by Tracy Sharp
“Well, you don’t ever say Alexia’s name. We find that interesting,” I said.
She glared at me. Said nothing.
“Has Garrett ever mentioned leaving Alexia for you?” I asked her.
“That’s really none of your business. In fact, I really don’t have to answer any of these questions.”
“No, you don’t. But it looks mighty suspicious for you, Vicky,” I said.
“Garrett would find it hard to leave his new baby,” Jack said. “All that new bonding with his wife.”
“And if he did leave, he’d have to pay her spousal and child support for many, many years. They’d always be in the picture, wouldn’t they, Vicky? That would be quite a chunk of change.” I moved in closer to her, purposely crowding her. “It would never really be just you and him, would it?”
“I want you to leave now,” she said, looking as if she wanted to spit at me.
“Surely,” I said, and then swayed, my head suddenly fuzzy. The room spun.
Jack grabbed hold of me. “Wooooa, Kicks. You okay?”
I coughed and took several deep breaths. “Yeah, just this bug, whatever it is.”
He placed his hands under my arms and lifted me up.
I looked at Vicky. A strange light seemed to glow behind her eyes. A little smirk played on her lips. “I hope you feel better,” she said. But her tone lifted the small hairs at the back of my neck. I was certain then that if Jack hadn’t been with me, if I’d have decided to come see her alone, I might not make it out of this room. She was a predator. And I was weak right then.
“We’ll be back to speak with you again, if we need to,” I said.
“Keep on knocking but you can’t come in,” she said.
“Right,” I said. “Whatever.”
“Come on, Leah.” Jack had my arm. He was steering me toward her door. I didn’t recognize the hallway or the pictures hanging on the wall. One of Vicky and Garrett on some beach, Vicky sitting on his shoulders. I wondered who took the shot.
We left, but I was pissed. “That bitch did it, Jack. I know she did.”
“I know she did, too. But you’re sick right now, Leah. She’ll do you too, if you’re not careful. Back the hell off.”
I sighed. He was right, but I didn’t like it.
I just cause all sorts of chaos in the lives of those I love.
But the difference was, Jack really had my back. And he loved me, even as crazy-ass and halfcocked as I was.
And I was glad he had my back, because Vicky was itching to put a knife in it.
***
I didn’t want to go home right away, but wanted Pango with me, so Jack took me home to get Pango, then we headed back to the office. I lay curled up on my favorite fluffy chair snuggled in Jack’s worn leather jacket. He made me some cocoa, but after a few sips, my eyes grew heavy.
Jack found a bottle of cough medicine from last autumn when he’d caught a hellacious cold. There was still some left at the bottom. He managed to get two teaspoons out of it and fed them to me. Pango lay on the floor in front of the chair, and I was so warm and comfy that I drifted off and dozed.
For three hours, as it turned out. When I opened my eyes I felt much better. Groggy and still sick, but much better. Jack sat on his chair watching the old TV we had mounted to a corner of the room. The sound was down so low I didn’t know how he could hear it. But then, my ears were pretty much blocked.
“She lives,” Jack said, getting up off his chair and coming toward me. He leaned in and placed a large hand on my cheek, then bent and planted a soft kiss on my forehead.
“Um, thanks,” I said, confused.
He shrugged. “Mothers do that to check their kids for fever all the time.”
“Ah. Okay.” Some small part of me was a little disappointed at the legitimate medical purpose behind his kiss, but I hid it well.
“Besides, doesn’t it make you feel better?”
I chuckled. “Yes, it does. Thanks pal.”
“No problem.”
“So what’s next?” I asked him, stretching my arms above my head.
“I drive you home so you can sleep?”
“I’ve already slept. And I feel much better. I can’t lie around all day, Jack.”
He snickered and shook his head at me. “Stubborn.”
“I’m getting antsy. I have to do something productive.” I stood up from the chair pulled Jack’s jacket on. It was enormous on me, and smelled of comfort and warmth, of him. I stretched again, yawning. My throat was still a little sore, and I was still a bit stuffy, but other than that I felt okay.
