Girl Jacked (24 page)

Paul’s story matched Dillon’s. Jack shook his head, pointed to the door, and waited for the final kid.

After a couple of minutes, Chad and Milton appeared. They were helping a guy in obvious pain through the door.

“Is this Ken?” Jack asked.

“Yes.”

“Sit him down,” Jack ordered. “Everyone else clear out.”

Jack looked down at his license.

Ken Fenton, twenty-one.

“What is your version of the events, Ken?”

“I met that crazy bit–” the look on Jack’s face made him stop. “I was having a drink with Alexis, and she freaked out and smashed me in the face!”

“Was this before or after you put drugs in her drink?” Jack’s voice was as cold as his darkening eyes, and his hands turned into fists.

“What? I… I don’t know…”

Jack put his face inches away from Ken’s and glared. Jack didn’t move. He didn’t say a word. His eyes smoldered.

“It was Ecstasy. I asked. I asked her!” Ken leaned away from Jack.

“You asked her?”

“I swear. I did. I told her it was in there.”

“Why?”

“She wanted it.”

“What did you say? You’re saying she wanted you to drug her?” Jack grabbed the arms of the chair and shook it hard again. Ken’s face contorted in pain.

“Crystal,” he whined. “She kept asking for meth. I didn’t know where to get any but she was real insistent. I asked around and this guy had some Ecstasy. I wanted to impress her. Before she went to the bathroom she asked me if I could find some drugs. She said she wanted some. I just wanted to surprise her, so I put it in her drink. She must have seen me do it and misunderstood. I just wanted her to have fun and relax.” Ken was on the verge of breaking down now.

Jack just glowered.

“Who was it that sold you the ecstasy?”

“I don’t really know him. I have seen him around campus. I think his name is Lennie.”

“Lennie Jacobsen?”

He shrugged his shoulders.

“When did you see him before?”

“Just around the school. He was in one of my computer classes. He’s a little weird.”

“What do you mean weird?”

“I mean that he doesn’t look like a typical student. He’s goth and has long black hair.”

“Can you point him out to me?” Jack gestured towards the door.

“Yeah, but I am pretty sure he is gone. When I was outside and heard everyone start moaning that the cops were here I saw him hop in a car and take off.”

“What did the car looked like?”

“It was silver.”

“Do you know what kind of car it was?”

“No, no clue.”

“What was Lennie wearing?”

“A black hooded sweatshirt and black jeans.” Ken shifted in the chair.

“When did you get hit in the groin?” Jack asked as he tried to think of how to control this.

“After she hit Paul with the bottle she walked over and kept kicking me.”

“Alright, go sit back out there in the corner.”

Jack walked back out and waved Replacement over.

 “Listen to me, okay?” Jack hoped his tone conveyed the gravity of the situation. “Ken in there said that you asked him to score meth for you. True or not true?”

She gave him a ‘duh’ look; “I’m trying to find out how Michelle got meth in her system. I figure someone must have slipped it to her. If I can find out who–”

“So that’s a true.”

“Yes, but–”

Jack held up a hand. “Listen. If I take him in, it will come out that you asked him and the other boys for drugs and it going to turn into a he said/she said. Then your whole impersonating someone else is going to come out.”

And I have to waste time on this when I have a solid lead to hunt down.

“But–”

“I think this whole thing was one misunderstanding after another so do you really want me to arrest him?”

She scrunched up her face. “I guess not if it blows my cover. And I doubt he will ever do it again.” She grinned.

 
“Your cover!?! Get that smile off your face. You beat the snot out of three guys and broke Milton’s nose… I have to figure out how not to arrest
you.”

Jack walked her back out and looked at the three students and two campus policemen.

“Don’t say anything.” Jack whispered as he brought her back. “But cry…” she started to wail, so Jack quickly added, “a little. Cry a little.”

Jack sat Replacement at a table in the middle of the room. He motioned to Milton and Chad to bring the boys over to the table.

“Milton, Chad… I’m going to try to contain this for your sake.”

“Ours?” They both looked at each other.

“Right now I have an underage girl in
your
college bar accusing one of your students of providing her with illegal drugs and she is alleging that you manhandled her and did not disclose you were law enforcement.” He raised an eyebrow toward Milton.

