It’s over. In the past. I’m good. I…
Jack looked up and made sure the door to the room was locked and bolted.
Four hours later, Jack was reading over the reports Cindy had sent him. Replacement was taking a shower. He’d already read through the first three reports, but curiosity got the better of him and he went on to read Replacement’s background check. Instead of the standard report, there was a note from Cindy.
“I went to run her file through DYS, and it was still sealed. That doesn’t make sense, but after what you told me about her ‘undercover’ identity, I thought I shouldn’t look deeper until getting your okay. Let me know. Love, Cindy.”
Damn. Replacement hacked the Department of Youth Service computer when she was younger, but did she do something to her own file? Of course she would have…
Jack flipped back to the first Terry on the list; Replacement rushed out of the bathroom. She wore her new “I Love Hope Falls” shirt and hat.
“You look like crap,” she said as her lip curled up.
“Thanks. Are you ready?” They’d already eaten breakfast, and Jack wanted to get moving. Kristine had been nowhere in sight this morning, but Jack had been jumpy the whole time.
He looked into the mirror in the bathroom and he had to admit that Replacement was right: he looked like hell. His skin was pale and there were dark circles under his eyes. He walked toward the mirror as he looked at his reflection. Even his pupils seemed black.
“Let’s go.” He spun around and stormed out of the room. Replacement chased after him.
“What’s the first stop?” She had to jog to stay beside him.
“Terry Bradford. He’s working at K and K Construction. It’s a ten-minute drive.”
“How did you find that out?”
“Cindy got me his information. Guy has bounced from one low-level job to another. One DUI. Married three times. Divorced. Four kids. Three mothers. Two bankruptcies.”
“Boy, he’s a keeper. Do you want me to drive?” Jack shot her a crooked frown so she headed for the passenger side. “Do you have a plan?” she asked hopefully.
Jack started the car and sped out of the little parking lot.
9:04. Construction. They’ll be there now. Do I have a plan?
“No. I’ll play it by ear.”
Replacement pursed her lips and raised her eyebrows. “Well…shouldn’t we come up with a plan first?”
Jack’s hands rubbed the steering wheel, and he pushed his shoulders back. He hit the accelerator while he forced himself to keep his eyes open.
Don’t scream. Don’t yell. What the hell do I say? I’m going to ask him if he had anything to do with Steven, and if he gives me a sideways glance, I’m going to beat him to death.
“I have a plan.” Jack punched it.
The Impala slid into the parking lot at K and K Construction. The mini-mountains of gravel, sand, dirt, and stone behind the structure dwarfed the lot and the building. Giant machines loaded large trucks while a group of men gathered out front.
Jack parked and opened the door. A couple of men who were loading a pickup truck stopped and turned to watch Jack as he stalked up.
“Do you know Terry Bradford?” Jack asked.
The men just looked at each other and then back at Jack.
“Just point me in the right direction,” Jack grumbled.
They looked at each other again. As a cop, Jack had seen the look a thousand times.
No one wants to be a snitch.
Replacement tapped Jack’s shoulder and tilted her head toward the building. A group of five men in green shirts, jeans, and work boots marched out of the office. Jack zeroed in on the guy in the middle.
Mid-forties. Five ten. Two hundred pounds.
Terry Bradford was twenty-six years older than the yearbook photo and apparently shaved his head now, but Jack knew it was him.
“Terry, you got a second?” Jack let his hands relax and moved closer. Four of them stopped. Terry kept walking.
“You a cop?”
“Not on duty. I just have a few questions.”
“I’m workin’. Talk to me later.” Terry held up a hand.
“It will only take a second.” Jack walked in front of him. “Did you know Steven Ritter?”
“Who? No. Get the hell out of my way, or I’ll break your nose.” He stopped and made a face as if he drank extra sour lemonade. “Who?”
“Steven Ritter. You went to high school with him.”
