JACK KNIFED (10 page)

The Fiduciary

They parked outside the small, modern, two-story office building. The parking lot was three-quarters filled with over a dozen cars. All of them looked as though they’d just come off the dealership lot. Jack scanned the large brass mailbox next to the entrance. A number of names were etched into the plates.

Different companies must rent the space.

“Two o six. Second floor,” he snapped as he held open the door.

Replacement turned, looked up at him, and flashed a big smile. “How about letting me do the talking on this one?”

“I said keep me in check, not on a leash.” Jack looked down at her. “I’ll do the talking. Just make sure I don’t flip out.”

“How am I going to do that? Can I have your gun?” She grinned.

“No.” He winced. “Is that your plan to stop me? Shoot me?”

“I wasn’t thinking that, but since you suggested it…” Her hands went out. “I just don’t want
you
shooting anyone.”

“I’m not going to shoot anyone.”

I wouldn’t use a gun to kill him, anyway.

The building had a simple layout with offices at the center. The marble floor and the gleaming metal and glass accents indicated the tenants must pay a lot for rent. As they walked into the building, Jack went cold.

What will I do when I find the guy who killed my father?

He forced himself to keep moving and took the stairs two at a time. The staircase opened into another floor of offices. They continued to walk until they saw a large oak door with a bronze sign: Terry Martin—Fiduciary Advisor.

Replacement pointed at “Fiduciary” and giggled.

“This is the guy who looked like a weasel, right?” Jack spat.

“That might not be the best way to start, check?” Replacement lifted an eyebrow.

Jack nodded and opened the door. An elegant oak desk was near the far wall, with a closed oak door to the right of it. Four leather chairs stood against the left wall. A glass coffee table with a neat stack of magazines was just in front of them. Two chairs were in the corner on the right with a little table and more magazines between those. The room was empty.

Jack and Replacement exchanged a shrug as they walked in. Jack moved over to the secretary’s desk. The computer was on, and there was a cup of coffee next to the keyboard. Replacement cleared her throat as she nodded her head at the door. She raised her eyebrows twice and grinned. Jack walked over to the door so that he could listen. He could hear the sound of lovemaking behind the door.

Jack looked back at Replacement, and she shrugged. “Maybe we should go,” she whispered.

Jack turned and rapped hard on the door.

“Or not.” Replacement rolled her eyes as she moved back.

A few moments later, the door opened and a young, disheveled, blond-haired secretary stood wide-eyed before them, smiling awkwardly.

“Please come in.” Red-faced, she darted out the door and to her desk.

As Jack walked through the door, a tall, middle-aged man adjusted his clothes as he moved behind his desk. Terry Martin had a large nose, pockmarked face, and dyed hair that he combed over.

“Do you have an appointment?” he snapped as he sat down and continued to adjust his clothes.

“My name is Jack Stratton.” Jack strode over to the two chairs in front of the desk and sat down. He didn’t offer his hand. “I just have a few questions for you.”

“Are you looking for financial advice?”

“Did you know Patricia Cole?” Jack asked over the man’s question.

“Subtle,” Replacement whispered as she slid into the seat next to him.

“What?” Terry swiveled in his high-back chair. “Cole? I knew a Patty Cole, but that was in high school.”

“That’s who I’m asking about. How did you know Patty?”

“What? Who are you?”

“Did you know Patty? Did you date her?”

“Date her? You didn’t ‘date’ Patty. We, uh…I was—did my wife send you?” Terry smacked his hand down on the desk and leaned forward. “That hag. She can’t get anything on me, so she goes back to some slut I screwed in high school?”

Jack’s knuckles were white on the chair, and his hands shook. The muscles in his jaw flexed, and his lips curled into a snarl. Replacement shifted in her seat. Terry jumped up, and so did Replacement. She held up her hands.

“We don’t know your wife—” Replacement began, but Terry stormed around the desk and cut her off by sticking his finger in her face.

“Shut up, tramp, and—”

Jack flew out of his chair, and both his palms struck Terry in the chest. Jack’s momentum sent the man off his feet and up into the air. The blow would have knocked him back ten feet if the wall hadn’t been only four feet away. He hit the wall a foot in the air, and the drywall dented. As he slumped to the floor, the pictures that had been on the wall crashed down around him. Terry’s eyes rolled around in his head, but he remained conscious.

“Jack,” Replacement yelled.

“You piece of garbage.” Jack grabbed his shirt and dragged him forward. “I asked you a damn question. Did you date Patty?”

“Jack.” Replacement grabbed Jack’s arm.

“Terry!” The office door flew open, and the secretary rushed into the room. “Leave him alone.” She rushed Jack, but Replacement stepped between them.