I patted Pango’s head.
“She didn’t move the entire time you were sleeping,” Jack said.
“Aw, you’re a good girl, baby.” I crouched down and wrapped my arms around her. I looked up at Jack. “You must be chomping at the bit to do something. Have you been sitting in that chair watching over me for the last three hours?”
“Nah. Just the last fifteen minutes. You missed the drugs, booze and hookers. They just left.”
“Damn.”
“Maybe next time, Kicks.”
“Yeah. Maybe.” I sighed. “Jackass.”
He lifted his hands, tilted his head. “Yeah. And?”
“So what now?”
“Feel like another shot of disgust?”
“Sure. Why not? It’s been like, hours since my last one.”
“Come on then, tough girl.” He paused. “But can I have my jacket back? It’s a bit cold out there.”
“Yeah. I guess,” I took my time taking it off. I wanted to keep it wrapped around me, but didn’t want him to freeze. He helped me with my own leather jacket. It didn’t feel anywhere near as good.
***
Jack and I decided to go have a little chat with Mark Mandell. See if we could rattle his cage a little bit. Adrian was already on to us, so our cover was blown. If nothing else, it would be fun to see him squirm.
According to Hailey, he’d be at the new adoption agency location, helping set it up, for the next while. Adrian and Mark had bought a duplex. One part of the building would be the adoption agency. The other would be his new office space for his practice in Clifton Park. Seemed as if he might be running the Clifton Park business.
Hailey said that he’d even bought a house in a new area of town. She helpfully gave us the address.
Lucrative business. Baby selling.
Hailey was going home. “I want to start living my life, today. I’ve wasted too much time on Mark. I’m done with this whole thing. I’m not looking back.”
Who could blame her?
We drove by the Duplex. His Volvo wasn’t there.
“Guess we’ll swing by the new pad,” Jack said. “Give him our warmest regards and congratulate him on the new business and house.”
“Should we stop and get a bottle of champagne?” I said.
“Oh, I’m sure he has a fridge jam packed with champagne. He has to impress all those traumatized, young girls.”
“True that,” I said.
Mark Mandell’s house, a modern marvel of shimmering splendor, sat on a hill overlooking the water in Saratoga Springs.
His garage door was open, the wind blowing puffs of snow into the garage and up around the wheels of his Volvo. The engine wasn’t running. The tinted windows made it impossible to see if anyone was inside the car.
Jack frowned and looked at me. “Weird that the garage door is open like that, it’s been open for a while too. Look at the snow drifts inside it.”
“This isn’t good,” I said, climbing out of the truck.
We headed toward the garage. The wind blew up from behind us and seemed to push us toward Mark Mandell’s car.
Adrenaline raced through me. My breath quickened. Something wasn’t right.
Jack reached the car and tried peering in through the smoky opaque windows. He squinted. Shook his head. “I can’t see a thing.” He knocked on the window. Nothing.
I took a breath.
He glanced at me, and then reached for the door handle.
My spine stiffened. Shoulders squared. I planted my feet firmly about a foot apart from each other and reached for my .38. It felt comforting in my hand.
Jack pulled the door open and Mark Mandell fell sideways out onto the snowy floor of the garage, a gaping bullet hole in his forehead. He stared up at us, eyes wide, mouth open, as if he was about to ask a question. I wondered if he got any part of the question out before somebody put a hole in his head.
Jack looked down at Mark Mandell and sighed heavily. “Well, that sucks. Now we’ll never get to scare the bastard into telling us what we need to know.”
I sighed. “Fuck.” Whoever killed him was long gone. I turned toward the open door of the garage and looked out at the snowy driveway. Felt chilled down to the bone. This was the case that just kept getting weirder. I turned back toward Jack and shrugged. “There’s still Adrian.”
“Yeah. I guess she’ll have to do.”
“So who do you think shot him?”
“Somebody he pissed off, clearly.”
