Sammy Keyes and the Power of Justice Jack by Wendelin Van Draanen

Author:Wendelin Van Draanen [Draanen, Wendelin Van]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-97407-5
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2012-07-10T04:00:00+00:00

NINETEEN

“Quite a character,” Big Boy says, watching us stare at Justice Jack and Billy. “You kids knew he was coming? Is that why you’re here?”

I give him a guilty little shrug.

“So it’s not an after-school snack you’re looking for.”

It feels like he’s about to kick us out, so Casey starts scrounging through his pockets and manages to scrape up about three dollars, while I put in thirty-seven cents.

“Uh-huh,” he says, eyeing our measly pile of cash. Then he takes a good hard look at each of us and nods. “Seeing how it’s your first time here, why don’t we say the Cokes are on the house. And let’s get you a better table, maybe a little closer to the action.”

We both just stare at him a minute, not really believing our ears. Finally I choke out, “You’re serious?”

He cocks his head, telling us to follow him. “Welcome to Buckley’s.”

We wound up in a small booth right across the aisle from where Jack and Billy were sitting with the Man in Black. Billy had given us an impish grin and slipped a finger in front of his lips, so he knew we were there. Jack did, too, although he seemed more worried than happy to see us.

“So, Jack—” the Man in Black is saying, but Jack cuts him off.

“With all due respect, good sir, the name is Justice Jack.”

“He’s no ordinary Jack!” an old guy in the booth next to him says, and everyone else in the place follows up, shouting, “He’s Justice Jack!”

“And this,” Justice Jack takes the opportunity to announce, “is my faithful assistant, the Deuce!”

“All hail the Deuce!” the same old guy shouts.

“Hear! Hear! Long live the Deuce!” the rest of them call.

Casey and I look at each other like, The Deuce? but Billy’s obviously loving it. He stands up and lifts his arms high like he has legions of adoring fans. “Thank you, good people!”

Now, the Man in Black is looking a little uncertain. Like, Where am I, and who are these people? He leans forward across the table and says something that we sure can’t hear, and apparently Justice Jack and Billy can’t hear, either, because they lean in, too. And then the three of them have a hush-hush powwow while Casey and I sip our Cokes, hoping their huddle will break up already so we can hear again.

Finally the Man in Black leans back and raises his voice. “What do you mean, you have to blindfold me?”

Justice Jack crosses his arms and puffs out his chest. “It’s the way it has to be!”

Just then a rocking ringtone cuts through the air, and the peanut gallery of old guys calls out, “The Justice Jingle!” as Jack snatches the phone from his belt.

Casey grins and whispers, “Did you recognize that?”

“What?” I whisper back.

“His ringtone.” I shake my head, so he says, “ ‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash’ by the Stones.”

We go back to watching Jack, whose eyes are wide behind his mask as he checks out the display and shows it to Billy.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.