Jack Stratton: Jacks Are Wild Part 22

Jack turned back to look at the car Jack loved as they winched the Charger out of the ditch. The whole left side was smashed in and the rear window was broken. Jack stormed furiously around the car. The right rear quarter panel had a large dent, too.

"Did he bend her frame?"

The two tow truck drivers looked at each other and then back at Jack. They shrugged.

"Idiot," Jack muttered as he walked onto the road. "Stupid moron can't drive a freakin' lawn mower. d.a.m.n it."

Jack studied the tar as he paced back up the street.

"Tom. Come here." Jack held up his hand. "You have to note this in your log."

Tom walked over, nodding nervously.

"There's no black ice." Jack pointed along the road. "None. The road is bone dry-and look. LOOK." Jack walked back as he thrust both hands at the pavement. "He was doing doughnuts and lost control. That moron killed that car by s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g around. Did you write that down?"

Jack got right next to Tom as the policeman pulled out his notepad and began to frantically write.

The sound of broken gla.s.s. .h.i.tting the ground caused Jack to turn back to the tow truck. The Charger listed to the side as it came to rest on the flatbed.

Murphy killed her. I'm going to kill him.

The Boar's b.u.t.t Jack pa.s.sed their exit, and Replacement raised an eyebrow but kept her mouth closed. He glanced at the speedometer: 82.

He eased his foot up as his grip tightened on the steering wheel. Replacement s.h.i.+fted in her seat. The green exit sign was a blur, and Jack hit the brakes. The Impala flew down the off-ramp; Replacement slid into the door as she clung to the ceiling handle. The rear of the Impala slipped into the curve, and Jack pressed down on the gas a little and adjusted the wheel.

"I'm sorry about your police car." Replacement angled her head.

Jack slowed down as they turned onto the side road. "Thanks." He tapped the steering wheel. "I swear he beat on that car just to get to me."

He rolled into the parking lot of the Boar's b.u.t.t and checked for Kendra's car. It was parked near the staircase so he pulled up next to it.

"What're we doing here?" Replacement eyed him suspiciously.

"They have great pizza. Want a slice?" Jack smiled, but he could feel his shoulders tighten even more.

"We could've ordered delivery." Replacement's nose wrinkled.

They don't deliver whiskey.

"I need to ask someone a favor."

"They don't have a phone?"

"Some favors you want to ask in person." He forced himself not to slam the car door when he shut it. "Is there some reason for the third degree?"

Replacement tilted her head. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe it's because the last time you went to a bar, you beat a guy senseless and the police had to drive you back to the inn." She shut her door with a frown. "Or maybe it's because the warm fuzzies I'm getting heading into a place called the Boar's b.u.t.t."

He shook his head.

"Come on. What restaurant has 'b.u.t.t' in its name?" She stuck her tongue out.

As he climbed the steps that led to the outside deck of the bar, he made sure not to touch the railing. "Don't touch the railing," he cautioned.

"c.r.a.p," Replacement grumbled as she yanked her hand away from the metal. "That warning came a tad too late." She rubbed her hands together to wipe off the rusty orange color.

Jack didn't hide his smirk as he stopped and turned around. "Besides, the Boar's b.u.t.t isn't a restaurant."

He opened the door for an older couple who hurried out. Jack stepped out of their way. The man smiled and the woman mouthed, "thank you" as they pa.s.sed.

"It's not a restaurant?" Replacement asked.

"No. It's a strip club."

Replacement froze. She looked at the open door, and then to him and back again. "I'm not going in there," she blurted out, pointing at the door as she scrunched up her face. "Neither are you." She pulled the door closed.

Jack burst out laughing.

"What?" She stamped her foot. "Are you-" She spun around and looked at the older gray-haired couple getting in their car. "Funny. Ha-ha," she scoffed as she wiggled her head and then stomped inside.

"Sorry. It's just a bar, but it was too good a joke to pa.s.s up."

"Yeah, thanks. I love being the b.u.t.t of your jokes."

Jack debated about making another b.u.t.t joke but thought better of it.

As they walked through the door, Jack scanned the room. The entire restaurant was a large, open room with a kitchen at the back. There were five booths against the wall, and next to them were five large tables, each covered with a checkered red and white vinyl tablecloth. Sawyer Brown blared over the jukebox while the smell of pizza and beer filled the air. On the opposite wall was a long serving bar with a dozen stools. Jammed into the corners were two pinball machines and a jukebox.

"It's still a stupid name for a restaurant," Replacement muttered as she crossed her arms and scowled at him.

