by Jamie Hill
“Here’s a three for you: Maybe he was a cocky son-of-a-bitch who thought he was going to weasel out of the tight spot, and wanted to keep it for himself—whatever 'it' is.”
Jack thought about that and nodded. “My guess is money, or drugs he could sell for money. I know he used. I’m talking to some people at the loading dock where he worked, because I suspect he dealt but no one has verified that yet. They will, once they find out he’s dead. I’m heading back there tomorrow.”
Reeder nodded. “So we’re left with fingerprints we doubt will help, but we need to make sure. I assume you know how to reach this woman you’ve been seeing?”
He said it with thinly veiled sarcasm, and Jack wanted to tell Reeder what he could do to himself and then slam the door loudly on his way out. Instead he said, “Yeah, I do. Can I get their prints myself, so I don’t have to drag them down here?”
Reeder studied him for a moment. “It’s not like you to get mixed up with someone who’s involved in this kind of crap.”
Jack stared back at him. Reeder was right. It wasn’t as though he was the department Lothario. Maybe his involvement this once wouldn’t be such a bad thing. He felt a weight lift from his shoulders, and had to force himself to keep from grinning like an idiot. He shrugged. “Sometimes bad things happen to good people.”
Reeder eyed him suspiciously and muttered, “Just get their prints, and turn them over to the techs. Follow up with the coworkers. If we can prove Erickson was dealing, maybe we can tie him to a local outfit and go at things that way.”
“You got it.” Jack stood, anxious to be off.
“I haven’t seen your reports on the Carson or Hooper homicides. I assume they’ll be on my desk ASAP.”
“Hooper’s connected to this case, so I’m holding off on that report.”
“And your excuse on Carson would be…?”
Jack smiled and offered his boss another shrug. “I’m an inept asshole, and I don’t have a partner? Everything takes me twice as long.”
“You’re right about the asshole part, Dunlevy. And I’m starting to believe you about the ineptitude. You want a partner? I got a newbie riding on the heels of nepotism, just busting to get a crack at homicide. How about I stick her with you?”
Jack took a step back out of the office and assured, “I’ll have that report to you by day’s end.”
He heard Reeder’s laugh behind him, and hoped the lieutenant thought him incompetent enough that he wouldn't stick a trainee with him—especially a female who was riding on her daddy’s coattails. Jack knew he was still sharp as hell, but he was far too cynical. He had seen too much, put up with too much, been through too much, and was frankly sick and tired of it. He was seriously considering wrapping up this case and getting out. He'd intended to put in his twenty before retiring, but things were changing in his life. Now he wasn’t sure he wanted to do this job two more years. He tried to tell himself that Crystal and the boys didn’t have anything to do with this new feeling, but he knew that was a line of bull.
He dropped into his chair and booted his computer. “Carson report,” he muttered, and swallowed two aspirin with a gulp of really bad cop shop coffee.
* * * *
Crystal wandered though Jack’s house. She'd warned him she was going to snoop and he laughed. He was going over to her apartment to do the same thing. She asked him to look for her grandmother’s pearl earrings, which she kept in a black velvet box in her dresser. He was sure they would be gone, but he agreed to look.
She felt restless. Was it only a week ago she'd been wishing for more time to herself, to watch TV or do nothing at all, whatever she felt like? Now she had that time, but was on edge and didn’t think she could enjoy it. Jack left her with a lengthy list of don’ts: don’t answer the door, don’t go outside, don’t let the kids outside, don’t answer the phone unless she can hear on the answering machine that it’s him, don’t leave the door open for more than a second to let Zeus in and out, don’t worry, don’t let the kids see her worry, don’t be scared…Yeah, right.
She could handle the top section of the list, as claustrophobic as it made her feel, but that last part, no way. She was scared, and she would remain scared until Jack walked back through the door.
He made her feel safe. He made her feel lots of things, but safe was her priority at the moment. She didn’t let her mind dwell on the other feelings he stirred inside her. He was helping her and the boys. When they were safe again, their flirtation would be over. She couldn’t let herself get too attached to him. It would only hurt that much worse when he let her go.
She peered into his closet and a couple drawers, but her heart really wasn’t into snooping. She finally pulled a book off the shelf in his closet and sat in the living room with the kids as they played with Zeus and watched TV.
She made them lunch and had them do some homework afterward. She wanted to keep things as normal as possible for them, but it was hard when they weren’t in school. They were itching to go out and play in the snow, which had accumulated to about three inches. She told them when Jack got home, they could go outdoors. She hoped he agreed.
His phone didn’t ring all morning. Then in the afternoon it rang twice in a row. She walked over to the answering machine and listened as his message played. “This is Dunlevy. Leave a message.” Beep. Crystal chuckled at his brevity. She had never owned an answering machine. What kind of message would she leave? ‘This is Crys, Jack and I can’t come to the phone right now.’ Stupid, stupid, stupid! She shook her head. Why did she do that to herself?
The caller hung up without leaving a message. She stood staring at the machine, wondering if there was any significance to that, when the phone rang again it startled her. “Hey Crys, it’s me, pick up, okay?”
