JACKS ARE WILD Read online

  “Why would he give you a phone?”

  “It’s a burner. I couldn’t give him anything that could trace Marisa back here. She’s in trouble, I know that, but…what if her disappearance doesn’t have anything to do with her father? If Severino finds out where Marisa lives, she’ll have to leave Darrington.”

  Replacement nodded.

  “I followed Severino’s men to Chinatown after we talked. They met with the Yakuza. The Yakuza didn’t know anything either.”

  “What? Jack. Even I know the Yakuza are Japanese Mafia. You went alone? No backup? Jack, that’s… It’s…” She shook her head.

  Now she’s just ticked.

  Jack stuck his hands in his pockets. “What else was I going to do?”

  Replacement scribbled hard on the pad. “I put down they didn’t know anything.”

  “I didn’t get any read from the guy except…” She looked up. Jack turned away from the window. “He’s very dangerous.”

  “When did you go to Marisa’s apartment?”

  “Last night. I went there yesterday morning before I went to see Severino. I went back last night to check it out again and left, but I forgot to leave a note with the neighbors, so I turned around. I saw the light from the hallway in the apartment. When I went up, this woman was in there. She got the jump on me and took off. I chased her until I caught her behind Bratton’s but…she knows how to fight.”

  “What did she look like?”

  “She had thick black hair, blue shorts with white stars, and this gold headband and lasso.”

  “Shut up.” Replacement threw the pen at him. “I said I’m sorry about the Amazon thing.”

  “Sorry. It’s hard, knowing I let her get away.” His fist pounded the desk; everything bounced on it.

  Replacement set the notebook down as she looked at the clock.

  “You need sleep.” She stood up. “Let me get up to speed and see what I can get online. You’re no good to me if you turn into a raging beast.”

  Now it’s my turn

  The bullet ricocheted off the wall next to Jack’s head. Someone screamed. A shell exploded just beyond the wall in front of him. A wave of sand lifted high into the air and then darkness descended as the cloud enveloped him. Jack rolled onto his stomach and started to crawl. His hands felt a body as he pulled himself close enough to see the soldier’s face. Another shell blew up next to the wall, making Jack’s ears feel as if they would burst. He covered the man’s chest with his arm and then Jack put his head down.

  The swirling sand burned his eyes. Jack’s arm lay across the man’s chest, and he felt no movement. He pulled himself up to look at the soldier’s face, but only lifeless eyes stared back at him.

  *********

  Jack’s eyes flipped open and Replacement’s sleeping face was right there, next to his. He stifled a scream and then quietly slipped out of the bed. His whole body shook as he stood next to the bed, gasping.

  Get it together. Nightmare.

  Jack remembered the firefight. He remembered the dead soldier, but he couldn’t recall the man’s name. He turned and looked out the window.

  You’re alive. Be grateful. Why me? Shut up. Be grateful.

  He could see the first rays of the rising sun gleaming off the window. Jack looked at the bare tree branches clawing at the lightening sky.

  Dead trees. No. They’re not dead; they’re dormant. Come spring, they’ll be beautiful. Alive. Breathe. Just breathe.

  Jack fought to push the image out of his mind, but before he did, he remembered the soldier’s name.

  Private Henry Waller. Twenty-two. North Carolina. Loved fishing.

  He leaned against the window frame and closed his eyes. When he opened them, Replacement was watching him from the bed.

  “You okay?” she asked sleepily.

  He exhaled as he nodded. “Just a dream.”

  “You want to talk about it?”

  “No. You find out anything?”

  Replacement shook her head. “Marisa has no social media footprint. I researched her father, and that totally freaked me out. Sure, there are no convictions, but no one will testify because they’re all dead, missing, or terrified. What did you say was the name of the FBI guy? Prescott?”

  “Yeah. Walter. Why?”

  “It’s another trial Severino walked on. It was almost twenty years ago. Prescott testified.” She stretched. “Shootout. Prescott’s partner was wounded. Karl Weaver. He ended up in a wheelchair.”