“Ritter? That the kid who got killed at the pond?”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t know him. He was a year under me. He didn’t play football, right?” He glared at the men, who’d stopped a couple of steps behind him. “We gotta be someplace,” Terry snapped before he pushed Jack, but Jack wasn’t in the mood to be pushed.
Jack stepped to the side and cut him off. They stood nose to nose and glared at each other. “Did you know Patricia Cole?”
“Patricia?” Again he made the lemonade face. “Patty? Put-out Patty?” His tongue hung out of his open mouth as he laughed. “Everyone knew Patty…if you know what I mean.”
Jack’s hand twitched into a fist, and Replacement put her hand on his arm.
“You guys on vacation?” a large man bellowed from the building’s doorway. “Get your asses in gear, now!”
“I gotta go. Get out of my way,” Terry sneered.
Replacement kept her hand on Jack’s arm, while Terry walked around him and got behind the wheel of the truck. The veins in Jack’s neck stood out.
“Not now,” she whispered. “Get him alone.”
As the truck pulled out of the parking lot, Terry stopped, leaned out the window, and called back to Jack. “Patty might be a little old for you, so how about we trade? I’ll take the little girl, and you get Patty?” He roared with laughter and pounded the side of the door as he ripped out.
Jack turned and stormed back for the car. Replacement dashed over to it and stood before his door.
“Out of my way, kid.”
“Not now, Jack.” She put both hands on his chest. “You taught me that. Wait until you can ask him alone. You know where he lives, okay?”
“He could be the guy.”
“He could, or he might not be.”
Jack shut his eyes and looked at the sky.
Damn it. I’m too close to this. I can’t think straight.
He looked back down at Replacement. “Keep me in check.”
She nodded and smiled. “Can I drive?”
“No.”
The Fiduciary
They parked outside the small, modern, two-story office building. The parking lot was three-quarters filled with over a dozen cars. All of them looked as though they’d just come off the dealership lot. Jack scanned the large brass mailbox next to the entrance. A number of names were etched into the plates.
Different companies must rent the space.
“Two o six. Second floor,” he snapped as he held open the door.
Replacement turned, looked up at him, and flashed a big smile. “How about letting me do the talking on this one?”
“I said keep me in check, not on a leash.” Jack looked down at her. “I’ll do the talking. Just make sure I don’t flip out.”
“How am I going to do that? Can I have your gun?” She grinned.
“No.” He winced. “Is that your plan to stop me? Shoot me?”
“I wasn’t thinking that, but since you suggested it…” Her hands went out. “I just don’t want you shooting anyone.”
“I’m not going to shoot anyone.”
I wouldn’t use a gun to kill him, anyway.
The building had a simple layout with offices at the center. The marble floor and the gleaming metal and glass accents indicated the tenants must pay a lot for rent. As they walked into the building, Jack went cold.
What will I do when I find the guy who killed my father?
He forced himself to keep moving and took the stairs two at
a time. The staircase opened into another floor of offices. They continued to walk until they saw a large oak door with a bronze sign: Terry Martin—Fiduciary Advisor.
Replacement pointed at “Fiduciary” and giggled.
“This is the guy who looked like a weasel, right?” Jack spat.
“That might not be the best way to start, check?” Replacement lifted an eyebrow.
Jack nodded and opened the door. An elegant oak desk was near the far wall, with a closed oak door to the right of it. Four leather chairs stood against the left wall. A glass coffee table with a neat stack of magazines was just in front of them. Two chairs were in the corner on the right with a little table and more magazines between those. The room was empty.
Jack and Replacement exchanged a shrug as they walked in. Jack moved over to the secretary’s desk. The computer was on, and there was a cup of coffee next to the keyboard. Replacement cleared her throat as she nodded her head at the door. She raised her eyebrows twice and grinned. Jack walked over to the door so that he could listen. He could hear the sound of lovemaking behind the door.
Jack looked back at Replacement, and she shrugged. “Maybe we should go,” she whispered.
Jack turned and rapped hard on the door.
