The Blade Man

by Debra Purdy Kong

  Once everyone was seated, Stan said, “If it’s okay with you, I’ll record our conversation. My memory’s not that great. I would also ask that each of you place your phones on the table. You’re welcome to record the discussion or to put your parents on speakerphone or FaceTime. Whatever works.”

  Felicity tapped her phone and spoke to her mother. Del and Lawrence also began recording.

  Travis placed his phone on the table, but made no move to record anything. “I can’t stay long. Got chores at home.”

  Stan gave a quick smile. “Me too.”

  Leaning forward, he stated the date and time with a formality and seriousness that caused the Friends to exchange worried glances. Was it finally dawning on them that this discussion would be a bit more serious than they thought?

  “Please note that this is just an informal exchange of information,” he said. “But I do need to know how many of you have enough computer skills to hack our databases.”

  Felicity’s cheeks flushed pink. “Not me.”

  “I hope you’re telling the truth, Felicity,” her mother’s voice burst out of the phone.

  “I am, Mom. Totally.”

  “I have the skills,” Del answered. “No one else here does as far as I know.”

  “Thank you,” Stan replied. “I understand that Craig Hedley’s a competent hacker too. Is he as good as you?”

  Del shifted in his chair. “He wasn’t, but we haven’t talked about that in nearly a year, so I really don’t know.”

  Stan kept his gaze on Del. “Did either of you ever hack into personnel files to learn employee addresses or other personal information?”

  Del turned to his cohorts, whose frozen expressions made it clear they’d be of little help. The resignation clouding his face reminded Casey of the ethical dilemma she’d helped create. This kid was being asked if he’d committed a crime, and she’d delivered him straight to his interrogator.

  He bit his lower lip. “I thought we were here to talk about Hedley.”

  “It’s related,” Casey replied. “Please tell the truth, Del.”

  “Am I in trouble?” he murmured.

  Stan peered at him. “Not if you’re honest with me. As I said, this is just an informal fact-finding mission.”

  “Yeah. Okay.” His dark eyes barely met Stan’s. “I hacked into a database with personal info, but just one time, I swear.”

  Through the phone, Felicity’s mother murmured something Casey couldn’t quite hear, but her comment made Felicity’s shoulders hunch closer to her ears.

  “Did you find Gwyn Maddox’s home address?” Stan asked.

  Del’s forehead glistened. “Yeah.”

  The other three Friends exchanged surprised glances.

  “But I didn’t tell anyone,” he added.

  “Okay, people.” Stan paused. “Tell me everything you’ve learned through those databases.”

  Felicity squirmed while Lawrence turned the recording off on his phone. Travis was the only one who seemed to relax a little. Maybe he hadn’t been in the loop.

  “Felicity,” her mother said through the phone, “tell Mr. Cordaseto everything you know, darling.”

  The girl bit her lower lip. “Mostly, we know work schedules.”

  “And how much employees earn,” Lawrence added.

  Dark patches appeared on Del’s tawny face. Elbows on the table, his clasped hands rested against his mouth.

  Stan nodded. “What else?”

  All eyes were again focusing on Del. He lowered his hands and began to speak. The kid’s knowledge of employee performance reviews, disciplinary actions, and incident reports was more aggravating than surprising, and unnerving. By the time Del was finished, Casey could smell his deodorant.

  “Thank you for telling me,” Stan said, “but you do understand that you’ve broken the law.”

  “Yes,” Del murmured. “I promise it won’t happen again.”

  “We didn’t want to hurt anybody.” Felicity’s voice wavered and her eyes became glassy.

  “I believe you,” her mother said over the phone.

  “So do I.” Stan’s gaze drifted to each of them. “Because your intent wasn’t malicious, we won’t press charges, but I need to know if Hedley knew that Mr. Maddox was using that first-floor corner office.”

  Travis, who’d been adjusting his ponytail, stopped moving. Casey also noticed that Del was staring at him.

  “Travis?” she asked quietly.

  “What? Nothing!” His petrified face started to crack. “Uh, do I need a lawyer?”

  “Have you committed a serious crime?” Stan replied.