I barked out a laugh. “That narrows it down.”
He turned his green gaze to mine. “We’ll narrow it down, Kicks. We always do.”
***
We’d barely made it back to the truck before Jack’s cell rang. He dug it out of his jacket. Looked down at the number. “It’s Lucas.”
A slight pang hit me in the gut. He was calling Jack instead of me. It stung, but it was for the best. We needed some distance. I didn’t really want to hear his voice, because I needed to so badly.
“Lucas,” Jack said. His tone was frosty. Lucas wouldn’t notice, but I knew all of Jack’s tones and fluctuations. He wasn’t pleased with Lucas. But we needed him, so he’d be civil.
He listened, his eyes widening. “You’re kidding me.” His voice was almost a whisper, shock radiating through it.
He ended the call, staring at me. “Jamie Holland just shot up Adrian’s new adoption agency.”
I gaped at him. “What?”
“Adrian’s dead,” he breathed.
***
We couldn’t get near the agency. Two people had been shot and killed at the agency. Adrian Mandell and the receptionist. She’d worked for them for fifteen years. I could see how Jamie might’ve held her at least partially responsible for the death of her son.
Lucas was speaking with one of the police officers on the scene. When he saw us approach, he lowered his head and made his way toward us.
“Not pretty,” he said, glancing up at me.
“Gee, thanks. And after I’ve been so sweet to you,” I said.
He offered a small smile then looked away from me.
“Right,” I said, clearing my throat. “Clearly. Jamie held a bit of a grudge, it seems.”
“Jamie says she didn’t kill Mark.”
“What?” Jack said.
I frowned.
Jack and I looked at each other.
We had a pretty good idea who did kill Mark.
We also knew that she’d be long gone by now.
Hailey Jacobs.
***
“Kicks, you’re not looking so hot.”
“I’m not feeling so hot,” I said, watching Lucas walk away, his long coat billowing around his legs. Beautiful legs.
I turned to go but stopped, bending down, hands on my thighs. I tried to catch my breath.
“I’m taking you to the urgent care, Leah. Right now.”
“No—” the rest of my response was cut off by my stomach pushing its contents out onto the snow.
“Ah, Jesus, Leah,” Jack said, hand on my back. “Can you stop being stubborn for just enough time to get you better? Please?”
The urgency in his voice made me reconsider. I nodded. Wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and stood. “Okay. You win.”
We were lucky. There were only two people ahead of us. I was in and out of there with a prescription for antibiotics in no time. The jolly Swedish doctor examined me and then looked into my eyes, shaking his head.
“You’re very sick, you know this?”
“I know this,” I breathed. My head swam.
“You should’ve come sooner,” he said, scribbling on a pad.
“I know. My friend made me.”
“You’ve got a good friend there. Good friends are hard to find.”
“You got that right,” I said.
“Okay. Antibiotics for the infection,” he said, handing the small square of paper to Jack. “Ears, throat and chest. Take her straight home after the drug store.” He turned to me. “You need to go straight home and go to bed. Stay in bed for a few days. Okay? You need rest.”
I nodded. Saluted him.
Jumped off the table and swayed. “Whoa.”
“Your equilibrium is off because of this bad ear infection. That’s why you need to stay in bed. Or on the couch. No running around or dancing. Okay?”
“No dancing. I can promise you that,” I said.
“I might have to tie her down to keep her still,” Jack said.
I cracked a grin at him. Waggled my eyebrows.
He blushed before he chuckled and shook his head. “You wish, Kicks. Come on, let’s get you home.”
***
We stopped at a drugstore on the way home. Jack made me stay in the truck. I didn’t argue. He locked the doors and kept the radio running for me. With half-closed eyes, I watched people going in and coming out of the drugstore. Felt as if I were floating. Closed my eyes.
I was vaguely aware of Jack slamming the truck door. I dozed all the way home, and was half-delirious with fever by the time we got there. I woke up when the truck stopped in my drive-way. He got out of the truck and came around to the passenger side, helping me out. He kept one arm around me as we made our way to the house.
