Rock Her(41)

Kip looked at Jack with as normal of a face as he could possibly muster. “What’s new?” Then he turned and continued down the hall toward the elevator.

Jacky stood still and watched him go, arms at his side and his jaw hung open. Then he called out just before Kip entered the elevator, “Kip, you all ready for the trip to Afghanistan tomorrow?”

Just before the doors closed, Kip’s hand jabbed out between the doors and they reopened. Kip stepped back into the hall. “Tomorrow?”

“Yes, Kip. It’s all set. We need to be at JFK at zero seven hundred.”

Fuck, Kip thought. That’s right! How could I have fucking lost track of time like that?

Then, to his horror, he realized that he wasn’t ready at all. And in that same realization he knew that he didn’t have to be. He needed nothing. His manager would arrange everything and his band mates would take care of the little things. All he had to do was pack his clothes and show up at JFK at seven am.

“Let’s talk tonight,” Kip called down the hall. “I’ll be ready. Are you and Stabbs and Lock ready?”

“All set!” Jack called out.

Kip let the door go and pulled his head back inside the elevator. Before it closed Kip called out, “See you tonight Jacky, I have an appointment today.”

Jack shrugged at the odd encounter he had and turned back down the hall. Just then Annie opened the door and stepped into the hall, still combing out her wet hair. Jack stopped again and took her in.

“Oh, Hi Jack.” Annie said. “Are you going to see Kip? He’s not there I am afraid.”

“No, I just saw him. He went down already.”

“Oh, good. He is getting is a taxi. We are in a hurry.”

“We?” Jack asked.

Annie walked by him. “Yeah we, Jacky. I can call you that, right?”

“Uh, I am not sure,” Jack said, furrowing his heavy brow.

“No?” Annie stopped.

“Well, I mean, my friends call me that.” Jack looked embarrassed. “I mean, not that you’re not my friend. I mean, Kip calls me that.”

“Oh, Okay, I’ll just call you Jack, then, Okay?” Then Annie turned and headed down the hall toward the elevator.

Jack stood and watched until she disappeared behind the elevator doors. Then he scratched his head and turned around again. In his mind, Jack’s consternation was not uncalled for. He had never seen Kip keep a girl in his room for longer than one night. He knew she was his biographer, but he hadn’t expected an ongoing relationship with her. She clearly had spent the night, since her hair was wet when she came out of the room. Well, Jack thought. There should be no danger of a long term relationship once we leave for Afghanistan.



Kip and Annie sat in front of Lieutenant Porter. His black eyes flicked between the two of them, making sure they both understood the danger.

“Mr. Jones,” Porter said. “I can assure you nothing will happen to Ms. Beecher. She will be completely wired for sound. At the first hint of anything out of the ordinary, we will be in there.”

“Yeah, I’ve seen the movies,” Kip said. “I know how it works. I am sure all will be fine. But Annie has asked me to be involved. I’d like to be on site, helping out in some way?” It was a statement more than a question.

“Highly irregular, Mr. Jones,” Porter said, cocking his head.

“I think I’ve shown that I can do my fair share in a pinch,” Kip reminded him.

Porter smiled. “That’s a Goddamn fact, Jones. A Goddamn fact! The precinct is still buzzing about your antics yesterday.”

“You mean more so than they were when I was arrested for drunk and disorderly last year?” Kip asked, only partly joking.

“Even that, Mr. Jones, Even that,” Porter grinned.

Porter was a large, fit black man with a smile as big as his face. He laughed heartily at Kip’s comment, which Kip thought had softened him up when he finally said:

“I think we can come up with a place for you to be nearby. But understand this, Mr. Jones, You are in no way to involve yourself if anything should happen.” At this, Porter looked at Annie quickly. “Not that anything will. This is pretty routine, actually. I don’t expect there will be any trouble. Just do as we discussed and all will be fine. I assure you.”

“Lieutenant, I can say without any doubt that I don’t want to be involved if anything goes wrong. I have had my fill of gun play for the week.” Kip said as he scooted back in the chair so he could be reassured his nine millimeter was still there.

“Great!” Porter said. “Do you have any questions, Ms. Beecher?”

“Where exactly will Kip, uh, Mr. Jones be, Lieutenant?” Annie asked.