JACKS ARE WILD Page 23

  She nodded. “I have an idea. Can I drive you home, and we can talk on the way? Please?”

  Jack stood on the sidewalk and searched her face. Jennifer’s lips pressed together, and she tilted her head.

  “Fine.”

  “I’m in the garage.”

  They turned and walked to the three-story parking garage across the street. Jennifer’s heels clicked on the cement, and Jack waited for her to do the talking.

  “If someone called the Mancinis, they’re going to call again. We have Severino under constant surveillance. Paolo was his enforcer. His death is going to shake things up.” She smiled hopefully.

  “Shake things up, or apart?”

  Jack grabbed the railing and took the stairs two at a time.

  When he reached the top of the stairs, Jennifer huffed, “If you’d give me a second, I can explain.”

  Jack spun around and waited. She grabbed the railing, pulling herself up the last two steps, and stood there panting, trying to catch her breath.

  “We’ve been monitoring…” Her voice trailed off and Jack saw all the color drain from her face.

  Jack’s head whipped around to see what had her so spooked. He immediately noticed a man stopped between two cars.

  Asian. Medium build. Spiky hair.

  “GUN,” Jennifer screamed.

  Jack instinctively moved back and reached for his own weapon.

  Damn. I’m unarmed.

  Jack moved to get out of Jennifer’s way to give her a clear shot, but she grabbed Jack by his shoulders and yanked him backward.

  She didn’t draw her gun.

  As Jack pitched toward the stairs, he reached for the railing. Jennifer crashed into him, her arms wrapping around his waist.

  “GET DOWN,” she screamed as they both were launched headfirst down the steps.

  Trying to cushion her fall, Jack landed hard on his shoulder as he pulled Jennifer against him. They slid down the remaining concrete steps and crashed into the landing.

  Jack struggled to pull himself free and grab her gun from the holster.

  “Give me your gun,” Jack roared as Jennifer rolled in the other direction.

  “I have it,” she snarled as she pulled herself free and stood up.

  She took one step, cried out in pain, and pitched forward.

  Jack grabbed her shoulder, flipped her onto her back, and yanked her gun out of the holster. He aimed at the top of the stairs and tried to steady his breathing.

  Tires squealed from the top level, and Jack jumped over Jennifer and raced up the stairs. He only saw the rear end of a sedan turning the corner and heading for the exit.

  Public garage. Two exits. One is automated.

  He sprinted left. When he reached the edge of the building, he grabbed the ledge and peered over. He could hear the echo of the car fade and realized he had picked the wrong side.

  NO.

  Jack let fly a string of obscenities as he screamed at the sky. He raced back over to the staircase as Jennifer limped into view. Her face said it all. She was fighting back tears, and he was sure they weren’t from pain.

  “Come on.” Jack ran over and put his arm around her waist.

  “We need to call it in,” she said.

  “No.” Jack’s voice was cold, and Jennifer froze.

  Her feet dragged across the cement as he kept moving for her car.

  “Jack, we need to call this in.”

  When they reached her car, she pulled herself away and leaned heavily against it.

  “You can’t. You need to trust me. Give me your keys.” Jack held his hand out.

  Jennifer glanced around, and her eyebrows squeezed together. She swallowed and stared at Jack. She dropped the keys into his hand. “Are you going to clue me in?”

  “Yeah. Later. Get in.”

  Jack moved over to the driver’s seat and slid it back as Jennifer got in the car. He backed her sedan up and headed down to the manager’s office on the north side. As Jack hopped out, he could see a teenager and a guy in his late fifties having an animated conversation.

  Jack rapped on the window and they both jumped.

  “What?” the older man snarled as he slid the window open.

  “I need to see your security cameras.”

  “I told you so.” The teenager wobbled his head as he spoke.

  “Shut up,” the older man growled and then turned to Jack. “I wish we could see them, too, so you could nail that jerk that just hauled ass out of here.”

  “None of the cameras work?”

  “None of them,” the teenager called out.

  Damn.

  “Did you get a look at the car or the driver?”

