JACK AND THE GIANT KILLER Read online

  She flushed for the umpteenth time that night and held up her hands. “It wasn’t just me. If they hadn’t listened to—”

  “You saved me,” Butcher proclaimed in a high, fake, melodramatic voice.

  Joy laughed.

  Butcher reached out, swept her off her feet, and then spun her around.

  “My hero.” He laughed as he pulled her tightly against himself, her feet six inches off the ground while his hands slowly groped down her sides.

  “That’s enough.” She squirmed.

  “Just showing my appreciation, girl.”

  “Let her go,” Jack ordered, his voice low and even.

  “Screw you, Stratton. I’m just saying thanks.” He set her down.

  Joy held up a hand. “It’s okay, Jack. He’s just a little over-happy.”

  “I’m sorry.” Butcher thrust both hands up. “She’s right. I’m just over-happy,” he shouted while Dale and Eric cheered.

  Jack shook his head as Joy walked with Butcher over to his friends.

  I want to get out of here. Where the hell are you, Chandler?

  The shadows lengthened. One empty bottle of mouthwash flew over the wall and Butcher pulled another out, hearing too much cheering by everyone except Jack. He watched as Butcher walked over to each friend and whispered something. Dale and Eric moved away, and Joy leaned against the shed. Butcher walked over to her and placed his hand on the wall over her shoulder.

  Jack couldn’t hear what he whispered in her ear as he played with her hair, but Joy blushed. Butcher kissed her and she kissed him back. Both of Butcher’s hands grabbed her around the waist and pressed her against the wall. Butcher opened the shed door with one hand, and, as he moved toward the opening, Joy started to struggle. Butcher yanked her up and Jack saw the dark leer on his face.

  “Sto—” she started to say, but Butcher clamped his mouth over hers.

  Jack pushed off the wall and stalked over to the shed. Dale and Eric moved too, but they headed to cut Jack off.

  “Out of the way,” Jack growled.

  “Let them party,” Dale said.

  “She wants to stop.” Jack kept walking.

  “She’s consenting.” Eric’s lurid smile made Jack’s hand twitch into a fist.

  “STOP,” Joy screamed.

  Butcher pushed her through the door and slammed it shut behind them.

  “I didn’t hear anythi—” Eric started to say, but Jack’s fist slammed into his mouth and cut him off. He stumbled backward and fell on his butt.

  Jack spun to face Dale, who was slightly taller than Jack. The soldier pulled back his fist, and Jack’s jab snapped out like a whip.

  Left eye.

  The punch knocked Dale’s head back.

  Right cheek.

  Jack mentally called his shots as Dale stumbled backward with each blow.

  Nose. Chin.

  The hard right knocked Dale to his knees. Jack stormed forward and jerked the door open. Butcher had jammed Joy up against the wall inside the shed. One hand pinned her arm down and the other groped her breast.

  Butcher slammed Joy back into the wall as he spun around to face Jack. Joy groaned as the back of her head smacked into the hard clay brick. Jack yanked Butcher forward and punched him in the face. Blood from Butcher’s cut lips splattered Joy’s uniform as she slid down the wall.

  Butcher staggered back, holding his mouth.

  Joy’s eyes rolled around as she slumped over onto her side. Jack reached down for her, but Butcher screamed and rushed Jack. He tackled Jack around the waist and drove him out the door. Jack’s elbow came around in an arc and crashed into Butcher’s back. Butcher landed face down to the sand.

  Eric jumped Jack from behind. He was faster than Jack thought. Jack tried to twist, but Eric’s arms clamped tightly around him. As they slammed into the ground, Jack pulled his arm free and elbowed Eric in the solar plexus. Eric gasped in pain and sat partway up before Jack’s elbow crashed into his face and knocked him back down.

  Jack rolled to his side just in time to see Butcher’s foot flying toward his face, but too late to do much about it. To minimize the impact, he tried to swing his head in the same direction as the blow but the heel still caught just above his ear.

  Jack’s head snapped back, and he fell back to the ground. Dale rushed over and kicked Jack in the stomach. With the wind literally kicked out of him, Jack involuntarily doubled up. Butcher tried to stomp on his head, but his boot hit Jack’s shoulder instead. Dale stepped forward and drew his leg back so he could kick again.