Warmth filled her chest when she heard Jack’s voice. She lifted the phone and pushed the on button. “Hi,” she said softly.
“Well hello. How is your day going?”
“Quiet. You know, I was recently wishing for some down time to sit around and do nothing. But now that I’ve got it, I figured out, it’s really boring!”
He chuckled. “Sorry you’re so bored, but I don’t have a hell of a lot of sympathy for you. I’m still wishing for that down time to sit around and do nothing.”
“It would definitely be more fun if you were here,” she teased.
“God, would I ever love to explore the possibilities in that statement! For the time being, though, I’m stuck at my desk filling out a report. I figure I can cut out around four. Are the boys itching to get outside?”
“Oh yeah. I hope you’re going to let them. They really want to play in the snow.”
“Let them? Hell, I plan to join them.”
She chuckled. “I should have known. Okay, I’ll come up with something for dinner, and see you in a little while, then.”
“Sounds good. See you.”
She hung up and smiled at the thought of Jack playing in the snow with the boys. The image had her humming to herself as she chopped vegetables for a salad. She decided to make some pasta to go with it, but she could do that while they were playing outside. Crystal did not ‘do’ snow.
Jack and the boys definitely ‘did’ snow. She agreed to sit outside and watch for a while, until Jack started throwing snowballs at her. Then she had to retreat inside. She started making the pasta. She glanced out periodically and saw they'd used most of the snow in the backyard and rolled it into three balls for a snowman. She chuckled as they used rocks and leaves for the eyes, nose and mouth. Jack stuck a little stick out of the snowman’s mouth, so he looked like he was smoking.
“Very funny,” she called out the back door.
He grinned. “I think he looks great!”
She looked Jack up and down and replied, “He is great.”
He smiled at her again, and Crystal’s heart melted. She had it bad for him. Just a flash of that smile was all it took to prove it.
“We’re freezing.” Devon stomped his fee
t before he came inside.
“Leave your shoes by the door there,” she told them, and they all peeled out of their over-clothes.
“Ooh, you are cold.” She held her hands over Devon and Mark’s ears. “Even with your hats on, your ears are bright red. Go wash up in the bathroom, and I’ll give you some hot chocolate instead of milk with dinner, okay?”
“Yep,” Mark agreed, and led his brother to wash up.
“What about me?” Jack came up behind her.
“You want hot chocolate, too?” She turned around to face him.
“Not really, just something to warm my hands up.” He stuck his hands under her sweater and grabbed her bare stomach.
“Jack!” She jumped at his freezing touch. “Weren’t you wearing gloves?”
“Of course, but I took them off and stuck my hands in the snow so I could do this.” He pulled her close to him and slid his hands around to her back.
“They’re warmer now,” she confessed as she snuggled up to him.
“Too bad.” He nuzzled her neck. “I didn’t get the chance to put them where I really wanted.” He ran one hand up her stomach to the bottom edge of her bra.
Crystal stepped back and pushed his hands down. “Um, I don’t think so.” She smiled. “You’re heading into dangerous territory there, buster.”
“Dangerous, you say?” He grinned and took a step closer. “I’m intrigued.” His hands went back around her waist.
Crystal pushed him away again and said, “I mean that once you get started, I’m pretty sure I’m not going to want you to stop. And since you’re not willing to take things to the next level…”
He grabbed her wrists and pressed his body up against hers. “I may have reconsidered my position on that subject. I’ve been doing some thinking today.”
“Oh yeah?” she whispered, their faces just inches apart.
“Yeah. In fact, I haven’t thought about much else. Which is precisely the reason I didn’t want to go to bed with you.”
She smiled and looked deep into his eyes. Yesterday there had been reluctance and regret there. Today Crystal saw something different. Something that looked for all the world like pure, unadulterated desire. “So what made you change your mind?”
He touched one hand to her cheek. “I can’t stand the idea of you thinking I don’t want you. I do want you—like crazy—and I’m ready to prove it.” He kissed her lightly.
Crystal returned the gentle kiss and then pulled away. “What about your conflict of interest? You’re still working my case.”
He ran a hand through her hair. “I think I can handle it.” He leaned in and kissed her earlobe. “I want to do so much more to you than just ‘work your case’.”
“Oh yes…” she whimpered as she felt his tongue circle the inside of her ear. She was ready to lose herself in the moment when the boys returned to the kitchen.
Jack released her and stepped away quickly. “You said something about hot chocolate?” He smiled, looking so devilish and incredibly handsome Crystal almost swooned.
Instead she gathered her wits about her and replied, “Uh, yeah. So are you having any?” She went for the milk and cocoa.
“No, thank you.” He grinned and stood between her and the boys so she could regain her composure. He whispered, “To be continued…”
Crystal cleared her throat before she muttered, “Damn straight,” and they grinned at each other. “No cocoa?”
“No.” Jack reached up to a high cabinet and pulled a box out. “I believe I’ll warm up in another fashion.” He opened the box and removed a bottle of whisky, then got a small glass out and poured himself a shot.
Mark and Devon looked at the box and Mark said quietly, “Daddy said never to touch that box.”
“What box?” Jack sipped his drink and looked at the boys.
