JACK AND THE GIANT KILLER Read online

  Cool air rushed into the car as Jack put down the windows. He rolled his shoulders and checked the rearview mirror. Don’t let your guard down.

  As he turned onto the highway, Ramon called out, “Can you at least play some music?”

  Jack settled back into the seat and a wiseass grin crossed his face.

  “Sure.”

  He turned on the radio and selected song eleven. Johnny Cash’s ballad, “God’s Gonna Cut You Down,” echoed as the jet-black Charger flew down the road toward the jail.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Surprise

  Jack walked through the door of the apartment. His side ached, and he wanted to take a shower to get rid of the smell of the jail that faintly hung off his clothes. Like a paperboy tossing newspapers, he flung the contents of his pockets onto the kitchen counter and hurried toward his bedroom door. As he started to turn the door handle, behind him the door to the apartment flew open.

  “Hey, kid.”

  Replacement looked up and a flash of surprise lit her face. “You’re home.”

  “Yeah.” He turned the knob.

  “Jack, wait!” She rushed toward him but he already started to open the bedroom door.

  Fur and fangs flew forward as a snarling, barking beast leapt at his face. He jumped back and yanked the door shut so hard his hand slipped off the doorknob. He fell backward and landed hard on his butt.

  “Jack.”

  Jack stared open mouthed at the closed door. The animal on the other side howled and scratched at the wood.

  “Oh, shoot.” Replacement put her hands over her mouth.

  Jack thrust out a hand. “What the hell is in my bedroom?”

  She inhaled and her shoulders scrunched up. “I did ask you to tell me before you came home.”

  “Wait. Me getting almost eaten right now is somehow my fault?”

  “No. Not at all.” Replacement shook her head and then stopped. “Well, kinda.”

  “It’s kinda my fault for walking into my own apartment?”

  “I told you I had a surprise.” Replacement gave him a smile that showed all her teeth. “Surprise.”

  “Not funny. What’s wrong with the monster trapped in my bedroom?”

  “She’s just scared.”

  “You call that scared?” Jack’s lip curled as he looked up at her. “What the hell is it?”

  “She’s a dog, silly.” Replacement dropped a bag of dog food on the floor and hurried over to him. She reached down and helped Jack up.

  “That’s no dog—it’s a horse with fangs.” Jack grabbed her hand. “Why’s it in my bedroom?”

  “She’s my new case.” Replacement straightened up and put her shoulders back.

  Jack shook his head as if he had water in his ears. “What?”

  “She’s lost.”

  “A lost dog?” Jack looked at the closed bedroom door as the animal continued to scratch on the other side. “Congratulations. You found it. Now take it back.”

  “I didn’t find her.” Her brunette ponytail bounced as she nodded her head. “She’s my client. I need to find her owner.”

  Jack’s mouth opened and closed a few times before the words tumbled out. “Your client? I know you’re still new with the whole private investigator thing, but I think your clients need to be human.”

  Replacement’s shoulders popped up and down. “Well, the dog’s not technically my client. Mrs. Sawyer is.”

  “The sweet, little old lady, Mrs. Sawyer? Why’d she hire you to find the dog’s owner?”

  “The dog followed her cat home.” Replacement picked up the dog food bag and walked into the kitchen.

  “You mean the General?”

  “Yeah.” She hip-checked and shoved the giant dog food bag, trying to cram it into the small pantry cupboard. “The dog came into her yard, so she called the Darrington animal shelter.” She glared down at the bag while her hands balled into fists.

  Jack shook his head and came over to help. With one easy shove, he pushed it in and then flipped the door shut. “And?” He encouraged her to continue.

  “But then she asked them what would happen to the dog if they didn’t find the owner. They said that after thirty days…” Replacement shuddered. “They’d put the dog to sleep. So, Mrs. Sawyer hired me to find the dog’s owner.”

  “Why isn’t the dog with her?”

  “I guess the General and the dog weren’t getting along.”

  “What about a kennel?”

  “Well, you know, she’s on a fixed income so I thought she could stay here.”

  “No. No way.”

