JACK AND THE GIANT KILLER Read online

  Jack reached for his water. There’s no way I can agree to one hundred percent full disclosure. I’d be out of my mind. I’m not even that honest with myself.

  “Please?” The light caught the gold flecks in her green eyes, and he saw her swallow. She looked down and smoothed out her dress and then her eyes darted around the room. “Forget it. It was a weird thought.”

  “No.” Jack leaned in. “It’s a great idea, kid.”

  “You hesitated.” She looked up and her expression seemed to hover between hopefulness and embarrassment.

  “I was just thinking about the first question. That’s all.”

  “Oh, okay.” She squeezed her hands together. “You go first.”

  If she’d pulled a gun and pointed it at his head, he’d have been calm and cool. But by asking him to think of the one question he really wanted to know about her—he panicked.

  I need to have my head examined. I didn’t think this through. He decided to go with the first question that popped into his head. “Why don’t you like to be called Alice?”

  When he saw her swallow, his chest tightened. He saw the sorrow in her eyes and he immediately regretted asking the question. “I’m sorry.” He held up a hand. “I just wondered.”

  Her gaze flitted down to the table and she blinked rapidly. “No, I’m sorry. This was my idea.”

  “I can ask something else.”

  “Nope.” She shook her head and grimaced. “Those are the rules, right? I have to answer, so here it goes.” She set her fork down and lifted her chin. Her brows pulled together and she looked right into his eyes. “I guess, because it’s my mother’s name.”

  “But I thought you and your mother got along great.”

  “We did.” Replacement’s shoulders squeezed upward. “I loved her so much but after my parents died, I couldn’t bear to hear her name. Someone would say ‘Alice’ and there was this echo in my head of my father’s voice. I kept waiting to hear the after.”

  Jack leaned forward. “The after?”

  Replacement exhaled in a little puff. “Yeah. See, whenever my dad talked to my mom, he’d add an after.” She waved her hands back and forth as she searched for the words. “After he said her name, he’d always add something. Something like ‘Alice, honey’ or ‘Alice, darling.’ I loved it but when they died, it just drove me crazy. Someone would say ‘Alice’ and I’d hear this faint echo of my dad saying it, but it was like the echo was broken. There was no after and I’d listen for it but it would never come.” Her shoulders popped up and down and she sniffed.

  “If it bothers you, I won’t use it.” Jack reached out his hand and touched the tip of her fingers.

  “It doesn’t bother me when you say it.” She smiled.

  “Do you want me to call you Alice?”

  “No. But I don’t mind when you say it once in a while.”

  “So you’re okay with Replacement?”

  She let out a huge sigh. “I like Replacement. It’s special to me.”

  Jack’s eyebrow went up.

  “Chandler named me.” Replacement rocked in her seat and then put her elbows on the table. “After my family died, I had nowhere to go. I went to this big foster home, and it was like I was in some evil fairy tale. I mean, one minute my family and I were going out for pizza, and we were discussing what kind to get and the next thing I remember…I woke up in the hospital.

  “I didn’t get to go to a funeral. I never got to go home again. They shoved me around from one home to another. No one wanted anything to do with me. I didn’t talk so it was sorta my fault. Everyone said I was creeping them out. But what could I say?”

  Jack gripped his fork as he fought back the urge to scoop her up in his arms. Let her talk. She needs to get it out.

  “The other kids were horrid. They wouldn’t stop teasing me. All I did was cry.” She ran both her hands along the sides of her head. “They moved me to this other home. That was the bad place.”

  Her hand trembled as she took a sip of water. Jack reached out for her, but she softly shook her head.

  “I got placed in Aunt Haddie’s care after that, but…I was so freaked by then. People either hated me or hurt me, and I thought it would be the same there or worse. I was eleven, and I just wanted to die. The first day, I ran in a closet and I prayed for it to end. I begged God to let me go be with my family. Then there was this little knock on the door—just a tiny tap. I thought it was a little kid so I opened the door, and there was Chandler.”

