Infernal

3

"You won't believe the harebrained idea Tom came up with," Jack said as he steered his Crown Vic north on the Jersey Turnpike.

Gia had the front passenger seat, Vicky sat behind them, lost in her Game Boy—which she called "Game Girl." Her mother's influence, no doubt.

"Harebrained? Your brother doesn't strike me as the harebrained type. As a matter of fact I think he's bright and charming."

"That's because he's giving you the full-court press."

She reddened. "Don't be silly."

"Come on, Gia. You've dazzled him. He's got a crush on you."

"You're exaggerating, Jack. We simply have certain tastes in common."

And many, many more you don't, he thought.

Jack smiled. "I wonder if he's making a play for you."

"Don't be silly. I'm pregnant with your baby." She returned his smile. "But every woman likes a little attention and flattery now and then."

Jack put on a shocked expression. "I'm not attentive?"

She patted his thigh. "Sometimes you're… remote."

That was a gentle way of putting it. Jack knew sometimes he became so preoccupied with a fix that he was virtually not there.

"Guilty. Hey, how did we get from the subject of Tom's crazy idea to me?"

"Okay. What's his crazy idea?"

"He wants me to go to Bermuda with him."

Gia looked at him. "When?"

"Now."

"Now? Right after the two of you just buried your father?" She shook her head. "I gather he's not talking about a vacation."

Jack wondered how much to say.

"No, he's talking about money. Apparently he's in some kind of trouble."

"What kind?"

"The legal kind."

She made a face. "Violence?"

"No. More the white-collar kind—or maybe I should say black-robed. Anyway, he needs money and he's got some stashed in Bermuda."

"Did you tell him you don't have a passport?"

"Yeah. But neither does he. Apparently it was confiscated."

Gia winced. "Ooh. Sounds like he's in big trouble. So how does he figure on getting to Bermuda without a passport?"

Jack told her about Tom's boat scheme, finishing with, "No way I'm doing that."

"You don't sound too happy about the decision."

"I'm not. He played the Dad card—said Dad would want me to help him out."

Gia shrugged. "I think you should go."

"What?" He glanced at her. "You're not supposed to drink or do drugs while you're pregnant, you know."

"I'm serious. You need a break, Jack. You've been going nonstop since Kate died. You're overdue."

"I had that week in Florida."

She squeezed his thigh. "You're not going to try to tell me that was a break."

"Well, no."

Anything but.

"Getting away will be good for you."

"With you pregnant? Forget it."

"How long is he talking about?"

"About four days, I'd guess. Maybe five. Way too long with you in your sixth month."

"I'm fine. And I'll be fine. Nothing's going to happen in five days. And in case anything does, I've got Doctor Eagleton just minutes away."

"But—"

"No buts. You can't use me as an excuse."

"I've got other reasons for not going."

"Such as?"

Jack didn't want to mention his plan to exact some unofficial payback, if possible.

If possible… a big if. But if the opportunity came around, Jack didn't want to be out of the country.

He did not want to miss out on something like that. Gia touched his thigh again. "Jack, he's your brother. He needs your help. How can you say no?" Jack would find a way.