Milton looked away muttering.

“But if it was all just a misunderstanding and no illegal drugs were visible…” he glanced around the room, “then I would be fine considering this just a mix-up. Unless of course you want me to file a report that she…” He pointed over to Replacement who was still pretending to cry. “…gave you a bloody nose.” He looked again at Milton. “And beat up the three of you.” He glanced at the boys now. “We would then have to close the bar down indefinitely and then we will have to go through every drink here to determine if there were…” He looked at Ken. “…any drugs on the premises. And that would lead to other charges.”

The boys and Milton’s face turned different shades of crimson.

“So I believe this situation was due to ‘misinterpretation’ and may best be handled as a White Rocks matter.” Jack exhaled as everyone relaxed at his words. “That is if no one requires medical attention?”

All of the students shook their heads and Chad chuckled under his breath. “We’ll take it from here Officer. Everyone is fine. It was a misunderstanding that will be addressed.” Chad saluted Jack until Milton yanked the young man’s hand down.

“Don’t salute him, you twit!” Milton snarled. “Yeah, we got it.”

Everyone started moving towards the door.

Jack walked out to the car shaking his head. He needed to speak with Replacement, but it would have to wait. “Undercover?” he muttered to himself as his anger rose with each step.

What was she thinking?

As he started the car, the image of her in the coffin flashed in his head.

Wait until she gets home.

Jack spent the next couple of hours vainly driving around the campus looking for the silver car and Lennie Jacobsen.

Jack paced the floor and glanced at the clock. 12:40 am.

“Why isn’t she home?” he muttered.

He dropped to the ground and did another set of fifty push-ups. He leapt up and went to the window. He yanked the curtain back and glared into the darkness.

He grabbed his jacket and headed for the door.

Stupid. Stupid.

When he reached in his jacket pocket, he stopped. He jammed his hand in the other pocket. With a snarl, he ripped his jacket off and beat it on the floor.

She has my car! I had to get a ride home from Donald!

Keys jingled in the lock and he froze. The door slowly opened and Replacement peered in.

“Get in… NOW!” Jack’s voice rumbled.

“I’m sorry.” She stopped halfway in and held onto the doorknob.

“Get in!”

“You’re mad.” She came in with her head down and shut the door.

“No. I am way beyond mad. They need to come up with a new word for just how angry I am.” He stalked forward.

“I had to.” Her head snapped up and she glared at him.

It was exactly the wrong way to handle Jack at that moment.

He exploded forward and his hand slammed into the doorframe to stop himself. Wood cracked.

“Three people are dead. Three! You are hunting a monster yet you don’t have a clue! Are you that stupid? Do you have any idea what Chandler would say to you?”

She burst into tears and shook her head. “No,” she whispered and huddled against the door.

“He’d tell you that you were out of your mind for what you just did! If it was another cop, they would have arrested you. You assaulted a police officer. You solicited drugs. Do you know what Chandler would SAY? He’d say just what I’m saying!”

Jack was towering over her and she slid down the wall and pulled her legs up. She was sobbing.

“No.” She shook her head. “Chandler never yelled at me.”

Jack turned and took four steps away. “Don’t. Don’t turn this around on me. I’m not Chandler. He would… He’d handle it… I don’t know what he would have done!” He stormed over to the bedroom. “Don’t leave the apartment EVER AGAIN!” he yelled and slammed the door.

After tossing and turning for two hours, Jack opened the bedroom door. Replacement was asleep on the couch, curled up in a ball. The comforter had fallen off onto the floor. He picked it up and glared down at her. He fanned the comforter out and gently laid it over her.

Replacement’s eyes fluttered open and she sat up.

“Jack! I am so sorry.” She gathered the comforter tightly around her.

“I… I shouldn’t have yelled. You’re right. Chandler wouldn’t have yelled. I was… upset. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

She nodded.

“We need to get one thing straight.”

“I can’t leave the apartment.” She bowed her head.

“No. That was stupid to say. But this whole ‘undercover’ thing you were doing is done.”

Replacement took a large breath.

Jack held up his hand. “I’m not arguing.” He gave her a look.

She started to speak again.

