Jack Beale 00 - Killer Run

notice.”
    “Liar… . Did you see Christos trying to hit on her?”
    “Couldn’t miss it.”
    “I think she was interested in you.” Dave was obviously trying to get a rise out of Jack, but he wasn’t taking the bait.
    “We just ended up running together, nothing more,” said Jack, but for a second, his dreams from the other night flashed through his head.
    “Right,” Dave said sarcastically. “What’s Max think?”
    “She thinks that the guy I found in the woods was Malcom.”
    “Who?”
    “Malcom, the guy from the Inn. We never met him, but he was supposed to run The Rockdog.”
    “That’s not what I was talking about.”
    “I know.”
    Dave gave up on Sylvie. “So what’s this about?”
    “You know how Max can get. She gets an idea in her head and before you know it, she’s in full-on conspiracy theory mode.”
    “Shit,” Dave exhaled softly.
    “Shit what?”
    “Patti’s working tonight too. They’ll talk.”
    “Yep. And they’ll both go into conspiracy mode.”
    “Yep,” agreed Dave.
    They had been walking for nearly an hour and as they returned to Dave’s neighborhood, they were hit with the wonderful smells that came from their favorite hangout, the Wok.
    “Hey, want to stop for a drink before you head back?” asked Dave.
    “Sure. Since Max’s working, maybe I’ll get her some takeout for later as well.”
    Dave made the whip-cracking sound and grinned at Jack.
    “I know, I know, but if I bring home some for her …”
    Dave cut him off. “You’re right. It works on Patti the same way.” He smiled.
    It wasn’t long before they were seated at the Wok’s small bar enjoying Mai Tais and waiting for dinner.
    * * *
    The bell on Ben’s front door clingled as Jack walked in. He noted that there were only a couple of cars left in the parking lot, so he knew that Max wouldn’t be too late. As he turned the corner into the bar, Max and Patti looked up from the conversation they were having.
    Patti spoke first. “Hi Jack.”
    “Patti.”
    Before he could say anything else, Max said, “Long walk? You’re kind of late.”
    “We stopped at the Wok after.”
    She made a face, but before she could say anything else, he said, “I brought you some.”
    The face turned to a smile.
    Patti, ignoring that short exchange, began to open her mouth to say something when Jack cut her off. “Dave got some for you too.”
    She nodded, but she clearly had other things on her mind. “So Jack, what’s the deal with this chick you met?” Patti wasn’t one to beat around the bush.
    “What do you mean?”
    “What do you mean, what do I mean? You know exactly what I mean. Dave said she was hot and she was flirty.”
    This was not a conversation he wanted to have, especially in front of Max. “Patti, I wouldn’t know. She was just someone I ended up running with. She fell, she sprained her ankle, and I helped her. If you want to talk about flirty or anything else, I suggest you check in with Christos.”
    “Dave did say he was workin’ her pretty good.”
    “So talk to him.” Changing the subject he said to Max, “How was your night?”
    “Quiet. I tried calling Polly again and didn’t get an answer. I just know something is wrong.”
    “Max …”
    Patti cut him off. “You know Jack, I think she’s right. That quilt that Max has is really valuable. There’s no way that Malcom wouldn’t have come by to pick it up. Something’s definitely wrong.”
    Jack gave both of them his best ‘You-are-so-blowing-this-all-out-of-proportion’ look. He said, “Look, I’m sure that there is a perfectly reasonable explanation. Now, are we going to get out of here? I think I saw the last customers leaving.”
    * * *
    “Jack.” Max poked him.
    “Unh,” he grunted. “Go to sleep Max.” The walk with Dave, the Chinese food, and Max’s expression of gratitude for her Kung Pao Chicken had left him exhausted. Now all he wanted to do was sleep.
    “No, Jack. Listen.”
    “What?” he moaned, knowing that until he heard her out, she would keep pestering him.
    “I’m working the day tomorrow. If I don’t get hold of her tomorrow, we’re gonna’ have to go up there.”
    “Fine. Good night.”

CHAPTER 59
    POLLY ARRIVED IN IPSWICH at 3:30. Lieutenant Malloy was waiting for her at the station. The medical examiners office was about an hour away in Boston, and given traffic he suggested that they go in his car. It was close to five by the time they walked in.
    Jamieson was waiting for