  Move.

  Jack grabbed Dale behind his knee and pulled. Dale’s leg went out, and he dropped down to his knees. Jack swung hard for his face, but he felt his knuckles hit the hard bone of Dale’s forehead.

  Butcher kicked Jack in the back. Pain shot all the way through to his chest. Dale punched Jack hard in the face. Butcher kicked Jack in the back again.

  Jack looked up. Butcher’s bloody lip twisted into a snarl. The triumphant look turned to horror a second before a huge black fist slammed into his face and sent him flying.

  Dale scrambled to his feet.

  Jack rolled to his knees. “Thanks, buddy.” He flashed a bloody grin up at Chandler.

  Chandler pulled back his fist as he turned to glare at Dale.

  Dale waved his hands and backed up. “Not me. Butcher. I had nothing to do with it,” Dale pleaded as he grabbed Eric, and they stumbled away.

  Jack knew getting hit by Chandler felt like getting punched in the face by a telephone pole, and part of him wanted to see Dale get his.

  “You okay, Jack?” Chandler reached out his hand.

  “Great,” he grumbled as he grabbed Chandler’s wrist and staggered to his feet.

  “What the hell happened?” Chandler looked around.

  The shed door flew open, and Joy rushed out. She held her hands up ready to fight but when she saw Dale and Eric walking away and Butcher groaning on the ground, her shoulders slumped.

  Jack moved over to her. “Are you okay?”

  “Fine.” She nodded. “I just cracked my head.”

  As he watched her straighten her uniform and fight back the tears, his anger rose. He’d stopped Butcher’s physical attack, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t wounded.

  “Let’s get you checked out,” Jack said.

  “No.” She gasped. “I can’t. I’ve been drinking.”

  “You need to report this.” Chandler stepped forward. “You should—”

  “No.” She held up her hands and took a step back. “Drinking on a dry base? My career would be over.”

  Butcher scrambled to his feet. His face was covered in blood and sand. “I didn’t do anything,” he slurred and then spit. “Dale and Eric will back me up.” He pointed a shaky index finger at Joy.

  Jack surged forward.

  Jack bolted upright in his bed. He sat there panting, his hands reaching for Butcher, but they only grasped vainly at the air in his bedroom. He was drenched with sweat and shaking.

  Breathe. Just a dream. Everything… Jack looked up at the ceiling and gulped in air. Real. It happened, but that was just a dream. I’m just remembering. It’s over. Joy’s okay. She’s back in the States.

  Jack rubbed his mouth, ready to feel his cut lip, but his mouth was fine. The fight had taken place years ago, but now all the details were fresh and vivid. He rubbed his face and ground the heels of his hands against his eyes. He swung his legs out of the bed and hung his head.

  He heard his heartbeat. His side throbbed. In the corner of the darkened room, something scratched at the floor. Jack shook his head and peered into the darkness. Something scratched again; Jack jumped to his feet as his heart pounded in his ears.

  It’s the dog. Calm down. It’s just the dog.

  Jack flicked the bedside lamp on. Lady whimpered in the corner, and her legs twitched. Her legs pulled the blanket out from under her. Her head shook. Jack stood there and looked down at her. The little whine he heard tore at h
im. He walked over toward her with his hand out.

  “Shh,” he whispered as he squatted and picked up the blanket.

  Lady’s eyes flipped open, and she lifted her head.

  Jack froze.

  Lady scanned his face for a moment and then put her head back on her paws. She let out a small whimper. Jack slowly placed the blanket over her and then laid his hand on her head. She scooted forward and pushed her head in his lap. Because he was squatting, she knocked him onto his butt. He landed with a thud.

  “Thanks,” Jack muttered as she nuzzled against his stomach.

  Lady’s fur was softer than he expected. He felt the solid muscle underneath as he patted her. Her head was heavy in his lap, but each stroke of her coat seemed to relax them both even more. He put his head back against the wall and listened to the dog’s breathing. After a few minutes, they both fell asleep.