  The older man shook his head. “I was back in the office.”

  The teenager shrugged.

  “How could you not see it?” the old man growled. “You got your face stuffed into that stupid phone. I don’t pay you to sit on your ass and play games. You were supposed to be watching the gate.”

  The teenager’s shoulders slumped a bit. “I wasn’t on my phone.”

  “Then why was your phone in your hand?”

  The teenager blanched. “I…I was…I had it out because…”

  Jack put his hand on the window. “So, your cameras aren’t working, and neither of you got a look at the car or the driver?”

  They nodded.

  “How did they pay?”

  “They didn’t,” the old man grumbled. “The gate’s busted, so Junior here is supposed to be watching it OUTSIDE.”

  “I got cold. I came in for like a minute.” The teenager shrugged.

  Jack stormed back to the car and pulled out by the broken gate. He glared at the red and white pole pointed toward the ceiling.

  “Who was that guy?” Jennifer leaned forward and scanned the street.

  “You’re asking the wrong question.” Jack turned left and headed for his apartment. “You should be asking why did he come for you?”

  “What? I thought he was after…” Her voice trailed off, and she swallowed.

  Jack shook his head. “He didn’t know you would offer me a ride home. He was waiting for you.”

  “Why? That makes no sense.”

  Jack turned right and stopped at a light. When it turned green, he took a left.

  “Where are we going?”

  Jack adjusted the rearview mirror. “Right now I don’t think it would be a good idea for you to go back to your hotel.”

  “They’re after me?” Jennifer sat up in her seat.

  “Just…I need to get some things from my apartment, and we’ll go someplace.”

  “Hold on. I don’t answer to you. You answer to me.”

  Jack pulled over to the curb and turned to stare at her. “You want to be on your own? Fine. You’re on your own.” She scowled. “No offense, but I don’t know how you got out of the Academy.”

  “I’m perfectly capable—”

  “This isn’t a game, and it’s not pushing reports. Quiet down for a couple minutes and let me think, or get out.”

  Jennifer turned to face him and winced.

  “Besides,” Jack continued, “you wouldn’t get far on that ankle.”

  “It’s my car.”

  Jack raised an eyebrow.

  “You wouldn’t just leave me on the side of the road?” She leaned away from him.

  Jack smirked and pulled back out. “Theoretically, no.” His apartment was only a couple minutes away, and they rode in silence. He parked in the back and ran around to the passenger door.

  As Jennifer got out, she made a face. “I can walk.” She held up a hand.

  Jack stepped out of the way and swung his arm in a wide arc. “After you.”

  Jennifer took four halting steps and stopped. She grimaced slightly, and her eyes fluttered. “I just need to ice it.” She exhaled.

  “Okay.” Jack folded his arms and waited.

  She looked back at him, glared, took two more steps, and then put all of her weight on he
r left leg.

  Jennifer closed her eyes and exhaled. “Can you help me inside?”

  He held up his hands close to his body. “I can give you a shoulder to lean on, and we can awkwardly lurch up a couple flights of stairs like some weird three-legged race, or you can suck up your pride and let me carry you.”

  “Carry me? Like a baby?”

  “No.” Jack shook his head.

  Don’t smile. Don’t smile.

  He smiled.

  “You male chauvinist p—”

  “Hey, it has nothing to do with you being a girl.”

  “If I was a guy would you carry me?” She crossed her arms and wobbled on her one leg.

  “I’d do a fireman’s carry if you were a guy. So yeah, there would be a difference. You decide. I carry you like a baby or ass in the air over my shoulder, your pick.”

  The color rose in her cheeks as she weighed her options.

  “Fine.”

  Jack debated asking her choice, but instead just scooped her up in his arms and headed for the door. Jennifer put one arm around his shoulder, and Jack tried not to smile as she looked everywhere but at him.

  “Are you going to be okay carrying me all the way to the third floor?” she asked as her neck flushed.

  “I’m fine.” Jack turned sideways as he navigated the stairwell. “It’s only two.”

