JACK AND THE GIANT KILLER Read online

  “We’re looking for any patterns of animal abuse or cruelty. Specifically to large dogs.”

  Ryan’s eyes tilted up to the ceiling, and he closed his eyes. After a minute, Ryan took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. “I’m sorry. I guess I don’t even like to think about it.” He brushed back his hair. “I can’t remember anything specific about big dogs but it should be in there. There was one case I remember, but it was neglect. You just want to know about large dogs?”

  “The more data, the better,” Replacement said. “I’ll take everything you have.”

  “That’d be a job for Lacie.” Ryan stood up. “She’s out back.”

  “Do you work closely with animal control?” Jack asked.

  “Yes and no. They bring in hurt animals or dead ones for disposal if they aren’t too big.”

  “Too big?” Jack said.

  “Big like a deer or a horse. Our crematorium is too small. They’d take them to Willow Farms for burial. Lacie’s out back. We just got in a litter of puppies.”

  The three of them headed to the back of the animal clinic, consisting of a large fenced-in area broken up into different pens. They walked down to Lacie, who sat next to Carl in his wheelchair. Little yapping puppies surrounded them.

  “Hello, again.” Carl waved with one hand while he held a fuzzy brown pup with the other.

  Lacie hopped up, cradling a yapping puppy. “Hi, Alice. Feel how soft he is.” She handed the puppy to Replacement.

  “Oh, he’s adorable,” Replacement gushed as she rubbed the puppy’s head.

  The puppies stood up on their hind legs as a few tried to get Carl’s shoelaces. Two more jumped against Replacement’s legs.

  “They’re so cute!” Replacement squatted down.

  The other puppies swarmed over to her, and their little yaps filled the air. Replacement giggled as they hopped, jumped, and twisted around.

  “Hi, Carl.” Jack shook his hand.

  “What brings you by?” Carl looked between Ryan and Jack.

  “They’re actually hoping Lacie can give them a hand with the database,” Ryan said.

  “Sure,” Lacie replied. “Do you want to look at it now?”

  “That’d be great.” Replacement put down the puppy.

  “Ryan?” Everyone looked up when Andy called from the door. “The Pekinese is here.”

  “Be right there,” Ryan called back. “Lacie knows where everything is.” He turned to speak directly to her. “Give them a hand with anything they need, okay?”

  “Sure. Come on, Alice.”

  As everyone started to walk away, Carl cleared his throat. Jack turned around and realized Carl’s predicament. How’s he going to corral all the puppies from his wheelchair?

  “I’ll only be a few minutes,” Ryan called back as he kept walking.

  “I can give you a hand,” Jack offered.

  Stupid. Did I just volunteer to help with puppies?

  “We’ll only be a few minutes.” Lacie grinned. “They really need to be out for a little while. Thanks.”

  Replacement kissed his cheek, and the girls walked away.

  “Great,” Jack muttered under his breath as he went back to the pen.

  “I take it you’re not a dog fan,” Carl said.

  Jack tilted his head. “Sorry. I’m working on it.”

  “Here.” Carl handed Jack a puppy. “Try puppy therapy. You’d have to have a black heart not to like this little guy.”

  The puppy squirmed in Jack’s arms.

  “I take it you’re a big dog fan?” Jack asked.

  “You could say that. I want to work with support dogs.”

  “For the blind?”

  “Actually, no. I want to work with ones for the disabled. They’re training service-assistance dogs for people in wheelchairs.”

  “That’s great.” Jack thought for a moment. “Do they get things for you?”

  “They’re perfect if you drop something, but you can train them for other things. They can even pull a wheelchair.”

  “I bet mine can pull a bus.”

  Carl laughed. “Lady’s a big dog. She’d be great, but she may be too big for most.”

  “Is that what you do here? Train service dogs?”

  “A little. I help where needed.”

  “Do you work here full time?”

  “I’m only part-time, but I volunteer the rest.”

  “That’s kind of you.”

  Carl exhaled and put his hands on the arms of his chair. “Selfish too. The dogs give me a lot.” Carl winced and then leaned down and picked up the puppy that gnawed at his shoe. He handed the puppy to Jack, who awkwardly juggled both puppies in his arms.

