Dishonoring Jack

Chapter Twenty Seven

 Jack's heart pounded in her chest as she contemplated the words she'd overheard. Oliver wanted Donovan hung for his crimes, and Jack knew just how relentless the man could be when he had his eye on a goal. If no one told Titus the real story, he would have no choice but to convict Donovan for the murder of the eldest Slate brother and hang him for his crime. Jack knew Donovan was just trying to keep her safe, but he now had only two options: fight or flight. He needed to decide immediately, for Sheriff Fletcher would not hesitate to pursue justice.

Her hands still shaking, Jack emerged from the alleyway and looked left and right. She was the only one outside and she wrapped her arms around herself at a gust of wind that hit her as she exited the shelter of the alley. Jack needed to find Donovan and tell him what she'd overheard. The time for passivity was over; they had to take action.

Jack slipped inside the front door and hoped that no one would notice her return. The music had reached a feverish pitch and almost the entire church, barring a few people conversing along the edges and the handful of injured soldiers from Dr. Benjamin's, was engulfed in Ragtime dancing. Only a few weeks ago, Jack would have enjoyed the festivities, but now it seemed brazen and shameless. Max Slate spun Margaret in a circle and the joy on the girl's face nearly made Jack sick. Her warning had fallen on deaf ears. Remaining still, Jack scanned the rest of the room, searching for Donovan, but her eyes settled on Titus Fletcher instead. He was watching her with marked concern and when she caught his gaze, he lifted his eyebrows in question. Titus knew she'd overheard the conversation. Jack just nodded and chewed on her lip until it brought blood. She needed to find Donovan.

A hand touched the small of her back, and Jack flinched away, her hand balling into a fist.

"Jack, it's just me," Donovan murmured in her ear and the nervous energy building in Jack dissipated.

She seized his arm and pulled him closer to her so she could whisper in his ear. "Where have you been? I've been looking for you!"

"So have I," Donovan answered, his eyes resting on Max Slate.

"Can we talk?"

Donovan nodded and they slipped out the front door of the church. Jack gestured to the alley and they stood on opposite sides between the brick buildings. Jack leaned against the wall, the cool brick soothing her heated spirit, and closed her eyes for a long moment.

"Jack? What's wrong?"

"They're coming for you."

A beat passed and Jack watched as Donovan's dark eyes studied her. "What did you hear?"

"The mayor knows, and I overheard him talking to Sheriff Fletcher. The Slates have levelled charges against you. Murder in the first degree."

Donovan raked a hand through his hair and protested, "But I didn't--"

"Well, he doesn't know that, does he?" Jack snapped. "Oliver wants you hung for your crimes, and even Titus wondered if he and the Slates were in cahoots."

The words stunned Donovan into silence and he ran his hands over his face. For the second time, the Slate brothers were using the law to threaten his life despite their repeated atrocities.

"They're paying him off."

"What?"

"The Slates." Donovan sighed and leaned against the bricks, the moonlit shadows highlighting his sharp jaw. "They're paying Donovan off to get rid of me. Then there's no blood on their hands and everything is cleaned up, nice and tidy. With me gone, they can take Soka's land and they'll have everything they want."