Part 41 (1/2)
Replacement held up her cup and winked at Kiku.
”She's old enough.” Kiku picked up her cards, and her smile vanished when she looked at them.
She can't be that obvious.
Replacement huffed.
She can. What a poker face.
Jack kept the slightest smirk on his face.
”Ante is two cents. Max bet is a dime raise, or it'll be a fast game.” Kiku wiggled her eyebrows.
Jennifer tossed her cards down. ”Fold.” She looked over at Jack. ”Is there any chance you're wrong?”
Jack shook his head. ”No.”
Jennifer turned her hands flat on the table and looked at the ceiling. ”Why would Walter do it? Money?”
”Money makes people switch loyalties.” Kiku tossed in a nickel. ”Raise.”
Jack tossed in a nickel. ”It's more. Prescott spent years trying to catch these guys. He's about to retire. It was his whole life's work and not one conviction stuck. That can drive you over the edge.”
”I think it's for revenge.” Replacement rolled a nickel in.
”For what?” Jennifer downed her shot.
”One of the Mancinis put his first partner in a wheelchair,” Replacement said.
”That has to be it,” Kiku added.
Jennifer muttered, ”Karl Weaver.”
”That was his partner,” Replacement pointed out.
”He's dead. He died last year. They had a ceremony for him at the Bureau. They dedicated some conference room to him.” Jennifer searched their faces. ”Walter wants revenge.”
Jack cracked his neck. ”Now we know why.”
”I wonder who else is involved?” Jack tapped his cards and tossed in a nickel.
”Have you ever kidnapped anyone?” Replacement asked Kiku.
She nodded, but didn't look up from her cards.
”How many people did you bring?” Replacement tossed in a dime.
”She goes first.” Jennifer pointed at Kiku.
Replacement rolled her eyes and took the dime out.
”Four.” Kiku threw her dime in. ”Not including me.”
Replacement looked at Jennifer as she tossed her dime back in. ”Is that typical?” She looked around the table.
Jack thought for a second. ”I was guessing four, not including Walter.” He tossed his dime in. ”Two guys grabbed her. Paolo kills one. Three guys at the apartment, though...and I wouldn't figure they'd leave Marisa alone. I'm thinking there were five, and there are four now.”
”How do you get three guys at the apartment?” Jennifer asked. ”I thought it was only two.”
”Two shooters,” Jack explained. ”They split so fast they had to have a driver waiting.”
Kiku nodded. ”They did.”
”So it might be four guys and Walter.” Jennifer exhaled and looked at the ceiling. ”I started to think you weren't crazy, Jack, but now I'm not sure. It sounds like you're planning on taking them all on by yourself.”
Kiku tossed out another dime.
Replacement's dime landed at almost the same time.
Jack grinned and tossed his dime in.
Kiku frowned. She flipped her cards over, and Jack laughed.
”A pair of nines? And you said I shouldn't play poker.” He turned over his three queens. ”Come to Daddy.” He reached out for the pot, and Replacement swatted his hand.
”Read 'em and weep.” Replacement put down her cards and clapped her hands together. ”Full house.” She fanned her cards out. Black aces and eights with a jack of hearts. ”Jacks are wild, right?” She giggled. ”I bet it means you'll be lucky tomorrow, Jack.” She held up the jack of hearts. ”See? That's you.”
Kiku looked at Jack but didn't say anything. She didn't have to. Jack knew the cards-it was the dead man's hand.
Face-sucking vampire They played poker for another two hours. Jack cut everyone off at one shot, but the damage was done to Replacement. She made a huge deal out of every round and bet wildly, but she only won the first hand. Jack was sure Kiku even tried to throw a few her way, and so did he, but she still ended up losing-badly.
Suddenly, she got up and stumbled. ”Jack, I just thought of something. I need to talk to you...privately.”
”I think it's time for bed, kid.”
She shook her head, took him by the hand, and headed for the bathroom. He had to steady her twice, afraid she was about to take a header into the wall.
Jack shut the door, and she leaned heavily against the sink. ”I'm not second-guessing you...because you're always right.” She slurred a few of her words. ”But, shouldn't you call for backup?” She wrinkled her nose.
He smiled. She was even cuter when she was a little tipsy. ”I have it covered. We'll get the proof, and then I'll call backup. Okay?”
”On cop shows they always call for backup before they go in.” She waved her finger.
”If I call anyone, they're going to arrest me.”
Replacement frowned and looked at the floor.
Jack lifted her chin and smiled. ”Trust me.”
She looked up at him and started to grin, but then her eyes zeroed in on him. Her hand shot out, grabbed his head, and tilted it to the side. ”What's that?” She snapped as she peered at his cheek.