  “Mrs. Sawyer is so nice.” Replacement rocked back on her heels. “She offered fifty dollars. I know it’s not much but—”

  “Not much?” Jack looked up at the ceiling. “Do you have any idea how much it’s going to cost you to board that horse? Or how much food it’ll eat?”

  “Yeah, dog food is pretty expensive.” Replacement looked at the cupboard. “But I got a deal on that.”

  “I think that bag’s going to be its breakfast.”

  Replacement sheepishly grinned. “Please? It’ll only be a day or two, tops.”

  “Absolutely not. Look, I can’t believe that Mrs. Stevens isn’t knocking at the door with an eviction notice already.”

  Replacement pouted and, as her green eyes widened, Jack’s resolve started to melt.

  “If Mrs. Stevens says it’s okay, can I keep her here for just a few days? I’ll keep her in my room.”

  Jack rubbed the back of his neck. He knew the building had a strict no-pet policy. “If Mrs. Stevens allows it, you can keep it here.”

  Replacement’s face lit up. “Sweet. She already said yes.”

  Jack’s mouth fell open. “What? She never allows pets.”

  The dog whimpered. Replacement headed toward the bedroom door.

  “You knew she’d said yes already.” Jack pointed an accusatory finger. “You tricked that out of me.”

  Replacement grinned and then hopped over to the bedroom door. “Baby?” Her voice rose higher than usual as she reached for the door handle.

  “Don’t open—”

  She turned the handle.

  The dog sprang out of the door and landed in front of Replacement. She bared her teeth and barked so loud that Jack would have covered his ears if his hands weren’t ready to try to fend off an attack.

  Replacement grabbed the dog’s huge collar with both hands and planted her feet. If the animal wasn’t snarling at him, Jack would have laughed at the ridiculousness of her trying to hold the powerful dog back. She might as well have grabbed a truck by the bumper.

  Jack had seen a lot of big German Shepherds in the Army and on the police force, so he knew this dog had to be a mixed breed. A huge Shepherd weighed around ninety pounds and stood two feet tall at the shoulders. This dog was twenty pounds heavier than that and at least six inches taller.

  “Easy, Princess. Easy. Jack’s our friend.” Replacement spoke to it as if she were talking to a toddler.

  “Princess?” Jack snapped and the dog barked at him again.

  “Shh, that’s her name,” Replacement scolded. “Use a soft baby voice.”

  “What?” Jack barked loudly.

  So did the dog.

  Jack took a step back.

  “Talk to her like you’re talking to a baby,” Replacement cautioned.

  Jack exhaled and spoke through gritted teeth. “Get the werewolf under control before I get my gun.”

  “Jack.” Replacement gasped.

  The dog growled low and moved forward again.

  “Princess, sit,” Replacement commanded and the dog obeyed. “Don’t even joke like that.”

  “Seriously, kid.” Jack forced himself to keep his voice low and even. “Put it in your bedroom.”

  Replacement rubbed the dog’s thick neck and kissed its head. “Come on, Cookie.”

  “Cookie?”

  “Doesn’t she look like a big cookie?” Replacement hugged t
he dog as she spoke in her baby voice.

  “I thought its name was Princess.”

  Replacement rolled her eyes as she walked over to her bedroom. “I don’t know her real name. I’m seeing what works best. Right now I think she looks like a big chocolate chip cookie.”

  Jack angled his head as he appraised the dog. Her fur was a mix of black and golden brown. Her nose and lips were a solid black. Her eyes were a deep honey brown. The dog’s back was broad and muscular and her full chest had a patch of golden brown in the shape of a shield.

  “If you’re looking for name suggestions, I’d go with something like Hell Hound,” Jack joked.

  Replacement scowled.

  “What kind of dog is it?” Jack asked.

  She shrugged. “German Shepherd?”

  “No. It’s way too big. It looks like a Shepherd, but it’s more like a Sumo Shepherd.”

  “Jack.” Replacement put her hands over the dog’s ears. “Don’t call her fat.”

  “I didn’t call her fat, but she’s huge. Look at her. She’s as big as you.”

