“What is Avery going to do? Can you go to the police? You said he’s dangerous. Has he put his hands on him?”
“That’s the thing, Jen. Avery’s father is the chief of police, and his fiancé is a detective.”
“Let me make sure I have all the facts here. This has to do with the letters, right?”
“That’s how we met. He started writing me letters as part of some school pen pal project. It must be 100 or more letters over the course of my time. We were supposed to be together when I got out. And that’s what he wants, but he was kinda forced into this relationshipwith the cop. He’s house-sitting for his parents while they’re out of town, and when they get home, he’s gonna explain to them that he wants to leave. Avery is hoping they will let him move back in with them.”
“Oh, man, I don’t know. That’s prickly. Cops tend to shield their own.”
“It’s his son, though. And he’s being abused. That guy is a power-hungry psycho, Jenna. Avery has to get away from him.”
“I completely agree. I’m not sayin’ it’s right, but it’s a fact. My cousins are all in law enforcement, along with my uncle up in Wichita. All three of those boys should have had charges for one thing or another, yet they come out clean as a whistle every time. Avery needs to be careful.Youneed to be careful.”
The sensors at the edge of the driveway went off, illuminating the front of the house from two separately-mounted security lights. The sudden change in light woke Lindsey up, and she began to fuss.
“I know, sugar. We’re home now. We’re gonna get you inside, take some medicine to make you feel better, and then go nighty-night.” Jenna turned to me. “You coming?”
“Nah, I’m gonna head down to the shop and see if I can help get your husband home any sooner.”
Jenna gathered the half-asleep little girl into her arms,securing her purse and shopping bag around her wrist. She paused before closing the door. “Thank you, JR. For the ride. Please don’t say anything about what we talked about to Jack. I’ll tell him soon, I just… I just need some time.”
“Of course.”
***
My thoughts spun faster than my tires as I navigated dark, deserted side streets and alleyways in silence, save the dull hum of the older engine.
Surprise turned into even more confusion as I pulled up next to Jack’s work truck parked outside the shop’s rear entrance. Knowing that he’d lied to Jenna, which was unlike him, I didn’t expect him to actually be there.
When Jenna had mentioned him working late to finish a work order that I’d already completed, I’d figured he was having an affair. But that was sonotJack. He loved Jenna; had since we were kids.So what was going on?
I got out of the car, not bothering to lock it, and made my way towards the employee entrance. The rolling doors were all closed up tight, but I could see that both sets of overhead lights were on through the shop windows.
I turned the handle, but it wouldn’t budge. Cursing under my breath I quickly fished the shop keys out ofmy pocket. Once I’d finally opened the door, I came face-to-face with a very nervous-looking Jack. He was halfway through the shop, headed towards the door. He must have heard me fumbling with the lock.
He stopped dead in his tracks and groaned. “Goddammit, JR. You scared the shit out of me.”
I tried to keep my expression as neutral as possible. “Expecting someone else?”
“No, no. I… ugh, I just didn’t know who it was. And it’s late. You know the crackheads in this neighborhood.” Jack finished his sentence with an awkward chuckle as he raised his hand to scratch at his bearded chin.
After a longer-than-normal lull in the conversation, I opened my mouth to ask him exactly what the fuck he was doing. Maybe we had some sort of sibling telepathy going on, because he finally spoke.
“I thought you were spending the evening with Avery.”
“I was… until Jenna called me in a panic because the SUV wouldn’t start, and she couldn’t get a hold of you.”
“Wait, what?” Panic melted all over Jack’s face, covering every feature as he turned away from me and jogged across the shop to grab his phone off the work bench. “I thought she was in for the night; what the hell happened?”
“Lindsey started running a fever, and she needed to get to the pharmacy. When she came out, the car was dead. She couldn’t get you on the phone, so she called me. I got ‘em home safe and sound.” Jack sighed in relief and plopped his ass down on the workbench. “That’s when I found out that you had to work late to finish up that county job I completed this morning,” I continued.
Jack half-smiled. “Yeah, I know. It’s just a big contract, so I wanted to double-check everything.”
“You know, Jack… there’s always been something that one of us is naturally good at and the other one, not so much. Do you know what I’m referring to?”
Jack didn’t respond. In fact, he didn’t even look at me.
“Right, so, you’re the worst liar on the planet Jack.” My tone had turned sharp, and that bolted Jack’s attention. He stood up from the bench.
