“You ever see the car before?”
“No.”
“Was there snow on the car when you first saw it?” Jack stopped writing.
Ben thought for a minute. “Yeah, the windshield was covered. It was light. A dusting. There was some snow inside the car. I remember because I looked in the back and—”
“Did you touch the car?”
“No, sir. That could contaminate the crime scene.” Ben shook his head emphatically.
“Did you notice anything else?”
Ben shook his head again.
“Thanks, Mr. Nichols. You’ve been very helpful.” Jack closed his notebook.
“If you need anything, I’m always ready to do my part, Officer Stratton.” Ben stood at attention as he held open the door.
Back at the car, Replacement stuck her head out the window. “What did you find?” The new-puppy look was now complete as she sat up on her haunches and looked up at Jack with big, dewy eyes.
“Move it,” Jack said, trying to sound annoyed. Inwardly he was thinking, I kinda like my new puppy.
“What did he say?” she asked again. Jack watched as she scooted across the seat in a little reverse hop.
Jack climbed into the vacated driver’s seat. “When he got to the car, there were five kids snowmobiling around it. One had a weird helmet with a gold Mohawk on it. It should be easy enough to find him.”
“You don’t think they’re involved, do you?”
“No. He said there was already snow on the windshield and in the car, so I think the car had been there a while.”
The Onopiquite Reservoir was the size of a large lake; in fact, many referred to it as Lake Onopiquite. No boating, swimming, or fishing were allowed—but everyone ignored the fishing ban because the fishing there was so good. The reservoir sat at the bottom of a large, natural basin, shaped like a long serving dish. Reservoir Road circled the lake on the lower side of the basin, closest to the water, and Pine Ridge ran along the eastern ridge, on the lip of the bowl. During foliage season, Pine Ridge saw a lot of traffic because the view of the lake down below with the reflection of the trees was breathtaking. However, Reservoir Road saw very little traffic and almost none during the winter.
Jack drove slowly down Reservoir Road. It was now dark, and with no streetlights, and the watery abyss next to them, it was impossible to see beyond the headlights.
“Do you know where they found the car?” Replacement asked.
“Not the exact spot. Ben Nichols just had a general description.”
As they drove up and down the road, nothing stood out. Jack shook his head. “It’s too dark. I’ll call Sully and try to get a better description of the site the car was towed from.”
“Do you think we could get out and start searching the woods on foot?”
Jack kept driving. What am I supposed to say? He ground his teeth and tried not to yell. “It’s been two weeks, it’s freezing, and you’re hoping she’s out there just waiting for us?” She looked so hurt, he added more gently, “We’ll come back tomorrow. I promise.”
He regretted his promise almost as soon as he’d made it, but it wasn’t even close to the shame he felt when Replacement shot back with, “You promised to come back before.”
He got back on the highway and remained silent until he passed his exit.
“Where are you going? You missed the exit.”
“I’m taking you home.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your apartment. You can’t stay at my place anymore. I don’t know what you told Mrs. Stevens, but she won’t stay happy for long, so let’s leave her that way… happy.”
“What did I do? I won’t be in the way. We can go tomorrow, like you said. But I… don’t want to go home.”
“I’m not doing this now.” His voice was so crisp the words seemed to snap. But what she’d said was true. Fairfield was less than an hour away, yet he hadn’t seen Aunt Haddie or Michelle since he came back. “I’m…”
I’m what? I’m a coward? What the hell was I supposed to say to them? “Gee, by the way, I’m really sorry I got Chandler killed”?
Jack glared at Replacement and was glad she was looking out the window. Let her come to her own conclusions about what he was.
When they got to Fairfield and where he dropped her off before, on Marshall Avenue, Replacement got out and walked away without looking back. Again, Jack didn’t wait to see if she got in safely. He pulled away, tires screeching, and drove half a block before pulling over again, too upset to drive right away. He shut off the engine and pounded the steering wheel.
What does she want from me? I’m not her brother. I’m only watching out for her because of Chandler.
He grabbed the rearview mirror to see if he could get a glimpse of Replacement. She hadn’t gone inside. She was walking down the street away from him.
She looked small and vulnerable, and on closer inspection, the neighborhood was pretty sketchy. Where was she going exactly? He didn’t remember any residential buildings on this corner, at least when he was growing up.
He grabbed the keys from the ignition and followed her on foot. She went a couple of blocks before she turned to the left. It was a business district, but everything appeared closed. This part of the town had seen better days, but it wasn’t dangerous.
A girl alone at night—that’s always dangerous.
He tried to stay far back; there were very few people on the street, so he hugged the sides of the buildings and kept his head down. But all that wasn’t necessary: Replacement never looked back.
She turned another corner, and Jack hurried so he wouldn’t lose her if she went in somewhere. She continued for another couple of blocks and then stopped at a gate beside a small, blocky building.
It was a little hard to see what she was doing, but as he stealthily moved forward, he saw a box where a driver would normally punch in a security code, and the heavy gate was parting.
He sprang forward and slipped through. He watched her open the main entrance door with a key. He almost didn’t make it in behind her before the door closed with a pneumatic whoosh.