They stared at the box of Crown Royal.
Jack and Crystal exchanged glances. He asked carefully, “Your daddy had a box like this?”
They both nodded.
“Just like this one?” Jack asked again.
Mark nodded again. “I remember the crown on it. He said never to touch it, and he hid it in the bathroom.”
Jack looked at Crystal again. “Pretty expensive stuff for a man with no money.”
She frowned slightly. “I never saw him drink anything like that. It was always just beer, and usually cheap beer at that.” She shrugged.
Jack turned from the boys and asked her quietly, “Why would he hide it in the bathroom?”
“Sounds weird, I agree.”
“Did you ever see it?”
“Nope.” She turned back to the children. “Okay, fellas, the cocoa’s ready and so is dinner. Help me with this, would you please?” she asked Jack.
He knocked back the rest of his whisky and took the salad from Crystal’s hands. “Looks good. Hop to it here, kiddos. I’m hungry.”
After dinner Jack collected fingerprints from the three of them, then settled the kids in front of the TV. He told Crystal, “I need to bring in some stuff from the truck. Want to help me?”
“Sure. We’ll be right back, boys.” She followed Jack to the garage and watched him pull a box and a full black trash bag from the back of the Explorer. “What on earth?” she asked.
He handed her the box. “Playstation and games. I thought the boys might get bored if this drags on for a while yet. I didn’t want to bring it in earlier, because I knew they’d be excited to play it right away. I wanted to make sure they got outside for some fresh air.”
She leaned back against the workbench that lined the front wall of the garage and looked at him.
“What?” he asked.
She smiled. “For a man who never made time for children, you sure are a good daddy.”
He smiled back. “I never said I didn’t want any, only that it hasn’t happened for me yet. And the more time that passes…” He shrugged. “I may have to settle for being a good uncle.”
“Never settle, Jack. Go after what you want.”
He leaned against his truck. “Good advice, except when it comes to having children. That takes a little more planning and foresight.”
She smirked. “I didn’t exactly have a lot of time to plan, did I?”
He looked at her thoughtfully. “Do you want kids, Crys? I don’t think I ever asked.”
“Well, sure,” she said hesitantly. “If I could afford them, that is. But not in a place like that apartment I live in.” She glanced around. Definitely in a place like this.
Jack hitched the trash bag up and around in front of him. “Well, you’re not living there anymore. The damn doors were wide open again, and it was in even worse shape, if you can believe that. I think I got the last of your stuff. Some clothes, a few pictures that weren’t shredded, and some pots and pans. Your dishes were smashed.”
“Charming.”
Jack reached in the top of the bag and pulled out a small black box. “I did manage to rescue these.”
Crystal set the Playstation box on the workbench and walked over to him. “My grandmother’s earrings?”
He opened the box and nodded. He handed it to her, and she brushed tears from her eyes as she took it. “They’re beautiful,” he commented.
“My grandmother was beautiful,” she murmured. “These always make me think of her.”
Jack set the bag down and reached for Crystal. “Something’s wrong here. I’ve had you alone for ten minutes and I haven’t kissed you yet.”
She smiled up at him and let him wipe the rest of the tears off her face with his thumbs. He released the clip confining her hair, and fisted his hand in her long red tresses. His other hand slid down her back and pressed her body close to his. He brought her mouth to his gently. Their kiss was tender and light. The little moan in the back of Crystal’s throat had Jack’s body stiffening against hers. They pressed into each other as their mouths opened, deepening the kiss.
Her hands roamed over his back and neck lightly. He let go of
her hair and ran his hands down her back, cupping her butt and pressing her firmly against his erection. “I can’t get enough of you,” he murmured, his mouth nibbling and sucking her neck.
“God Jack,” she whimpered as his kisses heated her skin. “I feel the same way. I want to be with you.”
His hand slid under her sweater and cupped her breast, and she didn’t pull away this time. His finger flicked lightly over her nipple, hardening it. Jack groaned and his mouth dipped lower to taste the taut nub that was straining to be released from its confining bra.
There was a noise from the doorway and Devon called, “Crystal, are you out there?”
They startled and pulled apart, Crystal yanking her sweater down quickly. Jack rubbed his hands over his face. Crystal smiled ruefully at him. She turned to Devon. “I’m right here.”
“What are you doing out there?” he asked.
Jack cleared his throat. “Getting you a surprise. But first I had to smooch on Crystal a little bit.”
“A surprise?” Devon hopped up and down.
“Yep.” Jack touched Crystal’s cheek with one finger, and they both smiled. She adjusted her bra and reached for the box while Jack lifted the bag, which he set in the corner of the dining room for her to go through later.
Devon was still hopping up and down as he told his brother. “Jack brought us a surprise!”
“What is it?” Mark looked at them.
“Well,” Jack took the box from Crystal and set it on the sofa. “I thought you might like a Playstation, since there’s not a lot to do here.”
“Playstation?” Both boys hollered and hopped up and down.
Jack looked at Crystal. “I guess I thought right.”
She nodded and smiled as he unpacked the box and hooked the game up.
As the boys stood back watching, Devon confided to Mark, “Jack was smooching on Crystal.”