“Come on, let’s go. I need a ride to get my truck from the hospital.”
Scott looked confused. “Now?”
The scowl he threw his cousin brooked no argument. He grabbed his coat and slipped it on, turning back to Heather. “Make sure she’s all right, huh?”
“I always do, Jack.” She didn’t ask any questions. Never did.
Scott got his coat and followed Jack out the back door. Unfortunately he didn’t have the same quality as Heather. “What the heck happened? Everything was great and all of a sudden you’re flying out the door like you can’t get away fast enough.”
He got in Scott’s car and slammed the door. Once Scott was settled he stared at Jack.
“Callie doesn’t think it’s a good idea for me to be around Jonathan.”
“What? For now or forever?”
He took a deep breath, wishing he knew the answer. Shrugging he said, “Drive.”
Scott started the car and pulled onto the road. He’d been an ass and he hated himself right now. The hurt look on Callie’s face as he walked away haunted him. He never wanted to see it again. But at least this way she wouldn’t regret what she couldn’t have.
“Find a package store, Scott. I need a case of beer.”
He hadn’t had much to drink in the past few years. Hadn’t wanted to let down his guard. Maybe Scott would take him to his place and watch over him. Tonight he’d give in to the pain and despair until he passed out. Then tomorrow, he’d have to start thinking of more drastic measures to rid the world of Victor Cabrini.
* * * *
Jack watched as the dark-skinned man parked his car and headed through the alley toward his home. He hated doing this close to where his ex-partner lived but he’d been following him all day and there hadn’t been any other opportunity.
Creeping up behind Steve, he grabbed him by the shoulders, throwing him against the brick wall of a nearby garage. Steve immediately went into defense posture but Jack was ready for him. The advantage of surprise. Plus he had so much more at stake.
Steve struggled as Jack pushed on the arm he had against the man’s neck. Surprise and a little anger filled his eyes when he saw who it was.
“Jack? What the hell? You scared the crap out of me, man. Let me go.”
“Not yet, Steve. I need to know what the fuck is going on.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Loosen the grip, man.”
He leaned in closer. “The last two times I was with you, I had a few problems later. Care to explain that?”
“You told me about the shooting in Central Park but I had nothing to do with it. I told you I’d gone to a birthday party for my kid right after I left you. You didn’t even go to the park until a few hours later.”
Steve’s face was red, lack of oxygen or guilt? How much could Jack believe? One time could be coincidence, but two? Easing off slightly, he kept his guard up.
“Last time I saw you I got a call saying my son was sick. When I showed up at the hospital, there were cops at the entrance, like they were waiting for me.”
“There are always cops at hospitals, Jack,” Steve sputtered. “What the hell makes you think they were there for you?”
He drilled his ex-partner with his gaze. “They were Jersey cops. The hospital is in Connecticut. Kind of a long ride for an injured perp.”
“You never told me the hospital he was in.” Steve pushed at his arm and he backed off.
“No, I guess I didn’t, though it wouldn’t have been too hard to know where I’d go if you were the one who poisoned my son.”
“Poisoned?” Steve’s eyes grew wide. “That’s what made him sick. How is he now? What happened?”
“He’s doing better.” Fear still radiated through his body reliving when Jonathan had first gotten sick. “But he ingested rat poison. Callie doesn’t have any in the house and it was after some social event at a nearby church they always go to.”
Steve’s eyes narrowed. “And you think I’d give a kid rat poison? Are you out of your friggin’ mind? That could kill him.”
