Part 21 (2/2)
”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.
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