If Jack's in Love Read Online Free Page A

If Jack's in Love
Book: If Jack's in Love Read Online Free
Author: Stephen Wetta
Tags: Mystery, Young Adult
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an inscription on his legal pad.
    Stan and I answered his ring. The cop bent and squinted through the dark screen.
    â€œI’m looking for Mr. Charles Witcher.”
    â€œHe’s not here,” my brother said.
    â€œStan!” Pop called, admonishing him. He swung from the sofa, where he’d rearranged himself after spotting the cop through the window, and invited the officer in.
    He turned down the volume on the TV (he was watching As the World Turns ) and turned to the cop with a cocky grin. He didn’t offer a seat or anything, he just grinned. Meanwhile I studied his sandy curls and his red mechanic paws rakishly placed upon his hips and wondered what he was going to do. (Stan and I had inherited Pop’s hair and not, for which we were thankful, Mom’s orange tangles.) Pop was magnificent, but what made him magnificent was too obscure to understand, exactly. His smile made you an accomplice in mischief that never happened; or you might find yourself laughing at things he said without knowing why. It was always hard to tell whether he was being charismatic, or simply hollow.
    The cop introduced himself as Reedy. “I hear you and Mr. Kellner got in a scrap,” he said. You could see in his eyes that he was already taken by Pop. My father had that redneck charm so vital to the design of the South. But it only worked on ladies and cops.
    â€œHas Kellner swore out a complaint?”
    â€œNo sir, I’m just following up on what I heard.”
    â€œAm I in trouble?”
    â€œNo sir, I just want to make sure everything remains peaceful.”
    â€œGiving me a warning, huh?”
    â€œI’m not taking sides. I just want to know if there’s anything I can do to help you and Mr. Kellner be civilized with each other.”
    â€œKeeping the peace?”
    â€œYes sir.”
    Pop nodded distrustfully. He had the mountain man’s suspicion of the badge. He kept out of trouble with the law, and he had taught us not to believe in cops. “Don’t mess with ’em, don’t call ’em. You get in trouble you can get out of it without’em.”
    Now he said, “Boys, disappear.”
    My brother and I hesitantly headed to our room, with no option but to chart the progress of the conversation through the walls and windows.
    The men meandered out to the yard. They kept looking at the roof of the house as though they were discussing home improvements, but it was just one pair of eyes wandering off and the other pair following. Pop’s shirt was undone two or three buttons, disclosing his softening chest. His bulging forearms and pinched elbows made me think of Popeye.
    We heard the big bedroom door creak open and ran to the hallway. Mom was stepping out, one-eyed from her nap.
    â€œWho’s your father talking to?”
    â€œThe police,” we said.
    â€œGood Lord, what now?” She came and peeked out the window.
    Pop was dominating Reedy. He had his arm around the cop’s shoulder, and he kept poking his chest, making points.
    â€œWhat does he want?” Mom said.
    â€œSays he came as a peace officer,” Stan said. “Old man Kellner snitched. I’m gonna kick his ass for that.”
    â€œYou watch it,” Mom said. “Look who’s in our yard, that’s what kicking someone’s ass does. And stop saying ‘ass.’”
    We watched Pop usher Reedy to the patrol car. After the cop got in he sat and wrote in his pad for a while.
    When Pop entered the house we filed into the living room.
    â€œShhh,” he said.
    We waited until Reedy started the engine and moved the cruiser away.
    â€œSays he wants to keep the trouble between me and Kellner from escalating.” Pop winked. “Letting me know he’s got my number.”
    â€œWhat’s that mean?” my mother said.
    â€œHe’s Johnny-on-the-spot, that’s all. Through with your nap? I’m hungry.”
    â€œWhat’s he going to
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