When I come back, James has his back to me, looking at the new arrivals shelf. I look around but I don’t see Princess. “Where is Princess?” I ask, “Did you put her out back?”
“Yes, I did. She acted like she needed to go out.” He takes the aspirin with the glass of water I brought for him. “I just wanted to stop by and make sure everything is OK here.”
“You look tired, James. You should go home and sleep.”
“Yes, I should but I have to get back to it. Call Logan when you’re ready to go. He can take a break and walk you home.” He smiles as he says that, knowing we will use that time for some really intense kisses.
I give him a kiss on the cheek. “Be safe James. Don’t take any unnecessary chances.”
“I will, Cassie. Don’t forget to call Logan when you’re ready to go.”
“Yes, mother.” I say sarcastically as I’m pushing him towards the door. “That should be in about half an hour.”
Finally, I get him out the door so I can close up. I finish counting the drawer and realize I left the bank slips in the office. I wrap a rubber band around the money and head for the office after turning off most of the lights. I am thinking about everything that has been happening, and how it all ties back to Reverend Jake and the demon. I go to my laptop and pull up the picture of Reverend Jake again. I finally realize what has been nagging me about the picture. It’s the eyes, they’re Matt’s eyes. This gives me an idea so I pull up a genealogy website I was using to research the Holts. Sure enough, there it is in black and white. The Reverend’s son, Luke, changed his name when he turned 18. He changed it to Matt Brewer, my ex Matt.
With shaking hands I send Logan and James a text showing the name change. I fill out the bank slip and attach it to the money and then head back out to the front to get my gun from under the counter. I see someone standing over by the paperback book rack with their back to me. I swear I locked that door when James left. Who in their right mind would think the store was open with the lights off?
“Excuse me, but we’re closed for the day. You’ll need to come back tomorrow.”
He turns around and grins at me, it’s Matt, but it’s the Matt I remember from the undercover days, the Matt possessed by the demon. As I look at his face, his eyes start to glow. “That won’t work for me. We need to finish our business tonight, Cassie. It’s time for you to die!”
I cross my arms, I don’t want him to see how my hands are shaking. I remind myself to breathe, concentrating on that for a moment until I feel like I can speak without my voice wavering, “Why Matt? Why did you let the demon back in?” Maybe if I keep him talking something will distract him so I can grab my gun or my phone.
“I’ve known the demon for years, Cassie. I was there the night he was called over from the other side. I’ve spent most of my life with this demon in my life. I never told you, but Reverend Jake was my father. When he was killed in prison the demon came to me.” He picks up a book off the shelf, turning it over in his hands. “I couldn’t believe it when you walked into my life. I fell in love with you but the demon was too strong, and you know what happened when the demon took over.” He looks at me with sorrow. He is the old Matt for a moment before his eyes start to glow again and then it’s the demon again.
“The demon came back to me a few days ago, but this is the first time I’ve seen you alone.”
I know I’m in big trouble. I think my phone is in the office and my gun is behind the counter. There is no way I can reach either one before Matt would get to me. I look over at the door, knowing I would never make it in time. I hear Princess barking and scratching at the back door. I wish I had let her in before I came back from the office. I start to back up, maybe I can get to the office and lock the door.
Chapter 43
Logan finishes up the report he’s writing on the latest domestic dispute, hoping this is the last one. There have been more than 10 domestic disturbance calls in the last two days; it’s as if the town has gone crazy. He rubs his temple, trying to will the headache away. He’s grateful it’s not as bad as the headaches he gets when the demon tries to possess him while he is asleep. This headache is probably just stress related. He goes over to the water cooler for some water to wash down some aspirin. He looks up when he hears the door open. “Hey, James. Any more calls come in?”
“Only a report of an abandoned car out on Wheelock Road, thank God.” James looks at his watch, noticing the time. “Why don’t you head over to the bookstore, Reggie should be about ready to close up. Take her out to dinner and then get some sleep. I’m going to head out and tag the abandoned car for towing before I head home. Steve can call me if any more calls come in.”