  Jack pictured his giant friend standing there and how scary it would be to an eleven-year-old girl.

  “Chandler was huge. He was SO big, but he sat down on the floor with me. He told me he didn’t know what I was going through because he still had his sister, Michelle, but he lost his parents in a fire. He understood me. One minute he felt like he had everything and the next…it was gone. Then these big tears showed up in his eyes. I cried and he did too. We talked for like hours. It was so awesome.”

  She sniffed and wiped her eyes.

  “By then it was time for dinner, but I freaked again. I didn’t want to come out of the closet.” She chuckled. “Chandler said he was too big to come in. He got this serious look on his face then scanned me up and down. ‘I’m going in the Army,’ he said, ‘and I need someone to fill my shoes.’” She laughed. “I looked down at his feet and they were like four of mine.”

  “I think he was a size fifteen,” Jack said.

  She folded her hands and pressed them against her lips while she remembered. “He said, ‘This person needs to watch over my Aunt Haddie and keep an eye on Michelle until I get back. But while they’re doing that, everyone’s going to treat that person how they treat me. You’ll be my replacement. Do you know what that means? No one will pick on you because you’re my replacement. It means all the kisses and hugs Aunt Haddie gives me, she’ll give you. It means all the cool stuff my sister Michelle does with me, she’ll do with you. Do you think you can fill these shoes? Would you like that?’ I was looking up to him in awe. I said ‘Yeah. I can. I’ll be your replacement.’ And that’s how he introduced me to everyone. The name stuck.”

  Jack took her hand. “Chandler was proud of that.”

  “I loved it. It made me belong, you know? It was like his way of saying I fit in. I was part of the family because I was taking his place until he came back.”

  The waitress brought over a T-bone steak for Jack and chicken marsala for Replacement. Jack, grateful for the distraction, quickly wiped his eyes.

  “Why did you order a T-bone?” Replacement asked as the waitress walked away.

  “Is that your question? Sweet,” Jack said.

  “No. That doesn’t count.” She wiggled her fork at him.

  “A T-bone’s a two-for-one cut. That way I get a piece of tenderloin and a piece of strip steak. Win-win.” He grinned.

  Replacement’s lip curled up mischievously. “I don’t have to ask my question right away.”

  “That’s not part of the rules.”

  “Yes it is. I made them.” She smiled and took a bite of her roll.

  “It’d be nice if you asked now.”

  “Why?” She bit her bottom lip.

  Jack felt his pulse quicken. He’d been trying to keep things no further than second gear, but the way she looked at him now made him want to forget about everything, including the food, and carry her back to the apartment.

  “Because it’s like waiting outside the principal’s office and not knowing what he caught you doing.” He leaned back and tried to play it cool. “But I’ll wait.”

  She stuck out the tip of her tongue. “Fine. I’ll ask.” Jack noticed the color rise in her neck until the tops of her ears turned red. “When’s the first time you thought you could be in love with me?”

  Jack’s heart thumped against his chest and he coughed. “The first time I thought about it?” He took a sip of water.

  “I’m just curious.” She smoothed her napkin on the table.


  Jack sighed. “We didn’t hit it off too well when you came back into my life, kid. Sorry about that.”

  Replacement waved her hand. “Totally forgotten and forgiven.” She smiled. “Take your time.”

  “I don’t have to really think about it. It was when I was in the hospital after I got hit by the car.”

  “That doesn’t count. You were on drugs. That’s when you first kissed me.”

  Jack sighed. “It counts. I remember it perfectly. I remember waking up—the tubes and lights—and then you were there. I could see the fear in your eyes. You were so freaked out I wanted to jump out of the hospital bed and kill whatever had you that scared. But when I realized your concern was for me,” he held up his water glass, “that’s the first time I thought I could be in love with you.”

  Replacement wiggled in her seat. “Then you kissed me. You kissed me first.”

  Jack laughed and ate a crouton. “Is that a big deal?”

  “For a girl, yes.” She giggled.

  “I’d like to kiss you right now.”

