Chapter 78

Chapter 78—Jack discovers 

who Big Hands really is

11:19 p.m., Thursday, December 29 

Jack caught the scent of the Big Hand’s cologne. But it was not the cologne that got Jack’s attention. Jack realized that the cologne was intended only to cover the telltale odor of smoke—incendiary smoke. “This man with the big hands must have been at the house where Kate was held. He must be one of her kidnappers,” Jack thought.
Jack did not acknowledge Big Hands. Instead he played back in his mind all that he could recall about the kidnappers: “The voice was wrong. Big Hands was definitely not the spokesman. I always talked to the same man. No way to know exactly how many of them there were. They could have operated in shifts—two on, two off. And a lookout. Possibly three at any given time. I believe we left three bodies at the scene. Then there’s this guy—smelling like smoke.
“But what was this guy’s role? Why is he here, now? Certainly can’t be revenge. Must be he is concerned Kate will be able to identify him. That would make sense only if the guys who took Kate were not foreign agents. They must be our guys! And this fellow is on the inside. Captain Spencer probably knows him. That’s why he slid over to let him in.”
Jack’s mind continued to race, as he stood there still not acknowledging Big Hands. “I have to make sure I don’t let him know that I might be on to him.”
“So Kate’s gonna make it,” Big Hands interrupted.
“I’m sorry,” the doctor said. “I don’t believe we’ve been introduced.”
“My name is William Smith,” Big Hands said, “Dr. William Smith. I am a consultant for the NYPD. Captain Spencer here will vouch for me.”
“I’ll be damned” Jack thought. “He is the inside man. And, of course Kate would recognize him. Certainly she never saw him before her abduction. But now, if he consulted in her department, she eventually would have contact with him. He’s here to kill her.”
“As I explained in detail to Mr. Handler,” the doctor said. “Ms. Handler was seriously wounded by a bullet, but we expect her to make a full and speedy recovery.”
“Wonderful!” Big Hands Smith, said. “What great news.”
Then directing his comments to Jack, Big Hands Smith continued. “I’m sure you’re relieved. I am so happy for you.”
“Now,” the doctor said, as he took half a step backward. “If you will excuse me, I will get back to work. Nice to have met all you gentlemen. If you have further questions, the ladies at the desk will be happy to help you.”
All three men smiled, acknowledging the doctor’s effort to move on. But only Jack spoke. “Thanks, Doctor,” he said. “I appreciate your candor.”
With that, Dr. Phillips reached out to Jack to shake his hand. “I’m glad I had good news for you. All too often it doesn’t work out that way.” He then smiled in the direction of the other two, and proceeded over to the nurses’ station. He picked up a folder, glanced at it for a few seconds, and then headed back through the swinging doors into the treatment area.
“Gentlemen,” Jack said, as he started to walk back to his seat.
“Jack,” Big Hands Smith said, reaching out to shake Jack’s hand. “We’ve not formally met. I just want you to know how pleased I am that your daughter is going to be okay.”
“I believe you had said that you were an associate of Reginald’s.” Jack inquired. “How do you know Reginald?”
“He and I go back forever,” Big Hands Smith said. “I consulted with him on different matters through the years. Not recently, though. I did not know that he was involved with anything in the city until I heard from a third party that he was seen with Kate earlier tonight.”
“Is that right?” Jack asked. “I haven’t seen Reginald around here, have you?”
“No, I haven’t,” Big Hands Smith said. “But I’ve only been here a short time. How about you, Jack, have you been here long?”
Jack believed that whenever a person used your common name in conversation, it suggested he was not comfortable with you. Jack was not comfortable with Big Hands either.
“Not long,” Jack said. “I need a cigarette. How about you?”
“Sounds good,” Big Hands Smith replied. “But I doubt that they have a smoking room in this hospital.”
“Yeah they do. And I know exactly where it is,” Jack said. “I’ve been here before.”
Jack had no idea where to go to have a cigarette. He did not even smoke. But Jack did know where to take a man he was about to kill. Jack headed down the stairs, and all the way to the basement maintenance area. He could have taken an elevator, but did not want to be stuck in one having to make conversation with the man who intended to kill his daughter.
“Right through here,” Jack said, sliding in behind Big Hands Smith as they walked toward the dumpsters. “We can talk while we smoke.”
But there would be no cigarettes lit. Not even a celebratory cigar. Instead, just as they reached the largest of three dumpsters, Jack flipped open the knife he always carried. Locking both hands together around the knife in order to drive it deeply into Big Hands’ back, he thrust if forward with all his strength. The blade caught pierced the big man’s suit coat, and ripped through his left kidney. The force of the blow knocked Big Hands off his feet, slamming him face first into the front of the dumpster. Big Hands instinctively grabbed the front of the open dumpster to break his fall.
Puling the knife from Big Hands’ back, Jack reached over the top of Big Hands’ head. Grabbing Big Hands’ forehead in his left hand, he pulled Big Hands’ head back toward him. Then, with the knife in his right hand, Jack slit the big fellow’s throat from ear to ear.
Jack was careful to avoid the blood that was spurting out of Big Hands’ neck. Dropping the knife on the concrete in front of the dumpster, Jack gripped the big man’s legs just below the knees, lifted him up and slid his dying body into the dumpster. As Jack bent down to pick up his knife, he could hear Big Hands thrashing around. But by the time Jack had wiped the excess blood off the front of the dumpster with some trash paper he had found nearby, the noise had stopped.
Jack knew that if there were a surveillance camera, it would be directly above the door. So he chose to walk around to the front of the building, rather than turn to face the camera. Most middle age men look about the same from behind. There would be no way to make a positive identification without an image of his face.
“Kate should be safe for the night,” Jack reasoned, as he approached an intersection a block from the hospital. “I need a cab. I need some sleep.”
Jack started to hail a cab that was headed his way. But as he did, a black sedan cut in front of the cab, and pulled up right in front of him.
“Get in, Jack,” the driver said, as he rolled down the passenger side window. Jack recognized the man in the car. It was the guy that he had seen earlier in the hospital just as he was getting on the elevator.
“Kurt?” Jack responded, placing his hands on the car, as he leaned in to get a closer look at the driver.
“Jack, get in the car,” Kurt said. “You are in danger.”