It just looked like an ordinary office building; three floors, big parking lot off next to it. Maybe it had been converted to an apartment building. Then he saw a sign—STORAGE 4 U. On another sign was a bullet list of regulations.
A storage place? What’s she getting this late at night?
The first floor was just an open central area flanked by two stairwells. He moved along the edge of the wall to minimize any creaks and pops, and opened the stairwell door as quietly as possible, and stopped it from clanging shut. The building seemed totally quiet. On the next level, a corridor with worn linoleum tiles ran all the way across to the other side, with four doors on either side. The last door on the right had a bit of light creeping out from underneath it.
He stood outside the door and debated whether to knock or just try to open it, or leave her to her secrets. Finally, he tapped softly. “Replacement?”
Silence.
He whispered her name again, and this time he heard movement from inside.
A couple of soft footsteps, then the door slowly opened a crack. Replacement’s head appeared, but she refused to look him in the face.
Jack put his hand on the door and gradually opened it. She didn’t stop him, but her lips trembled and she still wouldn’t look at him.
It didn’t take long to take a look at the place. Sleeping bag on the floor; a small table beside it with a little clamp-on light. Three green trash bags were stacked in one corner, a couple of boxes in the other. That was it. No place to eat, let alone cook. No table, no chair to sit on.
His anger rose. He was angry with himself. He knew—or he should have known.
She said Aunt Haddie’s in a nursing home, so she can’t live with her. She didn’t mention any friends. She’s out of the foster care system… This explains the showers every time she comes over.
“The homeless shelter… You
know… it’s a lot more freaky there. Aunt Haddie tries to give me money when she can, but this… It’s just temporary… I mean, it’s fine. I don’t need much. Things will change.”
She smiled at him. The smile was forced, but it contained a glint of hope, and that little bit of light cut straight through him.
“Yeah.” Jack cleared his throat. “It’s temporary because it’s over. From now on, you’re staying with me.”
She looked up at him.
“Hand me a couple of things and I’ll go get the car.”
She started to tremble. Jack stepped forward and pulled her close.
Don’t cry. Please don’t cry.
Her arms started to rise as if to give him a hug, but then stopped and dropped loosely to her sides. Jack hugged her tighter. Her arms shot out and wrapped around his waist. He patted her back and held her until she stepped back, rubbing her eyes.
Jack grabbed the trash bags. “I’ll get the car.”
By the time he returned, she was already waiting for him downstairs with the two boxes at her feet.
“Not much of a life.” The shrug that accompanied her words cut Jack to his core.
“Your new one starts today. Come on, let’s go.”
15
A Giant Hobbit
Jack looked down at the table and froze.
It’s a dream, Jack. Germany. Before you shipped out to Iraq. Chandler’s about to come over to the table…
“Hey, Jack.” Chandler’s voice was happy. “You gonna have any?” Chandler held up a plate of scrambled eggs as he tried to fit his large frame into the small booth.
Jack couldn’t bring himself to close his eyes and wake up. He remembered the day. He knew he was dreaming, but he didn’t want to stop replaying the memory. “In a minute.”
“The best part of German food is breakfast.” Chandler flashed a big grin.
“You’re like a giant hobbit. What’s this, your second breakfast?” Jack chuckled.
“I’m a growing boy.” Chandler shrugged. “You know, if we were home right now, Aunt Haddie would be waking us with breakfast.”
Jack smiled. “Yeah, how could I forget? I’d kill for one of her pancakes.”
“Remember her fire drills? She’d get freaked about having so many kids in the house and have those mock evacuations. All of us standing out on the sidewalk, freezing, while she did a head count.” Chandler laughed.
“She woulda made a hell of a drill instructor.”
“Remember that time you and I decided to go out the window and slide out over the porch? She nearly killed us.” Chandler chuckled as he tried to keep his food in his mouth.
“We had to copy that entire fire safety book.”
“My hand still hurts.” Chandler jokingly flexed it.
“Don’t forget why she did it, big man. She always said, ‘Keep your eyes on the exit whenever you go someplace new, and be prepared.’ Guess she made us ready for this.” Jack sighed and stopped laughing.
Chandler tried to change the subject. “Hey, I have it all figured out, what I’m going to do when I get out.”
“We haven’t even left Germany. Then we have to get through Iraq, and you have it all figured out?”
“I’m going to be a teacher. I want to teach math.”
Jack burst out laughing.
“Thanks a lot, jerk.” Chandler tossed down his fork. “I thought the plan was we both go in and get money for college.”
Jack put his hands behind his head. “I just came to watch your back.”
“Yeah, but it’s been the other way around.” Chandler grinned. “Seriously, do you think that’s stupid?”
“No. My dad’s a math teacher. Did he bite you or something? Made you some sort of math zombie?”
“He gave me the idea. It’s a great job. Help kids. You get the whole summer off.”
“It’s not stupid.” Jack held up a glass of orange juice as a toast. “I just don’t know how any kid is going to have the guts to ask a question with you standing at the front of the room.”
They both laughed.
“Seriously.” Jack knocked back the last of the orange juice. “You’ll make a great teacher.”
