CHAPTER 11
Officer Abraham Wilkes
April 17, 2003
Noah answers the door, those innocent blue eyes instantly dulling the simmering rage that still burns inside me from last night.
I check my watch. “Why aren’t you in school?” I intentionally waited until I thought he’d be gone.
“Got an orthodontist appointment in half an hour.” The sullen look on his face tells me the news isn’t good. “They’re gonna tell me that I need braces.”
“You’re not surprised, are you?” Jackie’s been bitching for years about how much money she’d have to fork over to fix those crooked front teeth of his, because our benefits won’t cover all of it.
“No, sir. It’s just—” His prepubescent voice cracks, and he clears it. “It’s gonna suck.”
I ruffle the top of his head, his sandy-brown hair as soft to the touch as it was when he was knee high. “Would you rather go through life like this?” I gesture at the gap between my two front teeth.
Noah grins. “That’s not so bad.”
“Says who?” I chuckle, remembering those awkward teenage years when I pursed my lips together to keep myself from smiling wide. “Don’t you worry. You’ll be thankin’ your lucky stars later, when all the girls are chasing you.” Noah’s going to be one heck of a handsome man when he grows up. I try to keep my voice neutral when I ask, “Listen, your mom around?”
“Out back.”
“Why don’t you hang in front here for a few minutes and practice that jump shot. I need to talk to your mom alone. It’s about work.” I don’t want Noah anywhere near where he can overhear. He doesn’t need to be the wiser.
“Yes, sir.” Noah leans over to grab his basketball, which is resting on the floor next to the door and within easy reach, as always.
“Good boy.” I ruffle his hair once more as I pass by him.
I find Jackie in the backyard, cutting back dead branches that the winter left behind. I’ve always found it to be a contradictory passion of hers. I’d never peg her to be the type to fuss over pretty, girly things, too busy fussing over collecting career stripes. If there’s one thing everyone can agree on about Jackie Marshall, it’s that she has her sights set high in the police force.
She sees me coming and casts away the handful of debris, wariness filling her face. Her bag-lined eyes drift behind me to the patio door. Checking for Noah, no doubt.
Whatever calm that boy incited in me quickly vanishes, as thoughts of last night resurface with a vengeance.
“What do you want me to say? That I’m sorry? Because I am. You shouldn’t have been there. None of that should have happened.” She’s choosing her words carefully, her lips twisting as if she’s tasting something bitter in her mouth.
“But it did happen!” I lower my voice, knowing it’ll carry far around this peaceful neighborhood, especially at this time of morning. “Where is she?” I enunciate each word as calmly as I can.
Jackie hesitates. “She doesn’t want to be found, Abe.”
“Bullshit. I saw the look on her face.”
“And I heard the words coming out of her mouth when she told me she wasn’t going anywhere with me.” She stoops to collect a loose branch, avoiding my hard gaze.
Which tells me that there’s either more to the story or she’s altogether lying, because when Jackie Marshall’s telling you how it is, she could stare down paint until it peels right off the wall.
“You should have gotten her out of there anyway. Hell, I should never have listened to you in the first place! You manipulated me!” I can’t believe I let her pull rank. I can’t believe I trusted her.
God, what would Dina think if she knew!
“What was I supposed to do, Abe? What would you have done in my position?”
“The right thing!”
Jackie whips the pair of shears she’s gripping tight at the ground. The sharp end spears the dirt. “Well, no one’s arguin’ that you’re a better person than most, Abe. You deserve a goddamn medal, just for being born.”
“I don’t need a medal. What I need to do is find Betsy, and you’ve made sure that’s gonna be next to impossible.” I’ve never hurt a woman and I never will, but dammit, my fingers around Jackie’s neck would feel satisfying right about now, even just for a second.
“I’m sorry, Abe. I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. I just didn’t see any other choice.”
“You mean another choice that would benefit you.” I shake my head. “As far as you and I go? We’re done. Got it?” I spin on my heels, needing to get the hell out of here before I really lose my temper.
“Try The Lucky Nine,” she calls out, reluctance in her voice.
“What?”
“The Lucky Nine. It’s out by the highway. I told you I’d follow her and I did. That’s where she went.”
“And that’s where you left her. A fifteen-year-old girl.”
At least Jackie has the decency to look ashamed.