  Carl laughed again.

  Jack set both puppies down. “If you don’t mind me asking, are you a veteran?” Jack asked as another puppy yelped for him to pick it up.

  “No. You?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I was hurt in high school. Wrestling. Not the hitting-the-guy-with-a-chair TV kind, but the Olympic kind. I got swept, and I landed wrong.” He shrugged. “Some people have it worse, though. You make the best of it.”

  “Looks like you are. Training service dogs, that’s a good thing,” Jack said.

  “I like it, and I get paid to play with puppies.” He reached down, and the dogs rushed over to him.

  Jack looked up when a man walked around the corner. He looked to be in his early twenties and walked with a swagger.

  Tipping his head up, he curtly asked Jack, “What’s up?” Then he leaned over the fence, closer to Carl. “Ryan said you might need a hand. Yeah, these beasts look rough.”

  “I’m fine, Stan.” Carl set the puppy down.

  “No, really.” Stan opened the gate and walked in. “I’m just giving you crap. Speaking of crap, Ryan wants me to clean all the cages, starting with this one.”

  Carl laughed. “Glad I can’t help with that.”

  “Jack?” Replacement opened the door and waved him over.

  “That’s my exit cue. Nice seeing you again, Carl.”

  Jack shook their hands, but it took him a couple of seconds to keep all the puppies in while he got out of the gate.

  “How did it go?” Jack asked as he walked through the door.

  “Awesome. She gave me the whole database. I can look it over tonight. Lacie had to go give Ryan a hand. I told her I’d call her tonight. She’s pretty cool.”

  “Great. Let’s get out of here.” Jack started forward, but Replacement didn’t move.

  She tugged her ear and smiled up at him. “I was wondering…” Her voice went up and Jack’s eyebrows came down. “Lacie said the puppies are free and—”

  “We have a dog the size of a farm animal in my apartment now.” Jack’s hands went out.

  “Not for us, silly.” Replacement shook her head. “You know how Mrs. Stevens is always going on about Lady?”

  “No. Absolutely not.”

  “I’m trying to be nice,” Replacement protested.

  “Me too. Believe me. You don’t want to get a dog and give it to someone as a gift.”

  “I bet she’d love it.” Replacement put her hands on her hips.

  “Really?” Jack leaned down. “You figure the guys who work here know about these things, right?”

  She shrugged and then nodded. “Yeah?”

  Jack walked back to the door and pulled it open. Carl and Stan were still outside with the puppies.

  “Excuse me?” Jack called out. “Do you think it would be a good idea if I picked one of those puppies up for a surprise gift?”

  “NO,” they both shouted back and shook their heads.

  “You never want to do that,” Stan warned.

  “Just bring the person here as a surprise,” Carl suggested.

  “Great idea, Carl. Thanks.” Jack waved and let the door close. “See?” He held his hands out again.

  “Well, thanks for throwing me under the bus.” Replacement glared.

  “I didn’t
throw you under the bus. They think it was my idea.”

  “Yeah, right.” She scoffed. “They think it was mine. You totally put me under the bus.”

  Jack pulled the door open again. “Excuse me? Whose idea do you think it was to give the dog as a present? Honestly?” he asked when he saw Carl and Stan exchange a look.

  “Yours,” they both said.

  “See?” Jack smiled. “I did not throw you under the bus. They thought it was my idea.”

  “Sorry,” she snapped.

  “It was her idea,” Jack yelled, waved and then let the door shut. “Now I threw you under the bus.”

  “Jerk.” She playfully shoved him.

  Jack’s phone rang, interrupting them. “Stratton.”

  “You need to get down to the hospital,” Morrison said. “We have a victim who survived an attack.”

  “On my way.”

  Jack shoved the phone in his pocket, while Replacement headed for the exit.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  You Sound Like My Wife

  Jack zipped into the emergency parking lot of the hospital and cringed. His hands instantly turned clammy. He hated hospitals. Two ambulances were parked in front, along with two police cruisers and Morrison’s Crown Vic. Jack and Replacement walked through the double glass doors.