“Thanks, James. Feels like I haven’t slept in a week,” he says as he heads out the door and across the street to his cruiser. He notices the flower shop is still open and stops in for a bouquet of flowers for Cassie to apologize for the long hours he’s worked the last couple of days. He then walks into the liquor store next door for a bottle of Cassie’s favorite wine, thinking he might as well do it up right. Maybe tonight he will give her the ring he’s been carrying in his pocket for over a week.
Fifteen minutes later he is almost back to his cruiser when his headache suddenly escalates to a shooting pain, bringing him to his knees. He sees flashes of red hair and blood and knives, the same images as the dreams he’s had since he was a kid. “Cassie! Gotta get to her, gotta save her,” he says, willing the pain back to a tolerable level. He staggers to his cruiser as the pain starts to subside, knowing that she is in great danger; that the demon is trying again right now! He speeds towards the bookstore, calling James on radio, praying that he’s listening, telling him that he needs to get to the bookstore because the demon is trying again. “God, I hope James heard me,” he prays, “We’ve got to keep her safe.”
Chapter 44
I see a sheriff’s car pull up behind the store, the siren on and lights flashing. Good, someone heard Princess and called the sheriff. I hear Logan’s voice trying to calm Princess but she’s having none of it. I hear Logan pounding on the door, “Cassie, you in there? Why is Princess out here barking?”
“I’ve waited years for this,” the demon says through Matt, “The reverend helped me find you and then he died and I had to start all over again, hopping from body to body until I found Matt. After you walked into Matt’s life, I had to gather the energy to kill you,” it says as it walks Matt’s body over towards me.
I hear the back door open. Thank God Logan’s here. I hope he stays out of site!
I look over at Matt but he’s gone. He’s probably behind the shelves. I make my way towards the back door and Logan, hoping to get close enough to tell him about the demon being in Matt.
Logan walks over towards me, his gun out of the holster. I look up at him, not wanting to let the demon know he’s here. I hurry over towards Logan, hoping he sees the fear in my face. He sees me and puts his gun back in the holster. “No Logan, he’s here! I think he’s behind the shelves!” I whisper loudly, hoping he hears me.
No such luck, he walks over towards me with questions in his eyes as he puts his hat on the counter. “Hey, Darlin’. Why was Princess outside barking her head off and scratching at the door?” he asks.
“Because of me,” Matt replies, showing himself from behind the bookshelves. “Just one more person to kill before I can take care of Cassie. You should have stayed away deputy. This is Cassie’s destiny and now it’s your destiny too,” the demon says. “Today is the day you are going to die.” He pulls out a butcher knife, a knife that is familiar to me from my dreams. Suddenly I remember why I always dream about that knife. That is the knife that killed my parents, and I saw it happen. I cover my face as I remember that night so long ago, that night that I had blocked from my memory.
“You were the one who killed my parents. I saw you, I saw it all! And it was with that knife!”
“That’s right Cassie, it was me. I was the one who killed your parents.
Reverend Jake was a great host body, he welcomed me. Made it easy for me, easy for us to coexist. Now his son welcomes me.”
“Why did you kill my parents? Why do you want to kill me?”
“Because, Cassie, your death will set me free. Your death will open the door between our worlds and allow me to come through completely and exist as a separate entity instead of having to possess someone else’s body. Reverend Jake believed that you would cause his death, and he was right but I really wanted him to kill you so I could be free.”
“I was only six, how could I have caused his death?” I asked, trying to give Logan time to get away.
“It was all your fault. If not for you he wouldn’t have killed your parents and gone to prison for it.”
He moves towards me brandishing the knife, just like in my dreams. He gets closer and prepares to stab me with it. Then Logan is there between us, and Matt is stabbing him instead of me. “Logan!” I scream, “No!”
I hear a shot and the sound of breaking glass. Red blossoms on Matt’s chest. I look up and see James running through the broken door, making sure the knife is out of Matt’s reach just in case he’s not dead. I look down at the bloody knife in horror. “Reggie, focus! I need your help here!”