“Or not.” Replacement rolled her eyes as she moved back.
A few moments later, the door opened and a young, disheveled, blond-haired secretary stood wide-eyed before them, smiling awkwardly.
“Please come in.” Red-faced, she darted out the door and to her desk.
As Jack walked through the door, a tall, middle-aged man adjusted his clothes as he moved behind his desk. Terry Martin had a large nose, pockmarked face, and dyed hair that he combed over.
“Do you have an appointment?” he snapped as he sat down and continued to adjust his clothes.
“My name is Jack Stratton.” Jack strode over to the two chairs in front of the desk and sat down. He didn’t offer his hand. “I just have a few questions for you.”
“Are you looking for financial advice?”
“Did you know Patricia Cole?” Jack asked over the man’s question.
“Subtle,” Replacement whispered as she slid into the seat next to him.
“What?” Terry swiveled in his high-back chair. “Cole? I knew a Patty Cole, but that was in high school.”
“That’s who I’m asking about. How did you know Patty?”
“What? Who are you?”
“Did you know Patty? Did you date her?”
“Date her? You didn’t ‘date’ Patty. We, uh…I was—did my wife send you?” Terry smacked his hand down on the desk and leaned forward. “That hag. She can’t get anything on me, so she goes back to some slut I screwed in high school?”
Jack’s knuckles were white on the chair, and his hands shook. The muscles in his jaw flexed, and his lips curled into a snarl. Replacement shifted in her seat. Terry jumped up, and so did Replacement. She held up her hands.
“We don’t know your wife—” Replacement began, but Terry stormed around the desk and cut her off by sticking his finger in her face.
“Shut up, tramp, and—”
Jack flew out of his chair, and both his palms struck Terry in the chest. Jack’s momentum sent the man off his feet and up into the air. The blow would have knocked him back ten feet if the wall hadn’t been only four feet away. He hit the wall a foot in the air, and the drywall dented. As he slumped to the floor, the pictures that had been on the wall crashed down around him. Terry’s eyes rolled around in his head, but he remained conscious.
“Jack,” Replacement yelled.
“You piece of garbage.” Jack grabbed his shirt and dragged him forward. “I asked you a damn question. Did you date Patty?”
“Jack.” Replacement grabbed Jack’s arm.
“Terry!” The office door flew open, and the secretary rushed into the room. “Leave him alone.” She rushed Jack, but Replacement stepped between them.
“Your boyfriend fell. Back up, or you might, too.” Replacement’s feet were wide and her shoulders were square.
“I didn’t date her,” Terry pleaded from the ground. “I banged her, but I didn’t—”
Jack shook him. “What about Steven? Steven Ritter?”
“Steve? Steve?” Terry flopped back and forth. “He got killed. At the pond.”
“Did you know him?” Jack dragged him forward, and both girls moved out of the way.
“He was in some of my classes. I knew him since we were kids. Why?”
Jack dragged him back up to a sitting position. “Because Patricia said you knew something about it.”
“Me? About Steve getting killed? I don’t know anything. Did she say I had something to do with it? That’s crazy. It’s a lie. That stupid slut—”
Jack slammed him into the ground.
Replacement leaned down. “Patricia is his mother,” she added.
“I’m sorry,” Terry whined. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”
Replacement grabbed Jack’s arm. “Enough. We have to go.”
“What about Steve?” Jack growled and pulled Terry up by the hair.
“Steve? I had nothing to do with it. I’ve never even been in a fight. I couldn’t stab someone. I can’t fight my way out of a paper bag. Honest. I don’t know why… Wait. She’s still mad at me. Patty’s getting revenge.”
“For what?”
“I’m sorry. Tell Patty I’m sorry.”
“Why are you sorry?” Jack yanked him back so he was on his knees.
“She wanted to join the band. I told her I could get her in. I just wanted to get in her pants. I told her if we…if she…I knew I couldn’t get her in but she slept with me, and she was sad but it was a long time ago.”