  Jennifer huffed and bit her lip.

  When Jack reached his door, he used his foot to bang on it.

  Jennifer held up a hand. “I could have knocked.”

  “Next time.” Jack grinned.

  Kiku opened the door and took a step back. Her look of surprise quickly changed to anger, her wolf-like features accentuated as her face muscles tensed.

  As Jack strode through the door, Replacement looked over her shoulder and almost fell out of the computer chair as she got up.

  “Who’s she?”

  “Jennifer Rivers, FBI.” Jack carried her to the couch. “Jennifer, this is Alice and…” He glanced at Kiku, whose face had now relaxed into a neutral mask. He hesitated to say Kiku’s name.

  “I am Kiku.” She nodded her head as she introduced herself.

  “What happened?” Replacement asked.

  Jack set Jennifer down on the couch and stood up.

  “She sprained her ankle. At least I hope it’s a sprain.”

  Replacement headed for the kitchen.

  Jennifer grimaced and adjusted herself on the couch. “It’s not that bad.”

  Jack hurried over to Replacement at the freezer.

  “Where’s Ilario?” he whispered.

  “We dropped him off at the Colonial Motel. He was upset but okay.” Replacement scooped ice into the bag. “What happened to you?”

  “Don’t ask.”

  “Why did you bring her here, Officer?” Kiku moved over to the window and peered out into the darkened street below.

  “Someone tried to ambush her.”

  Replacement slammed the freezer and spun around with a bag of ice in her hand. “Where?” She glared at Jack.

  “They were waiting for me at my car.” Jennifer put her face in her hands.

  “Why would the Mancinis come after her?” Kiku directed the question to Jack.

  Jack shook his head. “It wasn’t the Mancinis.”

  Kiku’s lips pressed together, and he noticed her weight shift to her back leg.

  Replacement walked around the counter the long way and moved to stand beside Jack.

  Jennifer sat up on the couch and looked at Kiku.

  Jack lifted his hands waist high. “Everyone settle down.”

  “Were they Japanese or Korean?” The muscles in Kiku’s neck stood out.

  “He matched the description of the man who took Marisa.” Jack kept his hands up.

  “Asian.” Kiku didn’t ask; it was a statement.

  All eyes were on Jack as he nodded.

  “Before you draw on me,” Jack’s mouth curled into a smirk, “I know you and the Yakuza didn’t have anything to do with it.”

  “How do you know that?” Replacement’s hands thrust straight out in front of her.

  Kiku didn’t relax.

  “I’ll explain everything, but we need to get out of here.”

  “What?” all three women asked.

  “The guy was waiting for Jennifer. The drop must be getting close, and I need to get you someplace safe.” He looked at Replacement and swallowed, seeing the disapproving look on her face. “So, you can…keep an eye on Jennifer.” He pointed back at Jennifer, who sat up and scowled. “Because…of your ankle.” Jack waved his hand.

  “If you think I’m going to just sit on—” Replacement began, but Jack cut her off.

  “No. You’re the most important piece of this. I need you to grab your stuff. Bring your laptop and grab the GPS device.”

  Kiku walked over to the window, and Jennifer patted the pockets of her jacket.

  “Crap, I lost my phone.” She pulled off her jacket and sat up.

  “Great.” Jack shook his head. “Kiku, grab your bag.”

  Kiku looked up at him and frowned. “Now would be a good time to explain I don’t just follow orders, Officer.”

  Jack heard the door in the apartment above them smash open. He froze and held up his hand.

  All four of them looked toward the ceiling.

  “Wha—” Jennifer started to say, but Jack held his finger to his mouth and motioned with his other hand.

  “Give me your gun.”

  Jennifer frowned, shook her head, and drew her pistol.

  Kiku’s gun was already out as she silently moved toward the door. She stopped, reached down, and pulled a five shot .380 from her boot and handed it to Jack.

  Jack slid next to the door and waved Replacement back. He held up a fist, opened his hand, turned the knob, and peeked out.