  **********

  A flash of light caused Jack’s eyes to snap open. He fought back the disorientation of waking up in his own bedroom but not in his bed. It took him a minute to realize he sat on the floor in the corner with the dog. He looked at Replacement, who crouched down with her phone in her hand.

  She snapped another picture, and the flash blinded Jack.

  His hands went to his eyes, and he angled his head away from her. “Stop. What the hell’s wrong with you?”

  She knelt beside him and kissed him. “I love you. I love you, Jack.” Her face was wet with tears, but her green eyes smiled.

  Jack swept his left arm around her waist. He pulled her onto his lap as his right hand slid up her back and pressed her against him. Her old Fairfield High shirt hiked up on her thigh and his hand moved to her soft skin. He touched her delicately, and she responded by sliding both hands to cradle the back of his head. Her fingers ran through his hair. Soft and tenderly, her lips kissed his, and he felt her mouth slowly open. He angled his head, and Lady licked the side of his face.

  “Gross.” He pulled his head away from the dog so far that he tipped over and supported his weight on his left hand.

  Replacement remained sitting. Lady pressed her head against Replacement’s stomach, demanding some attention. Replacement giggled and scratched behind her ears. Lady pushed forward, and Replacement squealed as she fell over.

  The three of them lay there for a while. Replacement patted Lady, and Jack softly caressed Replacement’s hair. They spent the day together. Jack thought about going to look for Grease-E, but he knew that Replacement and Lady needed him more than they needed the money. They went for two long walks. They watched a movie, and Lady devoured the steak. Replacement and Lady both hovered close to Jack all day.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  The Poet

  The following morning, Jack lay awake and staring at the ceiling. He had only slept off and on. Now he lay there, running all the information they’d collected about Daniel over in his head, and a name leapt out—Ray Davis.

  He tossed back the blanket, grabbed a shirt and a pair of shorts, and headed into the living room. Replacement was typing at the computer, and Lady raised her head when he walked up. He kissed the top of Replacement’s head and scratched behind Lady’s ears.

  “You get any sleep, kid?”

  Replacement’s shoulders popped up and down.

  That means none. “What’re you looking at?” Jack asked.

  “I’m going through some of Daniel’s accounts.”

  “Are you using the accounts and passwords you got from the apartment?”

  She nodded. “He only has a few accounts. I’m starting backward and working my way up through his email. I should have started at the beginning. It’s too late to start over now. I don’t have anything. It’s all just friends, e-bills, and poems. He was a poet. He belonged to one site where he posted a lot. Listen to this.” She switched windows and started to read:

  “It’s an age-old question, how am I supposed to know?

  Should I listen to my heart or do I let you go?

  Can love ever fade? Was it never there?

  Will you ever come back? Do you even care?

  What will happen now? What will come to be?

  What will happen to you? What happened to we?

  I said that I’d love you forever. I said I’d always be true.

  Then how can I say goodbye? Tell me, how can I stop loving you?”

  She looked up at him, and he noticed her red-rimmed eyes.

  “That explains the inkwell tattoo.” Jack rubbed her back. “Do you want some coffee?”

  “Please.”

  “Will you look something up for me? There was a murder. It would have been almost two years ago. The victim’s name is Ray Davis.”

  Replacement typed while Jack made the coffee.

  Before it finished brewing, she called back, “I got it. He was killed on Birch Grove?”

  “That’s it.”

  “Do you think there’s some connection?” Replacement spun around in her chair and peered into the kitchen.

  Jack spread his hands out on the countertop and stretched. “I was thinking about it this morning. Ray’s name jumped into my head. His murder was never solved. Statistically, most people get murdered by someone they know. Right now, Daniel has zero enemies. That’s what everyone said about Ray. Ray was a big guy too.”

  He walked over and handed her a cup of coffee. “Thanks.” She took a sip. “I’ll say. He was six foot eight.”

  Jack took a sip of coffee and frowned. “How do you get that?”

  She clicked the mouse. “His Facebook.”

  The monitor changed to Ray Davis’s Facebook page. He was in his late forties, and he was huge. In every picture, the smiling man dwarfed those around him. Replacement’s jaw tightened as she looked at the same three kids in many of the pictures.

  “Why’s his Facebook page still up?” Jack asked.

