Jack Stratton: Jacks Are Wild Part 21

Replacement kept her head down, clicked and typed. "I think three years ago. It may have been two. It wasn't last year's."

"Go back to that guy's website. Where does he live?"

Replacement cracked her neck. "Just because they're standing like that doesn't mean..."

"They dated." Jack pointed to the screen. "Someone mentioned it in pa.s.sing once. Don't ask. Get the address, please."

"Does this mean we're taking a ride?"

Jack nodded.

Someone's compensating The Impala stopped at the end of the long driveway that wound its way up to a large stone house. On both sides of the pavement, small lights illuminated the way.

"What's he park here, a plane?" Jack quipped as he turned in.

"He has one." Replacement looked up from her phone. "And a huge yacht. Look at the picture. It's ma.s.sive."

"Someone's compensating," Jack jeered.

"For what?" Replacement shrugged.

Jack laughed until he saw her puzzled expression. "Uh...nothing."

They parked the car at the end of a wide, stone walkway.

Replacement looked at Jack as they strode up to the door. "You ever want a boat?"

Jack smirked. "I don't need one." He rang the bell.

Replacement looked at him, still perplexed, but kept her mouth shut as they waited at the enormous black door for someone to appear.

Jack rang the bell again. After another minute, the door flew open.

Arber de Lorme looked just like his photos. Tall, fit, and handsome. His feet were bare; his loose s.h.i.+rt was untucked. His black hair was swept back, and he held a large, almost empty, wine gla.s.s in his right hand. His frown turned to a look of annoyed disgust when he looked from Jack and Replacement to the old Impala parked in his driveway.

"There's a gas station about four miles down the way." He rolled his eyes as he looked back into the house. "Push the car out of the driveway before you go. I don't want it to leave any spots." He started to close the door.

"Actually, Arber." Jack felt his hand tighten into a fist as he pressed it against the door to hold it open. "I'm here to ask you a few questions."

The disgusted look remained on Arber's face. "Are you with the authorities?"

I'm suspended. I don't even have my badge.

Replacement stepped forward and flashed a badge. "Do you want to answer our questions here or downtown, Mr. de Lorme?"

I'm going to kill her.

Jack stepped forward. "We're here to ask you some questions about Marisa Vitagliano. Or should we speak with your guest first?"

Arber looked back into the house and then leaned forward. "This isn't the best time." He angled his head inside. "I have company. Come back later, okay?" He thinly smiled.

He started to close the door again, but this time Jack's hand stopped it with a loud thud.

"It won't take long."

"You can't force your way in here." Arber glared as he leaned in on Jack.

"Really?" Jack rolled his shoulders.

"Jack." Replacement put her hand on his arm.

He cast a quick glance back at her and, when he did, Jack's eyes darted to the far edge of the yard, where he saw someone move.

Arber's hand relaxed on the door. "I'm sorry if I sound rude, but I've had a gla.s.s or two to drink. I do have company tonight. So, if you don't mind, call the gallery and I'd be happy to speak with you later. Goodnight."

Jack stepped back.

"We'll do that. Thanks for your time. Have a good night." Jack nodded.

The door thumped closed, and they heard the lock click. Replacement looked at Jack, perplexed.

As Jack headed down the stairs, she hesitated at the door.

"Come on, kid," he called back.

She glanced at the closed door again and then jogged to catch up with him.

"You're just walking away?"

"Talk in the car." Jack kept moving.

As they jumped in, he tossed the Impala into reverse and started down the long driveway. Replacement did a double take when he turned right instead of left.

"Where are we going?"

Jack drove around the corner and scanned the sides of the road. He pulled over when he saw a car parked on the edge of the road. He shut his lights off as he stopped behind it.

"Roll your window down."

"What?" Replacement asked, but she still cranked the window down.

"Wait," Jack instructed.

A few seconds later, Kiku appeared silently out of the brush and walked over to the car.

"Officer." She smiled.

