GIRL JACKED (Crime and Punishment Mystery Thriller Series) Read online

  Replacement. He still struggled to remember her real name. For some reason, he remembered she didn’t like it. Every time she was called it, he could picture her as a little ten-year-old kid, looking perturbed. She was already upset enough, so he wasn’t about to ask her what it was, especially if she disliked it.

  Gina. If Jack was around when she came back, there would be an epic fight. She could show or not show. If she stayed away for a couple of days, there was the possibility she’d try to come back to work things out. If she showed up today, it’d be to get her stuff, and then she’d be gone, permanently. Jack hoped it would be the latter. He thought about hiding anything valuable, but he’d done that long before Gina. He’d locked the important papers in the safe, but he’d kept copies in the back of the sofa. He didn’t trust anyone anymore. “Great life, Jack.” He shook his head.

  He thought about the gun in the safe. He didn’t think he’d need it. He carried himself differently when he had his gun. It was like a tell in poker. People seemed to sense he was a cop when he carried it, and he didn’t want that today. In truth, he felt prepared without it. When Jack was twelve, he confided in a friend about his birth mother. The story that his mother was a hooker burned through the school like wildfire. Jack got into three fights in one day and lost each one. The principal called his parents in for a conference. The school counselor simply chalked it up to “kids can be cruel” and Jack would have to learn to deal with it. Jack’s adoptive father was far more supportive. He signed Jack up for karate. Jack took to it like breathing. Martial arts were a natural fit for him. After a few months and a few more fights, no one dared mentioned his mother again.

  Now what else is there? His checklists were becoming as scattered as the pieces of his life. The soldier he was six years ago would have beaten the crap out of him for being so sloppy.

  “Ready?” he called as he opened the door. He hadn’t needed to ask; Replacement waited at the open front door.

  As she saw him, a flood of questions burst out: “Where are we going? Where do we start? Are we—?”

  “Kid, listen. This is what you do today—SHUT UP.”

  Her face fell. He felt bad in a weird way. “I have a job to do, and I can’t have you screw it up, okay?”

  She raised herself up on her toes and leaned in on him. “I won’t screw it up.”

  “If you get in someone’s face like you just got in mine, you will.”

  Her face scrunched up and her hands went out.

  Jack took a deep breath and decided to try a different tack. “Can you do me a favor?” His voice and posture softened. “It looks like we have a truce going, right?”

  She nodded her head. “Just because you said you’d help.”

  “Can you try to follow my lead?”

  Her head rose. “Like we’re in it together?” Before he could stop that train of thought, it had already left the station. “Hell, yeah. Let’s go.”

  He rolled his eyes. This, he felt, was his first mistake of the morning. His second mistake was in taking the front steps. Mrs. Stevens sprang out of her door like a lion. Her mane of red hair stood on end, and her flabby face was blotchy. She looked as though she had waited all night at that door to spring her trap. Jack fell right into it.

  “Mrs. Stevens…I wanted to stop by and offer my sincere apologies—”

  She was so crazy looking that Replacement dashed behind him and he stopped talking.

  Jack held his hands open and out as if he were handling a hostage situation.

  Her eyes grew even larger. “You weren’t stopping.”

  “I was going out to get you a little something so I could apologize properly.” He emphasized the words, hoping that her mental image of a bribe would calm her down. Jack didn’t have much furniture, but he hated moving. And right now, there was a high probability that his landlady would throw him out.

  “How could you possibly apologize for all you’ve done?” All that was missing was the back of her hand held theatrically to her forehead. She was laying it on pretty thick, but Jack took that as a good sign. He tried to look apologetic.

