Page 78 of Steel & Jenna
Jenna took a step forward, intending on getting her coat by the door to leave, when she noticed that Chief Cunningham was watching her closely. She blinked, not really familiar enough with the man to guess what he was thinking. “Sir?”
“How did you get here so fast?” the Chief asked her. “Even if Jack called you before he called the station, how did you get here as quickly as you did?”
Jenna shifted her weight from one foot to the other, uncomfortable with the man’s questioning. It felt like an accusation, though she wasn’t sure what he was accusing her of. “No one called me. I was already on my way.”
“Rumor has it that your parents had you locked up tight in Seattle. What changed?”
She swallowed hard, but nodded. “My mom changed her mind.She… She said I could leave my school if I wished. I bought a car and came straight here.” Her eyes glanced to the kitchen window before she added, “When I pulled up, there were police cars everywhere and I found Lilly crying on the couch. I didn’t even know what had happened until Jack came inside.”
The Chief nodded once, but there was something in his eyes. Like the wheels in his head were turning. “Are you aware of what happened last fall, Ms. Scanlon? Between Jack and his father?”
“Yes,” Jenna said honestly. “But I was already restricted to Seattle by the time Jack’s father went to jail. My parents have been doing their best to keep our communication to a minimum, so all I know is that he was released. I don’t know why.”
“We were unable to hold him for more than a drunk and disorderly,” the Chief explained, his voice somber. “Though Jack said he spoke of going to your house here, nothing specific was mentioned about his purpose at your house. Jack’s assumption that he meant to rob it was just that. John never stated out loud that that was his intent. We had to let him go, though he was charged with a misdemeanor.”
That was unfortunate. If Mr. Duncan had told Jack that he wanted to rob her home, maybe he’d still be in jail. Jenna didn’t know what the charges or jail time were for intent to rob some place, but figured it had to be a couple of months at least.
“Funny thing, though. When John Duncan had finally sobered up last fall, he was talking about how he’d beenpaidto rob your house. His employer supposedly told him that Jack knew the layout of your house and knew where the safe in your father’s office was located.”
Jenna looked at the Chief, confused but also defensive. Did Chief Cunningham think Jack was behind his father’s actions? “Jack’s never stepped foot in my house. He wouldn’t know something like that.”
“I know,” the Chief said gently. He paused for a second before saying, “Do you mind me asking what specifically your mom said to you this afternoon, Jenna? Why she let you, for lack of a better word,freetoday of all days?”
There was that accusing look again. “I’m not sure what you’reimplying, Chief Cunningham. What does my mom have to do with what happened to Mrs. Zarin today?”
“Well, if I’m right, then I made a huge error a few months back and I mean to remedy that mistake and insure Mrs. Zarin’struemurderer is brought to justice. Would you care to help me, Ms. Scanlon?”
Jack was workingon closing Lilly’s overstuffed suitcase when he felt a presence behind him again. “Jenna,” he snapped without turning around, “I told you to leave!”
“Jackie?”
Jack spun. Mr. Zarin was behind him, carefully lowering Lilly to the floor. Jack quickly looked away from Mr. Zarin. He grabbed for Lilly, bringing her closer to him. “Lilly, we have to leave.”
She shook her head, trying to step back from him. “No, Jackie! I don’t wanna go! Mr. Zarin said we can stay!”
Jack did not have the energy to argue with her. “You don’t understand, Lillypad.”
“Actually, I think it’s you who doesn’t understand, son.”
Jack shook his head, still not able to look up. “You don’t… Don’t feel obligated to keep us. We’ll go. I just… Please let me finish packing.”
“You’re not going anywhere, Jack!”
Jack flinched as if he’d been struck. The volume of Mr. Zarin’s voice echoed off the walls. But still Jack did not look at him. He didn’t want to see the accusation, the hatred, in the man’s eyes.
Hands gripped his shoulders. Strong, masculine hands. Hands that had been guiding Jack, teaching him, for over a year. Hands that could be destructive and yet had an aptitude for such kindness.
Boots filled Jack’s vision as he stared at the floor. He’d tried so hard to follow in the man’s footsteps. But those boots were just too big. Jack couldn’t fill them. He wasn’t strong enough. It was too much?—
Mr. Zarin shook Jack’s shoulders forcefully. His head snapped upautomatically. Mr. Zarin’s dark eyes were beyond sad. There was pain behind his gaze that was incomprehensible to Jack because the woman he loved was still alive.
Yet Mr. Zarin’s voice was steady. He didn’t look away, didn’t back down. “I just lost my wife, Jack. Are you really going to make me lose my children, too?”
Jack’s chin trembled. “Do you really mean that?”
“With every fiber of my being.”
A small hand filled Jack’s. He looked down into Lilly’s tear-stricken face. “Please, Jackie. Don’t make us go.”
