Chapter 79

Chapter 79—Kurt comes back

11:41 p.m., Thursday, December 29 

Jack just stared at Kurt for a moment, and then said,  “What else is new? Hell, I’m always in danger—at least lately.”
Jack did not really have to think much about it. He wasn’t particularly concerned about a threat on his life. But he did want to find out just what this guy was all about. When he initially encountered the man in the coffee shop, Kate was with him, so he was hesitant to feel him out. Now, however, it was different. Now Kate lie helpless in a hospital bed with a bullet hole in her back, and Reginald—Jack’s best friend—was dead.
“What do I have to lose?” Jack reasoned as he got in the black sedan with Kate’s strange friend, Kurt.
“How ‘bout I drop you off at your hotel?” Kurt asked.
“What hotel?” Jack asked.
“By the airport,” Kurt replied. “Roger set you up there, but I don’t think you’ve been there yet. Isn’t that right?
“How do you know Roger?” Jack asked.
“I know a lot about this whole mess,” Kurt replied. “I’m the fellow who picked up Reg.”
That surprised Jack. He had not suspected that this fellow from the coffee shop was in anyway involved with Roger. But, it did not surprise him. Roger always seemed to be on top of every situation.
“Where did you take Reg?” Jack asked.
“Roger will be in touch with you later,” Kurt said. “Right now we need to get you to your hotel room. Have you seen yourself? You’ve got blood all over your right sleeve. That’s not from Reginald is it? Looks like you’ve been busy again.”
“You said someone is after me? That I’m in danger?” Jack inquired. “What do you mean? Who’s after me?”
“One of the fellows who was holding your daughter,” Kurt said. “A big guy. Well, he consults with the NYPD. He was actually at the house where they were holding Kate. He somehow escaped tonight. We have every reason to think that he is coming after you. He was spotted in the hospital tonight.”
“Actually, I think Kate was his target,” Jack said. “But I don’t think he will present any problem for me or my daughter. I had a little talk with him, and he decided that he would rather take a little ride to New Jersey in the morning.”
“I see,” Kurt said.
Jack had wanted to see just how quickly Kurt would catch on. If he truly was a trusted associate of Roger’s, he would know that a morning trip to New Jersey would mean that Big Hands Smith was about to become landfill. Jack observed that Kurt understood exactly what he had just said.
“Anything else I should know?” Jack asked.
“The detective in charge,” Kurt replied, “Spencer, Captain Spencer. He’s a pompous ass—and a not-terribly-bright one at that. But, generally speaking, he’s cool. He’s been responsible for moving your daughter up the ladder. Don’t get me wrong. She deserved every promotion. But it never hurts to have someone like Spencer promoting you.”
“Are you suggesting that his intentions are not righteous?” Jack asked.
“I’ve never heard of him trying to pull anything with a female subordinate,” Kurt replied. “He’s working his way up the ladder too, and he knows that Kate is one of the department’s darlings. She is a very competent detective, and it doesn’t hurt that she is a female detective. Spencer is looking out for himself. But you can’t fault him for that. He’s one of the good guys. Kate is lucky to be working under him. And he is just as fortunate to have your daughter watching his back. They are a good team.”
“That’s good to know,” Jack said. “There might be some waves when Big Hands doesn’t show up for the morning briefing.”
“Spencer won’t be aware of anything right away,” Kurt said. “He had no idea that this Smith guy was working for the other side.”
“Then they weren’t using Kate as bait to draw him out?” Jack asked, exhibiting a little agitation.
“No,” Kurt said. “It was not at all like that. Kate is in a secure area. And a female detective is actually sleeping in the room listed as Kate’s. Had Smith, or anyone else, made an attempt, Spencer would have busted him.”
“So,” Jack said, “I wasted a man who might have been a valuable witness?”
“You could say that,” Kurt replied, with just a hint of a smile on his youthful face. “But don’t worry about it. This whole mess has presented us with more detours than a summer drive through downtown Chicago. You know a little about that, don’t you?”
Jack did not respond. The mere fact that Kurt had all the right answers gave Jack all the confidence he needed for this night. “This guy is legit,” Jack thought. “I will certainly welcome a shower and a change of clothes. And a warm bed would be okay, too.”
Jack reached into his pocket and pulled out a chocolate bar. “No offense if I don’t offer you some, Kurt. I don’t remember the last time I ate anything,” Jack said.
“You go right ahead,” Kurt replied with a chuckle.
Jack looked down at his right hand. It was thoroughly stained with Big Hands’ blood. So he took care to grip the candy bar by the wrapper. Even though he did not touch the candy with his bloodied hand, he could still smell the dead man’s blood. But it did not stop him from enjoying the sweet chocolate.
However, his pleasure was suddenly interrupted. Just as he slid the last piece of the candy bar in his mouth, he heard the thud of a bullet piercing safety glass, accompanied by a shower of warm sticky blood. Kurt had been shot in the head, through and through.