Part 4 (2/2)
She wobbled her head. ”I talk-talk to myself. Sometimes aloud. It makes people think I'm nuts.”
”I heard it helps you figure stuff out. That's why I do it.”
”Me, too.” She beamed.
Jack smiled and then focused on the road. He really wanted to push it, hoping the run would wear him down enough so he could sleep without dreaming. They ran hard for almost an hour before they headed back to the apartment so Jack could try to get a little sleep, but it didn't work. He tried a few times to go back to bed, but found himself just staring at the ceiling, thinking. After a half hour, he was frustrated and got out of bed to pace around the apartment.
Replacement was crafting a list of what she needed to start her private investigation business. Every time he pa.s.sed through the living room, she stopped and asked whether she could get him something. Each time he refused and continued to pace-doing push-ups, opening and closing cabinets, and heading back into the bedroom to try again.
After the fourth round, when he came out the door, Replacement was waiting with a big gla.s.s of warm milk and a grin.
”Go back in.” She handed him the gla.s.s. ”Drink.” She crossed her arms and tapped her foot while he downed the milk in two big gulps. She took the gla.s.s back and turned him around. ”Get on the bed. On your stomach.”
Jack smirked. She pushed him teasingly forward. He lay on his stomach, letting his head flop onto the mattress, and then she yanked the pillow out from under him. Replacement climbed onto the bed so she could straddle his lower back.
”You don't have to give me a ma.s.sage,” he insisted.
She pushed his head into the mattress as her hands ran up his neck and over both sides of his head. He moaned.
”Yes, I do. I want to get some work done, and I'm not going to get anything done with you going around banging cabinets and hovering around me like a puppy.”
I'm not hovering...
He moaned again as she continued to work on his head. By the time she reached his back, he was almost drooling. When she finally reached his feet, he was mush. She pulled the blanket over him and his mouth opened, but before he could mutter ”thank you,” he was asleep.
Deathtrap ”Jack.” Someone shook him. ”Wake up.” Replacement started to pull the blanket off him, but he grabbed it tightly and sat up, scowling.
”Knock it off,” he snapped.
”Boy, did you wake up on the wrong-”
”I haven't woken up yet.” Jack rubbed his eyes. ”What?”
”Do you have Marisa's number?”
”In my phone.”
”I looked.” She shrugged. ”I have the same number.”
”Then call it.”
”I did; she isn't answering. I left a message, but I need to know if she took pictures of the first time someone tagged the store.”
”Okay.”
”Can you ask her tonight?”
Jack nodded. ”Sure, but first I want to grab something to eat.” He rolled out of bed and did a double take when he saw the clock: 6:45 p.m.
”d.a.m.n it, I have to go to the station first tonight. I have fifteen minutes to get there or Collins will write me up.”
”Oh, snap. Sorry, I was online and...” Replacement stepped back as Jack rushed past her into the bathroom.
Jack brushed his teeth, splashed water on his face, and then hurriedly got dressed. He yanked open the bedroom door just as Replacement called out, ”Did you shave?”
”Crud.”
He spun around and shaved in less than two minutes. When he raced back into the living room, Replacement stood next to the door with a bagel sandwich and a thermos of coffee. Jack grabbed both and then kissed her cheek before he rushed out the door. He was halfway down the hallway before he realized what he'd done, and he heard her gasp when he'd done it. As he thundered down the stairs, a grin spread across his face. In three long strides, he reached the Impala. As he swung the door open, he stuck his hand into his pocket for the keys and groaned.
”d.a.m.n it!”
He rifled through his pockets, looking for the keys, until he realized they were still upstairs.
”Come on, baby,” he urged.
Time and use had worn down the ignition on his 1978 Chevy so if you jiggled it just right, you could start the car without a key. After only two twists, the ignition turned and the engine roared to life.
”Yes!”
Jack gunned the Impala all the way to the police station. He flew into the parking lot, past rows of police cars, and slid to a stop in front of the sprawling two-story building. His hand hesitated when he looked down at the ignition with no key, wondering whether he should turn the car off and take his chances starting it later. He hopped out and hurried through the double doors of the station with a minute and a half to spare.
As he rushed in, Officer Kendra Darcey laughed while she pointed up at the clock. ”You like living on the edge, Jack.”
”I had plenty of time.” He grinned as he walked over to give her a hug. ”How've you been?”
Kendra was twenty-four. She wore her blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail and her blue eyes seemed to reflect her constant energy. A four-inch scar ran from the corner of her chin to her eyebrow. She was beautiful despite the scar. A huge smile spread across her face but vanished just as fast.
”I got your s.h.i.+ft.” She shrugged. ”Sorry, but it's pretty sweet.”
Jack raised an eyebrow. ”Yeah, it was.”
”Can I make it up to you?” She grinned sheepishly. Jack noticed when her cheeks flushed, her scar stood out a little more.
”What do you have in mind?” He grinned, which only made her turn redder. ”Don't worry about it. What could you do?” He patted her shoulder and then headed to the a.s.signment desk. He grabbed his disappointingly thin folder and knew before he opened it what his a.s.signment would be.
Neighborhood relations. Walking a beat around downtown for yet another s.h.i.+ft. Fantastic.
”Maybe you could talk to Collins?” Kendra suggested.
”It won't do any good. I might as well run straight into a wall.” Jack chuckled.
”Do you want me to try?”
”To talk to Collins? Go ahead, but my money's on the wall. Seriously, thanks, but no thanks. If you do, we'll both be screwed. Right now it's just me. At least it's still warm out.”
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