Jail Bird. by Em. Z. (good book recommendations .TXT) 📖

Vicky! How's it going?" I asked, putting on a big fake smile.

Victor gave me a glare. "What?" I looked down at the goblin on the floor as if just noticing he was there. "Woah! How did this happen?" I exclaimed, and then leaned over him, kicking him in the side as I yelled, "Hey, goblin dude, you okay?"

He groaned and more blood gushed from his nose. I didn't think he felt all that good. I sucked in a mock sympathetic breath through my teeth, looking up at Victor.

"Doesn't look so good."

Victor sighed and opened the cell door, helping Glen drag the kid out. A few other officers took over, and Victor looked at me. "Just because he's dead doesn't mean you have to fill his shoes." He said.

Anger seered through me, and I stood up. He watched as I stalked over, reached through the bars and grabbed him by his perfect collar, tight. I pulled him close, staring him straight in the eyes without a hint of the sassy-bitch front that I usually had. This wasn't the time for that, this was the time for cold-hearted-bitch to take over.

"now you listen to me, you son of a bitch. Don't you ever talk about my father like that! He did what he did for my family! To protect us! Next time I hear you say something like that, I won't be so gentle!" I threatened, tightening my grip on his shirt and giving his body one more slam against the bars for emphasis.

I let him go, shoving him back and backing away. "That can be classified as assault on a police officer." He said, his breathing slightly heavy, and his eyes full of surprise.

"Yeah, well, I'm a risk taker." I snapped.

His eyes darkened, and he threw a glance down the hall, searching. When he was satisfied that no one was around, he pulled his keys and unlocked the door, and threw open the cell doors, stalking towards me. I let out a grunt as he threw me against the wall, pinning me there. His face was inches from mine. "I see through your tough guy act. Underneath all this shit you spew is a vulnerable girl who just lost her father. We've been watching you for years. I see it, you know, in the pictures. On the outside, you look fine. You look like you're ready to take on the world, but then I look into your eyes...and I don't see it. I see anger, and fright. What are you afraid of, Jane, hmm?" He growled.

"Fuck you." I spat.

"Hmm." He muttered under his breath, before slamming his lips onto mine. My arms were pinned to my side, so I couldn't struggle, not that I wanted to.

This guy was hot, I couldn't deny that. A jackass, yes, but the body is weird and stupid. And right now, it was in control.

What was he doing? I was a criminal, you don't kiss criminals. Especially when you're the chief of police. He pulled back, and let me go. Turning and striding from the cell, closing the door behind him, and leaving.

I was sure my hair was a mess. I was leaning all of my weight on that wall, as my breath came out in short pants, not from loss of air, I wasn't that much of a wuss, but it came as a bit of a shock, my heartrate was a little eratic, causing my chest to feel tight, and in turn, I couldn't catch my breath for a minute.

What just happened?

Code.

 

So right now, my heart was pounding ten miles a minute, and my palms were sweaty. Did I seriously just get kissed by the one dude who probably isn't allowed to kiss me? I mean, I wasn't an expert on this kind of stuff, but wasn't there like a law against this kind of stuff? If not, then there should have been.

I slid down the wall, feeling more vulnerable than I've let myself feel in a while. Maybe this was his goal, to make me feel like a freaking vulnerable damsel in distress. He wanted to know what I was afraid of. I was afraid of the one gang member that caught sight of me years ago, and hasn't given up on making me his. His name was Ike. He was a ruthless gang member, intent on taking everything I held dear. Family, friends, and my virginity, because apparently he had some creepy obsession with me.

I remembered when I saw him, too. I was eighteen, and Dad and I were talking on the phone as I walked back home. I remember the look in his eyes as he stepped out in front of me, that horridly evil grin that plastered itself on his face all the time. He introduced himself, and then pulled me into an alleyway, still on the phone with my father.

I remember my father asking what happened, and when I managed to tell him, he said to give the phone to Ike.To this day, I do not know what he said to Ike, but he stopped, giving me a glare that could kill a weaker man.

He gave the phone back to me, and said something in my ear that haunts me to this day - "You won't escape me forever, Princess. I will have you all to myself one day, and Daddy won't be able to save you."

And that's when I kneed him in the groin and ran from the alleyway.

I was snapped from my thoughts whenever Glen rounded the corner and stopped to look in at me. "Normally I wouldn't allow this, but you have a phonecall from someone who says it's an emergency." He said.

"Say who his name was?" I asked, my face smooth, studying my nails.

"Actually, she said her name was Tracy." He said.

Oh my God. Recognition flew through me at the code name.