Jack nodded as he leaned over. "A business card was missing from Marisa's apartment. The guy who lives here owns an art gallery downtown that's sponsoring an art festival Marisa entered. His name is Arber de Lorme. He dated Marisa. I have no idea how often or how long. He didn't want to talk to me. There's one other person he said was in the house. I didn't see who it was. I a.s.sume it was a female. He'd had a couple of drinks, and the alarm was off. The alarm panel is just to the right of the door."

Replacement's mouth continued its gradual slide until it hung completely open.

"Dogs?" Kiku asked.

Jack shrugged. "Didn't see any. I a.s.sume cameras."

"Let me have a look and I'll stop back at your apartment for a nightcap."

"BYOB." Jack put the car into drive. "Pick up enough for two."

Kiku smiled, turned, and then disappeared back into the darkness. Jack put the Impala into drive and, after he pulled out, he turned the lights back on.

"You sent her after him?" Replacement turned around in the seat and peered back into the night.

"She's the best way to get the information I need."

"But she's...she's Yakuza."

"Kiku's looking for Marisa. That guy's a sc.u.mbag."

Replacement held up her hands. "I'm fine with that. I knew you were too easy about leaving." She grinned.

Jack gripped the steering wheel and resisted the urge to pull over. "What the h.e.l.l was that back there?"

"What?" Her smile vanished.

"The stupid, fake, plastic badge."

"It worked."

"It's called impersonating a police officer. It's a felony."

"I never said I'm a cop."

"You flashed the badge. You implied it. That's the law."

"They do it all the time." She crossed her arms.

"In the movies. But they don't go to jail in the movies. In real life you do."

"No offense, but didn't you just instruct a ninja to go break into his house?"

"But I'm not breaking in." Jack pointed at himself.

"So if I let you pull out your badge when you're suspended-"

Jack interrupted her. "You didn't know I was going to pull out my badge."

"I saw your arm twitch, and you looked at your jacket pocket," Replacement explained.

Jack pulled over and then glared at the dashboard as his hands twisted around the steering wheel. He exhaled loudly. "Okay, I appreciate you watching out for me, but we have to sit down and go over what you can and can't do."

"I'm a big girl." She sat up straighter. "I can handle myself."

"You had a fake gun and a fake badge. You're going to end up really shot."

Replacement huffed as she turned to look out the winds.h.i.+eld.

Jack started to drive again.

"I actually thought you didn't have a badge and you were going to try to bluff him." Replacement put her feet on the dash.

"I don't have my badge."

"I know. I learned that from movies. When you get suspended, they take your badge."

"What about my gun? Do I have it or not?" Jack raised an eyebrow.

"Not. No, wait. You had it in the alley. They didn't take it?"

"No. The movies get that wrong. It's my gun. I own it."

Jack's smile vanished when they came out to the main road. Ahead, ambulance lights mingled with the lights of police cruisers and a tow truck. Replacement sat up and Jack stiffened.

He pulled over behind the last cruiser. As he stepped out of the car, Officer Tom Kempy called out, "Hey, Jack." He waved as Jack jogged over.

"What's up, Tom?" Jack stopped and turned as he heard Replacement run up.

He shot her a look so she moved slightly behind him.

Tom pointed toward the ambulance. "He'll be all right. He said he hit black ice and slid off the road. He clipped a couple of trees, but the paramedics said he looks fine. Not even a scratch."

"Who?" Jack looked at the ambulance.

"Murphy was driving." Tom's words rang in Jack's ears. "But he's fine."

The EMTs lifted a stretcher up and into the back of their vehicle. As they did, Jack could see Billy Murphy was the one they were transporting.

"The car took the brunt of the impact," Tom added.

Jack darted around Tom so he could look off the road and into the ditch.

"NO," Jack screamed and his stomach turned.

Replacement rushed up next to him. They both looked down at the police car that rested on its side in a rocky ditch. Two tow truck operators were trying to tip it upright. The Dodge Charger crashed down on its wheels as the rear quarter panel fell on the ground.

d.a.m.n it.

The ambulance pulled away, leaving Jack to turn and scream a string of obscenities after it. All of them were directed at the man who was on his way to the hospital-Billy Murphy.