Girl Jacked Read Online Free PDF Page A

feeling trapped at the gates of sleep. With a groan, he pulled the covers back, grabbed his sweatpants, and headed to the kitchen for some water.
    He found it spotless. Replacement had cleaned up the spilled soda, and she had given the whole place a quick tidying.
    Replacement lay curled up on the couch asleep. She clutched the thin blanket from the back of the sofa tightly around herself.
    She looks like a nice kid when she’s sleeping. What did Aunt Haddie call her?
    He still couldn’t remember her name. He’d have to find out tomorrow.
    He looked back at the clean kitchen and smiled.
    The kid is like having one of those little elves around that do the work for you.
    He turned and went into the bedroom, returning with the comforter from his own bed.
    Gina thought his old army-green blanket was too scraggly so she went shopping one weekend and picked this out for him as a present. It was a super girly, purple and white with pink flowers comforter. He shook his head. It looked utterly ridiculous but it was incredibly warm.
    He held his breath while he laid it over the sleeping girl, but her eyes fluttered open, and the corners of her mouth curled up.
    “Thank you,” she whispered as he watched her snuggle into its warmth.
    Jack started to walk away but turned and asked, “Seriously kid, why are you so angry at me for not coming for a visit?” He regretted the question as soon as it left his mouth.
    Don’t go there. What does it matter?
    She slowly opened her eyes. “Do you want to know?”
    He nodded.
    “When you and Chandler went to Iraq, everything changed at Aunt Haddie’s. Chandler was gone. I was ten. Michelle was sixteen. Before, if there was a problem, Chandler always fixed it. He was like Superman. If stuff broke or something went wrong, he was there. But if he couldn’t fix it he’d call you.” Her eyes searched his face. “Get it?”
    Jack shrugged. “He’s Superman. I get that. But …”
    “If something happened that Chandler couldn’t handle, you’d show up and take care of it. Chandler would just pick up the phone and you would come, and everything would be okay. To me you were like Batman. When Chandler died, we didn’t know what to do. I kept thinking you’d come back. You’d come back and fix it.”
    What the hell did she want me to say? She doesn’t get it. Chandler really was Superman, but I’m no Batman. I was like stupid Jimmy Olson following him around.
    Jack’s shoulders slumped. He waited there silently, unable to defend his actions.
    As she lay there, her eyes told the story. “You didn’t come back. You didn’t even try.” She rolled over.
    Jack walked back into the bedroom, shut the door, and closed his eyes.
    Just what I needed. She thought I was a superhero. She doesn’t understand. I’m no hero. I’m the guy that killed Superman.

Chapter 4 – Fish Out of Water Dance
     
    Jack adjusted his assault rifle and looked back across the dimly lit room to Chandler. Two other soldiers were standing next to him.
    Chandler lifted the huge machine gun he carried and nodded. One of the other soldiers moved to stand behind Jack and to the left.
    Jack pushed the door open, and his gun snapped up. His eyes swept the room. The square interior had open cabinets against one wall and a table and chairs against the other. Rubbish littered the floor.
    Empty.
    In the middle of the back wall was another door. Jack held up his hand and made two quick gestures forward. He slipped silently into the room and carefully picked his way over the trash-strewn floor toward the other door.
    One more room.
    Jack reached the door and stood off to the side. He held up his hand and closed it into a fist. He looked back to Chandler. Chandler nodded. He pushed the door open.
    Jack’s eyes went wide.
    Canisters and gray sacks filled the room. They had all received a briefing on the possibility…
    Phosphorus bombs.
    “MOVE!”
    The four soldiers sprinted back through the rooms they had just cleared.