Part 5 (2/2)
”That's what I'd do.” Jack nodded. ”But he can be pretty stubborn. If he says he won't do anything, you may have to call the town business board.”
”I'm going to do more than that. I'm going to call the inspector's office.”
”Good thinking.”
Her eyes went wide as she clicked her tongue. ”And they have that special news segment. They're doing it now. You know the one? The one with the TV girl reporter, the little brunette who wears too much eyeliner. She asked for stories about people taking advantage of the elderly. Well, now she's going to get one. Thank you, Jackie.”
”Just watching out for the people of the community.” He waved as she headed back up the ramp.
Sticking it to Murphy had nothing to do with it. Nothing at all.
Jack walked away, whistling.
Was?
It was almost eleven when he looked in the door of the tattoo parlor for the fifth time. The tall, lanky guy was still there. He shook his head and held out his hands when he spotted Jack. Jack opened the door and quickly stuck his head in.
”She's still not here.” The tall guy shrugged as he made a face to a short girl dressed in all black, with black eye shadow, who sat at the end of the long counter.
”Did she call?”
”Nope.”
Jack's phone buzzed so he let the door swing shut as he walked back onto the sidewalk. It was a text from Replacement.
U TALK TO MARISA YET? I NEED PICS!!.
That dumb graffiti job. Maybe the stupid nightmare is just freaking me out. I'll finish my s.h.i.+ft, go back to the station, fill out the paperwork, and then go to her apartment. She probably started a new painting and got sucked into it.
Jack's heels clicked as he marched down the sidewalk. At the intersection, he looked to his left and saw Thaddeus near the entrance of the alley. He rocked back and forth, from one foot to the other. He brought both of his hands behind his head as he turned in Jack's direction.
Jack waved. Thaddeus ran. Jack was so surprised he stood there for a moment and looked at the now empty entrance to the alley.
Why would...?
Thaddeus's words rang in Jack's head: ”Ms. Vitagliano is a very nice lady.”
Jack's feet pushed against the concrete as he flew forward like a sprinter off the block. He covered the short distance to the entrance of the alley in ten long strides, just missing the wall as he rounded the corner. Thaddeus was just ahead, but ran as fast as his long coat would allow.
Jack surged forward and bellowed, ”FREEZE.”
His voice was so loud in the narrow alleyway it echoed off the bricks. Thaddeus froze. Jack slowed to a walk and put his hand on his gun.
”Turn around slowly and let me see your hands.” Jack stopped.
Thaddeus turned, and raised two shaking hands. One look at his face, and Jack knew they weren't shaking out of fear.
He's ticked.
”Thaddeus, what's wrong?”
”You. You and the corrupt inst.i.tution that's been designed to 'protect and serve.' Serve? Ha. Protect?” He spat on the ground. Jack angled his body slightly as he held up a hand.
It could just be another one of his rants.
”Can you give me a little more to go on here, Thaddeus?”
”I told you that girl was the sweetest thing.”
Jack went suddenly cold.
Was?
”Marisa?”
Thaddeus nodded.
”What about Marisa?”
As Thaddeus let his hands drop to his sides, the anger fell from his face. ”I tried.” His voice was now soft and his shoulders slumped.
”Where's Marisa?” As Jack said the words, bands tightened around his chest.
This is not happening. She's fine.
Thaddeus shook his head and shrugged. ”I don't know. I told them what happened.”
”Who? Who did you tell?” Jack took two steps forward.
”The police. I told them, but...YOU LAUGHED AT ME,” he screamed in Jack's face, and Thaddeus's whole body went so rigid it vibrated.
Calm. Soften your body language. Non-threatening.
Jack tried to invoke his training, but instead threw it out the window. He leaned in and growled, ”You're not going to yell anymore. Got it? Now, when did you last see Marisa?”
Thaddeus shrank down. ”Last night. I was coming to get a ham sandwich. Ms. Vitagliano told me she'd have one for me, but there was a car near the back door.”
”What kind of car?”
Thaddeus scratched his beard. ”Silver. Four doors.”
”Did you notice the make of the car? Ford? Chevy? Honda?”
He shook his head. ”I saw two guys come out of Ms. Vitagliano's, and then I hid.”
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