Five
Ruger
I was still having a hard time concentratin’ on anythin’ after Lyndley and Carson left. She looked absolutely stunning in the small black dress that clung to her body, and her gold heels literally dug into my heart with every step she took. I knew I was enterin’ dangerous territory, but I couldn’t help myself. My every wakin’ thought consisted of nothin’ but Carson these days.
“You okay over there?” Ky nudged my shoulder, knocking my hand out from under my chin. If we hadn’t been at Lyndley’s parent’s house, I probably would’ve pummeled him right then and there.
“Not now. What the hell was that for?” I scoffed.
“You just looked like you were concentrating awful hard on something, or maybe someone.” He laughed.
“You’re real funny, dick. Her dad’s right in there.” I pointed towards the kitchen.
“I know.” He laughed harder. “You wanna actually do something tonight?”
“Oh you mean the Queen and King aren’t hangin’ out tonight?”
“Ha ha, you’re real fuckin’ funny. Apparently Carson has plans after dinner, and Lyndley said she was just gonna come home and hit the sack.”
“And you’re not gonna hit the sack with her? Wait, where the hell is Carson goin’?”
“I don’t know. She just told Lyndley that she was meeting up with some friends later.”
My mind was racin’ through a million different scenarios, all of which ended badly. Unfortunately, I was gonna have to go to some extreme measures to find out just where Carson would be tonight. Somethin’ just wasn’t sittin’ right with me. “I think I’m just gonna head home. Rain check?” I stood and pulled my shoes back on and grabbed my keys off the table.
“Yeah sure. Oh hey, we moved the brunch up to tomorrow mornin’. Can you be there around eleven thirty?”
I rolled my eyes in annoyance. “Of course y’all did. Yeah, I’ll be there.”
“Cool. Tell Carson I say hey.”
“Who’s going to be seeing Carson?” Mr. Caverly had me practically shakin’ in my boots, enough so that I literally couldn’t answer him. Lucky for me, Ky was right there to have my back.
“I was just jokin’ around with him, Mr. Caverly.”
“Ah, ok. Well we’ll see you tomorrow morning, Ruger. Have a good night.”
“Thanks, Mr. Caverly. You too.” I mouthed a huge thank you to Ky, and then headed out. I wasn’t exactly sure what the rest of the night had in store for me, but I suppose I would find out soon enough.
~~~~
I pulled past the metal gates that separated my house from the real world, when I got a text message from Ky. He wasn’t specific, but apparently Lyndley had told him that Carson was headed to a party with her friends after dinner. I shot him a quick text back to say thanks, and then ran into my house to change and make myself look more presentable. If I was meetin’ Carson’s friends, I didn’t want to look like a bum. I threw on a nice pair of jeans and a purple plaid button down shirt, pulled my boots on, and then ran back out to my truck.
I reached for my phone in the center console and quickly dialed the head office. “This is Deputy U.S. Marshal Ruger Smith, I need a location on a cell number.”
“Of course, Mr. Smith. What is the number?”
I gave the lady Carson’s number and jotted down the address of where they pinged her phone. Now all I needed to do was build up the courage to drive down there (without her permission) and basically stalk her. “Yeah, because that doesn’t seem crazy at all.” What the hell was wrong with me? Maybe Ky was right, maybe I needed a stronger grasp on reality and how this relationship would even work.
I slammed my hands down on the steerin’ wheel tryin’ to bang out my frustration, but all it really did was make me more agitated. I quickly typed in the address, mapped it out on my phone, started my truck, and took off like a bat outta hell. I didn’t really care what she thought this time. The only thing I was concerned with, was her safety.
Of course the neighborhood I pulled into about forty-five minutes later was in the absolute worst part of town. The combination of her snarky attitude and the outfit she was wearin’ tonight, was definitely goin’ to get her ass into trouble, regardless of how safe she thought she was bein’. This girl was the most infuriating creature I had ever came in contact with. I found myself questionin’ why I even cared, but every time, I come up empty. There was just somethin’ inside of me that just couldn’t let her be.
