by Alisha Basso
***
Jessie texted Cassie.
She answered immediately, telling him she'd just returned from trying to talk to his father. Said it hadn't worked out well and she'd try again later.
He snorted. Like that would be effective. His father was drunk now and would be drunk later.
Wanting to hear her voice, he phoned her instead of texting. "Hey, Cassie. Yeah, sorry about Dad. He's not likely to be sober tomorrow, either."
"Maybe, he did mention having talked to Todd on the phone the night he died." Cassie sighed. "I'd hoped to find out what they talked about."
"He spoke with him?"
"Yes, on the phone. At least that's what he said."
"I'll call and talk to him myself in the morning." Jessie checked his watch, realizing he had a few minutes to spare before starting work. "He often calls us, particularly when he's drunk, so that's possible. Still I can't see how this might help."
"It might not. We need to retrace Todd's steps right to the end before we know for sure."
Jessie rubbed the bridge of his nose. "What are you going to do if you find out Todd was the one drinking and driving."
Silence.
Her voice, when it came, was small and painfully honest. "I don't know. I want the truth, only there's always been a small part of me that's afraid of what that is."
"I'm not saying that's what happened, but we may never find out the truth, and that possibility will always be there."
"I know that. I just have to give him every chance first."
Jessie winced at the pain in her voice. "We only have a couple of leads left to follow. After that…well, we'll have to leave it well enough alone."
"I know…and thank you," she whispered. "I need to know I've done everything I can before I walk away."
***
Frustration burst forth. "Walk away. She's going to walk away?" Could she do that? Of course she could. Todd just hadn't thought she would.
A small voice of reason popped up. What had she said? Something about doing everything she could do first before walking away. He hated only getting half a conversation.
"Jessie, I need to get out. My parents aren't home for a while yet, do you want to go for a coffee?"
Jessie? His brother. Instead of raging anger, there was only confusion and…jealousy maybe. That was an unfamiliar sensation. Mixed emotions swept his brain, tiring him. When had his life gotten so confused?
"No, that's okay. I understand. Maybe another time. I'll see you at school tomorrow. Good luck talking to your dad. Don't forget to let me know how it goes."
Todd's emotions fired up and twisted again. Jessie wouldn't meet her for a coffee? What the hell? How dare he? She was a great girl. How could he not go out with her? Just the concept pissed him off. Didn't Jessie know how special Cassie was? He should've been jumping for joy at being asked.
Belatedly, he realized Cassie was still talking to Jessie. "Have a good evening at work. Yeah. Later."
Shit. Jessie was on his way to work. Todd groaned. He was losing it. He'd shifted from being jealous that Jessie was talking to Cassie, to being pissed that Jessie wouldn't meet her and now he was relieved that Jessiecouldn't meet Cassie, not that he wouldn't. He was a mess. A dead mess.
"Todd, hi! I've missed you." Her beaming smile as she saw him and put away her phone warmed him inside, easing the edgy emotions. His sigh of relief was heartfelt. She loved him.
He knew that and he also knew she needed some people in her life. Good people. And if he couldn't be there for her, and he'd given it an almighty try to remain longer, then, he had to admit that Jessie might be the right guy to take his place.
***
The hospital never seemed to go into quiet mode. The sun went to bed, the moon rose and fell, yet the hospital always hummed with activity.
Gerome, hat in hand, hovered. He couldn't help it. There was nothing like seeing a group of industrious people moving to a silent orchestra that only they could hear. They did it with musical precision, making him feel useless.
Martha and Peter were both in Emergency, being worked on by separate teams. Gerome had no idea if either, or both would survive. He'd contacted his boss and brought him up to speed on the situation. Sheriff Lance Donner was a good man and even he realized the cell phone issue needed to be clarified. There was no way to know when that could happen, given the craziness going on now.
"Deputy, please move down to the waiting room. You're in the way," scolded one nurse on her third pass around him.