“Wait.” He walked over and picked up his notebook and pen. “Start at the very beginning. How did you get into the college?”

She tossed the comforter off and jumped up. “Getting into WRE was sort of easy. I already had an alias. Alexis Holmes. I’ve had it for like two years.”

“How did you get it?” Jack paused and sat down in the chair at the computer.

“The department of youth service lady wrote all her login information on a folder she left at the house. I figured I would just make someone up to see if I could. I was just messing around. I figured I’d just keep it if I ever needed it. Well… I needed it.”

“How did you get into the college?”

“When we went to the campus security office and you were talking to Neil Waters, I saw May’s login. She had full access to the college computer system.”

“You didn’t tell me?” Jack was too surprised to be angry.

“I didn’t know if I could get in to either of the systems until after... After you were in the hospital.” She started to move forward and stopped. “I made a push after that. I got into the college’s system, so I just made myself a student. I don’t think I could take it to graduating or anything but I got into classes and passes and all that stuff.”

He looked up. “Why did you leave me out?”

“Jack… You’ll lose everything. You told me about what your boss said.”

“I won’t lose my job. I don’t care if I did.” Jack grabbed her by the shoulders. “Did you think about you? What could happen to you? I have training. I have a gun! What do you have?”

“Nothing to lose.”

They both stared at each other for a minute before Jack continued. “If you ever pull something like that on me again …” his anger began to rise as he struggled for the words.

“I won’t,” she whispered. “I promise.”

He hugged her.

Stupid kid. She could have gotten herself killed. No. Not stupid, Jack. Fearless. Like her brother.

He held her for a moment and let himself relax. Replacement’s hand moving at the small of his back felt good. He closed his eyes and embraced her.

She feels good.

She made the slightest sound. It was a faint, soft moan. Jack sat bolt upright and held her at arm’s length.

“Did you find out anything?” He picked up his notebook as a barrier between them and scooted back in his seat.

“Not too much.” She scrunched up her face.

“You getting into the college was brilliant. Stupid but brilliant.”

Her smile vanished. “That’s dumb. How can I be stupid and brilliant?”

“Not you… what you did. It wasn’t stupid but was dangerous. Three people are dead. This isn’t a game.”

She nodded.

“Have you seen any drug use around campus?”

Her hands balled into fists. “Besides that spineless–”

“Besides him.” Jack nodded.

“Not really. I haven’t been out much. Besides the bar, I had a couple of study dates…” her eyes widened, and she looked up at him like she was caught doing something wrong.

Jack cocked an eyebrow. “Do you know a Lennie Jacobsen?”

“No, never heard of him.”

“He was at the bar tonight. He was dressed in goth. He has long hair and was wearing a black sweatshirt with black jeans.”

“No, I never noticed him. Wait a minute! A goth? I think I’ve seen a guy with dyed long black hair hanging around the school.”

Jack pulled out the mug shot photo.

“Yeah, that’s him. I have seen him in the computer lab.”

“The lab on the second floor of the Psyche Center where Michelle worked?”

“No, the one at the student union.”

“Did you see him with anybody?”

“No, he was just sitting there by himself.”

Jack stared down at the picture with a look of hatred.

“Is there anything else you can remember?” he said as he gritted his teeth.

Replacement paused for a moment, and then shook her head. “Do you think he was involved?”

Jack flung up his hands. “I don’t know. After what just happened at the PIT, Lennie is probably going to go into hiding.”

“Sorry.”

Jack continued with his semi-interrogation. “Have you had any classes with Dr. Hahn?”

“I think he’s boring. He was great in the class, but you get him in the lab? He’s cold. Like Spock or a robot. And he’s super focused. Everyone has to be quiet. No sound. Nothing.” She rolled her eyes, and Jack suppressed a smile.

She must have had quite a time trying to be silent.

“Have you talked to him one on one?” Jack was taking notes and trying to reference his old ones, so pages of his notebook were flying back and forth.

“Nope.”

“What about Dr. Franklin?”

“I don’t have him for class but I have seen him. Rumor is that he hits on the girls. I heard he’s married but he takes his wedding ring off before class. Nice.”

“Have you talked with him?”