I sat in my truck for quite sometime scopin’ out the so-called “party” that Carson was about to attend. This shit was not a fuckin’ party, this shit was more like an illegal rave in some half-assed chop shop. With every passing minute, I found myself fallin’ further over the edge of insanity. No matter what the consequences, the minute I saw her, I would grab her ass and take her home. This was no place for a girl like her, or her friends.
I tapped my finger for the millionth time on the steerin’ wheel as her bright blonde hair blowin’ in the night breeze suddenly caught my attention. I reached for the handle, gripping the cold metal in my hands, but unable to force myself to get out. Somethin’ inside of me was tellin’ me to start my truck and leave. Carson was technically none of my concern. She wasn’t goin’ to be my sister in law, and she sure as shit wasn’t anything close to a girlfriend to me.
I hung my head in defeat as I sat there fightin’ with my internal demons, but in the end they won out. I exited the truck and slowly started makin’ my way across the street towards what I could only assume was the entrance to this wannabe party. Every fiber of my being was screamin’ as loud as it possibly could to break this party up. Then maybe Carson and her idiotic girlfriends would get home safely, and be none the wiser as to how the party got broken up in the first place.
Instead, I showed the door guy my ID, handed him ten dollars, and then made my way inside the maze that awaited me. Every single person I walked past didn’t look a day over seventeen. How in the world did these people get away with throwin’ such an illegal party? And what the hell happened to just a good old fashion house party? Kids these days, I swear they needed some guidance.
Six
Carson
About an hour and a half later, I was on my way to meet my girls and I was finally starting to feel like my old carefree self again. Dinner had gone great with my sister, and I was having a good time hanging out with her, but I promised Amelia and Trey that I would go out with them afterwards, when they text me during dinner. I was just excited that the entire conversation during dinner wasn’t hijacked by wedding talk. For once, Lyndley and I had a really good heart to heart, and I was really starting to feel like she understood me.
When we first pulled up to the party, there was a line about half a block long. Trinity and I both made it utterly apparent that we didn’t feel this party was going to be cool enough to wait in a line that long, but good ol’ Trey had a little trick up his sleeve. We were able to walk right up to the door guy and within minutes, we were in. Once we were inside, I quickly gripped tightly onto Trey’s shirt and Amelia’s arm, while Amelia held onto Trinity. There was no way I wanted to lose my friends in this place and end up alone.
The place where this party was being held happened to look more like a chop shop than anything, and it scared me a bit. It was a nice one by all means, but still. We walked around for about ten minutes trying to find the bar in this place. When we finally happened to stumble onto it, Trey saw a kid he knew from his work. As we all saddled up to the bar, I suddenly had the overwhelming sensation to pee. I tugged on Trey’s arm and practically broke his eardrum asking where the bathroom was, but he just pointed down the small flight of stairs and told me, it wasn’t too far. He offered to come with me, but I shook my head no. I mean what kind of trouble could I really get into in a place like this?
Unfortunately, I made that cocky statement before I had made it all the way down the stairs. Just as my heel hit the last step, I could hear heated voices
coming from the direction that I could only assume the bathrooms were. I was trying to tiptoe past the small group when I looked down and saw a guy, probably not much older than me, lying unmoving on the ground beneath the others. I stopped midstride and quickly hid behind one of the fancy sports cars that were down there. I tried to slow down my erratic breathing so they wouldn’t hear me, but in the next few seconds it wouldn’t even matter.
Being the stupid, ridiculous fool that I am, I couldn’t help but look around the front end of the car. My eyes slowly moved across the ground to the young man’s face, and the horrified look on it. I wasn’t exactly sure which part of this scenario was horrifying to him, but I could only assume it was the, me being there in the first place part. Never in a million years did I think I would witness what would happen next.
As quickly as I had looked at him, I looked away. The gun went off, the sound echoing throughout the entire room, and causing my ears to start ringing. I squeezed my eyes tightly shut as I felt a stray tear fall down my cheek. Along with that tear, came a loud gasp that I never intended for them to hear. My hands flew up to my mouth trying to muffle the sound, but I failed miserably. Before I had a chance to even think of an escape plan, I stood and hauled ass up the stairs I had just came down. Once I reached the top step, I immediately spotted Trey, but nobody else.
