“What?” Jack shrugged.
The chief grabbed Jack’s wallet from Kenny. “Jack Stratton. You’re on the job? Darrington?”
“I was on the job. After this…bye-bye.” Jack waved.
“Is it true? You look just like him. Was Patty your mother?”
Jack nodded and hung his head.
“When Terry told me, I thought either he was crazy or you were but…wait here.” The chief walked back to Terry and helped him up. The men exchanged words and, even though Jack struggled to hear, he couldn’t. Terry’s face was swollen and bloody. Jack was surprised he was able to stand. After a few moments, the chief came back over and uncuffed Jack.
“Dennis Wilson. I was your dad’s best friend.”
Jack shook his hand but wobbled. “Jack Stratton.”
“What the hell are you doing, son?” Dennis put his arm around Jack’s shoulder and led him over to the passenger side of the cruiser.
“I’m drunk.”
“And stupid. Why the hell did you pick a fight with Terry?”
“Because I’m trying to fall asleep,” Jack muttered as he got in.
“Stay with me, Jack. Now, I got Terry to back off, but…” Dennis walked over to the driver’s side. He pulled the bubble light off the roof and stuck it back on the dashboard.
Jack tapped the light. “I have to get one for my car.”
“Good luck. They don’t make them anymore. That was my dad’s. Just like Starsky and Hutch.” He grinned.
Jack pressed the button, and lights flashed on and the siren filled the inside of the car. The chief fumbled with the switch and it shut off.
“Sit your ass back. You’ve caused enough problems tonight without making me hit a tree.”
“Sorry.” Jack snickered.
“Where are you staying?”
“Hope Falls Inn.”
“That’s close. You alone?”
“Noooo.” Jack laughed. “There’s a really pissed-off girl with me. She’s all mad. No. Now she’s all crying.”
“You must be a charmer. Why are you in Hope Falls?”
“I’m looking.”
“Looking?”
“For the guy who killed my father.”
Dennis leaned his head on the window for a moment. “Jack, we never found the guy. Why would you go after Terry?”
“’Cause I…I thought…he said something about…I felt like hitting him.” Jack shrugged.
Dennis laughed. It was a deep, big laugh. “Everyone wants to hit Terry sometimes, but you should know better than that.”
“I don’t know jack.” Jack’s head thumped against the window, and he laughed. “Get it? I don’t know me.”
“Why now?”
“Huh?”
“Why are you looking for your father’s killer now?”
Jack shrugged. “Replacement found the Internet,” he mumbled as he rubbed his face.
“What? Did you read about it or something?”
“In the newspaper. Cops have nothing. Cops did nothing.”
Dennis slammed the brakes on the car, and Jack caught himself on the dashboard, but his head thumped against the windshield.
“With all due respect to your father, shut up, or I’ll bust you in the head. My father worked that case. He worked it like it was his own son who got killed, so don’t you dare say that he didn’t do all he could.”
Jack leaned back against the window and turned his head to look at Dennis. The chief’s hand was clenched into a fist and his nostrils flared.
“Sorry. All I know is what I read in the stupid paper.”
“Well, you need the facts and not what you read in the funny papers. The paper here? Birds don’t even want to crap on it.”
“Facts? How do I get the facts? I tried to find out about her, but now she’s pissed.”
“Her who?”
“Replacement. She’s all…” Jack scrunched up his face and held up his hands like claws. “Roar. Angry. She cried. I hate that…”
“What the hell are you talking about, son?”
“Alice. I ran a background check…” Jack’s hands went up and out. “Now she’s totally nuts.”
“You ran a background check on the girl you’re here with? And you don’t get why she’s ticked off? Maybe you did fall a little far from the tree.”
“She wanted to go, but…I’m gonna do this. You said… Hey! You can get me stuff.” Jack tapped Dennis’s chest.
“If you want to know, I’ll bring you up to speed. I’ve never closed the case, but I’m not going to talk with you about it when you’re three sheets to the wind.” Dennis drove right up the sidewalk to the inn. “You have anything new to go on?”