  Tossing a stick of gum in his mouth, Morrison hurried over and started to fill them in. “I already put out an APB for a white male, mid-twenties, brown hair, five foot seven or eight. Dark T-shirt, blue jeans, and sneakers. First responder got the call an hour ago. The victim is Samuel O’Rourke. He’s in surgery now.”

  “What’s his condition?” Jack asked.

  “Serious. He got stabbed in the stomach. They said there was a lot of bleeding.”

  “Stomach?” Jack repeated.

  “Not in the back.” Morrison popped another stick of gum in his mouth. “I thought it didn’t fit the pattern either, but O’Rourke said he turned around at the last second. He has a slash wound to the chest and a straight-in to the gut. Officer Pugh got a statement before EMS arrived. O’Rourke said he was at Bill’s Burger Hut and when he went to throw his meal away, the guy attacked him.”

  “Donald Pugh took his statement?”

  Morrison nodded. “He’s at the station now, writing up the report. Two officers have the scene secured while forensics works it up. Castillo went to state to talk to the ME there. He’s headed back now so I’m waiting to see if I can talk to O’Rourke.”

  Morrison’s phone rang. He looked at the number, held up his hand, and then he turned around to get it. Jack and Replacement walked over to the nurses’ desk. Two women in hospital scrubs were talking behind the counter. As Jack approached, one walked away and the other turned toward him. She was five eight, had short, sandy-brown hair, and was a little on the chubby side. Despite the circles under her eyes, she wore a bright smile.

  Jack recognized her but couldn’t place from where. TINA. He read her nametag as he dropped his hands to the counter, but even her name didn’t jog his memory.

  “Jack.” She walked over to them.

  Damn. He felt the color flush to his neck. He gave Replacement a quick please-help-me glance and she stepped forward.

  “Hi, Tina.” Replacement waved and smiled. “Alice Campbell—we met you at the Boar’s Butt.”

  “Kendra’s friend.” Jack blurted out the answer like a contestant on a game show.

  Replacement sighed.

  Tina’s brow pulled together. “How’s your recovery going?”

  “Fine. Stronger every day,” Jack said.

  Replacement squeezed Jack’s hand. “Tina was here when they brought you in.”

  “I assisted in the ER,” Tina said. “You had us worried.”

  “I should say thank you.”

  “I’m a nurse, and I only assisted.”

  “I’m glad you did,” Jack joked.

  “Have you finished physical therapy?” Tina asked.

  “All done, and I got a clean bill of health.” Jack leaned against the counter. “Alice is taking good care of me.”

  “I can see that.” Tina gave Replacement a wink.

  “What can you tell me about Sam O’Rourke?” Jack asked.

  She frowned and Jack held up a hand.

  “HIPPA. Don’t say anything.” Jack smiled thinly. “I understand.”

  “I can talk to Bob,” she offered.

  They all looked at Morrison, who stood with his phone pressed against his ear. He held up an index finger and rolled his eyes. After more nodding and explaining, Morrison put his phone away and then came over.

  “That was Castillo,” Morrison said. “Tina, any ETA from O’Rourke’s surgery?”

  “I saw Doctor Singh come out, so I expect they’re wrapping it up. O’Rourke will be out for a while, I’d expect.”

  Morrison clamped down on his gum and rubbed his eyebrows with his index finger and thumb. “If I’m not back, I need someone to call me the second he opens his eyes.” He exhaled.

  Jack raised an eyebrow.

  “What?” Morrison snapped.

  “I know you want to go to the scene, but I also know you want to talk to O’Rourke yourself,” Jack said. “If he wakes up and you’re not here, you’re going to be ticked off at yourself.”

  “You sound like my wife,” Morrison grumbled.

  “Gail’s a smart lady.” Jack crookedly grinned, gave a small wave to Tina, and then walked for the door. “Nice seeing you again, Tina.”

  “Where do you think you two are going?” Morrison asked as his phone rang again.

  “I want to be at the crime scene and, since I don’t mind coming back when O’Rourke wakes up, I’m taking a ride.”