  Replacement’s eyes narrowed. “As big as me?”

  Damn. “That’s not what I meant. You’re tiny.” He waved his hands. “I mean the dog’s not fat, just thick. Not that you’re thick. It was a bad joke.”

  Replacement put her hand on her hip.

  “Beep. Beep. Do you hear that sound?” Jack put his hand to his ear. “That’s me backing out of this conversation.”

  Replacement led the dog into her bedroom and shut the door.

  Jack rubbed his temples as he walked into the living room. “How do I get myself into these situations? You bring the King Kong of dogs home and I end up in the doghouse?” he called out as he kicked off his shoes, reached up to the ceiling, and stretched out. After he spent a few minutes bending and twisting, Replacement’s bedroom door opened, and she zipped out. He laid his hands flat on the floor and groaned. Replacement hurried over and watched him with all the intensity of a scientist conducting an experiment.

  “Take off your shirt,” she ordered.

  Jack groaned but obeyed. He inhaled as her fingers traced the outline of the scar on his side. “It looks great. It’s faded a lot. Get on the floor.”

  Jack was used to this; after twelve weeks it had become their evening routine. He lay down on the circular carpet and let his arms go loose at his sides.

  “How’s it feel inside?” she asked.

  “Fine. You spoke to the doctor last week. He gave me a clean bill of health.”

  She straddled his thighs. “For light exercise. He was impressed with your progress but said the muscles and tissues will take months to fully recover. I wish you’d wait a little longer to find a job.”

  She’d go crazy if she knew I already took one as a bounty hunter. But what was I supposed to do? The hospital bills were piling up.

  “I’ve been coding for a few websites,” she continued, “and I’ve gotten a few PI gigs. Nothing big, but we have some money coming in.”

  Jack moaned as she rubbed his back. “We’re doing great, kid. Besides, you know me—I’ll go out of my mind if I just sit around.”

  She rubbed deeper and Jack’s back cracked. “Thank you for letting Cookie stay here.”

  He lay there and enjoyed the massage. “I just thought of something. Don’t some dogs have those chips now?”

  “Oh yeah. I read about them once.” Her hands traveled up to his shoulders. “It holds all of the dog’s and owner’s information.”

  “We’ll take it over to the animal shelter tomorrow. They should have a way to read it or something.”

  “Another case solved.” Replacement put her hands over her head.

  Jack laughed, and Replacement slid off his back and sat on the floor. Jack rolled over and sat up so they faced each other.

  “We should celebrate,” Jack said.

  She smiled. “How?”

  “I was wondering if you wanted to go out to dinner tomorrow night?”

  Replacement’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

  “I can make reservations at Antonelli’s.”

  Replacement wiggled in place and squealed, “I love Italian.”

  Jack exhaled and stretched his back. His side throbbed, but he ignored it. He looked into her large green eyes and the corner of his mouth ticked up. She’s beautiful. Jack’s eyes traveled over her petite, five-foot-four frame. She’d been doing all of the physical therapy with him so she was in incredible shape. Jack’s eyes drifted back up to hers. He grinned, but when he tried to press his lips back together, they quickly parted and he found himself smiling once more.

  “What?” Replacement’s eyes darted away before they locked with his.

  “I’m feeling almost a hundred percent. And you wanted to wait until I was better before our relationship…progressed.”

  Replacement’s broad grin faded into a shy smile. Her chin dipped down and she nodded.

  Jack leaned in and tilted his head. “Thank you for taking care of me,” he whispered before he kissed her softly.

  Their lips pressed together. Her lips were soft, warm, wet—the words spun through his thoughts. He inhaled her scent and his chest swelled. Her hand reached out and slid up his arm.

  Replacement purred and her little kisses intensified. Their heads shifted sides and, as they rubbed noses, she smiled. His hands traveled to her waist. His fingers caressed her sides, and she leaned closer.

  Her tongue darted in and then out of his mouth and his chased after it. He pulled her close, and her hands slid through his thick hair. She leaned back, panting.

  “Slow,” she said softly as her hands pressed against his chest and she breathed deeply.

  “Sure.” Jack crookedly smiled.