  “Your lease is exceedingly specific about the level of noise. Last night…”

  She’s quoting the lease—that’s bad. Jack decided that he’d have to play on her emotions a bit. He spoke before he fully thought it through, another one of his weaknesses. “I’m just so sorry, Mrs. Stevens. You see…this girl…she’s…she’s the sister of my friend who has passed…his younger sister…”

  Mrs. Stevens’s eyes narrowed and her fat lips pursed into a puffy line, but Jack kept talking. “And she’s mental and…stunted emotionally…and I just wanted to get her to a place that would take care of her—”

  “What about the other one?” Mrs. Stevens tapped her foot.

  “The other—”

  “Girl.” He didn’t know how Mrs. Stevens even said the word as her lips pressed together so tightly they didn’t move.

  “The other girl is my, my…cousin.” He regretted lying as soon as it passed his lips.

  “Crap,” Replacement popped.

  Jack jumped as Replacement twitched and swore behind him. “Sorry, crap. Sorry, pretty lady.” Her head spasmodically went back and forth as her arms and legs jerked. Even though Jack knew it was an act, it was quite unnerving. “Crap. Son-of-a—”

  “There, there. It’s okay.” Jack wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. He honestly wanted her to stop before he started to laugh.

  Mrs. Stevens stepped back and clutched her robe to her chest. “Is she dangerous?” Her eyes were wide with fear.

  “No, no. She’s harmless.” His voice was reassuring as he hustled Replacement down the hallway. “I just need to get her meds refilled right away.”

  She watched them leave through the door.

  Replacement grinned from ear to ear and made a goofy face.

  “What was that? Are you trying to get me kicked out?”

  “You said follow your lead.” She pouted.

  “Shutting up would have been following my lead.”

  “You told her I was mental. Where did you come up with that? And your cousin? You think she was gonna believe Miss Fake Boobs is your cousin?”

  “If you wanted to act, how about trying to come off harmless and not like some twitchy psycho?”

  “I called her pretty.” She shrugged as if that should cover everything.

  Jack was speechless. He stared back at her, not knowing what to say. Movement at a second-floor window caught his eye. Mrs. Stevens pulled the curtain back to look down at them.

  “Okay, act a little out of it—she’s watching.”

  Replacement went back to her fish-out-of-water dance. This time, though, she toned it way down. He noticed the odd looks they received from some people on the street. He couldn’t help but smile as he led her to the car.

  As they drove toward the college, Replacement acted like a big puppy. Even though it was cold out, she rolled her window down and then touched all the buttons. When she went to mess with the radio, Jack swatted her hand away. “Stop touching everything.”

  She checked herself in the mirror and then almost climbed into the back seat. Twisting back around, she flopped down and pulled out the ashtray. Some coins fell onto the floor. “Sorry.”

  “Sit still. You’re making me nervous,” he chided. She still acted like the ten-year-old lovesick girl who chased him around.

  Jack pushed the ashtray back into the dash of his semi-refurbished blue 1978 Chevy Impala. He had picked it up at a police auction for short money. It had way too many miles on it. Jack and the car were twins in that regard, but the Impala seemed to be running better right now.

  Replacement made a sour expression. “This car is—”

  Jack whipped his head around. His look shut her right up.

  “You don’t say anything about a guy’s car.”

  She’d kept quiet a lot longer than he thought was possible.

  After a few miles, she shiv
ered, frowned, and rolled the window back up. “Where are we going?”

  “White Rocks. First stop is Michelle’s apartment, and then we’ll go to the college.”

  “Why don’t you go see what the cops have?”

  Jack kept his eyes on the road. He knew his by-the-book boss would go crazy and tell him to follow proper channels. It was Fairfield PD and Joe Davenport’s case. There was no way Jack was going to sit by and do nothing while Michelle remained missing.

  “We’ll start at her apartment. Do you have the address where she stayed?”

  “Yeah, but I was there once already. They didn’t know nothing.” She tapped her knuckles against the car door in frustration.

  “Didn’t know anything.”

  “Sorry, teacher. I’m just visiting the college, not enrolling today.” Replacement crossed her arms.

  Jack chuckled. “Good line, kid.”

