It’s been a little over four years since I’ve spoken with Jack.
He works in my section, so seeing him is unavoidable.
Speaking with him, however, is entirely optional.
He’s not allowed to speak while he’s on Aces grounds anyway. When I do bump into him, I just course correct like a Roomba in a cluttered room, turn the other way and find something else to do.
The last time we spoke, he was screaming in my face before slamming my own door on me.
I moved out of that apartment the next day. I’d finally saved up enough money from sucking and fucking the Aces patrons to size up. I wasn’t going to make the official move until a few days later, but after that last night with Jack, I couldn’t bear living in a space I associated so much with him.
I never played Settlers of Catan or any of our other favorite games again, either. I donated my entire collection to Goodwill and threw myself into furnishing my new apartment.
Of course, knowing now what I know… Jack was right all along.
I don’t look forward to that part of the conversation either.
I get into my car and make the drive out west to Forest Park and the Caterpillar Hotel.
Harrison wanted to come with me, but he’s working today. He’s been playing hooky enough as it is. But while he’s at the hospital, he can also look into the St. Charles patients’ organ donations, see if any evidence points to a connection to Rouge.
If he can find that connection, we can avoid tracking Jack to see if anyone is going to try to kill him at the end of his contract. But I know my sister. She’ll have buried her involvement in this beneath several layers of scapegoats and red herrings. I doubt Harrison will uncover anything damning, but we have to attack this from all angles.
I told Harrison that, while Jack and I have some bad blood between us, he would never lay a finger on me. Harrison wasn’t wholly convinced, but I promised him I’d be safe doing this on my own. Even so, he insisted I text him at every juncture on my outing today.
I pull out my phone. Just parked, I text him.
Good. Let me know when you’re safely back at the car.
Will do. Thanks for looking out for me.
Of course, babe.
The Caterpillar Hotel parking lot is empty, so I parked a few blocks away to remain inconspicuous. Rouge isn’t supposed to do her weekly check-in at the hotel for a few more days, but just in case she makes an unplanned visit, I don’t want her to see my car in the lot. We did the same thing the night we rescued Maddox and Alissa, and we got away with it then.
Speaking of which, I check their rooms first. We broke down the doors to each room, but Dinah discreetly had a handyman who owed her a favor replace each of them after we got Maddox and Alissa to the hospital to cover our tracks. They don’t quite match the rest of the doors of the hotel, but they’re close enough to look the same from a distance.
The doors are unlocked, and I peer into each room. Everything is the same as how we left it. As far as I can tell, Rouge hasn’t been here. Neither has Chet or any of her Kings.
I let out a sigh of relief and then head up to Jack’s room on the fifth floor. I take a deep breath in and knock.
A moment later, the door opens. The chain is still on, so it only opens a few inches. I catch a fleeting glimpse of Jack’s hazel eyes and wavy blond hair before he slams the door back shut.
I knock again. “Jack, please. It’s important.”
“I have nothing to say to you.” From the other side.
“It’s been four years, Jack.”
Silence.
I knock a third time. “Hear me out. What you told me about Rouge… I… I think it’s true.”
No response for a few minutes. I’m about to knock again, beg him to answer, when he slowly opens the door. He’s wearing a striped tank top and fleece pajama bottoms with bare feet. His gaze is narrowed. “I’m listening.”
I swallow. “Can I come in?”
He peers out the door. “Did anyone follow you?”
