JACKS ARE WILD Page 24

  The Imperial Motor Lodge was a popular stop for prostitutes and drug addicts. You could pay in cash and get a room by the hour.

  All three women looked relieved when Jack slipped the housekeeper twenty dollars for clean sheets and blankets. As far as the Imperial went, they had a suite. Separate bathroom, king-sized bed, round table, and four chairs.

  Jack got the girls set up in the room and headed for the door. “I’ll be right back.”

  “I’m coming.” Replacement spun around.

  “No.”

  Replacement huffed and flopped onto the bed.

  Kiku followed Jack to the door.

  “She goes, I go.” Replacement hopped back up.

  “Just me. Five minutes.” Jack walked out and shut the door.

  The Impala is too easy to spot sitting out here.

  He drove a block east to a small ranch house with a detached garage. Jack pulled up to the garage and hopped out.

  A man in his sixties opened the front door and peered out. “Jack?” he called in a deep voice.

  “Hey, Carl. I got a huge favor to ask. I need to park in your garage for a couple days.”

  The man was dressed in an untucked flannel shirt that did little to cover his large belly. Round cheeks popped out from a bushy beard that matched his thick eyebrows.

  “World must have gone to hell if you’re hiding the Impala in my garage.” He laughed. “Zombie apocalypse?”

  Jack chuckled. He didn’t have many people he considered friends, and Carl was on the fringe edge of the list, but he was a good guy who kept his mouth shut.

  “Something like that. Can I pull her in?”

  Carl nodded. “Need a hand? It’s actually empty. I finished the Ford I was working on.”

  “I got it.” Jack ran over and pushed the door open.

  “Jack, I’ll need it again at the end of the week, though.”

  “I only need it a day or two. I appreciate it.”

  Jack pulled the Impala in. As he got out, he saw Paolo’s gun sticking out from under the seat. He popped the door panel and dropped the gun in. He put the burner phone in his pocket, and sealed the panel back up. He walked back out and hurriedly shut the garage doors.

  “I owe you. Thanks,” Jack called out as he jogged down the driveway.

  “You gonna run home? I’ll give you a ride if you give me a minute.”

  “No, I need the exercise.”

  Jack’s smile vanished as he ran back to the Imperial. He checked the burner phone as he went.

  Nothing. Something has to break…soon.

  **********

  All three women got up and peppered him with questions as soon as he walked in the door.

  “Wait a second. Listen.” Jack held his hands up. “Is your laptop set up?”

  “What?” Replacement shook her head. “How about you start with what we’re doing.”

  “Or where you went,” Jennifer added.

  “Or where we’re going.” Kiku leaned against the wall and folded her arms.

  Jack put his hands on his hips and tried to catch his breath. “First things first. That cut opened up on my leg. Can you take a look at it?” he asked Replacement as he headed for the bathroom.

  “Darn it, Jack. I didn’t bring any bandages and I doubt this place has any.”

  Jack shut the bathroom door and held his finger to his lips. “Listen. My leg is fine. I needed to talk to you alone. You’re the only one I totally trust. I need you to run that program for me. The one for the cars going through the tolls.”

  Replacement nodded.

  “How long will that program take?”

  She bit her lower lip. “Depends on the connection, but I’m just pulling data and doing the processing on the laptop so hopefully I’ll have something in an hour or two.”

  There was a loud knock on the door and Kiku opened it a crack. “You need to hear this, Officer.”

  The three of them hurried back into the main room as the scanner clicked on. The police dispatcher was speaking. “No rain or snow is forecast. ME is still an hour out. The wrecker is on standby.”

  “10-4. Thank you, Bev.” The other voice belonged to Tom Kempy, the world’s most polite cop.

  Medical examiner?

  “Can you turn that up?” Jack walked over to the table.

  “Shoot,” Replacement blurted out. “While you were detained, they found a car on fire out on…I forget the—”

  “That’s what I was coming to tell you before you pigheadedly stormed off and we ran into that guy.” Jennifer stood up. “They found a car on Woodlawn. A jogger called it in. When the fire department got there, they found a body in the back.”

