THE ABDUCTION OF CASSANDRA
Page 37
“I hope so,” Brandon said. “But I want you to know, I’m gonna start hitting the pavement, looking for a job, as soon as the trials are over. I want to pull my own weight. I hope I can find something full-time — “
Mr. Skelly interrupted him. “Hold on. Delphia and I have been talkin’ about that. I appreciate what you’re saying, and every little bit helps. But both of you men need to get your G.E.D.s, so you can get somewhere in life, like college for starters. If college is God’s will, I mean. Celeste has been naggin’ Roy about getting his G.E.D. for ages. But now you can work on it together. I’m sure those home school folks, like Celeste’s mom or Mrs. Hixson, can help. I’d rather you just get a part-time job, Brandon, and focus on studying. Living under the same roof, you can motivate each other. We’re serious about this.” Mrs. Skelly nodded.
“I can’t deny it. I been puttin’ it off,” Roy admitted. “See, Brandon, I want to turn pro, but I’m not planning a career in boxing. I just want a few fights, to get ranked, to prove that a stiff leg isn’t an excuse for bein’ a loser. I’m gonna have to plan a real career, too.”
“I haven’t thought much about getting my G.E.D.,” Brandon said. “Of course, up until recently, I haven’t thought much at all.”
“I know Cassie Hixson would be proud if you did it,” Mrs. Skelly said, smiling.
That’s Mom, Roy thought, biting his tongue. She could manipulate a statue.
“Like I said, gettin’ my G.E.D. is really important to me,” Brandon said with a straight face. “Always has been.”
Everyone laughed. Mr. Skelly walked over and squeezed the boy’s shoulder, just as Dr. Hixson had done the night before.
* * * * *
“I’m going to hate leaving here, Cassie,” Brandon said. “Your whole family has been so wonderful. . . . I feel like I could talk to your folks about anything. And Nick. . . .” he smiled. “He’s so special. But the main thing. . . . Well, you know. Out at the airfield, as bad as it was, I always knew that you were close by. You didn’t just fix my nose and arm wrestle and all the rest. You gave me courage.” Looking in her eyes, standing in the guest room, he had said enough. He took her in his arms and kissed her, holding her tight.
Her hands rested on his shoulder blades for a full minute as they spoke without words. Unlike their first kiss, lying on the floor of the hangar after arm wrestling, they both felt this one down to their toes. Finally, Brandon broke away, although he didn’t want to. “We have a lot to pray about, don’t we?” he asked, looking in her eyes.
“Uh-huh. I hope that. . . . Well, you know what I hope. Anyway, let’s go downstairs. Everybody wants to see you before you go back to Royal’s house.”
They descended the stairs together, and walked into the living room, where the family had gathered.
“I guess it’s time, huh, Brandon?” Seated with his wife on the couch, Dr. Hixson smiled at the boy. “We’re going to miss you.”
“When you’re not here, that is,” Mrs. Hixson added, a mischievous look in her eye.
Cassie and Brandon sat in adjoining seats, Daisy plopping down at their feet, tail wagging. Nick joined her, stroking her, looking up at the two. “I’m gonna miss you too,” Brandon said. “But I expect I’ll be back often enough to be a nuisance.”
“You’ll never be a nuisance in this house,” Dr. Hixson replied. “I’m just glad you’ll be with the Skellys. God has a way of working things out, doesn’t he?”
Before Brandon could answer, Mrs. Hixson reached down beside the couch and brought out a gift-wrapped box. “Consider it a birthday present, not a going-away gift,” she said, leaning over to hand it to the boy. “For your new birth.”
“What’s this?” he asked, his brow furrowed. “You guys didn’t need to — “
“Oh yes we did,” Cassie interrupted. “In this case, we definitely did. Open it.”
He eased off the ribbon and pulled away the plain white wrapping paper. He smiled when he saw the box inside. He lifted the lid and pulled out the leather book, doing a double-take when he saw his name embossed in gold on the black cover: Brandon Fox.