  “No!” Travis cleared his throat. “Like I told Casey, Hedley showed up at my place last night and only stayed for a few hours. Del’s visit had freaked him out and he was worried he’d be blamed for the fires.”

  “Did Hedley know where Mr. Maddox’s temporary office was located?” Stan asked.

  Travis seemed to think this over. “I guess.”

  “Were you telling the truth when you said that he left your place?” Casey asked.

  “Yes!”

  “Did the police question you?” Stan asked.

  He nodded. “And my parents. I didn’t tell any of them that he’d been in the basement.”

  The anguish and guilt on his face almost made Casey feel sorry for him.

  A message popped up on his phone screen. Travis leaned forward and swore.

  “What is it?” Stan asked, his voice low.

  “Hedley wants to know where I am. He says something big’s about to go down.”

  THIRTY-FOUR

  Stan rose, but not that quickly, Casey noticed. His abdominal wound was still healing.

  “Let’s get these folks off the premises and some place safe,” he said.

  “Felicity, do what he says!” her mother shouted. “I’m coming to get you.”

  “’Kay.”

  Everyone pushed back their chairs and stood.

  “Travis, tell Hedley that you’re en route to another coffee shop but you’re not sure which one yet,” Stan added.

  Travis began texting as he shuffled toward the door.

  “We need to evacuate, guys,” Stan shouted to the drivers. “Arsonist might be on the premises.”

  “No!” Felicity shook her head. “Hedley wouldn’t do that.”

  “He might.” Del’s gaze darted around the room.

  “Stay calm, everyone. It’ll be fine.” Stan raised his hand. “Let’s move.”

  The drivers lost no time packing up and heading out. Casey noticed the Friends’ strained, fearful expressions. She also noticed Stan’s demeanor—he had things well in hand. They both knew that the next few minutes would be unpredictable and dangerous, which was why he was already describing the situation to a 9-1-1 operator. As he spoke, he gestured to the kids to follow him.

  “Let’s go, guys,” Casey said.

  Stan held the phone away from his ear while the Friends entered the hallway. “Casey, get dispatch to help you make sure the building’s clear and meet us outside.”

  “Ten-four.”

  As Stan followed the Friends into the corridor and toward the exit, she turned the other way and ran to the communications room. Within seconds, she and both dispatchers began a search. The dispatchers would take the main floor while Casey headed upstairs.

  Few people ever used the old, unreliable elevator at this end of the building. Casey dashed for the staircase at the far end of the corridor. She was passing by the lunchroom when glass shattered inside the room.

  She halted in her tracks. “What the hell?”

  An explosion knocked her off balance. Casey smacked into the wall and fell. Her ears rang. Smoke wafted into the corridor. Squinting behind her, she slowly propped herself up, aware that the dispatchers were suddenly beside her.

  “Casey!” one of them said, leaning over her. “Are you all right?” Their voices sounded muffled.

  “Yeah.” Feeling woozy, she let them help her
to her feet. The stench of gasoline made her stomach roil. “You guys okay?”

  “Yep, we were searching locker rooms when the blast hit.”

  Casey checked herself for any sign of blood. Nothing. She coughed as smoke began to fill the corridor.

  Stan charged toward her. “Are you hurt?”

  “No.” Though she’d probably wind up with a couple of bruises. “Where are the kids?”

  “On the sidewalk across the street.”

  Stan ushered her outside and instructed the dispatchers to stay with the kids. There was still plenty of light on this warm, mid-June evening. Hedley shouldn’t be hard to spot. Casey rubbed her aching arm. Her throat felt blackened and parched, as if she’d swallowed a teaspoon of powdery charcoal.

  “I think he’s still here,” she whispered, glancing around the parking lot.

  “What for? The guy’s made his point,” Stan replied, looking at the damaged garage. “He’d have to know that the cops and fire trucks are on their way.”

  “But Hedley’s text to Travis said something big was going down. Could be more than the lunchroom.” Casey spotted movement by the high wooden fence. “There! He’s by the west fence, behind a bush.” All the angst, sorrow, and anger she’d been feeling since the riot rushed out of her. “We see you, Hedley!” Her voice reverberated throughout the yard. “Get your sorry ass out here!”