  Replacement blushed.

  They spent the rest of dinner talking, laughing, and slowly moving even closer together. They spent so much time paying attention to each other that they barely touched their dinners. Jack got doggie bags and hurriedly paid the check.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  I Wish I Knew Who

  As the Charger zoomed down the street, Replacement pointed to the large convenience store on the corner. “Can we stop? We need milk and bread for breakfast.”

  Jack parked at the far corner and then rushed around to get her door. The brightly lit store was busy. Jack held the door open for a young couple who walked out as Replacement headed for the rear of the store and called back to Jack, “Will you grab the bread?”

  Jack went down one aisle and groaned about the line at the front of the store. Two teenage cashiers huddled over the register and pressed buttons while the line of seven people all rolled their eyes.

  He hesitated as he passed the condoms. Slow. Don’t rush her. With a faint groan, he kept going. After a quick check of the sell-by date, he chose a loaf of bread.

  A bottle shattered on the floor in the back of the store.

  Heads spun around to look for the sound. Jack searched for Replacement as he rushed toward the back. He saw her looking out the large window toward the gas pumps, and his heart slowed down. “What’s wrong?”

  A broken bottle of orange juice lay shattered at her feet. When he saw the look of sheer terror on her face, he rushed to her side. Her skin was white and her eyes were wide. She grabbed his shirt with a trembling hand and he pulled her close.

  Jack scanned for potential threats. Silver Toyota leaving the parking lot. Thirty-year-old guy pumping gas. Two clerks. Fat forty-year-old at the snack counter. Barbell boy near the magazines. Small guy buying soda.

  As Jack’s piercing stare ripped into them, they all looked away. “Who is it? Did someone say something to you?”

  She quickly shook her head, but he saw her look back out into the darkness. “I’m sorry. I’m just…I’m not feeling well. Can we go to the car?”

  Jack wrapped his arm around her shoulder while one of the cashiers came over with a mop and bucket. Replacement looked at the floor and mumbled, “Sorry.”

  The teenager lopsidedly grinned. “It was probably expired anyway,” he said.

  Jack led Replacement to the door. She squeezed his hand. “Really. It’s nothing,” she whispered.

  As they left, Jack’s eyes narrowed. She’s lying. Somebody scared the hell out of her. I wish I knew who.

  CHAPTER NINE

  It’s the Principle

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” Jack’s right arm was around Replacement’s waist, and the takeout bag dangled from the other as he fumbled with the apartment key.

  “I’m fine. Really. I’m sorry I spoiled everything.”

  “Pfft.” Jack scoffed. “You didn’t spoil anything. If you’re up for it, I’ll make a little private dinner for two.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek as he let the apartment door swing open.

  “That sounds good—” Replacement gasped. “Oh, crap!”

  Jack’s mouth fell open.

  The dog trotted out of the living room, dropped what remained of the couch’s armrest, and sat down panting. Slowly they walked into the apartment and looked into the living room. Cushion stuffing covered the floor. The shredded couch leaned at an odd angle.

  The takeout bags slipped from Jack’s hand. “It ate my couch.”

  “Oh, no.” Replacement rushed over to the dog. “Do you think she swallowed any of it? Will she be okay?”

  Jack scanned the tattered remnants scattered across the room. “It ate the whole damn couch.”

  “Now’s not the time to think about yourself.” Replacement’s lip trembled as she held the dog’s head with both hands and examined inside the dog’s mouth. The dog licked her face and panted.

  “The demon dog is fine,” Jack growled. “Look at my couch.” He thrust both hands out as he stomped over to the ruins of the sofa.

  The torn open cushions lay scattered across the floor. Jack noticed bits of paper strewn in with the batting. Going over to where he hid his important papers in the back of the couch, he saw the dog had ripped open the back of the couch too. He leaned over and picked up a scrap of the remains of his insurance policy.

  “Damn it!” he screamed at the ceiling. “It ate all my papers!”