  “The county ME isn’t there yet?” Jack asked.

  Jennifer shook her head. “He was at some family thing upstate. He’s on his way back, and they taped off the car.”

  “I bet that’s the guy Paolo shot.” Jack looked at Kiku.

  She nodded, walked over, and picked up her jacket.

  “Wait a minute.” Replacement looked for her coat.

  “You need to stay.” Jack slightly raised an eyebrow.

  “I’m not staying.” Jennifer limped over for her coat. “I’m not going to be used as an excuse for babysitting.”

  “You’re the one who needs a babysitter, you clueless—” Replacement snapped.

  “Knock it off.” Jack held up his hand. “I need to check this out. Your ankle is in no shape to go right now. Ice it because I’m going to need you.” Jack walked over to Replacement’s bag and rummaged inside.

  When he pulled out the GPS device and slipped it into his pocket, Replacement’s eyes narrowed but she didn’t say anything.

  Good girl.

  “We’ll be back within an hour.”

  Jack looked at Kiku, and she gave a sharp nod. He walked out the door and headed for the parking lot.

  “Transportation?” Kiku looked at the parking lot that was now lacking the Impala.

  Jack stopped.

  “I don’t want to drive around in my car right now, but we need to get to Woodlawn, which is over toward Big Blue, and then to Hometown Suites near the police station.”

  Kiku nodded over to the garage across the street. “Come on.”

  I can’t believe I’m doing this.

  Kiku walked at a casual pace beside him. “The cars on the left should be the ones they finished working on but haven’t been picked up yet. You stay on the passenger side and talk naturally. Give me a minute.” She smiled.

  “I know how to steal a car.”

  She raised an eyebrow.

  “I learned. I figured if I knew, it would help me catch car thieves.”

  “If it makes you feel better, Officer, I plan to bring it back.”

  “Great. Now I feel just fine.”

  Kiku walked past two cars and over to the third. Jack’s mouth fell open when she opened the door in a flash, slipped in, leaned over, and started the car.

  He blinked quickly, yanked his door open, and jumped in.

  “How did you do that so fast? That was…” His voice trailed off when he saw the keys dangling out of the ignition.

  “When they work on the cars, sometimes people pay by credit card and the mechanics just leave the key under the seat so the guy can come get the car after hours.” She grinned broadly. “You tend to over-complicate things, Officer.”

  “And here I thought you were some master car thief.”

  “I am.” She pulled out and Jack pointed to the left.

  “Woodlawn is east. It’s also heading out of town. I’ll have Replacement check if there were any cars stolen out there.”

  Kiku clicked her tongue. “You think they only had the one car?”

  Jack nodded.

  Kiku adjusted the rearview mirror. “They ditched the car with the fatally wounded man and stole another.”

  “It’s what I’d do.”

  “If you were that kind of man.” Kiku smiled. “You are a dangerous man, Officer. It
would be a scary thing if you were not caged in by your principles.”

  “Letting something out of a cage sometimes isn’t the best idea.” Jack pulled out the burner and dialed Replacement. “Hey, kid. Can you check for a stolen car for me while that thing is running? Great. Check if anything was reported out near Woodlawn and call me? Thanks.”

  “You keep her at a safe distance.” Kiku checked her mirrors as she sped up.

  “What?”

  “Calling her kid. Having her stay with Jennifer.”

  “I want her to be safe.”

  “She doesn’t want that.”

  Jack leaned against the door. “Really?”

  Kiku nodded. “She likes the danger. Did you see her face during the shootout? She had a hard time keeping her head down. I like that.”

  “I’m not keeping her at a distance. Just safe.”

  “If you build a cage, it won’t keep her.”

  Jack opened and closed his mouth. He was about to argue the point when he saw Woodlawn Avenue approaching quickly up ahead. He pointed to the left, and his phone rang.

  “Hey. Did you find out anything?” He looked out the window.

  “No cars reported stolen today at all. I’m running the report on the cars from the tollbooth, too. Where are you?”