  “That explains why Prescott hates him. Did the article say why Severino got off?”

  “Not enough evidence. Two witnesses. One changed her story, said she never saw anything, and the other one disappeared—permanently.”

  Jack walked over to the table to check his phones.

  Nothing.

  He looked up and shook his head.

  Replacement yawned. “Ilario Mancini is in med school. I found a photo. He looks like her.” She hopped out of bed.

  “Stay sleeping, kid.”

  “I want to see if my program’s finished.”

  “What program?”

  “Well, you said you went into the city to see Severino, right? I figure if someone was after Marisa to get to Severino, they would have come from the city, right?” She shrugged as her hands went out.

  Jack nodded. “Yeah. Makes sense, but—”

  “If they came from the city, they’d take the highway and get off at the toll. It has cameras, and—”

  “You didn’t hack any government websites again, did you?”

  “No.”

  He eyed her suspiciously.

  “You know how there are public websites where you can watch traffic cameras from around the world?”

  “Me and the Internet aren’t on speaking terms, kid, but I’ll take your word for it.”

  “Well, there are sites like Trafficland and the DOT. New York City even has its own cable television station—NYC Drive.”

  “Okay.”

  “They stream the video to help drivers. Some guy wrote a computer program that scans the video and records all the license plates. It compiles them into a database. I just pulled up the cached video from the state tollbooths on Tuesday and ran it through the program. Then I logged in to the police database as you and started cross-referencing.”

  Jack looked at her with awe.

  “I narrowed it to the ones registered in the city, but then I might try limiting it to whether it’s stolen, rented, or arrests, or something else.”

  “You did that?” Jack rushed over, grabbed her, and kissed her forehead. “That’s brilliant. Illegal. But brilliant. I didn’t hear any of this.”

  “I don’t know if it will work.” Even Replacement’s ears blushed. “It may take too long trying to access the different systems and trying to pull those records, but it’s not much.”

  “It’s something, and at least we’re moving. Thank you.”

  They walked into the living room and headed for the desk near the window.

  “I can start checking the results.” Replacement had both her laptop and Jack’s computer on.

  “Can I help? You want coffee?”

  “Yes to both.” She smiled back.

  They spent all morning and afternoon poring over the records of the cars that had driven through the tollbooth. Jack would frequently check the phones and pace in frustration. As the sun started to set, Replacement began to apologize.

  “It was a stupid idea. I’m sorry I—”

  “It was a good idea. Don’t be upset.” Jack wiggled his hand on top of her head, but she swatted his hand away.

  “That doesn’t help.”

  “I know.” He grinned and headed for the bedroom. “Maybe they didn’t come over on Tuesday. They could have already been here.”

  Replacement followed him into the bedroom where she huffed, “What now?”

  “We try to find the Asian woman.”

  “How? We have no idea where she could be.”

 
“I think she followed me. I thought no one did but…now it’s my turn.”

  Replacement scrunched up her face as Jack put the new baggy pants he’d bought on over his jeans.

  “Move back.” He waved her back and then turned around. “Honestly, can you tell I’m wearing two pairs of pants?”

  “Why?”

  “I have an idea. Can you tell?”

  Replacement put her weight on her left leg and bit her lip. “No.” She shrugged. “They’re so baggy you can’t tell, but, you’re going out like that? Isn’t it uncomfortable?”

  As Jack grabbed the shirt, he froze once he’d pulled it over his head.

  What do I do about her? The lady could have killed me but didn’t. Do I bring Replacement or try…

  “Are you even thinking about leaving me behind?”

  Jack pulled the shirt the rest of the way on as his mouth curled into a smirk. “You? Of course not.”

  A good place to talk

  Jack hurried down the sidewalk toward the apartment building at the end of the street. He was two blocks from Marisa’s apartment, only four from the tattoo parlor. There was a light rain falling and, because of the cloud cover, it was very dark.

  Perfect.