  Anyone upstairs is going to realize their mistake right away when they see my old apartment is empty. Question is, do they rabbit or look for another apartment?

  He could hear someone approach the stairs.

  Jennifer moved behind him and leaned forward; she inhaled sharply and reached out for the wall to steady herself. Her hand pressed against the door, and it started to open.

  Jack’s hand shot out and grabbed the handle, but the door had already moved a few inches. He fought the urge to glare back at her, but instead kept his focus down the hallway.

  He didn’t have long to look as bullets ripped through the thin walls and into his apartment.

  Jack spun around, pushed Jennifer down, and lunged for Replacement.

  Kiku had already dove low and flipped over the hallway table for cover.

  Jack grabbed Replacement, and she slid behind the counter.

  Kiku’s eyes followed along the bullet trail in the wall. She fired two shots through the wall before Jack cut her off.

  “Cease fire. You could hit one of my neighbors.” Jack held up his hand and listened.

  “Snap.” Replacement exhaled from the kitchen.

  Jack glanced back and saw her crouched on the balls of her feet, ready to go.

  His ears strained to hear through the ringing in his head, and he heard the old front door of the apartment building crash open into the wall.

  “Not you.” He pointed at Replacement and then at Jennifer. “Watch her. Stay here.”

  He flew out the door with Kiku right behind him. Jumping down the steps, he used the railing to cover the first staircase in a leap. His chest tightened when he saw Mrs. Stevens lying face down in the hallway. “NO.”

  He rushed over to her.

  Kiku kept moving and ran out the door.

  As Jack looked for a wound, Mrs. Stevens’s eyes flew open, and she started to scream.

  “Mrs. Stevens, Mrs. Stevens!” He held her by the upper arms. “Are you hit?”

  Her red hair wobbled back and forth, as she shook her head, and then she burst into tears.

  Replacement rushed down the stairs.

  “
She’s not hit. Go get the stuff now,” Jack barked.

  “Mrs. Stevens, the police are coming. You’re going to be okay. I’m sorry.”

  She looked like a plump koi as her mouth opened and closed, gulping for air. Jack helped her to her feet as Kiku ran back in.

  “They were long gone. I didn’t even see the make of the car.” Kiku panted.

  “We have to leave.”

  Kiku headed out back.

  Jack turned to Mrs. Stevens. “You need to tell the police you need an ambulance, okay? Everything is fine.”

  Her eyes went wide, and she started to gulp air again.

  “Not fine but…okay,” Jack added. “It will be okay. I’ll make it up to you.”

  “Go.” She nodded as she began to fan herself.

  Jack spun around and rushed back to his apartment. Replacement came toward him, zipping a duffle bag closed. Jennifer stood with her weight on one leg.

  “I got everything.” Replacement patted the bag.

  Jack looked at Jennifer’s leg and muttered, “Sorry. Ass in the air.” He tossed her over his shoulder before she could complain. “Move.”

  Jack and Replacement hurried down to the bottom floor. They rushed across the little parking lot and hustled her over to the Impala.

  Kiku waved them over as the sound of sirens came closer.

  They all piled in, and Jack gunned the Impala as he raced out of the parking lot. He took the first right and pressed the gas pedal down.

  Slow down. Drive normally.

  Jack tapped the brake and looked down as something hit his foot.

  Paolo’s Magnum stuck out from under the seat.

  “You left his gun in the car?”

  “Whose gun?” Jennifer leaned forward.

  Jack kicked the gun back under the seat. “A friend of mine.”

  “Why are we leaving the scene of a shooting?” Jennifer’s jaw quivered as she glared at Jack.

  “So you don’t end up dead, stupid.” Replacement shifted in her seat, and Jack slowed down as a cruiser flew past them.

  “We can’t go to the police right now,” Jack muttered.

  “Where are we going, Officer?” Kiku began to reload her gun.

  Jack handed her back the .380. “I fired two shots.”

  “Got it.” She reloaded that gun too.

  “Where are we going, Jack?” Replacement put her hand on his shoulder.

  “The Imperial.”

  The Imperial