  “Pulling onto Woodlawn. I’ll call back. Thanks.”

  Kiku tipped her head up, but Jack already saw the cruiser on the side of the road.

  “Pull up behind it.” Jack pointed.

  Kiku put her hazards on and stopped behind the cruiser.

  “This time I’m not asking. Stay in the car.” He grabbed a flashlight from the glove compartment and hopped out.

  “As you wish, Officer.”

  As Jack approached the cruiser, Tom Kempy walked around the police car. “Hey, Jack. Great to see you—”

  “Hi, Tom. Looks like you’re babysitting until the ME arrives.”

  “Jack, Sheriff Collins gave me one order. One direct order.” Tom swallowed.

  “I just need a quick look.” Jack held up his hand with his index finger and thumb close together.

  Tom shook his head. “I can’t, Jack. Did you hear about Donald and Kendra?”

  “We’ll be one second. Just look the other way.” Jack smiled and hurried around Tom and the cruiser.

  The car was a four-door sedan parked at an angle just off the road. It was now just a shell after being completely engulfed by fire. The trees nearby were blackened from the flames.

  Jack pulled back the tarp draped over the car. He flipped on the flashlight and shone it on the corpse in the backseat.

  The fire must have been intense. All the clothes had been seared off the body, and it was hard to see where the corpse left off and the remains of the backseat started. He tried to breathe as little as possible as he viewed the remains. He looked at the man’s shoulder and the broken teeth in his mouth.

  As Jack focused the light on the man’s chest, a golden twinkle flashed. His eyes narrowed as he stared at the small blob of gold.

  Jewelry. It melted.

  He aimed the light above the glob of gold and it gleamed off a two-inch piece of white ivory shaped like a curled horn. Jack held the light on the man’s chest and slowly nodded.

  “Italian,” he muttered.

  Flicking off the light, he pulled the tarp down and walked back.

  Tom Kempy shuffled over to him with his hands in his pockets. “Sorry about everything.” He cleared his throat. “If you need anything, just ask.”

  “Thanks, Tom.” Jack patted his shoulder as he passed by. “I appreciate it.”

  “See you around, Jack.” Tom nodded and waved.

  Kiku looked up as Jack jumped in. He didn’t say anything as he started the car and turned it around. As the flashing lights from the cruiser faded in the distance, Jack turned to her.

  “It must be the guy Paolo shot. It looks like the shot almost took off his shoulder. Someone smashed his teeth out. They wanted to delay identification.”

  “Could you determine anything else?”

  Jack nodded. “The body was in really bad shape, but he was Italian.”

  Kiku’s lip pouted and one eyebrow went up. “I saw the car. With a fire that hot, even you couldn’t tell if he was Italian.”

  “He was wearing an Italian horn. It was gold plated. The gold melted, but the ivory didn’t.”

  Her eyes widened, and he knew she understood. “A cornicello.” The corners of her mouth turned up.

  “The guy’s not Swedish.”

  Jack stopped at the main road and continued on.

  “The way back to town is south. North is Big Blue. It’s a huge hiking mountain with a single ski run. There are plenty of houses and cabins all over it. They could have taken her anywhere around here but it has to be close.”

  “How can you be sure?”

  “Paolo ran into the kidnappers. I think it was by chance, and Replacement may have been right.”

  “About what?” Kiku interrupted.

  Jack exhaled. “The Italian restaurant.”

  “You think they went and got something to eat?” Kiku scoffed.

  “We’re not dealing with soldiers. I don’t know why they went into town, but Paolo ran into someone he recognized and got into a shootout. He hit the guy with that cannon and the kidnappers took off. When people are scared, they run in a direction they know. They ran this way.”

  “The man dies and they burned the car. So you think they’re probably not far from here?” Kiku asked.

  “I don’t think they would ditch their ride if they still had a long way to go.”

  “There are lots of places to hide around here. Lots of cabins.” She frowned.

  “That’s the problem. Too many. But we won’t have to check them all out. We’re going to Hometown Suites.”