  Replacement scooted over, picked up a cushion and tried to stuff the batting back in. “You just kept copies of your papers in the couch. The originals are in the safe. It’s not as bad as it looks.” The hope in her words was not conveyed by the look on her face.

  “Seriously? It’s totally destroyed.”

  “Look on the bright side. We needed a new one.”

  “No we didn’t.” Jack shook his head. “I loved this couch.”

  Replacement picked up another cushion and all of the stuffing fell onto her feet. She stammered, “Well, we can get a new one just like it.”

  Stupid dog. He glared at the dog as she trotted off into the kitchen.

  Jack rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands. “Let’s just forget about it, and we’ll enjoy the rest of the night.”

  Replacement picked up a pile of stuffing and dropped it on the couch. “I don’t know why Beauty would do this.”

  “Why? It’s simple. It’s a beast and it hates me.”

  “She does not.” Replacement turned around and yelled, “Oh, no. Beauty!”

  Jack spun around.

  The dog sat on her haunches with the steak Jack brought home from the restaurant hanging out of her mouth.

  “No,” Jack growled, and so did the dog. “Drop my steak, Beast.”

  Jack lunged forward, and the dog jumped up on all fours.

  “Beauty!” Replacement tried to move between the two as Jack’s hand flashed out to grab the steak.

  Jack grabbed hold of one side of the steak and the dog clamped down on the other. She shook her head while Jack pulled. “I said drop it, dog.”

  The dog planted her feet and yanked backward. Jack shook the steak up and down. Claws clicked off the linoleum as Jack tugged the dog forward. Snarling, she snapped her head to the side. Jack refused to let go so he was slammed into the counter.

  Replacement threw her hands up. “Let it go, Jack. You can’t eat it now anyway.”

  “It’s the principle of the thing,” he grumbled. “I’m not going to let the beast have it.”

  The dog frantically shook her head, and Jack’s hand slipped off the steak. The dog bolted into Replacement’s bedroom. Jack raced after her, but stopped at the doorway when the dog barked ferociously.

  “I hope you choke on it,” he yelled before he slammed the door shut.

  “Jack!” Replacement stamped her foot.

  “What?” Jack walked back over and grabbed the dropped takeout bag of food. Replacement’s foam container lay closed
and untouched. “See?” Jack pointed. “It hates me. It went for mine and left yours alone.”

  Replacement scoffed. “You got steak. It’s not because she hates you.”

  Jack walked over and looked down at her. “We could make something else and…talk?”

  As Replacement’s smile faded, so did Jack’s.

  Damn.

  She shook her head. “I’m just not feeling that well. Can I get a rain check?”

  Thanks, dog. “Sure. Do you want anything? Maybe eating something will help.”

  Replacement shook her head again before she reached up to kiss him—on the cheek.

  Damn.

  “Sorry,” she whispered as she moved toward the bedroom door.

  Jack headed for the kitchen. “Does the beast need to go out before—damn it.”

  “What?” Replacement hurried over.

  Jack turned his head, wrinkled his nose, and tried not to swear. “I guess it already went.” He thrust his hands down at the kitchen floor.

  “She must be embarrassed,” Replacement said.

  Jack stood there, blinking at her. “Yeah, I’m sure she’s mortified.”

  Replacement took a step forward and turned paler than before.

  “I got this, kid.” Jack took her by the hand and led her back to her bedroom.

  “No. I brought Beauty here—”

  “Seriously. You’re not feeling well and cleaning that up won’t help.”

  “Really?” She lowered her head. “Thank you.” She slipped into her room and closed the door.

  She must really be sick if she’s not helping clean this up. This sucks.

  Jack spent the next fifteen minutes cleaning the kitchen before a scratching on Replacement’s door caught his attention.

  “How could it possibly need to go again?” Jack muttered as he grabbed the leash and headed to Replacement’s door.

  When he opened it, the dog trotted out, but Replacement lay in the bed and didn’t move. He stayed there until he saw the rise of her chest and heard her soft breathing.

  She’s already asleep. Maybe she is sick.