Jack held onto the dashboard. “Nope. Nadda. Zilchie.”
Dennis put the cruiser in park and frowned at Jack. “Sleep it off. Don’t go anywhere. I’ll stop by tomorrow.”
Jack got out of the cruiser and held onto the door. “Thank you,” he slurred, before he stumbled up the steps.
The lobby was empty, and he had to hold onto the railing as the room moved. Even with one eye open, he couldn’t get things to straighten out. The room door squeaked as he staggered through. Replacement rushed up to him but she quickly made a face as though she smelled a skunk and stepped back.
“Have you been drinking?”
“Drinking? No. I drank. I drink…drunk.”
“Jack, I…can you stand right here?” She tapped her foot on the floor next to the bed. Jack walked in a curvy line to the spot and stopped. He heard her close the door.
“Look at me.”
Jack’s eyes went wide as he tried to pivot around, and his upper body swung in a wide arc. He grinned lopsidedly as he straightened up to face her; the backs of his legs almost touched the bed. Replacement slammed both hands into his chest, which knocked him onto the bed. Jack groaned from the impact and landed with his arms outstretched. He struggled to sit up, but she grabbed his foot first and peeled his shoe off.
“Shut up,” she snapped as she yanked the other shoe off, too.
“I’m an idiot.”
“Yes, you are.” She walked around to the top of the bed. “Sit up.”
Jack struggled to slide back while Replacement grabbed him and peeled his shirt off. She made a face as she tossed it in the corner.
Her hands on his belt made him gasp. “Hold—”
She smacked his hand away. “I said, shut up.” She yanked his belt open and undid the button on his pants. “Roll over.” Replacement groaned as she pulled him onto his stomach.
“Sorry,” he mumbled into the soft sheets that immediately warmed his face.
“I have a feeling you will be.” She peeled his jeans off.
Jack tried to say something else, but the bed was so soft and he was so tired that sleep finally found him.
How Did I Get Out Of My Clothes?
Jack opened one eye and groaned. His head hurt so badly he didn’t want to move. He tried to remember the details from the night before.
Stupid background check. The bar. Lots of drinks. Terry Bradford. Damn. Cops. Damn. Chief. I’m screwed.
Jack sat up and rubbed his face. His mouth tasted like mothballs.
I need a shower.
His stomach turned as he rolled off the bed. He looked down at his underwear and frowned.
How did I get out of my clothes?
After Dennis dropped him off, everything was a complete blank. Jack groaned as he rolled off the bed, swaying unsteadily when he stood. He held onto the furniture as he stumbled to the bathroom. Replacement sat up in the tub and rubbed her eyes.
“You’re awake. I hoped you’d sleep longer,” she said groggily.
“Did you sleep in the tub?”
She was surrounded with blankets and a pillow. “Not too well.” She frowned.
“I’m sorry, kid. I was an ass.” Jack held out his hand to help her out.
“Yes. Yes, you were. Look at your hand.”
“Ah…” Jack lo
oked down at his swollen hand, noting the dried blood he was sure didn’t belong to him.
“You didn’t.” She glared at him.
“I didn’t start it.”
“Who?”
“Bradford. He came into the bar and got into my face. Can I take a shower?”
“How is he?”
“Breathing.”
Her eyes widened. “Hospital?”
Jack shook his head. “The cops came.”
“Cops? Did you get arrested?”
“No.”
“You didn’t do anything to the cops?”
Jack winced at her raised voice. “No. It was Dennis Wilson. The guy Terry Martinez told us about. He’s the chief.”
“Did you ask him anything?”
“I don’t know.” Jack rubbed his face.
“What? Did he ask you anything?”
“I screwed up.” He leaned against the sink. “I can’t remember. I’m an idiot.”
“Yeah. You said that, and I still agree. Go soak your head.” She carried the bedding out.
