Part 14 (2/2)
Jennifer smirked. ”Funny. Really. That was funny. He's Takeo Is.h.i.+kawa. He's part of the new Yakuza. Business suits and board meetings. Don't get me wrong, they're still very happy to kill you.”
”He didn't.”
”Yet,” Jennifer added as she took back her phone. ”Why did you go see him?”
”I followed Severino's men.”
”Just like we did...smart.” Jennifer scowled. ”Why did Severino's men go there?”
”Ask Walter. He called Severino. Did Walter tell him the only description we have is of an Asian man with tattoos?”
She's satisfied, and I didn't have to tell her about Ilario.
Jennifer's right hand clenched. ”What did Takeo have to say?”
Jack rubbed the back of his neck. ”He said they had nothing to do with it.”
”Did you believe him?”
”Do you care if I did?”
Jennifer pressed her lips together as she studied him for a minute before she nodded. ”On one hand, you don't think before you act. On the other, you figure things out other people don't.”
Jack put his elbow on the table as he ran his thumb against his lip. ”Have you been reading my file?”
As Jennifer laughed, she brushed back her red hair. ”No. I've been reading the newspaper. I'm surprised Collins doesn't have your picture up on a dartboard in his office.”
”I thought he did. Do you guys have anything?”
”We're in the same place we were before you went all rogue, ex-boyfriend crazy. What happened to your face?”
”That's what I've been trying to tell you. I went to Marisa's apartment, and there was a j.a.panese woman there. She broke in.”
Several different expressions played across Jennifer's face: disbelief, anger, confusion.
”A woman? Are you trying to tell me a woman did that to you?”
”I take it you're not a big believer in the whole women's equality thing?”
She scoffed. ”I did read your file, and I find it hard to believe you got your a.s.s kicked by a woman. Yes. Are you also telling me she got away?”
Jack nodded. ”Yeah. She's good.”
”Description?”
”She was j.a.panese.”
Jennifer turned to the window. Jack heard the viewing room door open. Walter came into the room and glowered at Jack.
”This makes no sense. Why-?”
Jennifer cut him off. ”We'll need you to take a look at some mug shots.”
”Oh, now I get it.” Walter smacked himself in the forehead. ”Way to go, Jack. I still think Ms. Vitagliano just went away for the weekend and this is total BS. But now you've gone and kicked the bear.” He thrust a finger in Jack's face. ”You had to go and see Takeo and now you've stirred everything up. You let them know where Severino's daughter is. You just went and put a huge target on her head.”
”She's already missing, you moron. Besides, I didn't bring that girl from Marisa's apartment here. No one followed me.”
”Get real, kid.” Walter jeered. ”I've done this for twenty years. Anyone can be followed.”
Was I?
Walter walked to the door and smacked the frame with the palm of his hand. ”Since you let her get away, I hope you got a good look at her. You get to look at some mug shots before you go. Before you argue, know this: Sheriff Collins is ready to hang you out to dry.” He turned to look at Jack but after a second shook his head. ”You're just hanging yourself, Stratton. But if you're a good boy and look at the pictures, then you get to go home. AND if you keep your nose out of it...I'll see what I can do for you with Collins.”
Walter shot Jennifer a look before he left.
Jennifer watched Jack and her lips pressed together. ”I don't have to tell you: if someone was in Marisa's apartment, that's not good. Can we work together to try to find her?”
”Do you believe me?”
Jennifer looked away and then back at Jack. ”I believe your face.” She looked down at the pictures and then back at Jack. ”It doesn't feel right. I'm going to talk to Walter.”
”Like he cares.”
She put both her arms on the table. ”You don't know him, Jack. Give him a chance. I know he comes off as an old curmudgeon who's about to retire, but if he didn't give me a chance, I'd be stuck behind a desk. I had no way to move up at the Bureau and I was going to transfer. He knows what he's doing. He's an expert on the Mancinis.”
”An expert?”
”No one in the agency knows the Mancinis like Walter. He knows not only them but their enemies. Let me work on Walter.”
Jack's hand tightened into a fist.
I'd like a chance to work on Walter.
The little fat man Jack walked into his apartment a little after midnight and his phone buzzed. He looked at the text from Kendra.
ARE YOU @*&^%#!= KIDDING ME?!?!?! YOU GOT SUSPENDED?!?!? I'M @ BOAR'S b.u.t.t IF YOU NEED A SHOULDER.
Jack tossed both phones on the counter and then picked his up again. He pressed redial. After a few seconds, Marisa's voicemail kicked in. He carefully laid the phone down and looked at his shaking hand. The computer was off and so was Replacement's bedroom light. He listened.
No shower. She must not be home yet. Great. Now I have to start worrying about her out there, too.
Jack walked over to the cabinet and took down a bottle of aspirin. The front door whipped open, and he dropped the bottle as he spun around. Replacement rushed in. Tears streamed down her face and she was panting. Jack hurried over to her, but she held her hands up.
”What's wrong? What happened?” Jack asked.
She shook her head. ”Nothing. I was...I was...I was...” She sobbed loudly, ran into his bedroom and slammed the door behind her. Jack stood there, blinking.
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