“Your boyfriend fell. Back up, or you might, too.” Replacement’s feet were wide and her shoulders were square.

“I didn’t date her,” Terry pleaded from the ground. “I banged her, but I didn’t—”

Jack shook him. “What about Steven? Steven Ritter?”

“Steve? Steve?” Terry flopped back and forth. “He got killed. At the pond.”

“Did you know him?” Jack dragged him forward, and both girls moved out of the way.

“He was in some of my classes. I knew him since we were kids. Why?”

Jack dragged him back up to a sitting position. “Because Patricia said you knew something about it.”

“Me? About Steve getting killed? I don’t know anything. Did she say I had something to do with it? That’s crazy. It’s a lie. That stupid slut—”

Jack slammed him into the ground.

Replacement leaned down. “Patricia is his mother,” she added.

“I’m sorry,” Terry whined. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”

Replacement grabbed Jack’s arm. “Enough. We have to go.”

“What about Steve?” Jack growled and pulled Terry up by the hair.

“Steve? I had nothing to do with it. I’ve never even been in a fight. I couldn’t stab someone. I can’t fight my way out of a paper bag. Honest. I don’t know why… Wait. She’s still mad at me. Patty’s getting revenge.”

“For what?”

“I’m sorry. Tell Patty I’m sorry.”

“Why are you sorry?” Jack yanked him back so he was on his knees.

“She wanted to join the band. I told her I could get her in. I just wanted to get in her pants. I told her if we…if she…I knew I couldn’t get her in but she slept with me, and she was sad but it was a long time ago.”

“You used her.” Jack growled.

“I was in high school. It was wrong…”

“Jack, please.” Replacement pulled on his arm.

Jack let go, and Terry fell down. Jack walked toward the door.

“Call the police. Call the police.” Terry shook his hand at the secretary.

“You so much as think about calling the police…” Replacement turned around.

Terry picked himself up off the floor and ran behind his desk. He straightened up and combed back his hair. “Get out now, or I will.”

“Listen.” Jack spun around, and his voice was low. “Here’s the deal. You came at me, and I bumped you. You’re fine. Get over it or, not only do I tell your wife, but I’m gonna tell her husband.” He nodded his head toward the secretary. “Judging by the size of that football ring she’s wearing on that chain around her neck, he’s a big guy. I’m also guessing he’s the jealous type. I’m sure he’ll understand, knowing what’s going on between you two. You used my mother. Go to the cops and I’ll come back and do what I should have done to you this time.”

As Jack stormed out of the office, he could hear the secretary say, “You did that? You just led her on?”

Jack slammed the door so hard the doorknob embedded itself in the wall. Getting to the car and leaving was a blur. He had no clue where he was going; he was just driving.

“Jack? Jack, pull over,” Replacement urged him. He kept driving. “Pull over.” Replacement put her hand on the door handle. “Now.”

Jack knew she was serious. He hit the brake and pulled over.

“Jack…”

He opened the door and jumped out of the car. She did, too.

“What the hell were you thinking, Jack?”

“What was I thinking?” Jack spun around. He could see the shocked look on her face as she stared at him. He could only imagine how he looked. “I was thinking I wanted to beat him to death. I didn’t just want to hurt him; I wanted him dead. Okay? I’m not thinking straight.” Jack’s eyes were black, and his hands shook.

“Jack, you don’t know if he had anything to do with it.”

“I don’t and I don’t care. He may have.” He kicked a rock off the road and into the woods.

“May have? You’re going to kill him on ‘may have’?” She took a step forward and stopped.

“I wasn’t going to kill him.”

“You could have fooled me.”

“I just… Damn it. I don’t know why, but I keep thinking of her as a kid. She just wanted to get into the band, and he used her. I should have done something.”

“You did. You heaved him into a wall and smacked the crap out of him.”

“I didn’t hit him. I…he called you—”

“Me? I’ve been called worse, Jack.” Replacement leaned against the car. “I don’t know.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Maybe we should leave for now.”

“I’m not going anywhere. Someone killed my father. I have to find out who.”

Jack glared up at the gray sky and wanted to scream.

“Jack, you’re going to kill someone. There are three guys named Terry.”

“We still have to go talk to the other one,” Jack informed her.

“What?” Replacement threw her hands up. “You just…do you think talking to the other guy is at all wise? So far your plan is to yell and accuse. That’s just stupid.”

“Fine. You talk.” Jack looked down at his hands. His head pounded.

One of them did it. She said so. I just need to figure out which one.

He hung his head and tried to slow his breathing. He cracked his neck as he looked back at her. “Please?”

Replacement put her hands on her hips and shook her head. She searched his eyes, and then exhaled.

