Page 54 of The Long Game

Jesus Christ, at that speed it was a wonder Grady wasn’t on two wheels. Jack bit back a semi-hysterical laugh. The relief at seeing him was knee-weakening.

The SUV was still rocking to a halt when Grady threw his door open. He strode up the walk, his long legs eating the distance in five strides, his eyes on Babs. “You okay, Jack?”

“Yup.”

Babs’ perpetual sneer vanished as soon as he recognized Grady’s uniform. He took a slow step back. “I didn’t do anything.”

Jack snorted. A lifetime of criminal behavior and the asshole had never learned how notto look guilty as hell?

Babs glared at him. “Always brave when you’ve got backup.”

Jack shrugged. He could not possibly care less what Babs thought of him.

“Hear he kicked your ass a time or two without it,” Grady observed mildly.

Babs’ face turned an unhealthy shade of red. He muttered, “Un-fucking-believable,” and stomped away.

“Don’t come back,” Jack said, voice firm.

Babs offered them a one-fingered salute over his shoulder. Jack didn’t take that as agreement.

They watched Babs climb into his car and drive out of the parking lot. Jack memorized the make, model, and plate—just in case.

He jumped when Grady’s hand touched his shoulder.

“You okay?”

Jack opened his mouth, then closed it again. “No,” he admitted.

Grady didn’t say a word, just pulled Jack into a tight hug.

Jack held on.

Grady ranhis fingers through Jack’s hair, holding him as close as he could without making it hard to breathe. Four days ago he wouldn’t have been allowed to do even this much, but it still wasn’t enough.

“What do you need? What can I do?”

“Arrest his ass?”

Grady chuckled darkly. “I wish. Maybe I’ll get that lucky someday, but in the meantime, I’d like to give his parole officer a heads-up that he’s making a nuisance of himself.”

Jack shook his head. “I doubt it will make a difference since it’s been years. No one will care.”

“Icare,” Grady growled. “What the hell did he want, anyway?”

Jack sighed. “He wanted me to pass along a message.”

“He did?” Grady asked. He was pretty sure John Babcock and Jack didn’t know any of the same people. Well, except from prison…

“Someone I used to be close with.”

Ah. Which pretty much answered that. “Are you still in touch with this person?” Grady worried Jack wouldn’t want to tell him if the answer was yes. Grady was a cop, after all, and fraternizing with prison associates was frowned upon.

Jack shrugged. “Only to exchange Christmas cards.”

Grady chuckled.

“Regardless, I have no intention of passing along messages for Babs or anyone else, if you’re worried.”

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