“Do you like eggs?” Chandler asked with a big smile.
Do you like eggs? Jack heard the words again, and he struggled to stay dreaming.
“Up you go. Get up, sleepyhead,” Replacement commanded, pulling the blanket off him. He grabbed it, but she still caught an eyeful. “Wow, I didn’t know you slept au naturel. Nice butt.”
“Get out—now.” He was tempted to stand up and give her the full show, but from the look on her face, he didn’t think she’d back down, and he’d be the one to get embarrassed. “Can’t you wake me up nicely?”
“I try. I start off really gentle, but you won’t wake up. So I have to escalate it. You could snore through a train wreck.”
“I don’t snore.”
“Sure.” She tilted her head at him. “I made breakfast. Get dressed now, nudist, or I’ll eat it all.” She laughed and sprinted out of the room.
Jack wrapped the blanket around himself and went to the bathroom. He pulled on some sweatpants and then smelled the eggs.
She made me a hot breakfast.
Jack had just about given up on ever having a hot breakfast again. When he had to work the night shift, he frequently woke up in the afternoon, and he didn’t like to eat breakfast later in the day, so the meal was slowly being worked out of his diet.
He yanked open the bedroom door and saw the kitchen counter set with two places. Replacement stood there with a frying pan in one hand and a spatula in the other, grinning like the Cheshire Cat. She wore a big, old Fairfield High School shirt. Jack walked around the counter and saw that the shirt was all she was wearing.
“Knock off surprising me in my bedroom and go put on some pants.” He shook his head. Jack couldn’t bring himself to frown because he was so happy about breakfast, so he settled for trying to look stern.
“You like scrambled eggs?” Replacement pushed a large plate toward him. In addition to eggs, it held four pieces of buttered toast.
“I love them.” Jack grabbed his fork, but stopped with his hand halfway to his face.
Replacement had the same look Aunt Haddie would give him when he didn’t say grace. He sighed, folded his hands, and bowed his head as Replacement began.
“Thank you, Lord, for this food. Thank you for Jack’s help. Please help him find my sister and have her be okay. Bless Aunt Haddie and say hi to my brother. In Jesus’s name, thanks.”
Jack kept his eyes closed and his head bowed. There were times when he felt as though he didn’t have anything that was core to his being. That he was missing something about being a human. But “missing” was the wrong word. Missing implied that at one time, he’d had it, and it was now gone. But he didn’t think he’d ever had what Replacement possessed. It was as if he was defective. Something inside him was incomplete.
With his eyes still closed, Jack shook his head. Replacement understood something he didn’t.
He opened his eyes and dropped his fork in surprise. Replacement’s face was right next to his and she was staring into his eyes as if she was searching for something.
“There you go again,” Jack said. “You have to give me some space.” He grabbed his fork and started to eat.
“What? I’m just looking at your face. Did you just think of something?” She eyed him.
“You can just ask me. Don’t get right next to me, don’t sneak up on me. Just ask.”
Replacement walked over to the far counter and returned with two cups of coffee. “Are we off to the reservoir?”
“Coffee, yes… whatever you want. Wait, no,” he added. “I’ll call Sully first. But I was thinking, we should go see if we can find one of those kids that found the car. They may know something.”
“Why are we going to look for those kids first?” Replacement didn’t mask her disappointment well.
“Lo
ok, they’re just kids, and we need to know if that’s where they found the car or if they drove it there. And who knows, maybe they saw something. There’s an Eddie’s Sports on 54, and it has a small garage for ATVs, snowmobiles, and dirt bikes. It’s on the way to the reservoir. It has to be local kids, so a short conversation might give us a name.”
Jack looked down at the empty plate, and then glanced at his watch. Five after seven. If she was offering hot breakfast as a bribe, it worked. “How soon can you be ready?”
Replacement was already pulling out a pair of jeans.
“I need a minute.” Jack grabbed his coffee and headed into the bedroom.
Twice yesterday, between Ben Nichols’s shotgun and the dogs at Sullivan’s, Jack had wished he’d had his gun. He opened the small safe under the medicine cabinet and took out his pistol.
16
Chicken Head
As they drove to Eddie’s Sports, Replacement fidgeted in her seat. Jack turned right at the large sign that read Ridge Hill High School, with a drawing of a fierce mountain lion in blue and white.
“The high school? What’s here?” Replacement asked.
“Kids. That kid with the helmet, and there was another one, a hefty, fat boy in a giant red parka. It’s worth a drive-by.”
“That’s great. How are we going to pick them out of that crowd?” Replacement pointed to the sea of teens arriving at the school.
Jack scanned the crowd and began to doubt the wisdom of his decision too.
“Wait!” Replacement pointed to a heavy kid in a red parka. “Over there, too.” She pointed again.
“I get it. Look for the Mohawk.”
“Third red parka, but sort of thin.”
Jack scanned the sea of jackets and slowed down even more.
“Fourth red parka, off the starboard bow,” Replacement bellowed.
Jack laughed at her mariner’s jargon, even as a large group of students turned to stare at the car. She’d rolled down her window and was now halfway out of the car as she yelled.
Detective Jack Stratton Box Set Page 11