  Stan placed his hand on her shoulder. “Not helping,” he murmured, and moved toward the fence. “It’s over, son. Police are on their way. There’s nowhere to go.”

  Gas can in hand, Hedley dashed toward the parking lot, tossing something behind him. Seeing that he was wearing an MPT uniform infuriated Casey.

  “Put the can down!” Stan shouted. “No one needs—”

  An explosion at the fence ignited some of the boards. Hedley dashed toward the damaged garage. Stan ran after him. Casey followed, aware of approaching sirens.

  “Hedley!” a voice shouted behind her.

  Casey slowed down and looked over her shoulder, horrified to see the Friends.

  “Get out of here!” she shouted.

  Two patrol cars pulled up behind the kids. Travis raced past Casey. “Travis, get back here!”

  Officers hurried out of the vehicle and ordered everyone to stop running. Del, Felicity, and Lawrence did so, but Travis kept going. Casey spotted Hedley climbing the chain link fence with impressive athletic skill.

  “Suspect’s climbing the fence!” she shouted to the cops.

  “Everyone, stay back!” one of the officers shouted.

  Stan joined Casey as Hedley reached the top. More patrol cars were pulling up to the fence just a few yards from him. Hedley hesitated, then dropped back down to the ground.

  “Hedley!” Travis yelled.

  “Why are you here?” Hedley answered. “I thought you were on my side!”

  “I am! But this is wrong, man.”

  Her heart pounding, Casey stepped closer to Stan as one of the officers ordered the Friends to leave. He then marched up to Travis and told him to step back. The cop, a beefy man with fierce determination etched on his face, stood in front of Travis, blocking his view of Hedley. Travis turned around and trudged back to the Friends. Another officer escorted all of them off the property.

  “Put the jerry can down, son,” the second officer called out. “No one has to get hurt.”

  “This is Gwyn Maddox’s fault!” Hedley shouted. “He ruined everything!”

  “How?” Stan asked.

  “Ask the shithead yourself!”

  Casey spotted a pair of cops scurrying toward the smoking tree. If she could keep Hedley distracted, maybe he wouldn’t see what was coming.

  “Why wear a driver’s uniform, Hedley?” Casey asked.

  “Can’t you figure it out?” he shot back. “Thought you were smarter than that.”

  “Obviously, I’m not. So tell me.”

  “For Gwyn’s benefit, of course. His suspicions would upset drivers enough to cause a lot of shit and cost him money. It worked too, from what I hear. Gwyn had to be shown how weak he really is.”

  Casey didn’t know how to respond to that. Instead, she took a step closer , but the officer held his arm out in front of her.

  “Why strike so early in the evening this time?” she asked Hedley. “You had to know you’d get caught.”

  “To show Gwyn that everything he values can be destroyed anytime, anywhere. It was fun seeing his stupid face when he watched his car burn.”

  “Gwyn isn’t here,” Casey shot back, “and why hurt my coworker? She never did anything to you.”

  “Casualty of war.” Hedley shrugged. “Shit happens.”

  War? Casey sighed. Clearly, Charlie Applebee wasn’t the only with mental health issues.

  “Besides, Gwyn doesn’t give a shit who’s hurt as long as it’s not him,” Hedley went on.

  “He cares more than people give him credit for,” Stan said.

  “Bullshit!” Hedley raised the gas can higher.

  Casey shook her head. The guy would never accept any responsibility. Out the corner of her eye, she saw the cops step out from behind the smoking tree, their weapons drawn.

  “Put the can down,” the officer next to her ordered.

  Hedley didn’t acknowledge him but rather began pouring gasoline over himself.

  From a distance, Casey heard a female scream.

  “No!” Lawrence and Del yelled at the same time.

  Why were the Friends still here? They shouldn’t be watching this. None of them should be. Yet, Casey found herself unable to turn away, terrified she’d trigger the wrong response. She held her breath as a firetruck pulled into the lot. Cops crept closer to the fence. If Hedley turned around, he’d see them.

  “Please.” The officer near Casey edged toward Hedley. “Put the can down.”