I ran straight for him, shaking his shoulder vigorously. “Trey, we have to go. NOW!” I knew he could barely hear me, so I yelled louder. “TREY, WE HAVE TO GO!” I could feel the warm salty tears starting to stream down my cheeks, knowing that every second I spent here trying to get Trey’s attention, those guys could be coming after me.
Trey finally turned, with a small baggy of pills in his hand. “HEY, YOU WANT ONE?”
I couldn’t believe he was back to using, but now wasn’t the time to sort that out. “NO!” I yelled as loud as possible just before snatching the bag out of his hand, shoving them into my purse, and then grabbing onto his sleeve and dragging him out behind me. We were merely inches away from freedom when one of the guys that I had seen downstairs, appeared in front of us. I would’ve ran right past him, but the minute I caught sight of the shiny metal that made up the gun in his hand, Trey and I both took in a strangled breath.
My survival instincts must’ve kicked in, because within seconds, I was pulling Trey down another set of stairs with me as we ran for our lives. When we came up another set of stairs, Trey took my hand and began pulling me through the last little bit of the crowd on that side of the building. I stopped and tried to jerk my hand from his as I glanced in the opposite direction of where we were standing. I could’ve sworn I just saw Ruger, but why would he be here? If anything he would be breaking the party up.
I shook my head in disbelief as Trey continued to drag my body through the sea of people. I tried to find Amelia and Trinity during our hasty exit, but they were nowhere to be found. Before I knew it, we were safely outside and near a tunnel that went under the street. I pulled my hand back in hesitation, but Trey wasn’t having any of it. He pulled me against my will through that cold, dark as hell tunnel. When we finally reached the other side of the street, Trey finally let go of me and I slapped him as hard as I could across his face.
“What are you doing?” I was livid and pretty much in shock.
“Carson, I’m trying to help you. I can only assume you got yourself into a little trouble tonight, huh?” He was trying to be cute, but it was the drugs talking not Trey.
I glanced back at the entrance that I could see from where we stood and there he was, talking to the door guy. I was second-guessing myself earlier because Ruger usually wore clothes that made him look like a bum. But tonight he looked, I don’t even know. With everything that just happened, I wasn’t even sure what I should be thinking. As I stood there staring like a complete idiot, I felt a tug on my arm.
“Carson, we need to get out of here.”
“Don’t you think I know that, dumbass? I’m the one that started pulling you out of there. Unfortunately, my car is parked over there.” I pointed in the direction of the massive crowds that were clambering to the party.
“Shit! Okay, well how far do you think it is to your house from here?”
Was he serious right now? “It’s about three miles in the other direction. There’s no way in hell I will make it in these heels. And what the fuck are you thinking doing drugs again?”
“Is it lecture time now, Mommy?”
“Funny, asshole. Real funny. Fine, see if I care if you end up back in rehab.” The minute the words came out of my mouth, I regretted them. “I’m sorry, Trey. You know I didn’t-“
Trey stood there shaking his head. “Lets just start walking. I’ll carry your shoes.” He held his hand out and waited as I slipped both heels off and deposited them into his hands. He then draped his arm around my cold and shivering shoulders, as we continued to make our way further and further away from the loud noises that were coming from behind us. “We’re gonna head to my buddy’s house and get some sleep. Then I’ll take you home in the morning. Sound good?”
All I could do was nod my head into the crook of his shoulder, as he guided me down a deserted street and far away from my comfort zone. “Hey, do you know where Amelia and Trinity went? I couldn’t find them when we were leaving.”
“You mean, when we were running out of there? Well of course you couldn’t find them. Last I saw them, they were at the bar. Why?”