  She smiled, put her hands behind her head, and stretched her feet onto the dashboard. Jack made a mental note to give out more positive reinforcement.

  “How are we going to start looking into this?” she asked.

  “You want to start at the end of the trail—”

  “Why don’t we start with the cops then?”

  “That’s not the end of her trail. Besides…” He was about to go on about Detective Joe Davenport and the fact that he liked to go over case details while he was baiting a hook, but he thought better of it. “I don’t want to muddy the waters. We’ll start at her apartment. And I’ll quietly call over to Fairfield’s sheriff’s department and see what they have.”

  “Do you think she’s alright?”

  Jack tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

  When he didn’t answer, she looked out the window and remained silent for the rest of the ride except for the occasional “turn left” and “turn right” when she gave him directions.

  They arrived outside an upscale apartment complex, close to the college and in a great part of town.

  “How could Michelle afford to live here plus school?”

  “She got a full scholarship.” Her voice rang with pride. “Free everything.”

  “Scholarship? I don’t remember Michelle playing any sports.”

  “It was a work scholarship for computers. She had to work here, but she could take classes. She’s super smart.”

  Jack drove past the apartment. His car would stick out wherever he parked it in this neighborhood, and he wanted to create the illusion that he was an approachable, normal guy. He swung into a parking space and shut off the engine.

  “Just keep quiet, okay?”

  She pantomimed a key locking her mouth again and flashed him an impish grin. Jack frowned. That smile said she was going to do what she wanted in the long run.

  Jack seriously debated locking her in the car. But, he knew if he had a young girl with him, he’d appear more approachable to the college students.

  “Does she have a roommate or a boyfriend? Was she in a sorority? Did she talk about friends?” He fired off questions as they walked toward the apartment, angry he hadn’t asked them on the car ride over.

  “Yes, she has a roommate. No boyfriend. No sorority. And no, she didn’t talk about friends.” She fired the answers back. “Missy Lorton.” Her smile widened as she guessed his next question before he asked.

  He ran his fingers through his hair and scanned the buzzers. He hesitated when he noticed that Missy’s was the only apartment with one name, LORTON, typed on a fancy tan paper that was slightly darker than the others.

  The paper is newer; the paper from the other apartments has faded. Someone doesn’t think Michelle is coming back.

  “You’re sure this is Michelle’s apartment?”

  “It said LORTON and CAMPBELL when I came out before.” Replacement jabbed the paper with each word.

  Jack pressed the buzzer.

  “We’ll talk to Missy first and then to the neighbors, okay?”

  Someone buzzed them in without asking who they were.

  They jogged up the stairs. Jack’s foot hadn’t hit the top step when the door to apartment 328 swung open. A short, extremely plump girl stepped out of the doorway.

  “I thought I was going to meet…” Her whiny voice trailed off, and she took a step back.

  “Miss Lorton?” Jack put on his most dashing smile.

  It didn’t work. Missy tried to slam the door shut. Jack stuck his foot out and it paid the price of acting as a doorstop. “Miss, I’m just here to ask you a few quick questions.” He tried to hold his smile and not clench his teeth from the pain.

  “A salesman?” Her pudgy face relaxed, and the fear on it changed to barely hidden disgust. “No solicitors.”

  She pulled the door back and then slammed it again. This time Jack caught the door with his hands and his foot.

  “We’re looking for Michelle Campbell.” He now had to force a smile because it was surprisingly difficult to keep the door open with the heavy girl pressing against it.

  “He said she transferred to a different school.” Missy stepped back from the door.

  Jack grabbed Replacement with his left hand and encouraged her forward so Missy could see he was with a girl, hoping that might soften her up.

  “I already told the police everything I know.” Missy shrugged.

  “Missy, I’m sorry. Can we start again?” Jack poured on the charm. “We’re old family friends, and we just came by to get Michelle’s things.”

  Missy’s face was expressionless. “She took it all.”