“I’ll do it, but you have to agree to three things. First, I do all the talking.” She held up a hand. “All the talking.”

I could have killed him. I wanted to kill him.

“Fine.”

“Second, I drive.” She held out a hand, and he tossed her the keys.

“Third, you sleep in the stupid bed tonight.”

Jack nodded. “Agreed.”

As Replacement stood there, her face softened. “Jack, I’m worried about you.”

“Don’t be.” Jack walked to the passenger side of the car. “I got you watching my back. What could go wrong?”

A Thing For Faces

Replacement parked the car in front of the modest Cape Cod house. Painted a deep red with black shutters, it fit right in with the other four homes on the beautiful cul-de-sac. A group of children rode bikes down the sidewalk. A cinnamon brown sedan was parked in the driveway.

“Okay,” Replacement breathed out. “Terry Martinez. He’s a teacher?”

“High school art. Widower. Wife died five years ago. No arrests. Finances in order.”

“I do all the talking, right?” Replacement leaned in.

Jack moved his fingers in a horizontal zipping motion across his mouth.

As they got out of the car, a middle-aged man opened the front door and walked outside. His black hair was streaked gray at the sides. He was short and his blue T-shirt revealed a bit of a paunch. He tipped his head to the side, stopped halfway down the steps, and then waited for them to approach.

“Terry Martinez?” Replacement smiled as she held out her hand. “I’m Alice Campbell. This is Jack Stratton.”

Replacement’s nose crinkled as she said her own name, but it was the look Terry gave him that caught Jack’s attention. Terry’s eyes traveled around Jack’s face like someone would examine a painting. His eyes moved to look at his mouth, nose, chin, and finally his eyes. Jack held out his hand, and Terry hesitated for a moment before he shook it firmly.

“How can I help you?” Terry’s mouth curled up at the corner.

“I was wondering if we could speak with you about some people you went to high school with?”

“High school.” He smiled and adjusted his glasses. “That was a long time ago, but I’d be happy to. Uh…do you want to come in?”

“That’s very kind of you.” Replacement nodded.

Terry turned around and went back in the house; they followed. Inside was not at all what Jack had expected from an art teacher’s home. It was a very neat and tidy, conservative house. The front door opened to a staircase, a dining room to the left, and a traditional living room on the right.

Terry motioned them to a small couch. “Can I get you something to drink?”

“No, thank you,” Replacement answered and Jack shook his head no.

Terry moved over to sit in a worn but comfortable-looking blue chair.

“How can I help you?” He put his hands on his thighs and leaned forward.

“We were wondering if you knew a Patricia Cole?” Replacement folded her hands on her lap.

Terry leaned back, frowned, and nodded his head.

“Patty. I knew her. She grew up over on Winston. No brothers or sisters.”

“Can you tell us a little about her?”

Terry took his glasses off and cleaned them on his shirt. “What’s this all about?”

“We’re doing some family research, and it would be very helpful if you could fill in some information we need.”

Terry’s eyes went wide; he leaned in to stare at Jack. He tilted his head, and pursed his lips.

“I never thought…Patty is your mother.”

Now it was Jack’s turn to look surprised. “How did you know?” he asked.

Terry smiled and patted the arm of his chair. “The resemblance. I’m an artist. I’ve got a thing for faces. I knew you must be Steve’s son—”

Replacement gasped. Terry looked nervously at both of them.

“You knew that, right?” he blurted.

“Yes.” Jack nodded. “At least, I look a little like him.”

“A little? Not identical, but almost. The whole shape of your face. The eyes are spot-on. Indistinguishable.” He clucked his tongue and held up a hand. “One second.”

Terry hurried out of the room and returned a moment later carrying a framed photo. “Here.”

Jack took the frame, and Replacement slid closer so she could see it, too. Four boys in shorts held up fishing poles with tiny fish at the end. They were all smiling. Steven was in the middle. He must have been in his early teens.

Replacement pointed. “He looks just like you.”

Terry sat back down and sniffed. “I’m sorry. I, um…I didn’t know he had…I didn’t know about you. I’m so sorry about Steven. You couldn’t have known him, right?”

Jack shook his head. “I didn’t even know his name before this week.”

“Is this you?” Replacement pointed to a boy in the photo.

“Sure is. I was a little chubbier then.”

Jack looked back at the fat kid in the photo with the curly black hair and a giant smile.

“Were you friends?” Replacement asked.

“The four of us were best friends. Same Boy Scout troop. We all knew each other since diapers.”

“Who are the other boys?”

“Trent Dorsey and Dennis Wilson. Trent passed ten years ago. Car accident in Baltimore.”

“And Dennis?”

