Chapter 2

"Now I got as much information out of Margo as I could" Jack explained as they rolled down the interstate. "There was some sort of 'incident' she called it, where a trucker got pulled over by the police and then he ended up in the hospital. Gracie went down to interview him in the hospital, but they said he wasn't even there, never had been. So she gets the big idea to go to the trucking outfit that hired this guy and disappears. The cops asked some questions, and figured she just gave up and went back home but her office hasn't seen or heard from her."

"You worried about her Jack?" Wang had a hard time reading Jack's face; he always put up the macho, confident look no matter what the situation.

"Me? Nah. Gracie's tough, she can handle herself. Most of the time. Sometimes. Damn, you bet I'm worried! I don't know what it is about that girl Wang, but part of me says to run away and the other part says to stick around. I used my key to her apartment and checked the place out, but there was no signs of struggle and no notes lying around."

"You didn't find anything at all?"

"Yeah, a windbreaker I left from the last time I was there, Wang. Nothing important though."

Just then the CB radio broke in. "Breaker one-nine, this here's Plastic Goose. You got your ears on Pork Chop?"

Jack grabbed the mic and responded "Ten-four, Goose. Whatcha need?"

"Negative on the need, PC. Just seeing if everything was okay. Saw your rig but the channel was quiet. Not used to having it so quiet around you, I thought my radio was goin' south. If you don't watch out someone else is gonna have a chance to say somethin'."

Jack grinned. "Thanks, Goose. Got a rider today, been sawing his ears off. Still got my ears on in case something comes up. Ten-seven Goose, catch you another time." He hung the mic back up.

"That's some network you got out here, Jack. It's almost like a brotherhood, sort of like the Chang Sings back home. Would they back you up in a tight spot?"

"Some would, and others would just downshift and mash it to the floor to get away. Like that big fight we had one time at a biker bar in Texas; remind me to tell you that story sometime, you might learn a little about how real fighting is done. Not that Kung Fu stuff you practice. Now where was I…yeah, Gracie."

"I always thought you two would settle down together, Jack. When you saw her at the airport when I went to pick up Maio Yin, you went right over and introduced yourself."

"And got shot down, don't forget that Wang."

"Yeah, but she came back, didn't she? And she was right there with Margo and Eddie when we went in to rescue Maio Yin the first time. I think you both are the same type, Jack."

"Maybe that's the trouble. When I got married the first time I was way too young and didn't know better. When I got married the second time I was way too stupid and should have known better. Always going by my reflexes…"

"…or other parts…" interjected Wang.

"…instead of my head. That's really weird coming from a guy named Wang, Wang. Don't get me wrong; when I come up into the city Gracie and I usually end up together and we have a good time. But like I've said before, sooner or later I rub everybody the wrong way and then that's it. I'm like having a dessert; it's better to have some time pass before you get me again."

"Listen Jack; both of you spend most of your work day talking, you on the CB and her with the law practice. Maybe if you didn't talk too much things would work out better; maybe sometimes you just get tired of talking."

"What about you, Wang? You and Maio Yin ever get tired of talking?"

"No, we can come home from work and talk from sundown to sunup easy."

"Nobody does that Wang; who are you, Doctor Ruth?"

"It works for us, Jack. That's the important thing. Have you been with any other women since you've been seeing Gracie?"

"Well, no. Not that I couldn't if I wanted to, the old Jack magic is still hitting on all cylinders. I...just don't want to, that's all. Been concentrating on work, you know."

"Right, anything you say. So where are we going?"

"A smart man would go to the police and start there."

"Okay, but where are we going?"

"Heggen's Trucking Company. That's where Gracie was heading, so we're going to go there looking for a job."