  Jack smiled. With his head down and the collar of his jacket up, he rushed up the steps, nervously looked around, and then rang the bell. He was buzzed right in. When he walked through the door, Donald Pugh leaned out of his apartment and waved him over.

  “Thanks, Donald.”

  As Jack walked into the small, first-floor apartment, he shut the door behind him. It was a one-bedroom with a tiny kitchen on the left, a living room that was only slightly bigger, and a short hallway that led down to three closed doors. Jack couldn’t help but notice the giant TV that took up an entire wall of the living room. He heard the sound of claws on linoleum as a little collie ran up to him. He gave the dog’s head a quick pat and then turned to Donald.

  “Let’s go over the plan—” Jack began, but Donald waved his hands to cut him off.

  “Jack, you’ve got to promise me this won’t get back to Collins.”

  Donald may have been a cop and Kendra’s partner, but he didn’t have the typical temperament for the job. His face was pale, and Jack could see him sweat.

  “It won’t. I promise.”

  As Jack yanked off his shirt, he handed it to Donald.

  “Do you even know how mad you make him? Now everyone asks ‘How Jacked-up is Collins?’ when we have to go near him. It’s like measuring an earthquake, but instead of a Richter scale, we use a Stratton scale. You got suspended, and it was a ten. If the sheriff finds out I’m helping you, he’ll go off the charts.”

  “He won’t find out.” Jack kicked off his shoes and pulled off the baggy pants. “It will take fifteen minutes. Just head out of the apartment and walk the route we talked about.”

  Donald pulled his shirt off and revealed a bulletproof vest.

  He’s wearing a vest? I didn’t wear mine because it would make me look too bulky. Don’t say anything.

  Jack tried not to frown but his lips curled down regardless.

  Donald must have noticed. “Do you not want me to wear it?” He stopped with the shirt halfway over his head.

  “No. It was good thinking. I have a couple pounds on you.”

  Nod. Smile.

  Jack nodded, and Donald smiled as he pulled the shirt down.

  “Can you repeat the route for me?” Donald reached out, took the hat off Jack’s head, and pulled it down on his.

  “You’re going to just do a big S, okay? You’ll end up at the Old Mill Apartments…if you make it that far. If you do, go around to the parking area and just wait.”

  Donald nodded. “Should we switch shoes?”

  When he looked down at Donald’s feet, he shook his head. “We may be the same height, but what size shoe do you wear, a four?”

  “Shut up. I have small feet. Here I am helping you, and—”

  Jack held his hand up. “Sorry. Keep your shoes.” Jack pulled Donald’s cap down lower as he flipped the collar of his jacket up. “Ready?”

  “Did she follow you from your apartment?” Donald repeatedly rolled his shoulders and took deep breaths.

  Jack shrugged. “I hope. I want her guessing what I’m up to, so get out of here fast. I’ll give you a minute then I’ll go out the back and circle around.”

  Donald straightened up and then took a step back. “How do I look?” He turned around.

  “You look like good bait.” Jack grinned.

  Donald’s eyes widened.

  Not the right time to joke, Jack.

  “You got this, Donald.” Jack put his fist up; Donald swallowed and then bumped it.

  Donald took a deep breath, patted his gun under his jacket, and headed out the door.

  “Keep your head down,” Jack whispered before the door closed.

  Jack hurried to the back of the apartment with the little dog following happily behind him. He slipped out the door, as he held the dog back. He jogged to the corner of the building, making sure he kept close to it and in the shadows. While he waited, he clenched and opened his hands.

  Wait. She followed me without my knowing before. She knows what she’s doing. She’ll let Donald get a good distance away from her before she starts to trail him. There aren’t many people on the street, so she’ll have to keep farther back.

  Jack’s head stopped scanning when he saw a woman walk down the far side of the street. He strained to see her clearly through the rain and darkness. The weather would definitely help sell his deception, but now it worked against him, hiding her as well. The woman held an opened black umbrella. She wore a black, waist-length coat, high heels, and a medium-length black skirt.

  That’s not really the outfit for shadowing someone.

