Part 32 (2/2)

She smiled and quickly pulled away.

Jack stood on the sidewalk as he watched her drive down the street.

Damocles. I'm not the only one with a sword over my head, though. Marisa has one, too. They called the Mancinis to town because the exchange is coming. And it's coming soon.

Live or Die?

Jack jumped into the driver's seat as Replacement pulled up and slid over next to Kiku. All three now sat in the front on the bench seat.

He pulled away from the curb and drove out and away from downtown.

”This is a little awkward.” Kiku s.h.i.+fted closer to the window.

”If it's too close, hop in the back,” Replacement suggested dryly.

Jack flew down a side road. ”Did you touch anything in the office?”

They both shook their heads, and Replacement spoke. ”Someone beat the tar out of that guy. Did you see his face?”

Jack gripped the steering wheel. ”It was Paolo.”

”That is what I would a.s.sume, but how can you be sure, Officer?” Kiku leaned forward.

She's not asking because she doesn't believe me; she wants to know how I figured it out. I like it when someone believes in me.

”Besides the blood, the office was neater than when I left. Paolo loves Marisa and would be respectful of her things. Stuff was knocked off the desk and then put back...carefully.”

Replacement sat up straighter and turned to Kiku. ”He's good.”

”Very.” Kiku turned to look out the window, and Jack couldn't help his chest puffed up a bit.

Replacement tilted her head. ”Why did Paolo beat him up so badly? He didn't know anything.”

”The Mancinis wanted to make sure of that.” Kiku's voice lowered. ”They can be very brutal.”

Jack's throat tightened as he remembered Kiku in the back of Paolo's car. ”Rivers picked me up.”

Replacement s.h.i.+fted in her seat. ”The FBI lady? Why?”

”She wanted to give me the heads-up. They intercepted a phone call to Severino. They also know the Mancinis are in town.”

Jack didn't say anything about the call to Takeo. He knew Kiku had to be the one who made it. He watched her out of the corner of his eye. Kiku's face was motionless.

That's her tell. She hardens up. She called Takeo, but she's not telling me why she made the call.

”Where are we going, and why are you driving like a bat out of h.e.l.l?” Replacement looked around uncomfortably, and Jack knew she was looking for something to hold onto.

”Can you jump in the back, kid?”

Replacement started to s.h.i.+ft around, but after one look toward Kiku, she flopped back down. ”I'm good. Where are we going?”

”Arber's.” Jack pumped the brakes and turned right.

”Why?” they both asked in unison.

”The Mancinis are headed there.”

”How do you know?” Once again, they spoke at the same time.

”That's creepy. Stop it.” Replacement glared at Kiku.

Jack raised an eyebrow, and his smirk disappeared. ”Paolo worked on Shawn for a while. Shawn must have told him all about Marisa. I figure they would have tossed her apartment first, so they would go to Arber's next.”

”I don't think she dated him long-” Replacement started to say, but Kiku cut her off.

”So how would Shawn know?”

”When I first met Marisa, I came to her shop and Shawn called back to her the 'French guy' was here. He must have thought I was Arber. Marisa came out and looked like she was going to kill him. I took it to mean she'd been seeing some French guy before me. Everyone has a past.”

”But you still remembered that?” Replacement made a face.

”I can be a jealous guy. Yeah, I remember that.”

”The lights are off,” Kiku noted as they approached Arber's house.

”Do you think he's out?” Replacement sat up.

”No. The garden lights are out, too.” Jack gritted his teeth and pulled in the driveway. ”I think someone cut the power to disable the alarm.”

The house was dark, and there wasn't another car in sight.

”Stay in the car,” Jack ordered, and both women got out.

That worked.

”Fine. I'm going in the front.”

”I'll go in the back through the slider in the walkout bas.e.m.e.nt.” Kiku nodded and slid up next to the house.

Jack and Replacement headed for the front door. Jack knocked and waited. He rang the bell and beat on the door.

Nothing.

He shrugged and looked to Replacement. She looked back to the street and then nodded. Jack tried the door, and it opened. The alarm panel's lights were off.

No power.

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