Gerome looked around the room and realized there was no place to get out of the way without leaving. The same nurse stopped, grabbed his arm and turned him in the direction of the seats. "Down there." She gave him a little push on his ample shoulders. "Go, now."
He gave her a goofy grin and headed over to sit. He waited. He got coffee, pondering the cell phone. He'd taken a moment to check the calls on Todd's phone while he could and there'd been a few. At this point, he didn't know if any were important. The ambulance had arrived then and he'd raced out to follow.
Finally a doctor walked over to him.
"Deputy?"
Gerome struggled to his feet. "Doctor Robinson. How are they?"
The doctor studied Gerome's face. "It's a good thing you were there, Deputy. Peter's going to be fine only we're going to keep him and run some tests. His pulse is too low and he's still in shock. As for Martha, well, her time has come. We're hoping Peter wakes up so he can see her before she's gone, except if he doesn't wake up soon…I think he'll be too late."
"She's been sick a long time." Gerome knew it would be hard on Peter any time. It would be harder still if he didn't get a chance to say good-bye.
"Yes, she has, and she's come to the end of the road. Not to worry, we'll make her as comfortable as possible."
"Is she awake? Any chance I could ask her a few questions?"
"No. And she's not likely to wake again."
Gerome pursed his lips. It's what he'd figured. "What about Peter?"
"Now he might be able to talk in a bit. They're still getting him stabilized. His leg is going to need to be set and the cardiologist needs to see him. He just might need a pacemaker before he leaves the hospital."
"A pacemaker?"
"Depending on the test results. With his pulse dropping like it did…that could be next. The cardiologist will decide. Why don't you go home? Call the nurses' station for an update before you come back."
"Thanks, I'll do that."
"Don't forget, he's liable to be pretty emotional over Martha already, so try not to upset him. That will cause heart trouble he can't afford, in his condition."
"Understood." With a final nod, Gerome headed to the nurses' station to request a call when Peter was able to talk. Then he would head home. On his way out, the dispatcher called. Another car accident.
So much for dinner tonight.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Tuesday really sucked once she logged onto her Facebook account and saw a message from Todd.
It couldn't be from Todd. Not unless he'd found a way to communicate electronically. And even then, he'd have told her himself. Some jerk had to be using his account. Why? To scare her? To make her wonder if Todd had really died? His coffin had been closed. She never did see Todd's body. She grimaced. Like who'd want to?
Using his account to stir up trouble? Now that was low.
Pissed, and with all that hurt to deal with, crabbiness ruled while she finished dressing and headed downstairs. Giving a perfunctory smile to her mother who stood at the stove, she strode right out the door.
"Aren't you going to eat breakfast, Cassie?"
Cassie let the door slam behind her, ignoring her mother's question. She didn't want breakfast. She only wanted peace.
As she approached the place she usually met Penny, she wasn't surprised to find there was no sign of her, either. Had someone sent her a message from Todd, too?
Cassie kicked a rock the rest of the way to the schoo
l, wanting to release some of the anger inside.
"What's the matter, Cassie?"
"Missing your boyfriend, Cassie? Need a new boy toy for some fun?"
Brodie and Aric had come up behind her. Great. She'd hoped she was done with these two. Yet if they wanted a fight today, well, they could have it.
"I don't want to talk to you two. Go away."
"Go away." Aric snorted. "Like we have to listen to you."
"No, you don't have to, but you will. Like I want anything to do with you."
"And what's wrong with us?" asked Aric, indignantly.
She slid him a disgusted look. "What's right with you?"
He came to a halt. "Hey, be nice."
She spun around to walk backwards. "Don't be an idiot. You spend all your time trying to frighten and intimidate everyone. Who's going to like you, except Brodie and Dory?"
"We do not," he blustered. "Everyone likes me."
Brodie sent a silent dark look at Aric. "Don't be an idiot."
Aric subsided with a dirty look at Cassie.
