Chapter 31
Icalled Jack. It went to voicemail. I left him a message, then dialed again.
This time, he picked up after a few rings. "What's up?"
Music thumped in the background.
"Where are you?"
"Nowhere. Just getting a little fresh air and taking in the scenery.”
"Where are you?" I asked again, having an inkling.
"I thought it would be a good idea to get Henrik out into the world and create new experiences. I figured it might jog his memory."
"Giselle went by the boat, looking for her grandfather.”
"Just tell her we’ll be home shortly.”
"Where. Are. You?”
"Studying how gravitational forces affect buoyant masses.”
"You took him to a strip club?"
“It was Henrik’s idea,” Jack said.
"Sure it was."
"He's having a great time.”
"I'm sure he is.”
"I would have called and invited you, but I knew you were busy."
"I was dealing with a hostage situation,” I said.
"How’d that work out?”
"All the hostages survived."
"Great. Come join us for a celebration.”
"I'll be there in a minute.” I ended the call and told the sheriff, "I need to go reel him in."
"Good luck with that,” he said in a doubtful voice.
I thanked him for lunch as we left the restaurant, then I hustled down the avenue to Forbidden Fruit. The sheriff went back to the station.
I flashed my badge at the entrance, and the cashier waved me through. I'm not going to say we were regulars at the establishment, but professional reasons had brought us here on occasion. Okay, maybe we were regulars.
Spotlights slashed the hazy air, and sultry music pumped through speakers. Mesmerizing beauties pranced around the stage, undulating in hypnotic ways in rhythm to the beat. Drooling guys stuffed dollar bills in G-strings as nubile goddesses teased and tantalized.
Jack and Henrik had front row seats at a table next to the main stage.
A gorgeous brunette with emerald eyes gave Henrik a lap dance. She slithered around his body and dangled her celestial orbs in his face. Henrik looked like a kid in a candy store, mesmerized by the sight.
I took a seat at the table and gave Jack a disapproving look. He was too preoccupied with a blonde to notice.
When the song ended, the bras went back on, and the girls plopped into the men’s laps, trying to coax out another dance.
A waitress approached and asked me if I'd like a drink.
"No thanks. I'm on duty."
"Jacko says it's compliments of the house."
"Tell him thank you. Another time.”
She looked at Jack and Henrik. They'd already put down at least one round. "You ready for another, boys?"
Before Jack could answer, I said, "No. I think they're done."
Jack scowled at me. So did Henrik.
"Giselle is looking for you," I said to the wily old man.
"Well, she can keep looking."
"I need to get you back to the boat, alive and upright."
"Oh, he's upright," the brunette said.
Henrik grinned.
She asked him if he’d like to go to the champagne room.
"I certainly like champagne," Henrik replied.
"No champagne room for now, thank you," I said.
They all frowned at me.
"I don't think Giselle is going to be too happy if she finds out where you are."
"It's not her life. I'll live mine how I see fit."
There was no arguing with the two of them.
My phone buzzed my pocket with another call. I pulled out the device and looked at the screen.
Unknown.
That sense of dread twisted my stomach again. I really didn't want to answer, but I knew that wouldn’t make the problem go away. I swiped the screen and held the phone to my ear. "This is Deputy Wild?”
That familiar, haunting voice crackled through. "Deputy Wild. So good to talk to you again.”
“Tell me you’ve decided to give yourself up.”
He laughed. "No. The game is not over yet. Are you ready to play again?”
"Not particularly," I said as I stood up. I snapped my fingers to get Jack's attention, pointed at him, then pointed at the door. It was a declarative gesture, and I didn't leave any room for misinterpretation. I walked toward the exit and said to the caller, "Hang on a second. It's loud in here.”
I stepped outside into the bright sun, squinting as I hit the sidewalk. My eyes had adjusted to the darkness from the short time in the club.
"Where are you, Deputy? It sounds like fun.”
"Where are you?" I said, turning it around.
"The question you should be asking is where is the bomb?”
"Okay. I'm listening. Tell me where it is.”
"You know the drill by now. I can tell you when.”
"Let's start with that.”
"Six hours. That's when the bomb will detonate.”
"You’ve lost all credibility. How do I know it won't go off sooner?”
"You don't.”
"So why bother with a deadline?"
"If it makes you feel better, we can say within six hours."
"That doesn't particularly make me feel any better. What would make me feel great is if you told me exactly where it is.”
He laughed again. "That's not going to happen. But don't worry. I'm not targeting you this time. In all honesty, I wasn't targeting you before. If I was, you'd be dead.”
"Okay. Give me something to go on.”
"All of my clues have been way too simple up to this point. I think this should be a little more challenging, wouldn't you agree?”
"No. I wouldn't."
"I can give you no clue at all.”
“I’d prefer a clue, thank you.”
“No. I think no clue is your clue. Good luck.” He ended the call.
Again, I wanted to smash the phone on the sidewalk, but thought better of it.
By that time, Jack had escorted Henrik onto the sidewalk.
“What’s going on?” JD asked.
I told him, then said, “No clue is the clue.”
“What the hell does that mean?”