Jack jumped when she grabbed and squeezed his bum.
“Yeah.” He awkwardly put his arm around her. “She’s a keeper. Thanks for your time, and sorry about—”
“Shut up.” Henry smiled as he reached for the other glass. “A couple more of these, and I’ll forget it even happened.” He shifted the glass to his left hand so that he could shake Jack’s outstretched hand.
“Sorry about the shovel.” Replacement raised one eyebrow.
Henry laughed and suddenly stopped. He stared at Jack and bit his lip. He raised the shot high.
“To Steven. Catch the bastard, and kill him slow when you do.”
He’s A Little Irregular
The Impala’s engine sputtered as Jack turned the key. He grimaced and pumped the gas until it finally started.
“I’ll have to go get some dry gas.” Jack frowned as he backed out of Cooper’s driveway.
“How can gas be dry?” Replacement looked at him oddly. “Are you okay to drive?” She glared at him.
“What? I had one drink.”
“So. Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I could have more.”
“I don’t want you loopy. What kind of gas do you need?”
“Dry gas. It’s something you mix with your gas if you get water in the tank. The Impala just sounds rough.”
Replacement looked behind them. “Why did you lie to Henry?”
“About what?”
“The jogger. It was the people across the pond who saw the police lights, right?”
Jack nodded. “The guy’s a drunk. He could say something or go try to talk to them himself. They don’t need that. Besides, I don’t know if I believe him one hundred percent.”
“You don’t?”
“I’m not ruling anyone out. He’s one of the last cops around who was working then. I want to check out his story at Atlas Auto.”
“Do you think their records would go that far back?”
“I hope. Look around. This town hasn’t changed much in thirty years.”
“I like it.” She wiggled back into the seat and put her feet on the dashboard. “Sorry about grabbing your butt.”
Jack felt the blood rush to his face. “Knock that stuff off.”
“I was just keeping our cover.”
“Our cover is brother and sister.”
“Eww. No.” Replacement made a face as if she were scaring a little kid. “Our cover is we’re…you know.”
Jack stopped at a traffic light and the Impala stalled.
Damn.
He turned the key and the engine just sputtered. He tried a couple more times until the car behind him laid on the horn. Jack threw the door open, and Replacement grabbed his arm.
“Look on the bright side.” She smiled sheepishly. “Now we can go undercover to Atlas Auto.”
Jack grimaced as Replacement called the garage.
They had to wait forty minutes for the tow truck. The kid driving it was Replacement’s age, and he was only a couple inches taller than she was.
“Mind if I try to start her?” he asked Jack as he ran his fingers through his long brown hair and looked at Replacement with a crooked grin.
“I know how to start a car, kid.”
“Just pop the hood.” The kid winked at Replacement and went to the front of the Impala.
Jack turned the key but the engine just sputtered. The kid pulled a can of carburetor cleaner out of his overalls and sprayed the motor.
“Keep trying,” he called out.
The Impala started and died as soon as he stopped spraying.
“You got something wrong with the fuel system, I think.” He closed the hood and wiped his hands on his chest. “Five miles to the garage. You two need a lift?” He smiled at Replacement.
Jack nodded. “Let me grab some stuff.”
Ten minutes later, the car was on the tow truck. The kid walked over to the passenger side.
“After you, miss.” He held the door open for Replacement and helped her up into the cab. Replacement looked down at Jack and smiled broadly. Jack climbed up next to her as the kid slid into the driver’s seat.
“I’m Matty.” He held out a hand to Replacement.
“Alice.”
“That’s a nice name,” the kid said to Replacement.
Alice grinned. “Why thank you, Matty. Everyone—”
“I’m Jack.” Jack stretched his arm across Replacement and kept his hand there until the kid shook it. “How about we get going?”
“Sure.” Matty pulled out quickly enough that the chains rattled behind them.
Jack nervously looked at the Impala in the rearview mirror. “Hey, kid? I should have mentioned that I really like that car, and I want you to be extra careful with it.”
“Oh, I’m careful. Don’t sweat it. I do this all the time.” He flashed a big smile at Replacement, and she grinned back. “What’re you doing in Hope Falls?”
“My brother and I are doing some research into our family.” Replacement turned to smile at Jack.
Matty’s smile grew. Jack cracked his neck and grabbed the gym bag he’d taken with him off the floor of the Impala.
“It may be awhile to get that old car going.” Matty shifted closer to Replacement. “You wanna get something to eat while you wait?”
Replacement leaned closer to Jack, but when she saw the scowl on his face, she settled for sitting bolt upright between the two men.
“Tell you what, Matty.” Jack plopped the gym bag on the dashboard and opened it. “Why don’t we get back to the garage and you look at my car while Alice and I get a bite to eat.” As he moved things around, he let his gun become clearly visible. “I’ll be happy to pick you up something and bring it back.” He took out his wallet and let his badge stay in view as he handed out a business card. “You can call me when it’s done, and I’ll have some additional questions.”
Matty’s hand shook as he took the card and then he put both hands on the steering wheel. Jack smiled when he noticed Matty also slowed down.