The school gates appeared in front of them. Cassie strode through. Aric fell in behind. At the stairs, Cassie twisted to look behind her. Brodie stood at the gate, his arms crossed, glaring at her.
"What's the matter with your friend?" Cassie motioned behind her.
Aric shrugged. "He's having a bad day. Someone sent him an email from Todd's account. He's pissed about it."
Cassie stopped mid-stride and grabbed his arm. "What did you say?"
"You heard me," he muttered. "And don't tell him I said so."
"You don't understand. I got one, too."
"No shit?"
"Yes. It was there this morning. That's why I was so nasty. It pissed me off. I know it could be just a harmless joke, only it feels nastier. If you hadn't said that about Brodie, I'd have thought the email was his work."
"No. Besides he's not geeky like that. Only knows the basics."
"Well, someone hacked Todd's account to cause trouble. I, for one, don't know anyone who'd be good enough, except Todd himself."
Todd had been a natural-born hacker and lacked the willingness to apply the same dedication to the proper education channels. He'd taken computer science last year, only arguments with the teacher had resulted in getting booted from class. His mark had been in the high nineties. He could have fought it and continued, except Todd had a problem with authority. Cassie realized in hindsight, Todd hadn't liked much about school. Yet he would have graduated.
Now she wondered what he'd have done in six weeks when school had finished. What could he have done? Continued to work at the store? He'd hated that job.
Todd had been brilliant. But not challenged.
So who felt they were better than he was? Who felt they needed to best Todd, even after he was dead. Who wanted to show everyone they could?
***
Gerome entered the front doors of the hospital the next morning. He hadn't had a chance to come back last night. He needed to ask a few questions. Like where the cell phone had come from.
"Hey, Peter, you're looking better." Peter's skin had a pink flush, only the whites of his eyes showed a yellow sallowness that made Gerome wince. Peter had never been a big man, but now he really looked gaunt and thin. These last months had been tough on him.
Peter opened his eyes to stare at him. After a moment, recognition flashed. "Thanks for coming by when you did. I guess you saved my life." Peter reached up a hand to grab Gerome's.
Squeezing his hand gently, Gerome grinned at his old friend. "I don't know about that. I'm sure someone would have come by eventually."
Peter coughed. "I don't think so. I'd been there for quite a while." His fingers moved restlessly on the sheets. "Thanks for helping Martha, too."
"I'm sure sorry about her condition." Gerome grabbed the room's single chair and pulled it closer before sitting down.
Peter watched him, bleak acceptance in his eyes. "Don't be. They tell me she's unconscious and won't likely wake up. It's better this way." He sighed and rested back. "She's had a few tough years, that old gal. She's been a good 'un."
"Still, it's hard."
Peter nodded slightly, his old eyes shining wetly. "Aye, it is."
Gerome pulled up a chair and sat down at Peter's bedside. "Peter, when I was at your place and talking to Martha, I saw a cell phone on the coffee table. It belongs to a young man who died just over a week ago."
Peter's gaze widened. "Really?"
"He was killed in a car accident at the corner just past your house."
Using his elbows, Peter rolled over slightly so he could see Gerome. "I remember that accident. A couple of kids wandered the site later."
Cassie. That would be something she'd do. "Where'd you get the phone from?"
"I picked it up a while back when I collected the mail from the box. The phone lay off to one side. I thought maybe it belonged to the mailman. I asked him the next day, only he didn't know anything about it." Peter stared up at the ceiling. "So, I figured someone had pulled off to the side of the road and lost it getting in or out of the car."
"When did you find it?"
"Let me think." He worked his fingers, counting days. "I think it was the Monday after the accident. Not likely later than that. It never occurred to me to that it was related to the boy."
"Did you ever use the phone?"
"Me? Naw. I don't like them things. Got a perfectly good phone at home, why would anyone want one to stick a phone in their pocket? So folks could bug the hell out of you some more?"
Gerome grinned. "Would Martha have answered it if it rang?"
