Most Dangerous Place by James Grippando

Author:James Grippando [Grippando, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Mystery, Adult
Goodreads: 30317417
Publisher: Harper
Published: 2017-01-01T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 32

The deposition of David Kaval ran late, and Jack missed the last flight back to Miami. Motels near the Jacksonville airport were booked, so he took a room downtown near the St. Johns River. Jack went downstairs for a late dinner at the terrace café. By eight p.m. it was comfortable enough to sit outside, but not cool enough to explain his sudden craving for a hot cup of coffee.

“Don’t you love that fresh-ground smell?” asked the waitress.

“You smell it too?”

She pointed out a tall building on the other side of the river, the Maxwell House manufacturing plant. “They’re roasting beans as we speak. Been here over a hundred years now—almost as long as me, heh-heh. Folks up in Hoboken lost their plant, but we kept the Max in Jax.”

She smiled—it was an obvious source of community pride—and then took his order. Jack thanked her for the unintended reminder—“Max”—and as she stepped away, he connected on FaceTime with Andie, Riley, and the lone male in residence at the Swyteck household.

“Kiss Max good night, Daddy.” The image of a wet, slurping tongue suddenly filled his iPhone screen.

“Good night, Max,” said Jack. “Riley, how’s my big girl?”

Her little face returned to the screen, her lower lip protruding. “Sad.”

“Why are you sad?”

“Cuz Uncle Theo came over and told me a sad story.”

“What was the story?”

“Fatty and Skinny went to bed. Fatty rolled over, and Skinny was dead.”

“Honey, that’s just a joke. No reason to be sad.”

“Skinny’s not dead?”

“No. Skinny is fine. I promise.”

She giggled. “Silly Daddy. I knew that. I was just messing with you.”

“Messing with me, huh? Did Uncle Theo teach you that too?”

“Uh-huh. He says you’re easy. Mommy says so too.”

“Ooh-kay,” said Andie, as she appeared on the screen behind Riley. “Bedtime for blabbermouth.”

They said good night, and Andie promised to call after Riley was asleep. Jack disconnected, and as he laid his cell aside, he couldn’t help but think how strange life could be. A man he’d saved from the electric chair was now his best friend and was teaching Riley to “mess with him.” His closest friend from high school was working on the other side of the world, wondering if his wife might spend the rest of her life in a Florida prison. He felt sad for Keith—on many levels. Just one night away from home, and Jack was already lonely. Keith had spent nearly an entire month in Hong Kong without his family. FaceTime was his lifeline.

Working behind Neil Goderich’s old desk had had its advantages, Jack supposed.

The busboy filled his water glass, and Jack reviewed his notes from the deposition while waiting for his meal. His plan was to think about Kaval’s testimony overnight, digest things, and speak with his client in the morning—until his phone rang. Isa was not so patient. He took her call.

“How did it go, Jack?”

He drew a fragrant breath of air—good to the last drop—and started with the marriage certificate. He recounted what Kaval had told him, which was met by silence on the line.

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