If a girl calls and says she's Tracy, that means I'm going incognito and that you have to call me Danny.

The son of a bitch made it!

I smiled so big I think even Glen was surprised. "Let me talk to her."

He led me to the phone, and I grabbed it from where it sat, eagerly putting it to my ear.

"Tracy?"

"What is blue, green, and red, and lives with the wind, and the stars?" If my smile could grow any bigger, it would have.

"A parrot."

I heard a bit of scuffling, "Jane?"

"Danny!" I sighed in relief, my entire being relaxing.

"Jane, listen to me, I'm not going to be able to make it to the vacation spot this summer," Code for Blood is thicker than water might have to wait a while, and he changed his appearance again.

"Whoa, so what color is it this time, blue, red?" I asked, referring to his hair.

He laughed softly. "Green," Code for black.

We have codes for everything, because we usually talk on the phone, and there is this really nifty thing cops can do like listen in.

"Cool! I want pictures, you've never gone green before!" I said excitedly.

"I know." He chuckled.

"So Danny boy, when were you planning to tell me about your little joy ride?" Code for suicide mission.

"Ike challenged me to a race, and I thought I could beat him." Those words made my face pale.

"You didn't." I whispered.

"I'm afraid so."

So challenging someone to a race, usually meant that he was close by and Dad thought he could pick him off.

"So where are you now?" I asked quietly.

"Virginia." Code for California.

"Geez, Danny. Do you know where I am right now?" I hissed.

"Why in the world would I call the police station if not? I thought it was a nice touch when you flipped off the Helli-cam." He added, pride in his voice.

My laugh was boisterous. "You saw that?"

"Well it's a bit hard not to see it when they zoom in on it." He said dryly.

"Actually, I thought when I crashed was a nice touch. Did you see when I leaned against the car?" I asked him.

"Yeah, and saluted an officer." He muttered.

"Yeah." I smiled and sighed.

"Listen, though, I don't want to see you hurt, alright? Next time you get into a crash, turn the wheel the so it faces outward of where the car is tipping, it should counter it. Other than that, I think it was pretty great." He said.

"Yeah, one for the records, eh?" I would have nudged him if he was there.

"Yeah."

I sighed as the change light blinked on the pay phone. "Hey I have to go, my time's up." I said.

"Alright, hey, do me a favor and tell Victor to watch his back with you. I may not be a killing criminal, but I will kill if he plays rough with my daughter." He growled.

"Dad! What was the point of all this code talk if you were just going to blow our cover?" I whined.

He laughed on the other end. "Bye, sweetheart."

I grumbled a bye and set the phone back on the hook just as Victor barreled out of his office.

I gave him a little finger wave and he glared at me. "Get her into the conference room." He growled.

"I always wondered what you guys called it." I said thoughtfully 

Glen led me into the conference room and sat me down. Victor sat down across from me, his eyes dark. "You had to know who it was, Vic, I mean come on! Who else would it be?" I laughed.

"Where is he?" He asked me.

"Virginia." I drew out the word, my voice innocent as I traced the table top.

"Listen to me, Jane, I can lock you up in here for a long time!" He threatened, leaning forward.

I raised an eyebrow. "Who says I want to be let out?"

Surprised registered on his face, as he slowly sat back. "My offer of two weeks still stands." He muttered.

"No, I fulfilled my end of the bargain the last time I was in this hell hole of a room. You've got nothing left to bargain with." I said, a smug smile tugging at my lips.

"For Christ's sake, does he even have green hair?" Vic asked me.

I smiled knowingly.

"God-" He cut himself off, clenching his fists on the table top. He stared at his hands for a moment, before his face changed, and he looked back up. "Who is Ike?"

Great, even his name made my face pale. "He's no one." I said.

"Is Ike code name for something else?" He asked me.

"No." I snapped.

"So he's someone of importance." Victor guessed.

I pressed my lips into a thin line, crossing my arms.

Victor stared into my eyes, and his gaze softened. "Okay, I know this guy scares you. You can tell me, believe me, I can help." He said.

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, a policemen's going to help the daughter of a renowned burglar. Very funny." I said.

"Dammit, Jane I'm just trying to help!"

"Dad doesn't need help!" I hardened my voice.

I watched in satisfaction as I made Victor angry. "It's fun isn't it? You thought I was going to be the cooperative little bitch my father never raised me to be!" I spat.

He clenched his fists again. "Tell me one thing." He said, looking up to stare into my eyes.

I waited.

"What was with the bird riddle?" He asked me.

At that, I laughed. "When he's incognito he hires a girl to call telling