Jack took his time in the shower. He waited until the last of the hot water ran out. He didn’t want to get out. Eventually the cold water won, and Jack retreated from his sanctuary. As the water stopped, he heard voices in the room. He quickly put on his pants and opened the bathroom door. Chief Wilson sat in the chair, and Replacement was on the edge of the bed. Dennis stood and stared at Jack.
“Damn, boy. You look just like your old man.” He stuck out his hand. “I was talking to your girl here, and she told me you ain’t been sleeping. You’ve been having nightmares and such, so you decided to go looking for your father.”
Jack resisted the urge to look at Replacement and nodded. “Sorry about last night.”
“You got nothing to be sorry for. I heard what he said about Patricia. That must have pissed you off.”
Jack nodded.
“I was Steve’s friend, Jack. If you need help, just ask. He’d have done anything for me. What can I do for you?”
Replacement cleared her throat. Jack held up a hand. “I’ve been flying blind. Do you know the case?”
Dennis shook his head. “I’m the chief. Of course I know the case. You got something new?”
Jack shrugged and gave a brief shake of his head. This time he looked at Replacement, who gave a small nod.
“No. It’s like she said. I’ve just been thinking about it. I decided to come and check into it.”
The chief sighed. “Well, I’m glad you kicked Terry’s ass then. I don’t know if you remember last night, but you said you had nothing to go on except what you read in the papers. I had my secretary copy the case files. They’re on the bureau.”
Jack looked at the pile of manila envelopes. It was eight inches high.
“Thank you.”
“Before I give them to you, I need you to be straight with me, and I’ll be straight with you. Before you do anything, talk to anyone, you talk to me. You find out anything, you talk to me. You don’t and…there will be consequences.”
“I get it.”
“Do you? I know your boss, Sheriff Collins. That guy is so by the book, I think he has it shoved—” He looked at Replacement and cleared his throat. “If you don’t listen, or if you beat the crap out of anyone else…you do, and then you’re up the creek with no paddle.”
“I got it.” Jack rubbed the sides of his head.
Will I listen? Probably not.
“You fish?”
“Huh?”
“You gotta take a step back. Get away for a couple of days. At least a day. Go get a fishing rod and take a break.”
Jack nodded and the chief exhaled.
“I know that you’re going to go out there, Buckmaster Pond. Your dad and I used to go there all the time. There’s a path that goes all the way around. A quarter of the way around, on the right, there are two rocks that look like boobs— sorry…breasts. Right there is the deep spot. Catfish big as your arm.”
“Got it.”
“Do you?” Dennis stood. “I have a lot to tell you, but let’s do this. Take your time and read over the files. Right before Buckmaster is Ron’s Bait, Tackle, and Sports. You can get some gear there. After you go fishing, we’ll talk.”
“Okay.”
Dennis waved to Replacement. “Nice to meet you. Jack, I have to tell you, your dad was a good man.”
“Thank you, again. I appreciate you smoothing things over with Terry.”
“Just go fishing.” He turned toward Replacement. “Keep an eye on him, sweetie.” He winked and walked out.
Jack leaned against the bed. Replacement jumped up and went to the folders.
“Do you want something to eat before we look these over?”
“I’m good.” Jack moved over to the desk and switched on the lamp.
“I’ll be right back.” She smiled and headed out the door.
Jack hesitated for a moment before he opened the top folder. It was the crime-scene photos. The first photo was of Steven lying on his back—his eyes were closed, bruises covered his face, his shirt and pants were soaked in blood.
Jack closed the file and put his head down on the stack of folders.
God… Please…
He closed his eyes and sat there. A few minutes later, Replacement came in with a tray of food.
“We’ll eat something, and then—Jack?” Replacement rushed over and knelt down beside his chair. “Oh, Jack…”
Jack sat up and ran his fingers through his hair. “Damn. I’ve seen three different pictures of my father. Three. Look at the third.” He flipped open the folder.
Replacement closed it. “Jack, I’m so sorry. Let’s just go.”