Suddenly, James’ eyes are glowing green but I don’t care, all I can think about is Logan, lying there, bleeding on the floor. I drop to my knees beside him, trying to stop the bleeding with my bare hands. There is so much blood, way too much blood. He looks at me and whispers, “Love you forever, Darlin’,” and then he yells, “Come and get me you bastard, I invite you into me now! Come on you piece of shit! Possess me!”
Tears are running down my face as the pool of blood around Logan grows bigger. “No, Logan, no! Don’t do it!”
“Got to, Darlin’. Someone’s gotta take him to hell.” He coughs, I can see how much it hurts him.
“There’s got to be some other way. I can’t lose you now.”
I see when the demon takes over, when his eyes change. They turn green and begin to glow. I can see the struggle as the demon tries to get away but Logan won’t let go, won’t let the demon loose to wreak more havoc on the world. His eyes close and he takes one final shuddering breath.
James comes back to himself and sees Logan lying there bleeding and me trying to stop it but there’s too much blood. He pulls out his radio and calls for an ambulance, practically screaming that it’s an officer down.
The tears are running down my face, Logan’s blood is spreading in a pool around him. There’s so much blood, too much blood.
James comes over and tries CPR, but all it does is pump more blood against my hands. I am crying and saying over and over, “You can’t die because I love you. You can’t die because I love you.”
I finally hear sirens, but I’m afraid they are too late for Logan. I lay my head on his chest, wanting to be as close as possible for as long as possible. I wish I had found the courage this morning to tell him what’s in my heart. I feel something hard against my cheek, there’s something in his shirt pocket. I pull out a ring and that makes me sob even harder, a ring meant for me. I put it on so I can feel closer to him, the love of my life. I lay my head back down on his chest, all I can think about is that he will never know this child. This child we created together.
Chapter 45
The paramedics immediately begin working on Logan but I’m afraid it’s too late. I am sitting against the wall with my head resting on my knees, sobbing for the life I almost had. James is talking with the state police, darting glances at me when he can. I hear one of the paramedic’s say, “He’s back! Where the hell is that chopper?”
I look up, not daring to believe what I just heard. I watch them working on him, seeing his chest rise and fall slightly. James picks me up off the floor and holds me tight. “He’s alive, Reg!”
I start to shiver from shock and cold, he takes off his coat and puts it on me. One of the paramedics comes over and gives me a quick check, wanting to make sure I’m not going into shock. I must look OK, he nods to James and returns to Logan’s side.
I continue to sob, thanking God for this second chance at a life with Logan. I can hear the medivac helicopter getting closer. Oh God, hurry! I’m glad James is holding me tight, I feel like I could fly into a million pieces right now. I hear him talking to the paramedics.
He looks down at me. “Hey Reg, they’re getting ready to move Logan to the helicopter. Do you want to go with him?”
I nod yes, not trusting myself to talk. I grab Logan’s hand, so thankful that it’s warm. The paramedics take us out to the helicopter. I almost can’t make myself let go of Logan’s hand to climb in, and I grab his hand as soon as I’m in, even before I sit down. The trip to Fort Wayne seems to take forever. I am willing the helicopter to go faster, I’m so afraid it will take too long.
We finally land at the hospital and they whisk Logan off, leaving me standing in the waiting room. One of the nurses takes pity on me, and leads me over to the waiting area to sit down. She says she’ll let me know about his condition and she gets up to go check. About 10 minutes later James comes running into the waiting area. “Any word yet, Reggie?” I shake my head no and look up hopefully when the nurse returns. She comes over and tells us that Logan is in surgery and there is no news yet. She leads us to the surgery waiting room.
James wraps me in a hug, telling me everything will be OK. “God Reggie, how am I ever going to be able to forgive myself? I should have gotten there earlier. It’s as if I’m the one who stabbed him, it’s all my fault.”
“James, it’s not your fault, it could never be your fault. It was the demon who stabbed Logan, not you.”