“I’m fine,” I said, then coughed, stumbling and almost falling into the snow. He caught me, the strength of his huge arms not letting me go far.
“Yeah. You’re in fine form, Kicks. Just shut up and let me help you. And I’m staying the night. Don’t even think of arguing with me. You know better.”
I sighed. “You’re so friggin’ stubborn.”
He chuckled. “Yeah. I’m the stubborn one.”
We made it to the house and I dug my house keys out of my zippered jacket pocket. I peered at the keyhole and stabbed at it like a drunk, missing it every time. He took the key from me and unlocked and opened the door.
I hated feeling so weak. Hated. It. I can take almost anything over feeling powerless.
Jack helped me into the house and took my jacket off. He sat me down on one of the kitchen chairs and pulled my boots off for me.
He looked up at me from where he crouched in front of me, shaking his head, but a corner of his mouth was lifted in a grin. “You’re too much, Leah.”
“For every man except you Jack. Why can’t they all be like you? Or how about just one more like you? One I can call my very own. I will hug him and squeeze him, and call him George. . .”
He patted me on the knee. “Okay, Kicks. You’ve ceased making sense. Time to get you into bed.”
“Why are all the boys trying to get me into bed?” My voice sounded tinny in my own ears. “Oh wait…that’s me trying to get them into bed. Never mind.”
“Come on.” He placed an arm around me and one under my knees, lifting me off my feet.
“Ooooh,” I said. But I couldn’t finish the thought. I felt a smile on my face and heard myself giggle. “Nice,” was all I could manage.
“Up to bed with you,” He said, heading down the hall.
“No,” I said. “Couch.”
He stopped, his green eyes scrutinizing my face. “Couch?”
“Yes please.”
He lifted his eyebrows a little and headed for the couch. He gently lowered me onto it and covered me with the quilt that I had draped over the back of it. “Do you have anything here for colds or fever?”
“Medi
cine cabinet. Lower bathroom.” I looked up at him through half-closed eyes and grinned. “You’re pretty, Jack.”
He tilted his head back and laughed. I loved the sound of that laugh. It made my heart feel light, and went right through me. “Thanks, Kicks. You’re pretty too. I think you know that.”
“Ah, I clean up okay.” I wasn’t sure if I’d said it out loud or not.
“I’ll be right back.” He turned and headed to the bathroom.
He came back with an empty pill bottle, an empty box of cold pills, and an empty cough syrup bottle. “Jesus, Leah. Don’t you ever throw the empty ones out? How are you going to know when you run out?”
“When I shake them and nothing comes out.”
“Right.” He sighed. “I’m running out to the drugstore again to get you some stuff. Do not move, Leah. Do you hear me?”
“I hear you,” I murmured. “I like your voice, Jack.”
I heard him mutter under his breath. It sounded like, “Christ. Now that she’s sick she wants me. Perfect.”
I wanted him when I wasn’t sick, too. I just had never let him know that.
***
I opened my eyes to feel Pango licking my hand.
“Hey gorgeous, how you doing’,” I said, my voice sounding like sandpaper and my throat raw. I grimaced, looking for a glass of water. There was none. Shit, I’d have to get up.
Pango gave a small whine. She needed to go out. Her eyes told me that she was sorry to disturb me but this was a situation she couldn’t help. “S’okay, baby. Don’t worry about it. Happens to the best of us.”
I slowly pushed myself up and swung my legs off the couch and onto the floor. I swayed for a moment, and then continued walking when I felt steadier on my feet. “This really sucks, girl. You know that?”
I made it to the kitchen and opened the door for her. Cold air blasted in, hitting me in the face. For a moment I couldn’t breathe. She trotted out toward the woods. I stood at the screen door for a moment, leaning my forehead against the cool glass. I closed my eyes. I couldn’t remember feeling so weak and tired.
“Come on, girl,” I murmured, not knowing how much longer I could stay there, leaning against the screen door.