  To her surprise he did so, but a moment later Hedley pulled a small object from his pocket. A lighter? Oh god.

  “Hedley, stop!” Felicity shouted. “Don’t do this!”

  The Friends were now on the sidewalk, gripping the chain link fence. Felicity started to cry.

  “Del!” Casey called out. “Take Felicity away from here!”

  Del reached for her, but she shrugged him off.

  “N-no!” Felicity began running down the sidewalk.

  Firefighters joined the officers, who spoke too quietly to hear what was being said. They then eased toward Hedley until they were only a few yards away. Still, if Hedley flicked that lighter, he’d be in agony before anyone could extinguish the flames. Sweat trickled down Casey’s sides.

  “You folks need to go too,” the officer told Casey and Stan.

  The cops at the fence were pointing weapons at Hedley. If they were accurate shooters, they could hit him through the fence. But would the bullets trigger a conflagration? Casey prayed she wouldn’t find out. She hugged herself to control the trembling.

  “Casey,” Stan said, “we’d better step back.”

  She forced herself to move until Felicity bolted past her. How on earth had she managed to slip past everyone?

  “Felicity!” Casey darted forward and grabbed her arm. “Stop!”

  “Let me help!”

  “Absolutely not.” Casey maintained a firm grip while the girl squirmed and attempted to yank free. Del and Lawrence soon appeared and helped her restrain the sobbing Felicity.

  “What the hell is going on here?” a familiar and unwelcome voice bellowed.

  Gwyn Maddox stormed past Casey. Oh lord. Things had just gone from bad to worse. Stan and the cop intercepted Gwyn and spoke quietly. Gwyn nodded, then edged toward Hedley.

  “I’m the one you’re mad at, Mr. Hedley,” he said. “Why take it out on yourself?”

  “My life’s over because of you!”

  An officer ushered all of them further back while the firefighters drew nearer. Casey’s heart pounded.

  “You’re a bright kid who’s going to college,” Gwyn said. “What exactl
y is over?”

  “A university scholarship and my job for starters!” Hedley replied, “thanks to you telling my employer and UBC that I’m a criminal who can’t be trusted.”

  What? Casey turned to Gwyn. How could he have been so mean? She noted the shock on Stan’s face and the icy glare that would have given Gwyn a freezer burn if he’d seen it.

  “You destroyed my future!” Hedley shouted at Gwyn. “I’m returning the favor.”

  “Spraying graffiti and starting fires are illegal actions,” Gwyn shot back. “Mine were not.”

  Casey’s shoulders tensed. How was that response supposed to defuse a life-threatening situation?

  “What about ethics and morality? Human decency!” Hedley yelled. “Look at the shitty way you treat employees while you live in a mansion and drive expensive cars.”

  “That’s not—”

  “Gwyn!” Stan called out. “Back off!”

  Gwyn scowled at Stan a few moments, then lowered his head.

  “All right, you’ve made your point,” Gwyn said to Hedley. “Maybe I can make some calls and fix this.”

  “Too late!”

  The back of Casey’s neck prickled. Hedley lifted his arm high in the air. The lighter hovered above his head. Hedley kept his attention on Gwyn, didn’t see or apparently hear one of the cops scale the fence, jump down, and slink toward him.

  Hedley glanced over his shoulder just as the officer leapt, and Casey gasped.

  THIRTY-FIVE

  “Are you ready?” Summer asked, her expression radiant. “It’s almost time.”

  Casey smiled. “Just one more minute.”

  She took a calming breath like she used to in her yoga days. To be the center of attention felt overwhelming and kind of surreal, yet she’d never been happier. Wedding day. Finally. She wanted to absorb every moment, to create a lifetime of incredible memories.

  “Kendal’s mom did an awesome job with the decorations,” Summer said.

  “She sure did.”

  Casey strolled to the window and looked out at the enormous lawn below. To her right, white chairs decorated with bows were adjacent to a colorful garden. On the left, a canopy, tables, and chairs had been assembled for the buffet to come later. A dance floor would appear after dinner. By then it would be early evening. Kendal and her mom had arranged to have twinkling lights threaded throughout tree branches. It would be romantic and festive. Spectacular.