“I just wanted to make sure they were safe.” When we finally made it to his friend’s apartment, I approached hesitantly. This place looked exactly like the scenes you see on Law and Order: SVU. It was seedy, dirty and there were at least five bums out on the corner. I pulled back as we reached his friend’s door. I didn’t know this guy from Adam, and I wasn’t about to try and get some sleep while Trey sat in the corner high as a kite.
“I don’t know, Trey. Can you please just take me home?”
“Of course, sweetie. Let me go grab his car keys and I’ll take ya.”
I knew it wasn’t the safest way to get home, but really, what choice did I have right now? I either let my high friend drive me home, or I stay at his “friend’s” and see if I possibly get raped. I think I’d rather take my chances in a car.
The car ride to my house was long and shameful. Not only was I ashamed of what I had seen tonight, but also I was ashamed of who I had let myself become. This wasn’t me. I wasn’t the girl that went to anonymous parties with her friends, and then ended up witnessing a murder. I was a sweet, straight A student whose only wish was to become a neurosurgeon. As we drove closer to my neighborhood, I couldn’t help but think back to seeing Ruger there. I wasn’t sure what in the world he would be doing there, but I would make it my mission to find out.
“We’re here.” Trey announced in a singsong voice.
“Thanks for bringing me home, Trey.”
“Of course. Anytime. Call you tomorrow?”
I wasn’t sure what to say, so I simply nodded my head and got out of the vehicle. I watched as the car drove out of sight around the block and I quickly made my way over to the side trellis that led up to my bedroom window. There was absolutely no way in hell that I was seeing my parents tonight. I needed some sleep, and a fresh conscience, neither of which I had at the moment.
I laid my head back against my pillow and found myself staring at the ceiling. I couldn’t believe what I had witnessed. I wasn’t sure if the kid was dead, but I could only assume the worst given the circumstances. Every time I closed my eyes his face flashed in front of me, the look of sheer terror in his eyes. I had wanted to tell Trey, I needed to tell someone, but he had been in no condition to even comprehend what I would be saying. I tried to keep my eyes open as my mind ran ragged, but soon enough my mind completely shut down and I fell into a deep sleep.
~~~~
The next morning there was ridiculously loud banging on the front door. I covered my head with my pillow trying to ignore whoever found it necessary to in
terrupt my two hours of sleep I was getting. When the banging finally stopped, I let out a loud sigh and tried to roll over and fall back asleep.
“Carson, time to get up sleepy head.” Ruger’s voice had me sitting straight up in my bed, on high alert. I threw off my covers and ran to my bedroom door without a second thought, and flung it open.
“Why are you here, Ruger? And keep your voice down, you’re gonna wake everyone.” I slowly clutched my pounding head as I made my way back over to my bed to lie back down.
“No, no, no. There is no more sleepin’.” Ruger was by my side, pulling me into a sitting position as I growled and groaned in his ear. “Look, number one, you look like shit. Number two, it’s time for brunch. Remember, your sister and Ky’s wedding brunch that they changed, again?” The ‘oh shit’ light finally went off in my head and I stood up, wide-awake.
“Thanks for saying I look like shit, asshole. Give me a minute to get ready.”
“Hurry up. I’ll be waiting outside in the Range Rover parked in the driveway.”
“Super.” I slurred sarcastically. “Can’t wait.”
I quickly threw my messy hair up in a neat bun, swiped some mascara across my lashes, and then pulled on a cute sundress as I went flying down the stairs, stopping long enough to grab a hat and a shawl. When we showed up at the restaurant twenty minutes later, I scanned the parking lot like it was second nature to me. Just as I was looking back towards Ruger, I spotted one of the guys from last night, standing across the street. I quickly reached for my shawl and pulled it high up on my shoulder to cover up my half sleeve tattoo that I was pretty sure those guys happened to notice last night. I threw on my wide brimmed derby hat, and when Ruger came to help me out of the car I made sure not to show my face.
“Hey, you okay?” Ruger asked in a hushed tone as we made our way inside.
I glanced over at him, trying not to show any emotion. “Of course.” I croaked out.
“Yeah, okay.” He muttered in response.
Chasing Carson Page 3