  “A lot of people are doing that now. They keep it as an in memoriam. The Davis family is also asking for help in solving the murder.”

  Jack’s stared at the man on the monitor. Someone took the photo during a backyard barbecue. Ray wore a chef’s hat and a big apron. Twin boys clung to his legs while he held a little girl on his shoulder. In another, Ray and a tall woman posed with brushes in front of a freshly painted doghouse. Jack noticed Ray smiled at the camera, but the woman smiled up at Ray. She loved him. She’s a widow now.

  “How do you know about it?” Replacement asked.

  Jack walked over to the window. “I was the first responder to the scene. Joe Davenport worked the case. I’ll never forget that night. Ray’s wife…” Jack swirled the coffee in his cup while he exhaled slowly. “Ray went to get the mail. It was night, but he was expecting something, and he forgot to check for it. Joe thought it was really odd he’d go to the mailbox that late but,” Jack shrugged, “if it were me, I’d have gone out. Either way, when I got there, she was inconsolable. When Ray didn’t come back right away, she went to look for him. A car drove away, but she didn’t get a description because they had a stockade fence and she couldn’t see it. She ran out and found Ray dead at the edge of the road.”

  “This article says he was stabbed.”

  “The same with Daniel. Multiple stab wounds to the back.”

  “And they were both tall men,” Replacement said. “Do you want me to get the report?”

  Jack frowned. “If you’re asking if I want you to use an unauthorized account to access the police database, no. No, I do not want you to do that.”

  “No one is going to know if I use one of the service accounts I made.”

  “They’re not going to know because you’re not going to do it. Let’s see what we can find, and then I’ll talk to Morrison.”

  Replacement huffed, but she pulled up articles on the murder. They spent the day looking over the different stories and taking notes. Jack finally convinced Replacement to take a nap after lunch. To make sure she wasn’t disturbed, he took Lady and went for a run.

  After he came
back, he took a quick shower, and then checked his phone.

  Titus sent two texts. ANY UPDATE ON EDDIE PORTER? CALL ME WHEN YOU BRING HIM IN. The other consisted of just a picture of a clock.

  Da Jewel sent the third text. GREASE-E MEETING SNOW WHITE @ 8 @ LA JOLLA — 2NIGHT. U BRING $50. DEBRA

  Jack grinned. Good investment giving her fifty bucks. He’s meeting her at eight. He walked into the living room and saw Replacement’s door was still closed. He headed over to the computer. It took him a minute to pull up the schedule for the La Jolla strip club. It didn’t open until two. He flipped to the featured dancers page and clicked on Snow White’s picture.

  She was in her twenties, with blue eyes and a big smile. She wasn’t a homely girl, but she wasn’t too attractive. She had other assets she was trying to show off, however.

  When Jack found his eyes wandering around to the other pictures, he closed the page, turned around, and jumped.

  Replacement stood in the middle of the living room with a swirling mix of emotions crossing her face. He saw the disappointment and hurt settling in her eyes. It took Jack a minute to realize what she must have thought he was doing on the computer.

  “I wasn’t doing what you think.” He hitched his thumb back at the monitor.

  The color rose to her cheeks. “Jack, I thought…I know…I realize…” Like a clogged motor, she started and then sputtered off.

  Jack waved both hands in front of himself. “Not me. I was just looking up the…I mean, I need to see…” His mind raced to find a reason to explain why he was on a strip club website without confessing he was working as a bounty hunter, but he drew a blank. Damn. I’m screwed.

  Replacement wrung her hands in front of herself and she spoke slowly. “I figure that it’s been hard for you…because you’re used to having sex…and since we haven’t…” She kept getting redder.

  “It’s not that,” Jack tried to assure her.

  “I understand, but I’m not ready. I’ve been dealing… If you need to look at—”

  “No. No. No. No.” He shook his head and the words flung out of his mouth. “Seriously, kid. I’m doing some side work and…” His eyes widened. “It’s right near there. It’s right where I’m working. Directions. I just needed the address so I could find where I was supposed to be tonight. I couldn’t think of anyplace around there except La Jolla—not that I’ve never been in there, that is. I needed directions.” He gave her his best that-explains-it-all smile.