Till Death Do Us Part

by Lari Smythe

  Chapter 14

  We spent the next several hours being questioned by the police—the same questions, over and over again. I walked past the doors to the parking lot once—it looked like something out of an action movie. There were news vans, their communication towers extended up into the night sky, a police helicopter flew by—another, probably the news, hovered overhead. The parking lot was a sea of flashing lights and there was a string of parked cars up the street toward the school. Then there was the crowd of parents outside the doors being held back by the police.

  "Jason?"

  I turned. "Oh, hey Coach."

  "You doin' okay?"

  I looked up at him, ready to deliver the, 'yeah, I'm fine,' line but I couldn't. It's not cool for a guy, but I couldn't stop from tearing up.

  "Cynthia Williams!" One of the police officers by the door called out. "Cynthia Williams!"

  "Why don't we step over here?" Coach said, moving away from the doors. I followed.

  A girl—presumably Cynthia—came running to the door. The officer escorted her out to her waiting parents.

  "Izzy's gone." I choked out.

  "She'll be okay." Coach said. "She's strong. The yearbook photographer got a good shot of the guy—the police are having the film developed ASAP. They'll find her." Coach patted me on the back.

  "How's Mrs. Snyder?" I looked down and wiped my eyes.

  "Paramedics said she was stable—I heard you saved her life."

  "Nah, I just did what anyone would do."

  "Not the way I see it. Most everyone here was in shock, or bawling like a baby. Can't say I blame them, that guy froze me in my tracks, but not you. As I heard it, you tried to stop him and got tossed clear across the gym. That'd do it for just about anyone, but you got up and went to the aid of Mrs. Snyder and saved her life, then found Cathy." He grabbed my hand and shook it. "Real hero stuff. I'm proud of you—really proud. Oh hey, Mrs. Whitaker."

  "You alright, Jason?" Mom said.

  I let go of Coach's hand and collapsed into my mom's arms, tears flooding down my face—real hero stuff.

  Coach patted me on the back. "You gotta real special son, Mrs. Whitaker, real special indeed."

  "Thanks." Mom said.

  "If you need anything, I'll be over by the disc jockey's setup."

  "Is there any word about Izzy?" Mom asked.

  "No, not yet. The police have been trying to get a hold of her parents, but no luck."

  "That's odd." Mom said.

  I tried to regain my composure and pulled back from Mom's shoulder. "I called them and spoke to her dad. Her family is not much for sitting idly by and waiting so I imagine they are out looking for her."

  "Did you say you talked to Miss Faulkner's parents?" an officer said.

  "Yes sir."

  "This their number?" He held his phone out to me.

  "Yep, that's it, but like I said, I think they're probably out looking for her."

  "Your name?" the officer said.

  "Jason, Jason Whitaker."

  "You're the quarterback."

  "Yeah, so freakin' what?"

  "Jason, that's no way to talk." Mom turned toward the officer. "He's afraid for her, he didn't mean to be disrespectful."

  "No problem ma'am." He turned his attention back to me. "What I meant by 'you're the quarterback' was, that makes you her boyfriend, right?"

  "One of the nicest couples you'll ever meet." Coach said.

  "What can you tell me about," He glanced down at his notepad. "Izzy?"

  "She's afraid, I could see it in her eyes."

  "Well, I'm sure anybody would be afraid under the circumstances."

  "Not Izzy." I said.

  The officer shook his head.

  "What Jason is saying," Coach interjected, "is Izzy is no girly, girl—she's the one that stood up to the entire football team last year, it's why we dedicated this season to her. It takes something pretty darn formidable to scare her."

  "Something like this?" The officer held out a picture. It was the historian and Izzy just after he'd burst through the gym doors.

  "Then it is true." Mom said. "I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me."

  "No ma'am, proof's right here and from the way he's holding her, I'd say she's probably injured."

  Coach shook his head. "Poor girl."

  The officer tucked the picture back in his binder. "Perps gotta be over 6' 6" and what, at least 300 pounds. Gotta be high on something to do all this." He looked at me again. "So no idea why he'd go after Izzy, or who he is?"

  "No." I lied.

  "Well, I guess she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. That's probably a good thing. I'm thinking when he comes down off his high he'll let her go." He handed me a card. "Let me know if you think of anything. Don't worry, Jason, we'll get this guy."

  I stared at the card in partial disbelief—like the police could help, but they didn't know that. It was killing me knowing I couldn't do anything. "I wonder if I could find Benjamin?" I mumbled.

  "What's that, dear?"

  "Nothin'. Could we go?"

  "Let me check with Coach, and the head chaperone, but I'm sure it will be okay." While I was waiting, Cathy walked up.

  "You okay?" she said.

  "No."

  She looked around cautiously. "One of the Faulkner's will meet you at the house."

  That got my attention. "You connected with Benjamin again?"

  "No, not really. It's kind of hard to explain, but when I make a connection with someone, their is this kind of flood of information—it usually takes me awhile to sort it all out."

  "So you just figured this out?"

  "Yeah. I don't think it will be Benjamin, but one of the family will meet you at your house—down by the creek—tonight—later."

  "Oh, hi Cathy," Mom said, "how are you holding up?"

  "I'm scared for her—really scared."

  "We all are." Mom said and gave her a hug.

  "I know, I mean I know she's strong like everyone says, but this is different—I'm just really worried about her."

  "Well, I don't want you to think I'm making light of the situation," Mom looked at me, "but she's a remarkable young woman, very creative, worldly, I think she will find a way out of this."

  "I hope you're right." Cathy said. "You guys headed home?"

  "Yeah." I said.

  "We are too, as soon as Mom finishes up. You'll let me know if you hear anything?"

  "Sure, you do the same." I said.

  Cathy nodded. "Well, see you."

  Mom and I walked out into the parking lot.

  "I have to go check her house, Mom."

  She patted my shoulder. "I understand. You be careful, if this thing targeted her, he could be after you too."

  "I will." I started for the Rover, but turned back. "Mom?"

  "Yes?"

  "You be careful too, okay? And, Mom, thanks for—well for everything—it speaks volumes to how much you care about my feelings."

  She smiled and got in her car. I think I had the Rover halfway to the exit by the time she pulled out of her parking space.