“It could have been you.” he holds me tighter, pulling me into his lap and stroking my hair. “He’ll be OK, he’s got to be OK.”
I wake up later on the couch covered by a blanket. James is pacing and I see Marie walk into the waiting room carrying some cups, smells like coffee. I know I shouldn’t drink it but I do anyway, I need something. Marie comes over and sits next to me after she talks with James. “You know he’s beating himself up about this, he blames himself.”
“I know, I tried to tell him it wasn’t his fault but I don’t think he really heard me. Has there been any news?”
“No, not yet.”
A doctor walks in wearing scrubs, “Sheriff Marsten?”
We all rush over to him, anxious for any news, it feels like it’s been days since we got here. “Deputy Miller is being taken to ICU, he lost a great amount of blood. We lost him once during surgery but we were able to revive him. At this point we don’t know if the blood flow was cut off to his brain, we’ll have to wait and see. He had extensive internal bleeding which we hope we have under control. The next 24 to 48 hours are critical but every hour increases his chances.”
Two days later I am sitting in Logan’s hospital room, holding his hand and willing him to wake up. “Please wake up, Dudley. I don’t think I can do this on my own. You helped create this miracle. You need to be here to watch him or her grow up.” I rub the back of his hand against my cheek, afraid to think about a life without him. I am so scared! There are some many wires and tubes that I am almost afraid to touch him, but the doctor says to keep talking to him, that sometimes they hear us even when they are in a coma.
I get up to take a short walk down the hall, willing myself to hold back the tears until I am out of the room. I am trying to be strong for him but it’s becoming harder each day he doesn’t wake up. I am standing looking out the window when I see the reflection of someone walking towards Logan’s room. I turn around and see Adam Bricklin. He gets to the door and stops, as if he’s gathering the courage to open the door. The nurse stops him as he starts to open the door. They talk for a minute and the nurse lets him into Logan’s room. I start walking towards the nurse when James walks off the elevator. “James, Adam Bricklin is here. Who called him?” I ask.
“I did, Reg. He’s listed as Logan’s emergency contact.”
I look up and see Adam through the glass, it looks like he’s yelling at Logan. I go over and open the door and hear Adam, “Dammit Logan, you stubborn son of bitch! Wake up and tell me what the hell happened!” he sits down heavily, as if he doesn’t have the strength to remain standing. He grabs Logan’s hand and looks at him with tears in his eyes. He notices me standing in the doorway with hundreds of questions in my eyes. “Hey, Cassie. Judging by the look on your face Logan didn’t get around to telling you the truth. To answer the most obvious question, Logan is more than just an ex-employee to me. He’s my cousin.”
I walk over to him and he stands and hugs me tight. “Why would Logan keep something that important from me? He told me he didn’t have any family.” I look up at his face and notice that they have the same eyes. I was too star struck to notice when he did the private concert for us. No wonder he was willing to do that for Logan.
“It’s because of who I am. When I was just becoming famous, girls would act like they were interested in Logan in order to get close to me. I’m sure he was going to tell you the truth soon.”
James clears his throat, letting us know he is in the room. “Reggie, I just wanted to let you know that I’m heading down to Indy, I’m going to call Marie and have her come and sit with you while I’m gone.”
Adam looks at me strangely when James calls me Reggie. I’ll have to ask him why later.
“There’s no need for that sheriff. I’m not going anywhere until Logan wakes up, and if I know my cousin, he will wake up. He’s too stubborn to die like this. I’ll be here so Cassie won’t be alone. Go do what you need to do, I’ll make sure she’s OK.”
“Thanks, Mr. Bricklin, I appreciate it. You OK with this Reg?”
“James, go. Adam and I have a lot to talk about. He deserves to know the truth about what happened. I’ll be fine.”
James hugs me, whispering that everything will be OK, and then shakes Adam’s hand. “Thanks for this, I don’t want her to have to deal with this alone.”
Saving Cassie (Fairfield Corners) Page 16
