Chapter 44

The woman had nearly destroyed the inside of his truck.

After hauling Harold up the steps away from the fire, Jared had come back to find Jessica Moore kicking at the steering wheel and windows.  Even bound and gagged, she had managed to destroy the radio, break every knob and lever on the heater, and had left the gear shift on the steering column at an odd angle.  She'd been alone for maybe a minute and had spit out the gag and nearly kicked through one of the windows.

"Stop that."  He hauled her out before she could cause more damage, wanted to slap her, but looked over at Harold.  The little man might not react well to Jared putting her in her place.  Instead, he held her up for Harold to look at.  "You see.  I told you I'd get her for you."

He watched Harold stare.

"This is what friends do for each other," Jared said.  "Come on.  We need to go."  He pushed Jessica back into the cab and settled her on the middle of the bench seat.  He started the truck as Harold climbed in on the other side.  Jessica immediately turned.

"Harold?" she asked.

Jared drove and remained silent.  Harold didn't answer either.

"Harold, what's going on?" she asked.  "Who is this man?  Where are you taking me?"  There was silence from Harold, as Jared had expected, but he could also see that this was a mistake.  Harold wanted this woman but had no idea what to do with her.  It could make dealing with the man even more difficult.  If Harold grew disillusioned with her, he might become volatile, more of a problem than an asset.

But, Jared might be able to use it to his advantage.  If Harold's wished-for relationship with this woman went south, Jared might be able to use it to strengthen things between them.  The blacks had a phrase for it, for putting friendship before women, but he did his best to keep the bastardizations of English by the other races out of his mind.  Nonetheless, the sentiment of bros before hoes was valuable, and something he could use to control Harold.

"Harold?  What is going on?"  Her voice was louder and she jerked at the plastic handcuffs behind her back.  Once again, Harold didn't answer her.  As she brought up her knees to kick at the dashboard, Jared dropped his hand onto the back of her neck and pressed his thumb deep into the side, near her carotid.  She squealed, jerked away from him and stopped kicking.

He looked over at Harold.  The man was pressed against the door, cowering away from Jessica.  She would have to be dealt with very soon if Harold was going to be of any use.

It was a short drive to the old factory building.  His people had bought it using a property management company before he had even moved to the city.  The apartment there had been useful for private meetings and the empty factory floor provided ample space for storing supplies.  Though he slept in different locations, this is where he stored the few items that had value to him.  He checked his rear-view mirror as they drew close.  It was still clear.

He looked past the woman, glad that she was finally quiet.  "The one in the basement.  Did you finally kill him?"  He had only glimpsed the man briefly around the side of the broiler where Harold had been hiding, but Jared was sure it was the killer.  Harold had failed to burn him the day before.  That needed to be fixed.

"I...the one you wanted dead, who looked homeless?" Harold asked.

"You started the fire inside of him?  I don't care if he can't be identified, as long as he's dead."  Jared saw Jessica tense.  Did she know this man too?

"I...yes.  Inside him." 

It was plain that Harold was lying.  Jared kept his voice calm, though he wanted to shake the stupid man.  "Did you?  All I want to know is that he's dead.  It doesn't matter how, Harold."

He waited for the answer.  Finally, Harold spoke.  "He...I couldn't see him.  I started the whole room on fire…the floors, the walls...ceiling.  Everything.  He didn't come out after us, right?"

Jared nodded back at him.  "Could he have gone the other way?"

"Too far.  The whole building was burning."

Jared sat a moment.  He wouldn't assume.  He didn't know exactly what the killer was capable of, so caution was the best approach.  He'd take steps when they got to the factory.

"William?" Jessica said.

"Was that his name?" Jared asked.  "William what?"

She didn't answer.

He pulled the car around to the smaller side entrance and pulled the woman out after him.  Harold got out and stopped at the side of the truck.  "Back here?" he asked.

"This is your place, unless there's something you'd like better."  Jared unlocked the door and stopped.  "What happened to Martins, the man who was with you?"

Harold's eyes met his for a moment, then looked away.  "They killed him.  The man and...the detective.  Shot him."

Another lie.  "When?"  No answer came and Jared simplified the question.  "Before or after the fire?"

He watched Harold work on his answer.  "Before.  The detective was asking questions.  He saw your man.  Shot him."

Before Jared could answer, he saw Jessica turn to Harold.  She knew it was a lie as well.  "What?" she said.  Jared jerked her arm and pulled her inside the building before she could say anything else.  He could question her later, but if she accused Harold of the lie right then, it would only make him harder to deal with.

*

(Author's note:  Thumbs up for Jess, right?  Think she has more up her sleeve?)