  “Thanks, Jack.” Morrison groused before he answered his phone again.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  Bill’s Burger Hut

  The parking lot of Bill’s Burger Hut was surrounded by crime-scene tape and cars. As Jack and Replacement walked over to the police cruiser, he smiled when he saw Officer Kendra Darcey. She leaned against the side and spoke to the driver.

  Fit and very athletic, Jack considered Kendra a good friend. Her blonde ponytail bounced as she jumped back from the car.

  Jack’s smile vanished when he realized who she was talking to. Officer Billy Murphy and Jack had disliked each other from the first time they met. Jack tried to give Murphy the benefit of the doubt and shove those feelings aside but Murphy didn’t. He was the type of guy who, if he didn’t like you, let everyone know and did his best to screw you to the wall.

  “Stratton,” Murphy spat.

  Jack just nodded.

  “Civilians are supposed to stay behind the police tape.” Murphy spoke loudly, but Jack heard the door lock and the window start to rise. “I’d move you, but I’m off duty.” Murphy stepped on the gas and gunned the cruiser out of the parking lot and down the street.

  “That’s what you get when you breed rats and humans,” Jack muttered as he grinned at Kendra.

  She tilted her head and laughed. “You’re so bad, but he does look like a rat. He’s got that coarse brown hair, his eyes are small and close together—”

  “You forgot the weasel-like face.” Jack glared at the car that disappeared in the distance.

  Kendra held up a hand. “Stop it. I still have to work with him, and he’s the commissioner’s son-in-law. Hi, Alice.”

  “Hi, Kendra. We just saw Tina,” Replacement said.

  “At the hospital? Did O’Rourke say anything else? Is he out of surgery?”

  “Yes, no, and no.” Jack looked behind the restaurant and at the three crime-scene technicians moving around a large pickup truck. “Morrison is still there to see if he can get a statement when O’Rourke wakes up.”

  “You’re working for the mayor’s office now?” Kendra asked.

  “She worked that out.” Jack thumbed his hand at Replacement, who smiled broadly.

  “No way.” Kendra swatted Jack’s shoulder harder than no
rmal. “Sheriff Collins is going to go Chernobyl when he gets back.” Her tongue stuck out slightly between her teeth.

  “Try to stay out of the blast radius. Did you talk to Donald?”

  Kendra frowned. “Donald was real shook up. He doesn’t do well with blood, and the guy was bleeding badly. Any word on how he is?”

  “Serious condition, but they’re already wrapping up surgery. Will you walk us through it?”

  They headed toward the back of the building until they clearly saw the back parking lot. O’Rourke’s truck was parked ten feet away from an opened, wooden fenced-in area with two green dumpsters. Two technicians in white coveralls moved outside the truck and snapped pictures while another leaned over the driver’s seat.

  “O’Rourke said he was throwing his food away and the guy rushed up behind him. The assailant slashed him with a large knife, then stabbed him. O’Rourke then punched him in the head. The assailant ran for the railroad tracks, and O’Rourke ran for his car.”

  Jack looked back at the restaurant. “Did anyone see it?”

  “Just the aftermath. A lady in the front of the parking lot heard him screaming. Linda Brooks. She had been behind O’Rourke in the drive-thru. She had five kids in the car, so when she heard him screaming she didn’t go over, but she laid on her car horn and it attracted a lot of attention.”

  “Did they check the security cameras?” Replacement asked.

  Kendra nodded her head. “The manager is working on it now.”

  “Morrison gave me a description of how O’Rourke said he was attacked. Is that all that Donald got?” Jack asked.

  “O’Rourke was bleeding badly, and Donald was trying not to pass out. That’s it.”

  Jack stared at the car and looked back and forth between it, the dumpster, and the restaurant.

  After several minutes, Kendra looked at a car stopped at the end of the taped-off driveway and frowned. “Morrison wanted the whole lot sealed off. You ever eat here? They must have the best burgers in town because the regulars are getting ready to riot.” Kendra walked toward a car.

  “I’m going to speak with the manager,” Jack said.

  Kendra waved back and Jack then called out to the heavyset woman in the car. “Sorry, they’re closed.”