Calling the Boar's b.u.t.t a restaurant was a stretch. The only food it served was pizza and chicken wings. They had beer, hard liquor, and cheap wine-all the essentials for a local bar. Jack scanned the faces for Kendra, and finally spotted her in the corner talking with a young woman dressed in hospital scrubs. Kendra's friend was around five eight, a little on the chubby side, but, despite an exhausted appearance, wore a bright smile. Jack and Replacement walked across the painted wood floor to where they sat.

"Hey." Jack leaned in. Kendra spun around, saw who it was, and hugged him hard.

"I'm so sorry." Kendra kissed his cheek and then he felt her tense up.

Replacement must have her happy face on.

He let go of Kendra. Replacement stood next to him with her arms crossed, her brows knit together.

"Hi, I'm Jack. This is Alice. Alice, Kendra and Tina."

"Nice to meet you." Replacement shook their hands.

Tina's mouth opened as she exchanged a look with Kendra.

"Name tag." Jack smiled, and the woman chuckled.

"It's been one of those days." Tina unclipped the badge from her pocket and slipped it into her purse. "I work at the ER, and it can get a little crazy."

Everyone sat back down as the waitress walked up.

"How you all doin'? Can I get you some drinks?"

"Whiskey, neat, and an iced tea."

Replacement frowned at Jack, and so did the waitress.

"She's getting the iced tea, right?" The waitress stuck her thumb toward Replacement.

"My designated driver." Jack flashed a big toothy grin.

"Great." Replacement grabbed a sugar packet and tossed it into the air. "You get one."

"Were you on today?" Jack asked Kendra.

"Nope. I'm on tomorrow, though."

Jack eyed the two empty gla.s.ses in front of her.

"What time?"

"Not till six. Donald and I are doing the late night. Downtown."

"Just watching your back," Jack explained.

Kendra leaned into Jack. "You're usually watching my-hey." Kendra sat back as a sugar packet whizzed by her head.

"Oops, sorry." Replacement picked up a saltshaker as her lips pressed together in a thin smile.

Jack reached over to squeeze Replacement's knee and then gave her a quick dirty look.

"Do you know that officer who was in the car accident?" Tina anxiously stirred her drink. "They were just bringing him in when I was leaving."

"Jack, did you hear that Murphy...?" Kendra's words trailed off as she looked at Jack's grimace. "Guess you did."

"That moron killed the Charger. Do you think anything will happen to him?" Jack's hands went out. "No. Of course not."

Kendra leaned forward as she snapped, "But you get suspended for sending an email? Where's the fairness in that?"

d.a.m.n.

The waitress, setting the drinks down, interrupted the silence that had descended over the table. Jack picked up his gla.s.s and pounded the shot.

"What email?" Replacement dropped the saltshaker as she leaned closer to Kendra.

"I'll take another shot." Kendra swallowed before she looked up at the waitress. "Can I talk to you?" She grabbed Jack by the elbow.

"What email?" Replacement's hands went out.

"It's nothing. Why don't you order a pizza?" Jack called back as Kendra dragged him to the dance floor.

"Does she not know?" Kendra whispered as they walked over to the small square of tiles in front of the jukebox that served as the dance floor.

As Jack stopped, he shook his head. "She doesn't need to know."

"What's the deal with you two?" Kendra started to dance but Jack looked confused.

"I don't dance." He nervously chuckled.

The song changed to a slow country ballad, which prompted Kendra to lean her head forward slightly and look up at him through her long lashes.

"One dance?" She took his hand in hers as she put her other hand on his shoulder. "It can't hurt."

"It actually could," he muttered. Jack looked back at Replacement, but she was talking with Tina.

"Seriously, Jack. She's living with you, right?"

Jack nodded.

"Are you two...you know?"

Jack laughed.

"What?" She made a face.

"I never volunteer an answer when someone doesn't ask the question. Come on, we use that trick all the time." Jack lowered his voice. "Do you know why I pulled you over?" He exhaled. "When I ask that, I'm just fis.h.i.+ng to see what someone did wrong. I want the guy to say, 'I was speeding, I ran the red light, or I have a body in the trunk.'"

Kendra laughed. "Fine." She took a deep breath. "Are you two doing the wild thing?"

Jack shook his head. "No."

"Because I didn't know if it's a roommate type of thing or you're, like, hot and heavy, going at it."

"We're friends."

Kendra squeezed his hand. "Do you think Collins is going to press about the email?"

Jack nodded.

"What're you going to do?" she asked.

"I'll think about it tomorrow." Jack shrugged. "I need to ask you a favor."

Kendra's hands moved a little lower on his hips. "Really?"

"Seriously. I need you to keep an eye out for a group of guys. Either Italian or Asian."

Kendra smirked. "You didn't get that memo about racial profiling, did you?"