  Jack examined her posture: hands turned out, shoulders relaxed, back stiff, and she looked straight in his eyes.

  She’s lying.

  “That’s fine.” He lowered his head and his voice. “The college informed us she transferred. When did she tell you she was transferring?”

  She hesitated for a moment too long. Missy stood, blinking. Her lie would reveal something. Jack waited for it.

  “Tell me where Michelle’s stuff is, or I’ll kick your fat—” Jack caught Replacement as she lunged at the portly girl.

  Missy fell backward and rolled, squealing, into the kitchen.

  While Replacement hurled a string of obscenities that would make a mafia hit man blush, Missy shrieked as she struggled to sit up. “Get out!”

  “Thank you very much, Miss Lorton. We’ll be going now.” Jack retreated.

  He lifted Replacement bodily from the floor and stormed out of the apartment and down the stairs. She stopped struggling by the second floor, but he didn’t let go as he carried her outside. He was beyond mad. As they got to the car, he dropped her. She had to grab the car to avoid falling on the ground.

  “IN.” He yanked her door open.

  She lowered her head and sat down.

  Jack marched over to his side and slammed his door shut. The tires screeched as he hit the gas and pulled out.

  “I could have gotten her to tell us where Michelle’s stuff is,” Replacement began.

  “What’s the matter with you? You can’t just take potshots at people who tick you off. What would Aunt Haddie say?”

  He didn’t like swearing at a woman, but he was so mad he couldn’t stop himself from making some sound. His low growl made Replacement back off. She moved as far away from him as the large seats in the Impala would allow.

  “Of all the stupid things to do. With a girl like that, you let them lie.”

  He veered to the side of the road, slammed on the brakes and glared at her. Jack’s anger burned hot, but his skin went cold. “Something is wrong. That girl was lying. It was obvious.”

  “And her stuff? Michelle didn’t go anywhere, so someone took her stuff.” Her voice was small now.

  “Missy said he told her. Not Michelle, or she.”

  He had followed enough missing person cases. Simple ones sometimes had happy endings. Missy didn’t want to talk. She was lying about something. Jack quickly ran down the most probable scenarios. He had a bad feeling this wasn’t a simple
missing person case.

  He looked at Replacement. She looked devastated. He sighed. “Maybe we can use that meltdown.”

  She nodded.

  “Who knows? If I need to talk to her again, I can always say if she doesn’t tell me what I want to know, I’ll bring you back to have a chat with her.”

  Replacement smiled slightly, but her eyes were gray. They rode in silence. She propped her head up on her hand and leaned up against the window. Jack noticed she kept her eyes closed.

  What did she think? Once I started looking, then Michelle would suddenly appear? I show up and everything is fixed because I’m the superhero?

  This is reality, kid, and reality sucks.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  You Will Know Pain

  They headed to the White Rocks campus police station. He’d been there for various calls in the last six months. Usually it was for noise complaints and the odd drunk. Sometimes he’d earned overtime with traffic duty for events.

  They called it campus police, but it was only a couple of rungs up the ladder from the official high school hall monitor’s office. The “force” consisted of less than ten guys and two gals who were either just out of high school or already retired. They were a nice quiet group—for a nice quiet college.

  White Rocks Eastern College was an old, private institution with less than two thousand students. Although small, it was the source of a very large portion of the county’s tax base, a fact that Sheriff Collins never let anyone forget. With this in mind, and his constant desire to stay under Collins’s radar, Jack was getting ready to lock Replacement in the car.

  “I won’t say anything.” She must have read his mind because she was still looking out the window. The fight had gone out of her, and she appeared even more downcast.

  “I’d be very appreciative if you didn’t say anything.” He parked the car. “Unless, of course, you want to wait here?”

  “No. I’d like to come in.”

  The security office was a small building, consisting of a few rooms. They walked up the cement ramp and could see a large main desk through the windows. A woman with an immense hairdo greeted them before the little bell over the door even finished ringing.