  “Can you clue me in on the why?”

  He held up the GPS device.

  “I need to plant this. We’ll stick to the back roads. We’ll be—”

  “Stop,” Kiku shouted, and Jack hit the brakes as his headlights reflected off the eyes of a deer on the side of the road.

  Kiku opened the door and jumped out.

  “What the hell? Kiku?” He threw the car in park and walked over to her.

  There was a bright moon, and Kiku stood with one hand on a tree and looked down into a small clearing.

  In front of them, the deer wobbled as it stood in the grass. It shivered in fear. An arrow had pierced it low in the neck, and its side was matted in blood.

  Damn.

  Jack shook his head. “It doesn’t look good. Whoever winged it should have put it down.” He turned back toward the car. “Maybe I can—”

  He didn’t flinch when the shot rang out from Kiku’s gun, but the sound seemed to pass straight through his chest. He looked down at the dead leaves as he listened to an echo of the shot fade. Slowly, he turned around.

  Kiku walked over to the deer, knelt down, and pulled the arrow out. As she squatted down, she bowed her head. After a moment, she stood and came back to Jack.

  “I couldn’t let it suffer.”

  I’m glad she’s on my side.

  Jack scanned the road. “We’re still a ways out from downtown, but we better get going.”

  They hurried back to the car and Jack jumped in the driver’s side.

  Kiku pulled herself up, straightened her shirt, and exhaled. “Ready.”

  Jack nodded and pulled out. They rode in silence to the Hometown Suites. Jack tried to keep his eyes on the road but found himself glancing at Kiku. She, however, kept her head on a swivel and was constantly scanning.

  When he turned onto the main road, she spoke. “I admire that you serve a purpose rather than a cause.”

  “I’m not quite following you.” Jack looked at the speedometer and slowed down.

  “You are an officer but you disobey for a greater purpose. Most men of your character are driven by adhering to a mold and not following an unscripted path. It
is a very rare quality you have. I find it truly,” her lips pressed together, “virile.” She scanned. “Masculine.”

  He remembered the heat of her body. The toned muscles under her soft skin.

  He shifted in his seat.

  As he looked at her, her eyes smoldered and he swallowed.

  “I am tempted to lie, but I can’t. I find you very desirable. You appeal to me, but I will not let that interfere with my job.”

  I appeal to you?

  “Thanks,” Jack closed his mouth and coughed, “for not letting it interfere with finding Marisa.”

  “I know you are a man heatedly in love, but I still have not figured out whether it is with Alice or Marisa.”

  Jack turned his face away from her probing gaze.

  Kiku laughed. “I do enjoy seeing you blush, too. In some ways you are very…innocent.”

  “Me?” Jack blinked rapidly.

  Kiku settled back into her seat. “Innocent is a poor word choice. I mean pure.”

  Jack cocked his head. “If you knew what I’ve been thinking, you wouldn’t have picked that word, either.”

  “I would. I do.” Kiku crossed her ankles. “It actually makes you even more desirable. I am going to have to work at not forcibly taking you.”

  Jack swallowed.

  He turned different shades of red as he ran Kiku’s words through his mind. Before he could dwell on them too long, the Hometown Suites came up on the right.

  It was a small hotel complex, three stories high and split into suites. It was very popular with families during foliage season, but even now, the front parking lot was full.

  Jack slowly drove around back as he looked for Prescott’s car. He finally saw it parked toward the corner and near the dumpster.

  He handed Kiku the GPS device. “I’ll pull up alongside. Make it look like you’re throwing something out. It’s magnetic. Tuck it under the back bumper.”

  She nodded, leaned over, and pulled out an empty soda bottle from under the seat.

  “This will do for a prop.”

  Jack swung into the empty space next to the car, and Kiku hopped out and left the door open. She tossed a bottle in the trash and shook her hands like they were wet. A moment later, she got back in and shut the door.

  “There’s a warehouse near the Imperial where we can ditch the car,” he said as he backed out.

  She leaned closer.