"Martha? Yes. I took the battery out 'cause it was wet, and when I put it back in, she said the darn thing woke her up. So I took it out again." He straightened his sheet again. "She was pretty foggy these last weeks, though, so she wouldn't have made a lick of sense, even if she did answer."
Gerome stood up. "I'll let you rest now. Thanks for taking the time to talk to me. I'll try to stop by tomorrow." He turned to leave, then stopped. "If Martha wakes up, give her my best."
"I will." Peter shuffled upward on his bed. "Thanks for stopping by."
"Any time, old friend…any time."
***
Jessie texted Cassie on her way home from school. She read it and grinned. He'd talked to his dad on the phone. Apparently Adam had called Todd that last night and asked him to go to the liquor store.
"Like that's going to happen. Todd wasn't old enough to buy booze. His father knew that." Thankfully no one was around as she talked to the air again. Cassie remembered seeing the broken glass at the accident site and a torn, charred label. The same label as the one she'd seen on the bottle in Adam's hands earlier.
"Now that I think of it, that makes total sense. That's why there was booze in the vehicle. He'd gone shopping for his dad. Except as he couldn't buy it himself, there had to be someone with him." Wow. Cassie immediately called Jessie back. "Hey, Jessie. Did he say anything else?"
"Not really. Just that Todd hadn't wanted to go to the liquor store since he was on his way home…but according to Adam, he'd finally agreed to."
Cassie pounced. "Todd was on his way home?"
"Right. That's what dad said?" Jessie spoke slowly now.
"So that's the last thing Todd did before the accident. There wasn't enough time for much else. He dropped off his friends, went to the liquor store and connected with someone who bought the booze for him. Your dad has to know who that was."
"Was there time for someone else to get into the picture?" Jessie's voice strengthened forcefully. "We have to be honest here. There is the chance that Todd drank some of that alcohol himself and then drove home. If he'd had something before or while he was gaming with his friends then more afterwards…"
Silence.
Cassie closed her eyes, desperately wanting to erase those words that hung so heavily between them. "No. I don't have to be that honest," she whispered, painfully.
"Ca
ssie, I know you feel that way. I just don't want you to be hurt if it turns out differently."
"I know that. Let's return to the main topic. How can we find out who bought the booze?"
"We could ask the deputy to question whoever was working at the liquor store that night? He might do that."
"Maybe?" Cassie didn't know that he would though; she'd been sending emails pretty often and he didn't always reply. He was probably sick of her. "Not that this case is a priority."
"Maybe not, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't follow up, at our request."
"True." Cassie thought about the options. Her house loomed ahead. "So stop by tomorrow after school, send the deputy an email or what?"
"An email he'd get in the morning. I don't have his cell phone number and am not sure that I'm comfortable calling him at his house, even if we had the number." Jessie's warm teasing voice sounding through the phone, made her toes curl.
Since when had Jessie's voice felt like warm hug? Cassie shook her herself. Her head was hooked way too much on this guy. He'd infiltrated her mind and even her dreams. She sighed heavily. What a lost cause.
"Cassie? Are you okay?"
Never. "I'm fine." She shook her head gently. "Just thinking. I'm going to do both. I'll email him tonight and I can go by his office after school."
"Not alone."
Cassie stopped and looked at her phone. "What?"
"I'd like to come with."
"Oh." Her toes wiggled.
"If you don't mind." Now Jessie's voice deepened with insecurity.
Rushing the last few feet, Cassie burst inside and upstairs to her room. "No. Sorry. That's fine." She laughed. "That's great, actually." She walked over to her bedroom window and stared out. "I didn't think you'd want to come."
He was quiet for a long moment. "I'd really like a chance to get to know you better." His voice deepened yet again. "If you're interested, that is."
Opening the window, Cassie leaned against the frame, breathing in the fresh air, a warm smile curling up her insides. She grinned. "I'm interested." Cassie laughed again feeling heat rush over her face and tickle her toes