“No. You heard that guy. Buckmaster Pond. That’s where he was killed. I have to go there. Can you…help me?”
She touched the back of his head. She lifted the folders and moved the pile over to the bed behind him.
“Wait. If I’m going to look at the crime scene, I should see the photos.”
“You can see the photos tomorrow. We can always go back out there.” She rubbed his shoulder as she put down a folder. Jack took a deep breath, but before he could open it, Replacement stopped his hand.
“Let me, first.” She picked up the folder and leafed through it before she handed it back to him.
Inside was the official police report. It was photocopied, but it still looked old. Jack started to read the details and Replacement wrote them in the notebook. His head pounded, but he forced himself to sit up and keep going.
Three hours later, they had almost as little information as they’d had before. Jack paced the floor. It was Replacement who blew up first, though.
“That sucks. They got nothing. We got more from the stupid paper.”
“I don’t get it. They came up with no suspects. No enemies. No motives. Nothing. And nothing similar before or since.” He stopped pacing.
“I’m sorry, Jack.”
“Don’t be.” He cracked his neck. “We’ve ruled out a lot with the report. They couldn’t figure it out. We will. Ready?”
Race You
The Impala stopped in a gravel parking lot about a hundred yards from Buckmaster Pond. On the way there, they’d swung into the tackle shop and picked up a can of worms and a fishing rod, which Jack grabbed from the trunk.
“Are you feeling better?” Replacement stretched her arms out.
“Shower, food, and the aspirin helped.” Jack still winced as he closed the trunk. “Thank you for not giving me a guilt trip this morning.”
Replacement laughed. “That’s why you love me. I might talk a lot but I’m not a nagging shrew.” She smirked and shrugged. “You apologized. All’s forgiven, east from west.”
Jack watched her as she turned and headed for the pond.
Any other girl would have smothered me in my sleep last night.
A woodchip path led to a large clearing with picnic tables and barbeque stands. In the middle was a large fire pit surrounde
d by benches. “I want to start looking…” Jack let his voice trail off as they walked forward.
He could hear only their footsteps as they approached the pond. Jack looked up at the tall pine trees that ringed the clearing; their branches were perfectly still. The brush was cleared all the way down to the edge of the pond, and he could see across the still waters to the other shore. The pond itself was about two football fields wide and another two fields long. It was the most beautiful pond Jack had ever seen.
There was a marble rock, close to the middle of the clearing, with a square bronze plaque attached to it. It read: IN LOVING MEMORY OF STEVEN RITTER.
Replacement touched his arm. She looked around and her eyebrows knit together.
“It was different then. None of this was here.” She waved her hands around and shook her head. Jack looked at her, puzzled. She stared at the ground and quietly said, “I looked at the photos. You said we might need the info.”
“None of it’s the same?”
Replacement closed her eyes. Her hands slowly rose up, and her mouth moved. “There was a fire area, but it’s hard to remember where it was. I remember that rock.” She pointed to a large rock that stuck out over the water. “There were three or four logs around it.” She looked at him.
“Walk me through it. The report said Steven’s body was found near one of the logs.”
“I can’t tell the exact position, but, it would have been around here. Right near the sign. The rock with the sign wasn’t here then. There was a log, and he was on his back.”
“Was anything around him?”
She shook her head.
“Did you notice anything about his clothes?”
She shook her head again. “No.”
“Were there…stupid!”
Her eyes flew open, and she held her hands up. “I’m sorry. I’m trying to remember.”
“Not you.” Jack reached out and grabbed one of her wrists. “I didn’t mean to direct that at you. Me. I’m stupid. I should have been man enough to look.” He let go of her hand and rubbed the side of his face.
“This is a first look, right? You said we can come back.” Replacement moved closer to him.
Jack nodded. “They brought in dogs, but basically, they have nothing. No murder weapon. No suspects. No motive. His mother was at work. She said he’d come out here to fish. Come on.”
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