Part 37 (1/2)
”Did you get a look at the car or the driver?”
The older man shook his head. ”I was back in the office.”
The teenager shrugged.
”How could you not see it?” the old man growled. ”You got your face stuffed into that stupid phone. I don't pay you to sit on your a.s.s and play games. You were supposed to be watching the gate.”
The teenager's shoulders slumped a bit. ”I wasn't on my phone.”
”Then why was your phone in your hand?”
The teenager blanched. ”I...I was...I had it out because...”
Jack put his hand on the window. ”So, your cameras aren't working, and neither of you got a look at the car or the driver?”
They nodded.
”How did they pay?”
”They didn't,” the old man grumbled. ”The gate's busted, so Junior here is supposed to be watching it OUTSIDE.”
”I got cold. I came in for like a minute.” The teenager shrugged.
Jack stormed back to the car and pulled out by the broken gate. He glared at the red and white pole pointed toward the ceiling.
”Who was that guy?” Jennifer leaned forward and scanned the street.
”You're asking the wrong question.” Jack turned left and headed for his apartment. ”You should be asking why did he come for you?”
”What? I thought he was after...” Her voice trailed off, and she swallowed.
Jack shook his head. ”He didn't know you would offer me a ride home. He was waiting for you.”
”Why? That makes no sense.”
Jack turned right and stopped at a light. When it turned green, he took a left.
”Where are we going?”
Jack adjusted the rearview mirror. ”Right now I don't think it would be a good idea for you to go back to your hotel.”
”They're after me?” Jennifer sat up in her seat.
”Just...I need to get some things from my apartment, and we'll go someplace.”
”Hold on. I don't answer to you. You answer to me.”
Jack pulled over to the curb and turned to stare at her. ”You want to be on your own? Fine. You're on your own.” She scowled. ”No offense, but I don't know how you got out of the Academy.”
”I'm perfectly capable-”
”This isn't a game, and it's not pus.h.i.+ng reports. Quiet down for a couple minutes and let me think, or get out.”
Jennifer turned to face him and winced.
”Besides,” Jack continued, ”you wouldn't get far on that ankle.”
”It's my car.”
Jack raised an eyebrow.
”You wouldn't just leave me on the side of the road?” She leaned away from him.
Jack smirked and pulled back out. ”Theoretically, no.” His apartment was only a couple minutes away, and they rode in silence. He parked in the back and ran around to the pa.s.senger door.
As Jennifer got out, she made a face. ”I can walk.” She held up a hand.
Jack stepped out of the way and swung his arm in a wide arc. ”After you.”
Jennifer took four halting steps and stopped. She grimaced slightly, and her eyes fluttered. ”I just need to ice it.” She exhaled.
”Okay.” Jack folded his arms and waited.
She looked back at him, glared, took two more steps, and then put all of her weight on her left leg.
Jennifer closed her eyes and exhaled. ”Can you help me inside?”
He held up his hands close to his body. ”I can give you a shoulder to lean on, and we can awkwardly lurch up a couple flights of stairs like some weird three-legged race, or you can suck up your pride and let me carry you.”
”Carry me? Like a baby?”
”No.” Jack shook his head.
Don't smile. Don't smile.
He smiled.
”You male chauvinist p-”
”Hey, it has nothing to do with you being a girl.”
”If I was a guy would you carry me?” She crossed her arms and wobbled on her one leg.
”I'd do a fireman's carry if you were a guy. So yeah, there would be a difference. You decide. I carry you like a baby or a.s.s in the air over my shoulder, your pick.”
The color rose in her cheeks as she weighed her options.
”Fine.”
Jack debated asking her choice, but instead just scooped her up in his arms and headed for the door. Jennifer put one arm around his shoulder, and Jack tried not to smile as she looked everywhere but at him.