  She bit her bottom lip and Jack leaned forward. “Do you—” The dog barked and then scratched at the door.

  Damn.

  Replacement hopped up so fast that Jack reached out to stop her, but she was already backing away for the bedroom.

  “I better—” she stopped and looked him up and down, “get in there and calm down.” She flushed. “Calm Cookie down.” She giggled.

  When she opened the door, the dog stood there with Replacement’s Raggedy Anne doll in her mouth. Jack expected Replacement to get upset but instead she switched to her baby-talk voice. “You want a dolly? You can have it. There’s a good girl.”

  “You’re just going to give it to the beast? I thought that was your doll when you were little or something.”

  Replacement shook her head. “No. I saw it at the Salvation Army and thought it looked retro. Besides, she likes it.” She smiled back at him. “Night.”

  Before Jack could protest, she zipped into the room and closed the door. He rubbed his face and felt his day-old stubble.

  I should’ve shaved.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  It’s Awake

  Jack woke up early and stumbled for the kitchen and a cup of coffee. Rubbing his eyes, he took down his favorite coffee mug and Replacement’s flowered cup. While he made the coffee, he heard the click of thick nails on wood.

  It’s awake.

  Jack slowly leaned over the kitchen counter and watched as the enormous dog trotted out of Replacement’s bedroom. The dog turned to face him. Her ears laid back on her head and her eyes narrowed. She carried something between her massive jaws that dripped with saliva, but Jack couldn’t make out what it was.

  The dog seemed to relax, and then her ears went back up, and she opened her mouth. The object tumbled out and landed on the floor with a wet smack. Jack examined the pile of cloth and rubber and realized it was one of his sneakers.

  The dog’s tongue rolled from her mouth, and she shook her head.

  “Seriously?”

  She turned and trotted back into Replacement’s bedroom.

  “Get back here.” Jack rushed after her but stopped in the doorway when the dog barked.

  Replacement sat up in her bed, trying to cover her ears while she pulle
d the blanket around herself. “Cookie, quiet. What’s going on?” She gazed nervously around.

  “That mutant mutt ate my sneaker.”

  Replacement slipped out of bed. The dog pressed against her and nearly knocked her back onto the mattress. “Shh. It’s okay, Cookie. Stop yelling, Jack. You’re upsetting her.”

  “I’m upsetting her?”

  “You have another pair.” Replacement rubbed her eyes with the palms of her hands. “She probably smelled something on them.”

  “Yeah—my scent. That thing hates me.” The dog growled. “See?” Jack thrust both hands toward the dog.

  “You’re freaking her out by yelling.”

  “I’m freaking her out?”

  “You’re freaking me out, too. I just woke up.”

  Jack stomped into the hallway and then kicked the dripping shoe toward the door. “I’m taking a shower and then we’re leaving.” He headed for the bathroom, all too eager to find the owner of the lost beast. He showered, shaved close, and dressed quickly.

  When he emerged from the bedroom, Replacement waited for him, a cup of coffee and an English muffin topped with peanut butter in hand.

  “Eat and then we’ll head for the car.”

  Jack’s head snapped around to look at the dog. “There’s no way I’m going to let the clawed monster into the Charger.”

  “I was going to take her in the Bug.”

  “It won’t fit.”

  “Of course she will. How do you think I got her here?” Replacement turned her hands up.

  Jack rolled his eyes. “I figured you rode the beast home.”

  She laughed, grabbed his hand, and bowed her head. “Thank you, God, for this food and for Jack. Please help us find Cookie’s owner. In Jesus’s name, Amen.”

  She wrapped her arms around his waist. He fought to keep the scowl on his face but, as she squeezed him tighter, it faded.

  Replacement leaned back and smiled. “You’re going to help me, right?”

  He nodded. She pulled him down and kissed his cheek. He restrained himself from drawing her back in before she bounded off for the hallway cabinet. Jack munched on his breakfast as she rooted around in one of the drawers before triumphantly holding up a length of rope. She danced over to the dog and tied the rope onto her collar.

  “That’ll hold.” She stood up and beamed.