Page 35 of Jack
"Where are you going?"
Jack simply raked him with a cold look."I'm going to have a conversation with this woman."
"Dad, please!" Jason put asidehis fear long enough to race after him and grabbed his arm. "It'snot her fault. She did not know I had something at school. I justwanted to talk." He rushed on. "I bought us both icecream."
Jack's brow lifted cynically. "Sheallowed a teenager to buy her ice cream? What's next? Jewelry? Hasshe asked you for money?"
The shocked look on his son's face gave himthe answer. "She would never do anything like that. I like her!"
"Of course you do." Peeling thehand off his arm, he turned towards the door. "Go to your damnroom. And if you think of sneaking out again, think carefully on it,"he added before slamming out of the house.
Racing for the house phone, Jason quicklydialed the number of the bar.
"Bennett's this is Zach."
"Zach." His heart was poundinginside his chest and making him ill. "It's Jason."
"Who?"
"Jason Hadley. May I speak to Zuri?"
"She's busy."
"Please! I have to talk to her."
There was a pause for several minutesduring which he thought he was going to faint with worry. Then herbeautiful voice came over the line. "Jason, is something wrong?"
"My dad. He's on his way there."
"Where?"
He almost stamped his foot in frustration."To the bar. He was here waiting for me when I got home, and Itold him we were at the park. He was pissed."
"I see."
"I am so sorry."
"Don't worry about it. I can handlemyself. Take care."
He hung up the phone and stood there in thehallway, vibrating with temper and fear.
*****
"What is it?" Zach demanded assoon as she hung up. He could tell by the expression on her face thatsomething was up.
"We're going to be having a veryunpleasant visitor."
He gave her a narrowed gaze as he set asidethe pint he had been building. It was almost five and the eveningcrowd was pouring in.
"Who?"
"Jack Hadley." She was on her wayout - pushing at the swinging doors.
"Why?"
"It seems he's none too pleased that Iwas with his son. Send him back to the office, will you?" Sheuttered breezily. "I am certain we would not want the entire barto hear this confrontation."
"Wait a damn minute," he hissedas she was already turning the corner.
