Part 34 (2/2)
Jack shook his head. ”Are you good?”
The concern vanished from Replacement's face as she nodded, and then stared coldly back at Kiku.
Jack moved between them.
Replacement's eyes narrowed. ”I'll do more than take your pinky if you even think about hurting Jack.”
Kiku folded her arms across her chest. ”I've been nothing but honest. Would you like me to lie?”
”I'd like you to die.” Replacement grabbed the pen off the desk.
”Alice.” Jack grabbed her arm.
”Seriously, Jack?” Replacement spun around and pushed him. ”She's sent to kill you, and you go on like it's nothing. You let her sleep here. We still don't know she's not the one who took Marisa and is just pulling the strings behind the scene.”
”She didn't.”
”No.” Replacement shook her head. ”You have to give me more than your BS detector on this one. Give me a fact. It's your life. How do we know she didn't come and take Marisa?”
Jack froze.
She glared up at him and tapped her foot. ”Answer me, Jack.”
Jack walked past her to Kiku. ”You followed me here?”
Kiku shrugged. ”What? You brought me here.”
Replacement stepped forward. ”But you knew where our apartment was.”
Jack shook his head. ”After the restaurant. Think. Did Takeo tell you to come here, or did you follow me?”
”I told you. Takeo sent me, and two men, to follow you. They lost you when you changed in the store, but I did not.”
Jack cracked his neck. ”The Mancinis didn't come until they got the phone call.”
Kiku and Replacement exchanged a look to see whether the other understood what he was saying.
”And you said Takeo asked if Marisa lived someplace else.” Jack walked to the kitchen.
”Can you clue me in?” Replacement threw her arms up.
Jack exhaled. ”Neither group knew where Marisa was. Do you know that program you wrote?”
”The one for the cars at the tollbooth?”
He nodded. ”I need-”
The police scanner snapped on. ”All available units. 10-31 on West and Newton. 10-31 Handle's parking lot.”
Jack ran for the door; Kiku and Replacement scrambled after him.
”Shots fired. Two blocks away,” Jack explained as he pulled on his jacket.
They raced down the stairs, and the Impala's tires were spinning in seconds.
”Handle's Liquors.” Jack tried to picture the storefront as the Impala slid around the corner and he punched it. ”Large parking lot. Small apartment building next door. Three floors. There's a restaurant next door.”
”What kind?” Replacement asked.
”What kind of what?” Jack shrugged.
”What kind of restaurant?” Replacement held onto the ceiling handle.
”Italian.” Jack scanned the oncoming car.
An older truck with a young couple. Nope.
”Italian. They have to eat.” Replacement's hands went out.
Jack frowned, and Kiku rolled her eyes. Jack let the wheel spin as he straightened out on the last turn.
”There.” Kiku pointed to a car in the parking lot with both doors open.
Jack could see Paolo lying on the ground and Ilario kneeling beside him. Whoever was in the driver's seat was slumped over the wheel.
”You two stay in the car.”
Replacement went to jump out, and he saw Kiku grab her arm.
Gun in hand, he sped out of the car and raced over to Paolo. Ilario had his hands pressed against Paolo's thigh.
”Get him out of here.” Paolo growled and gestured in Ilario's direction.
”No.” Ilario shook his head.
”Go, boy. I'm dead.”
Jack looked him over and counted at least five bullet wounds. His face was ashen, and blood ran out of his mouth.
”Ilario. An ambulance is on the way. Go.”
Paolo pressed his huge gun into Ilario's hand. He grabbed Ilario by the back of his neck. ”You're a good man. Become a great one.” Paolo pushed him away and coughed.
”Go to my car now,” Jack ordered and Ilario ran and got in the Impala.
Replacement jumped in the driver's seat and Jack waved for her to take off. He could hear the sirens getting closer. Replacement cast a worried frown his way and took off.
<script>