When they pulled up to the garage, Jack raised an eyebrow. The small building was a combination gas station, used car lot, and service station. One look at it and Jack was sure it was the same as it had been thirty years ago.
“What’s the mechanic’s name?” Jack asked as he hopped out and helped Replacement down.
“Marty. He’s my dad.” Matty flashed a quick smile at Replacement but quickly continued, “I’ll back your car right in, okay?”
“Thanks,” Jack muttered as he grabbed Replacement by the hand and headed into the garage. A man in his early forties, who looked like an older version of Matty, walked out the front door.
“You the fella who broke down on West Street?”
Jack nodded. “It just stalled. It had been running fine, but it was running rough this morning.”
“When you get gas last?”
“Yesterday. And I got the gas here.” Jack pointed toward the pumps.
“Then it’s not the gas.” Marty laughed. He looked at his watch and continued, “I’ll take a look now. I like a late lunch anyway.”
“We’re going over to the diner.” Jack nodded to the little lunch place across the street.
“Take your time. Get the meatloaf. It’s excellent.” Marty turned and headed over to direct his son as he backed the Impala into the bay.
“Be careful with my car,” Jack called after him. “Let’s go.” Jack turned and walked away.
Replacement hurried after him.
“This sucks,” Jack muttered as he waited to cross the street.
Replacement made a face. “I’m sure your car will be fine.”
Jack glared down at her. “You don’t sound very sincere.”
“It’s a car.”
“It’s my car, and she’s sick.”
“She?” Replacement hurried to keep up with him as he crossed the street.
“How else am I supposed to refer to her?”
“It’s a—”
“Okay.” Replacement rolled her eyes.
Jack didn’t move.
Replacement’s mouth opened. “Sorry.”
Jack held the door to the diner open and let Replacement walk through. The place looked stuck in time, too. A row of booths ran along the windows, and a counter with blue vinyl stools separated them from the kitchen in the back. A couple men sat sipping coffee while a bored waitress with big blond hair, bright red lips, and a shirt that was a little too tight on her chest stood up when Jack walked in. She brushed out her little apron, which was only slightly smaller than her skirt, before she strutted over to them. Jack noticed Replacement’s mouth twist into a frown.
My turn.
Jack draped his arm over Replacement’s shoulder and pulled her in close. The waitress frowned.
“My baby sister and I’d like a booth, please.” He flashed his most dashing grin, and the waitress’s face lit up in response.
“Sure, sugar. Right this way.” She bit her bottom lip and sashayed over to the booth. Jack slid in on the right, and Replacement pushed in next to him.
“Aren’t you going to sit over there?” The waitress put a hand on her hip and gestured with the menu to the other side of the booth.
“Someone may be joining us in a minute,” Replacement replied as she gave Jack an elbow and a smug look.
The waitress rolled her eyes, placed the menus on the table, and walked away.
“Move over.” Jack slid against the wall.
“I hate the whole brother and sister cover.” Replacement made a gagging gesture. “I’m not doing it.”
“Because you don’t think of me like a big brother?” Jack tossed a sugar packet.
“No, Jack. Chandler was like a big brother, but—”
“Fine. I get it. Order. I want to go check on my car.”
“We just…okay.”
Replacement picked up her menu, and Jack flicked another sugar packet across the table. The waitress brought over two waters and leaned way over to hand Jack his.
“Do you want to hear about the special, honey?”
Jack smiled and leaned closer. As he opened his mouth, Replacement interrupted.
“I think you may have popped a button on your shirt. Your boobs are almost falling out.” Replacement’s sarcastic whisper was so loud that the two guys on the stools and the cook looked over. The waitress jerked up and took a step back as her face turned a deep scarlet.
“We’re all set to order, too.” Replacement continued. “Two hamburgers and fries, please. I see you have sweet tea so I’ll take two of those, too. And he’ll take a salad.” As she leaned closer to the waitress, she put her hand to the side of her face. “He’s a little irregular.”
The waitress made a face, and now it was Jack’s turn to turn red.
After the waitress walked away, he growled. “What’s wrong with you?”
“You were pouring it on with her, so I decided to play, too.”
“Okay, truce.” Jack held up a hand. “That was embarrassing. Point to you.”
“I like it when you give up.” She wiggled her shoulders.
“Can you move to the other side so we can talk about today?” Jack asked.
“I like this.” Replacement pulled her legs up and turned to look at Jack.
“Fine. When we get back to the garage, I want to see those records. There were only four cruisers. Henry said he had one, and I have to rule this cruiser out.”
“If you rule it out, where does that leave us?”
Jack clenched his jaw.
“Let’s talk to the guy at the garage then go over to the dispatcher’s house. Kristine gave me the address.”
“Do you think the car will be ready?”
Jack shook his head. “I’ll see if I can get a rental. I have to go over to Pinkerton. It’s two towns over.”
Replacement scrunched up her face. “Why?”
“Let me make sure they have what I need and I’ll tell you.”
“We’re going all the way over there and you don’t know—”
“They told me they have it, but someone telling you something doesn’t make it true. Right, sis?” He grinned at Replacement and tried not to look at the waitress as she set their order down.
“You all set, sweet thing?” she cooed.
