And Then She Was Gone(22)
“Jack!” Makayla slapped her forehead.
Chandler rubbed his temples. “You’re a real sweet talker with the ladies, bro.”
“Wait a minute.” Jack pulled down the rearview mirror so he could see Chandler. “People lie to each other all the time when they should be honest.” He looked at Kelly. “I’m not doing you any favors by lying to you. What if you picked out a dress that made you look fat?”
Chandler snorted. “You’re digging the hole deeper here, Jack.”
“Jack, you’re so wrong.” Makayla leaned up against the back of Kelly’s seat and placed a hand on her shoulder in solidarity.
Kelly nodded.
Chandler raised his hand. “Unanimous.”
“It’s not a vote.” Jack stopped at a red light and put the car in park.
“Jack, we’re at a light,” Chandler pointed out.
“One second.” Jack turned in his seat so he faced Kelly. “I tell the truth. Straight up. Tell me how different this feels.” He cleared his throat. “You did awesome at bowling. Wow. Really good. By the way, you look great. I mean, really great tonight.”
Kelly scowled.
Jack lightly touched the back of her hand. “Or I could tell you the truth, like this. As far as bowling went, you gave it a great try but you can’t hit the broadside of a barn with a bowling ball. But it doesn’t matter, because I never saw the pins. I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”
Makayla and Kelly both said, “Aww…”
“The light’s green,” Chandler said.
Jack put the car back in drive. He glanced at Kelly. “I’d rather you know that I’ll tell you the truth no matter what. I want to be a guy people can trust.”
Kelly smiled. “You’re right. I like it better when you tell me the truth. I change my vote.”
“Me too!” Makayla raised her hand. She sat back, crossed her arms, and frowned at Chandler.
“What?”
“You could say something like that to me.”
“How? You beat me.” Chandler made a face. “But I still did awesome at bowling.” He pointed at himself. “I got three strikes in a row.” Chandler flexed his arm.
“And at least ten gutter balls,” Jack pointed out.
“I’m the Steph Curry of bowling.” Chandler leaned against Makayla, who giggled.
Jack prepared to turn onto Aunt Haddie’s road. “You destroy the pins when you hit them, but…” Jack’s voice trailed off when he saw the unnerving sight of red and blue police lights flashing off the houses.
He sped up.
Four doors down from Aunt Haddie’s, three police cruisers were parked with their lights on. A small crowd had gathered on the street, and there was a news van with a satellite pole fully extended parked on the grass of one of the vacant lots.
Jack stopped the car at Aunt Haddie’s. “The cops are at the Martins’ house.”
“What do you think’s going down?” Chandler asked.
As they got out of the car, Aunt Haddie’s door flew open, and Michelle and four foster kids scrambled out. Michelle ran over to Jack and Chandler while the others rubbernecked.
“What’s going on, kid?” Jack asked Michelle.
Her shoulders popped up and down. “No clue.”
Aunt Haddie appeared in the doorway and called out, “Michelle!”
“Yes, ma’am?”
“Get inside. Everyone get inside.” Like a mother hen gathering her chicks, Aunt Haddie scooted her charges back into the house.
“I’m going to go check it out,” Jack said.
“Chandler and Jackie.” Aunt Haddie’s voice rose. “You too. Get inside. Right now.”
Chandler and Makayla followed Michelle up the back steps. But Jack grabbed Kelly by the hand and hurried toward the police lights.
“Jackie!” Aunt Haddie called.
Jack gave her a quick wave and then cupped his hand to his ear like he couldn’t hear her. He caught the change in her expression but he kept going.
I’m going to get it for this.
Jack and Kelly waded through the circle of people until they stood beside a short, plump girl. “What’s going on, Shawna?”
As Shawna shook her head back and forth, the beads on the ends of her braided hair clinked together. “There’re a dozen cops inside and a few suits. They’ve been in there for almost an hour.”
“Why?”
Shawna shrugged. “No clue.”
“Two Point must’ve really stepped in it this time,” Jack said.
“Then he’s toast,” Shawna said. “He’s still on probation.”
The TV crew flooded the sidewalk with light, and a handsome news reporter walked in front of the camera. When he gestured to the small crowd, the camera panned, capturing the onlookers.