“He’s the police chief. He lives on Davidson. Big gray colonial.”

Jack held up a hand. “Wait. Dennis Wilson? Dennis Wilson was chief when Steven died.”

“That was Dennis Senior. He was the chief then. His son became chief maybe twelve years ago.”

Steven’s friend is now chief. I have a much better shot at the police reports now.

Terry frowned as he looked at Jack. “Steven was a good guy. I don’t know if anyone…Mrs. Ritter. Jack, your…Steven’s mother still lives in town.” Terry’s eyes filled with concern.

Jack looked down at his hands, and Replacement shook her head.

“You knew Patricia?” Replacement cleared her throat.

Terry looked down at the floor for a moment before he continued. “I called her Patty. I knew her. It’s a small town, so everyone knows everybody. She was in my class…three times in elementary school, and we went to middle and high school together.”

“Did you ever…date Patty?”

“Date? No. I had a huge crush on her in middle school. I wouldn’t go near her then because of her father. Mr. Cole’s as mean as they come. He’s a drinker, too. I thought about it in high school, but she’d gotten a…well.” Terry started to clean his glasses again, but this time he didn’t look up.

Jack broke the awkward silence. “I’ve heard. She was…she had a reputation.”

Terry exhaled. “In high school she did. Something changed in her. It was after her mom died. Maybe it was that. Maybe it was her father. I don’t know. She just seemed to fly apart. I didn’t know Steven dated her.”

“You didn’t know they dated?” Replacement stared at the photo.

“No. But…boy, just thinking about it. On one hand, it was twenty-something years ago, but on the other it feels like yesterday.” Terry smiled sadly. “Steve was getting over a bad breakup before he was killed. I didn’t think he started dating again.” Terry smiled sideways at Jack. “I was always jealous of your dad.”

Jack’s jaw clenched at the word.

“Steve was such a good kid. He was a Boy Scout. Back then, Patty’s reputation wasn’t that good. Steve wasn’t the type of guy to go with—”

Jack finished the sentence, “A girl like that?”

Terry nodded and continued. “When I came back and found out that Steve—”

“Came back?” Jack blurted out.

Replacement took Jack’s hand.

“My parents divorced right before my senior year. My dad stayed in Hope Falls, but I had to move to Bradington with my mom.”

“You weren’t around when he was stabbed to death?” Jack’s shoulders slumped.

The teacher’s eyes went wide, and he sat back.

“Wait a minute. Are you looking into it? Me? Why would you think I had anything to do with it?” His voice got higher the more agitated he became.

“Settle down.” Jack stood. “I don’t think you had anything to do with it.”

Replacement jumped up. “Why not?”

“I didn’t.” Now all three were on their feet. “Steve was my friend.”

“I believe you.” Jack sighed.

“I don’t,” Replacement snapped.

“What?” Terry held up his hands.

“Well…” She shrugged. “I don’t know. You show us a picture and act all nice but it could be an act.”

“Why would you think I had anything to do with it?”

“Patricia,” Jack snapped.

“Patty said I had something to do with it? She wouldn’t. Now I don’t believe you.” Terry stood up straighter.

“She’s in…she wasn’t specific.” Jack ran his hands through his hair. “She said Terry did it. No last name, and since I can’t ask her…” Jack looked down at his clenched fist. “Thank you for your time.”

“I’m sorry. Wait. There are other guys named Terry. Terry Martin. He was a pain in the ass at school. Martin and Martinez? Two Terry Ms. People always got us confused. Did she mean him?”

“I talked to him already.”

“Did he say anything?” Terry paced. “There was also a Terry in the grade above us. Football player. He was a jerk.”

“Talked to him, too. Thank you.” Jack headed for the door.

“Would it be possible to talk to you again, please?” Replacement shook Terry’s hand as she glared at Jack.

“Sure. Jack, if I said anything to offend you, I’m sorry. If you need anything, please let me help.”

“Thank you.” Jack stomped down the steps to the car, and Replacement hurried after him.

“What the hell was that? Why are we leaving?” She grabbed his shoulder, but he was too strong for her to turn him around, so he just stopped.

“What? I didn’t do anything, and now you’re pissed? I didn’t hit him.”

“He’s the first person who would talk to us. He knew both your parents.”

“Don’t call them that,” Jack snarled.

“Sorry, but he knew them both. He might know something that will help.”

“He had nothing to do with it. Did you see his face? I just know. I’ll talk to him again later. Not now. I held up two out of three of your stupid rules. I want to go back to the inn and sleep.”

Replacement opened and closed her mouth.

“Good. You can get a good night’s sleep, and tomorrow will be a new day, right?”

If I make it to tomorrow.