“You used her.” Jack growled.
“I was in high school. It was wrong…”
“Jack, please.” Replacement pulled on his arm.
Jack let go, and Terry fell down. Jack walked toward the door.
“Call the police. Call the police.” Terry shook his hand at the secretary.
“You so much as think about calling the police…” Replacement turned around.
Terry picked himself up off the floor and ran behind his desk. He straightened up and combed back his hair. “Get out now, or I will.”
“Listen.” Jack spun around, and his voice was low. “Here’s the deal. You came at me, and I bumped you. You’re fine. Get over it or, not only do I tell your wife, but I’m gonna tell her husband.” He nodded his head toward the secretary. “Judging by the size of that football ring she’s wearing on that chain around her neck, he’s a big guy. I’m also guessing he’s the jealous type. I’m sure he’ll understand, knowing what’s going on between you two. You used my mother. Go to the cops and I’ll come back and do what I should have done to you this time.”
As Jack stormed out of the office, he could hear the secretary say, “You did that? You just led her on?”
Jack slammed the door so hard the doorknob embedded itself in the wall. Getting to the car and leaving was a blur. He had no clue where he was going; he was just driving.
“Jack? Jack, pull over,” Replacement urged him. He kept driving. “Pull over.” Replacement put her hand on the door handle. “Now.”
Jack knew she was serious. He hit the brake and pulled over.
“Jack…”
He opened the door and jumped out of the car. She did, too.
“What the hell were you thinking, Jack?”
“What was I thinking?” Jack spun around. He could see the shocked look on her face as she stared at him. He could only imagine how he looked. “I was thinking I wanted to beat him to death. I didn’t just want to hurt him; I wanted him dead. Okay? I’m not thinking straight.” Jack’s eyes were black, and his hands shook.
“Jack, you don’t know if he had anything to do with it.”
“I don’t and I don’t care. He may have.” He kicked a rock off the road and into the woods.
“May have? Y
ou’re going to kill him on ‘may have’?” She took a step forward and stopped.
“I wasn’t going to kill him.”
“You could have fooled me.”
“I just… Damn it. I don’t know why, but I keep thinking of her as a kid. She just wanted to get into the band, and he used her. I should have done something.”
“You did. You heaved him into a wall and smacked the crap out of him.”
“I didn’t hit him. I…he called you—”
“Me? I’ve been called worse, Jack.” Replacement leaned against the car. “I don’t know.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Maybe we should leave for now.”
“I’m not going anywhere. Someone killed my father. I have to find out who.”
Jack glared up at the gray sky and wanted to scream.
“Jack, you’re going to kill someone. There are three guys named Terry.”
“We still have to go talk to the other one,” Jack informed her.
“What?” Replacement threw her hands up. “You just…do you think talking to the other guy is at all wise? So far your plan is to yell and accuse. That’s just stupid.”
“Fine. You talk.” Jack looked down at his hands. His head pounded.
One of them did it. She said so. I just need to figure out which one.
He hung his head and tried to slow his breathing. He cracked his neck as he looked back at her. “Please?”
Replacement put her hands on her hips and shook her head. She searched his eyes, and then exhaled.
“I’ll do it, but you have to agree to three things. First, I do all the talking.” She held up a hand. “All the talking.”
I could have killed him. I wanted to kill him.
“Fine.”
“Second, I drive.” She held out a hand, and he tossed her the keys.
“Third, you sleep in the stupid bed tonight.”
Jack nodded. “Agreed.”
As Replacement stood there, her face softened. “Jack, I’m worried about you.”
“Don’t be.” Jack walked to the passenger side of the car. “I got you watching my back. What could go wrong?”
A Thing For Faces
Replacement parked the car in front of the modest Cape Cod house. Painted a deep red with black shutters, it fit right in with the other four homes on the beautiful cul-de-sac. A group of children rode bikes down the sidewalk. A cinnamon brown sedan was parked in the driveway.
JACK KNIFED Page 9