He opened it to the flyleaf. “It’s just like yours, Cassie. Just like your miracle Bible.” He turned back a page, to the endpapers, and saw that all four of the Hixsons had signed their names, including Dominic’s careful printing. Above the names was written, “For our brother Brandon,” and the date of his conversation with Royal.
“I don’t know what to say,” he gulped. “I was gonna buy one of these, but. . . .”
“Don’t say anything, Brandon,” Cassie said. “Just read it.”
He nodded his head, leafing through the book.
“Nick, wasn’t there something else?” Mrs. Hixson asked her son.
“Oh yeah! I forgot!” He jumped up and ran into the den, returning with another, thinner package, similarly wrapped. He thrust it into Brandon’s hands.
Brandon unwrapped the paper. Inside was a black, heavy canvas zip cover, with pockets, a notepad, and several highlighting pens. “That way it won’t get broken if you drop it into a puddle,” Nick advised him.
Cassie took the Bible and cover from him, and carefully guided the leather into the canvas holder. Then she handed it back. “Don’t let it gather any dust, Brandon. Read it. I’d suggest you start with the Gospel of John. You know Jesus. Now it’s time to learn about him.”
“Thank you, Cassie, I will. Thank you all.” He leaned over and kissed Cassie’s cheek. Nick giggled.
“Welcome to your new life, Brandon,” Dr. Hixson said.
“And you know what?” Cassie added, taking his hand. “It’s never gonna end.”
They said their goodnights, and as Brandon drove back to the Skellys’ house, the Hixsons drifted off to bed. They all fell asleep instantly, even Cassie, whose heart was singing. But Brandon wouldn’t get to sleep for hours. He was eager to start reading his Bible.
Gradually, the houses of Yorkville fell dark and silent. There would be a lot of work to do before the trial, and as Davis had warned, the trial itself wouldn’t be any fun. But Cassandra Hixson was home at last, and when the time came, she’d be ready.
EPILOGUE: The Aftermath
Eldon Floyd Dale was indicted by a federal grand jury for the crimes of aggravated kidnapping in the first degree, conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and various firearms charges. If convicted, he would face forty-five years in a federal penitentiary. After that, in theory, he would face a separate trial by the state of Tennessee, for false imprisonment, criminal responsibility for the conduct of another, and criminal trespass, all misdemeanors.
* * * * *
A group of men at Temple Beth Israel set up a private scholarship fund for Cassie Hixson, Brandon Fox, and their rescuers. Although the donors were not publicized, Sam Mendel suggested the scholarship fund, and made the first contribution. Many of the group will already have full academic scholarships, but if Royal or Brandon choose to attend college, all of their expenses will be paid. Anyone else in the group needing financial assistance will also receive it.
* * * * *
Despite his success in identifying Eldon Dayle as Cassie’s kidnapper, with Olivia’s help, it was the decision of the director of the FBI that Donald Burgess be reassigned to a desk job in the Records Management Division in Washington. Unwilling to take such a demotion, Burgess resigned from the Bureau. A year later, he ran for the office of District Attorney in Erie County, Pennsylvania, where he had grown up. He was defeated, having received less than thirty percent of the vote.
* * * * *
Following an autopsy in York County, Shannon Maclean’s body was returned to her parents in Tallahassee, Florida. She was cremated, and her parents and older brother, a successful plastic surgeon living in Kansas, held a private funeral, and sprinkled her ashes into the Gulf of Mexico. Her parents wept. Her brother ground his teeth in anger.
* * * * *
After leaving the Hixsons’ home, Gabriel Terrena arrived at a modest dwe
lling on the outskirts of Hong Kong, where he would undertake his next assignment, under a slightly different name, and with a slightly different appearance.
* * * * *
Although Mr. Skelly was never reprimanded for giving Celeste a key to the old airfield, he did ask her to give it back. She was happy to do so. She never wanted to see the place again.
* * * * *
The story continues in
THE GIRLS OF YORKTOWN
Chronicles of Yorktown, Vol. II