  The hairs on the back of Jack’s neck rose as he swallowed. He let her get almost to the end of the block before he started forward.

  No, Jack. She’ll be wearing a ninja hood.

  He tried to relax as he headed down the sidewalk and followed the woman.

  The umbrella is going to screw her up. Limits her view. Maybe she’s too focused on him.

  Jack stuck his hands in his pockets as he tipped his head slightly forward against the rain.

  Look like a guy heading downtown who was too stupid to bring an umbrella. Not a real stretch.

  The woman’s stride was steady and purposeful. He couldn’t see her head, but the whole umbrella shifted like a giant arrow whenever she looked somewhere.

  She looks like someone trying to get out of the rain. Maybe it’s not her?

  The woman stopped at the corner of Elderberry, the street Jack knew Donald had gone up. He could feel his chest tighten as he waited to see whether she’d turn or continue on her way. Elderberry was more of a side street. If she picked it, odds were she was following Donald. The black umbrella shifted on her shoulder when she looked up Elderberry. Jack forced himself to keep walking. The umbrella straightened back up as she stepped off the curb and crossed the road to continue on her way. Jack tossed his hand up.

  Damn.

  Just before she reached the other side of the street, she sprang forward and effortlessly leapt over a large puddle. She landed on the balls of her high heels and turned left so she could continue up the road after Donald.

  It is her. She jumped that puddle like Baryshnikov. She’s either a dancer or martial artist. She’s following him. Now I just have to try to catch Wonder Woman…great.

  As Jack turned, he started to run. If he went around, with the route he sent Donald on, he’d be able to cut them off. His feet splashed in the little puddles as he flew down the street and then ducked into the alley that ended right where Donald would pass. As Jack swung into the back of the alley, he grimaced. Donald was already walking by and he was walking too fast.

  He’s too nervous. She’s going to know something is up and back off if he doesn’t slow down.

  The woman walked i
nto view on the other side of the road. When she reached the alley directly across from the one Jack was in, she turned to head straight down it.

  Damn. She knows he’s onto her. She’s rabbiting.

  Jack bolted from the shadows and sprinted across the street. He cast a quick glance and could see Donald in the distance, still walking too fast with his head down, unaware she was no longer following him. The front portions of the alleys crisscrossed downtown and were kept clean as the result of an overzealous ticketing program. However, the back ends of the alleys, through which Jack now raced headlong, were regularly used by the businesses and were lined with boxes, dumpsters, shipping pallets, and trash.

  He turned the corner. The alley was deserted. Jack continued to sprint forward. As he approached a big green dumpster on the right, he saw a discarded high-heel shoe sticking out underneath it. He stopped and was just able to get his arms up in time to block the attack as she leaped out and swung the closed umbrella in a wide arc at his head. Jack’s forearm deflected the blow, although he growled in pain as the umbrella bent around his arm. He slid to a stop and turned to glare at the woman as she slipped her jacket off her arms.

  She was Japanese and stood around five six. As her front hand snapped into a guarded position, Jack could see the muscles in her arms clearly defined. Her skin was a pearly white; her eyes and teeth gleamed in the rain. She was uniquely attractive; her jaw and cheekbones were so angular it gave her an almost wolfish appearance.

  She tossed the broken umbrella behind her, but Jack noticed her left hand stayed low and drawn back. He moved half a step toward the wall.

  Take her down fast and hard. Wonder Woman kicked your ass before, Jack. It doesn’t matter she’s a girl.

  She moved the opposite way; her eyes never left his chest. Jack saw the tip of a knife in her left hand just as his foot touched the edge of a large metal trashcan.

  She’s faster than me. Much faster.

  Jack grabbed the trashcan and heaved it at her.

  I have to be meaner.

  The contents of the trashcan flew out in a spray of debris. Jack lunged forward and then stopped. He thought she had only one way to go—through him—but he was wrong. She grabbed the top of the dumpster, flipped herself onto the cover and then over the side. Jack grabbed a wooden pallet, took one large step, and launched it at her.