“No. I’ve only seen him. People say he’s a nutcase.”

“How so?”

“I heard a guy say that he can be charming one minute and then flip out the next. A girl in my Psyche class said he’s a few fries short of a happy meal.”

“Are you out at the Center a lot?”

“All the time! If we’re not in a class there, we’re in the lab. It’s a super pain.”

“Are you ever there late?”

“No. We have to go by seven, but we start early. We have to do a mountain of homework. One of the grad students has been helping me.”

“Who?”

“Just a guy. His name’s Brendan.”

“Phillips?” Jack’s eyes narrowed.

“Yeah … How’d you know his last name?” She stopped pacing and looked at him.

Jack didn’t look back.

“He only helped me study.”

“I met him when I went to go on the tour. He’s the pretty boy that showed me around. How did he seem? What read did you get?”

She shrugged. “He seems nice.”

“Hold up. He’s Dr. Hahn’s assistant?”

“Yes. He’s a grad student.”

“He had a blue security card. Does that get him into the computer room?”

“I don’t know. I knew he was Hahn’s assistant, that’s why I picked him! He has access to the other parts of the building. He likes to show off as if he’s a bigwig. I’m working on getting closer to him.”

Jack’s eyes narrowed. “Was… I meant you WERE. You’re not anymore.”

Replacement’s grip tightened on the comforter.

“What about Missy Lorton, Michelle’s roommate? I thought she wasn’t telling the whole story. Did you find anything out about her?”

“Fat thief?” Replacement spat. “She took some of Michelle’s stuff. A box of it. I think that’s what she was hiding.”

“How do you know?” Jack stopped writing.

Replacement rolled her eyes. “Come on. I’m undercover. I can do that, right?”

Jack sat back. “Do what?”

Replacement’s shoulders popped up and down. “I peeked.”

“Peeked? Did you… Did you break into her apartment?”

“It isn’t breaking in since I’m undercover.”

“You’re not ‘undercover.’ You have no right… Even undercover…” He could feel the blood rushing to his face.

“I didn’t take anything so I wouldn’t contaminate the crime scene.” Replacement gave Jack her ‘that explains it all and everything is okay’ look.

“You made it a crime scene! It’s called breaking and entering!”

“She made it first. It’s called fat bitch stealing.”

“Stop. Okay?” Jack rubbed the sides of his head before continuing. “You didn’t take Michelle’s box, then?”

“No.”

“Did you see what was in it?”

“No, it’s just a big box of Michelle’s stuff. Tubby must have wanted it. Can I get it back now?” Her lip trembled and she looked down at her hands. “It’s all…It’s all I have left of Michelle.”

Jack melted. “I’ll get it. I promise.” He put his hand on her shoulder.

She leaned her head onto his hand and closed her eyes.

“Thank you,” she whispered and then her eyes snapped open. “Nothing I’m doing is going to get you in trouble… right?” Her eyes rounded in concern.

“Trouble?” Jack stuck his lower lip out and shook his head. “Nah… You’ve pretty much blown up my life. What more trouble could you cause?”

“Are you serious?” She grabbed his arms. “Don’t say that! You’re good, right?”

“I’m good. It’s not your fault. Look. I’ve gone at this the wrong way. From the beginning I should have gone to Collins but I didn’t.” Replacement started to speak and Jack held up both his hands. “Joe Davenport is… Damn it! I forgot to try him again. I wonder why he didn’t–” He looked down at his phone; two missed calls. “My phone rang and I didn’t hear it? Stupid thing. Smartphone my ass.”

“Let me see.” She took the phone from him. The sound of a dog barked out. “It’s working.”

“What the hell was that?”

“Your new ringtone. I thought it fit you better than that Old Grandpa one you had.”

“You messed with my phone?”

“No.” She shook her head. “I just updated it into the
21
st
century
.” She waved the phone over her head. “If you can’t even change your ringtone how am I going to start getting you to use a computer instead of a notebook?”

“You won’t! Don’t change my phone and DON’T try and change me.”

“Fine.”

Jack paused and rubbed his eyes with his thumb and index finger. “I’m going to Joe and give him everything.”

“But you’ll lose your job.” Replacement’s shoulders slumped.