“Can you put in two orders of the lunch special to go?” Jack asked.
The waitress stood up, and her eyes traveled all over Jack. “I like a man with a healthy appetite.” She played with her hair and licked her lip.
“Me too.” Replacement leaned toward Jack and kissed him full on the lips.
His eyes went wide.
The waitress’s mouth flopped open, and she gasped.
“You’re not supposed… That’s just wrong.” The girl cringed.
Replacement sat back and took a sip of her iced tea.
“She’s not my sister,” Jack confessed, but the girl still scrunched up her face and hurried into the kitchen.
Jack swallowed and licked his lips. He could faintly taste the flavor of Replacement’s lip balm.
That was some kiss.
“I thought we had a truce,” Jack fiercely stammered, but he still felt himself blushing.
“She started it, and you didn’t stop it, so the armistice ended.” Replacement shrugged, folded her hands, and bowed her head.
Jack closed his eyes and waited. After a few moments, Replacement whispered, “You pray.”
“Me?” Jack opened one eye. “You do it.”
“I just lied.”
Jack rubbed his eyes. “Dear God. I’m sorry I lied, and she lied, too. Please help my car. In Jesus’s name, Amen.”
“You just prayed for your car.”
“Yeah? I’m sure God is okay with that. One, it’s going to be expensive. Two, it’s going to take awhile to fix.”
“Why do you think the car won’t be ready?”
“Someone did something to the gas. Sugar…or something else.”
“Why do you think that?”
“We’re getting close, kid. Whoever killed Steven is trying to get rid of us, get us out of town. They want us to leave.”
“What do we do?”
“We check a couple of things then get over to Pinkerton.” He smiled.
Replacement picked at her fries. “Why did you get Matty a lunch? I thought you were upset he hit on me.”
Jack sighed and his lips pressed together.
“He didn’t know that we’re…I mean… He thought…that was a misunderstanding, and I settled it. Besides, as a guy, the last two people you tick off are your barber and your mechanic.”
The waitress brought the meatloaf and the check. She glared at Replacement but grinned at Jack.
Replacement stuck a couple of fries in her mouth, grabbed the check, and turned it over. She tossed it in front of Jack.
“She’s persistent.” She nodded to the phone number on the back.
Jack shrugged and counted out the money and a generous tip. Replacement took the receipt back with a smile.
Atlas Auto
Jack walked into the garage and set the two orders of meatloaf on the metal cart, but he frowned as he looked at the Impala on the lift; the gas tank was off. “I picked up some meatloaf for you and your son. How’s my car?”
“I got it up on the lift. It’s jacked up. It was sugar in the gas tank. Good news is whoever did it really hates you. They used too much sugar. It gunked up the gas lines before too much got to the engine. I don’t think it damaged the engine, but we have to flush everything out and I should replace the lines.” Marty wiped his hands on a greasy rag.
“How long?”
Marty rubbed the back of his neck. “We have to take off the tank, flush everything, replace the lines…at least a couple days.”
Jack didn’t want to ask the next question. “How much?”
“It ain’t gonna be
cheap.” Marty looked back at the car. “The engine’s got a lot of miles on her. You might want to think about—”
“Nope. Fix her.”
Marty shrugged. “I can get you set up with a rental.” He nodded to a car sitting outside. “It’s great on gas, and you can have her for a few days. It’s a little small. My son tells me you’re a cop.”
Matty shot his father a sideways glance.
“Yeah. I’d like to ask you a question, too. How far do your records go back?”
Marty closed an eye and crinkled his nose. “We got a computer when Matty started. But I still kept everything on paper like my dad.”
“Your dad ran the garage before you?”
“Still helps out. He’s in the back office.”
“Great. Can I talk to him for a minute?”
“This way.”
Jack smiled at Replacement but she frowned. As he walked close to her, he whispered, “What’s the matter?”
Replacement pointed to the lunches. “We only got two. I should get the grandfather one, too.”
She’s a good kid.
“Thanks.” Jack handed her some cash.
“I’ll go with you.” Matty ran forward, but one look at Jack and he stopped. “Or not.” He gulped.
“I think you can help us in the office.” Marty chuckled, turned, and walked through an open doorway.
The office was a mixture of the different generations. One corner had a sink and calendars that looked untouched for thirty years, while a seating area with four chairs appeared to have been given a makeover within the past year or two. Marty walked behind a medium-sized counter and through another door, and Jack followed.
The back room had a desk in the far corner, an old couch and a recliner in front of a TV in the other corner, and a round table with four chairs in the middle of the room. Against the far wall was a row of old metal cabinets that immediately caught Jack’s eye. A man, who Jack guessed to be in his late sixties, stood up. He was small with a heavily wrinkled face, but his blue eyes flashed, and he broke into a huge smile as they walked into the room.
“Marty, my apologies, I didn’t think we had a customer.” The man shook Jack’s hand with a grip like steel.
“Jack Stratton. Nice to meet you, sir.”
“Welcome to Atlas Auto. Is that your Impala?” The man’s Greek accent was thick. Jack nodded as he continued, “Couple of days and she’ll be running like a champ.” He winked.
JACK KNIFED Page 22
