Part 22 (2/2)
”How you all doin'? Can I get you some drinks?”
”Whiskey, neat, and an iced tea.”
Replacement frowned at Jack, and so did the waitress.
”She's getting the iced tea, right?” The waitress stuck her thumb toward Replacement.
”My designated driver.” Jack flashed a big toothy grin.
”Great.” Replacement grabbed a sugar packet and tossed it into the air. ”You get one.”
”Were you on today?” Jack asked Kendra.
”Nope. I'm on tomorrow, though.”
Jack eyed the two empty gla.s.ses in front of her.
”What time?”
”Not till six. Donald and I are doing the late night. Downtown.”
”Just watching your back,” Jack explained.
Kendra leaned into Jack. ”You're usually watching my-hey.” Kendra sat back as a sugar packet whizzed by her head.
”Oops, sorry.” Replacement picked up a saltshaker as her lips pressed together in a thin smile.
Jack reached over to squeeze Replacement's knee and then gave her a quick dirty look.
”Do you know that officer who was in the car accident?” Tina anxiously stirred her drink. ”They were just bringing him in when I was leaving.”
”Jack, did you hear that Murphy...?” Kendra's words trailed off as she looked at Jack's grimace. ”Guess you did.”
”That moron killed the Charger. Do you think anything will happen to him?” Jack's hands went out. ”No. Of course not.”
Kendra leaned forward as she snapped, ”But you get suspended for sending an email? Where's the fairness in that?”
d.a.m.n.
The waitress, setting the drinks down, interrupted the silence that had descended over the table. Jack picked up his gla.s.s and pounded the shot.
”What email?” Replacement dropped the saltshaker as she leaned closer to Kendra.
”I'll take another shot.” Kendra swallowed before she looked up at the waitress. ”Can I talk to you?” She grabbed Jack by the elbow.
”What email?” Replacement's hands went out.
”It's nothing. Why don't you order a pizza?” Jack called back as Kendra dragged him to the dance floor.
”Does she not know?” Kendra whispered as they walked over to the small square of tiles in front of the jukebox that served as the dance floor.
As Jack stopped, he shook his head. ”She doesn't need to know.”
”What's the deal with you two?” Kendra started to dance but Jack looked confused.
”I don't dance.” He nervously chuckled.
The song changed to a slow country ballad, which prompted Kendra to lean her head forward slightly and look up at him through her long lashes.
”One dance?” She took his hand in hers as she put her other hand on his shoulder. ”It can't hurt.”
”It actually could,” he muttered. Jack looked back at Replacement, but she was talking with Tina.
”Seriously, Jack. She's living with you, right?”
Jack nodded.
”Are you two...you know?”
Jack laughed.
”What?” She made a face.
”I never volunteer an answer when someone doesn't ask the question. Come on, we use that trick all the time.” Jack lowered his voice. ”Do you know why I pulled you over?” He exhaled. ”When I ask that, I'm just fis.h.i.+ng to see what someone did wrong. I want the guy to say, 'I was speeding, I ran the red light, or I have a body in the trunk.'”
Kendra laughed. ”Fine.” She took a deep breath. ”Are you two doing the wild thing?”
Jack shook his head. ”No.”
”Because I didn't know if it's a roommate type of thing or you're, like, hot and heavy, going at it.”
”We're friends.”
Kendra squeezed his hand. ”Do you think Collins is going to press about the email?”
Jack nodded.
”What're you going to do?” she asked.
”I'll think about it tomorrow.” Jack shrugged. ”I need to ask you a favor.”
Kendra's hands moved a little lower on his hips. ”Really?”
”Seriously. I need you to keep an eye out for a group of guys. Either Italian or Asian.”
Kendra smirked. ”You didn't get that memo about racial profiling, did you?”
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