared the bank, Replacement crawled toward Jack.

  Pierce dragged Luka up the bank.

  Jack stumbled out of the water and toward Replacement. He reached her and sank to his knees.

  Replacement grabbed him and he cradled her face in his hands.

  Her green eyes filled with tears.

  He pressed his forehead against hers.

  Jack looked back to the water. “The driver.” He panted as he started to rise.

  Replacement grabbed his shirt. “You can’t save everyone.”

  “We haven’t saved this one yet,” Pierce called out. “I need a hand.”

  Jack staggered over and knelt down next to Luka’s body. They both started CPR. As Jack did chest compression, Pierce did mouth-to-mouth.

  Pierce sat up and turned Luka’s head to the side.

  Luka threw up.

  Jack staggered to his feet and looked out at the water.

  Pierce grabbed his arm. “She’s right.”

  Replacement cried out.

  Jack ran over to her. He saw the blood on her jeans.

  “I got shot.” She grimaced.

  Jack grabbed her jeans, and her hand clamped over his. She shook her head.

  “I have to see how bad it is,” he said. Jack looked at Pierce, and he turned around. Jack examined the wound. “It looks like a through-and-through.”

  “A what-and-what?” Replacement pounded the ground as she grimaced.

  “It went straight through your left butt cheek.”

  “Will it scar?”

  “Who’s going to see it?”

  “You should put pressure on the wound,” Pierce said.

  “Turn around.” Jack glared.

  “Stop it, Jack. I don’t care who sees my butt as long as it stops hurting.”

  Jack pressed his hand against the wound.

  Until the ambulance arrived, Replacement let fly a steady stream of swears and tears.

  Chapter 52

  ~

  I Need to Tell You Something

  The next day, Jack paced back and forth outside Replacement’s hospital room. He had a bouquet of Christmas roses tightly clutched in his hand. He wanted to talk to her, but now wasn’t the time. He had no idea what he was going to say to her anyway. His eyes were dark and bloodshot. He hadn’t slept. Every time he tried to sleep, he just heard Replacement talking to Pierce.

  The door to her room opened, and the nurse walked out and held the door open. “She’s all set.”

  “Thanks.” Jack started to go through the door and the nurse held up a hand.

  “She’s on a morphine drip. She’s a little loopy.”

  Jack hesitated before he went through.

  Replacement was propped up in the bed and grinned from ear to ear. Her smile widened when she saw him. “Hey, baby.” She saw the flowers, and her eyes filled with tears.

  “I ran across the street to the florist.”

  “You haven’t gone home?” Her lip trembled.

  “I called Mrs. Stevens, and she and Lady are fine.”

  Replacement sat up and winced. “But what about you? Are you getting any sleep? You look terrible.”

  Jack nodded and shook his head. He held out the flowers. “I’m good.”

  “No, you’re not.”

  “They’re Christmas roses.”

  “They’re my favorite, but I’m worried about you.”

  Jack exhaled. “Don’t be.”

  “I need to tell you something.” Her lips mashed together.

  He stood up straighter.

  “It’s about Pierce. I gave it a lot of thought, but I wanted to talk to you first.”

  “Alice…we don’t have to do this now. Let’s wait until you’re home.”

  She shook her head. “No. I need to get this over with. Well…while we were working on the house, Pierce and I worked together a lot.”

  Jack’s chest tightened.

  “He kept asking me ideas and such and…he kinda…he asked me to go to California.”

  Jack swallowed. “What did you say?”

  “I told him I wanted to talk it over with you. What do you think about it?”

  Jack scowled. “What do I think about it?”

  She made a face. “Yeah? Do you think it could work? I never thought I’d have a chance like this.”

  Jack didn’t answer. He growled.

  “I didn’t think you’d get mad.”

  “What did you think I’d get?”

  “I thought you’d be happy for me.”

  “Happy for you?” Jack hands shot up. “What the hell are you talking about? You’re leaving me, and I should be happy?”

  “What? I’d never leave you.”

  “You just said that you’re going to California.”

  “I said I had to talk to you about it. He said you could come.”

  “Wait. Are you just on drugs?”

  Replacement shut one eye. “Huh?”

  “Look, I’m doing everything to keep from going medieval here. I just want to throw Pierce out the window and take you home. I know you have feelings for Pierce. You wanted to wait to tell me after we caught the guys with the case. Well, just get it over with, and tell me.”

  Replacement bit her bottom lip. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  Jack crossed his arms. “You and Pierce.”

  “What about me and Pierce?”

  Jack glared out the window. “I hea
rd.”

  “Heard? What?”

  “The morning you went in to talk to Pierce.” Jack walked close to the bed and gazed down at her. “You left your phone next to the bed.”

  Her lip curled. “You’re right. I’m on some serious drugs, so you have to spell it out for me. I’m lost.”

  “You said you had feelings for Pierce.”

  “I what?” She made a face as if someone poked her in the eye. “I don’t. I didn’t. I’d never say that.”

  Jack shook his head. “I heard you. You said you ‘wanted him.’ That you didn’t care about the house or cars or —”

  “I wasn’t talking about ME!” Replacement’s head wobbled from side to side. “Wait a minute. Are you saying while we had Pierce on surveillance you heard what I said?”

  “I wasn’t eavesdropping. I hung up.”

  “Probably too soon. And you never told me?”

  “I’m telling you now.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me then?” Her voice got loud.

  “That was the day five guys came to kill us. I got a little busy. But now you’re telling me you’re running off with him.”

  “What?”

  A knock on the door interrupted them. They turned to look as Pierce walked in.

  The smile vanished from Pierce’s mouth when he looked at Jack and Replacement’s faces.

  “If this is a bad time—” Pierce started to say but Replacement called out.

  “No. It’s a perfect time.”

  “No, it’s not. Just give us a minute,” Jack said.

  “No, come in. Ask him.” Replacement’s hands went out. “Just ask Pierce.”

  “We’ll talk about it privately.”

  Replacement blew a raspberry. “Right now I’m on some stuff that makes me feel all whoo-hoo so it’s now or never.” She looked at Jack and blinked rapidly.

  Jack stood up to his full height and faced Pierce. “I overheard when you and Alice were talking in your bedroom.”

  Replacement smacked her forehead with her hand. “I didn’t mean talk to him about that. We can talk about that privately.”

  Jack turned back to her. “What did you want me to talk to him about then?”

  “The job.”

  “What job?” Jack rubbed his face.

  Pierce held up the flowers in his hand. “I told her to discuss it with you. I offered her a job. You too, Jack. Security.”