“What do you want on your hot dog?” Steve asked Kelly as he climbed down from the Rolland Moore Park ball field bleachers.
“The works, without onions. Thanks,” Kelly replied from her place mid-bleachers.
Megan jumped up from her spot on the bleacher row above Kelly. “Marty, get me one, too. Loaded, of course.”
Marty gave her a thumbs-up as he and Steve headed toward the concession stand behind the bleachers.
“Didn’t you just finish two slices of pizza?” Jennifer asked. She spooned some chocolate frozen custard from a cup as she and Pete sat beside Kelly.
“Yeah, but I’m still hungry.” Megan grinned.
Mimi laughed lightly from her place beside Jennifer. “You amaze me, Megan. You look exactly the same as you did before the baby.”
“That’s Megan Metabolism,” Kelly said with a laugh as she leaned against the wooden row behind her.
“Amazing, that’s me,” Megan said as she sat down beside Kelly.
Burt approached the bleachers, two large take-out cups in his hands. “Here you go, Mimi,” he said, offering her one. “Chocolate shake. I got strawberry.” He grinned. “Childhood favorite.”
“Ooooo, that looks good,” Megan said, eyeing Mimi’s large cup. “I’ll have to get one. After the hot dog.”
Kelly laughed at her friend, then remembered something. She slid to the end of the row and jumped down from the bleachers, then beckoned to Burt. “You got a minute?” She walked away from the bleachers a few feet.
“Sure, Kelly,” he said, following her. “What’s up?”
“I wondered if you’d had a chance to talk to Dan at the department today?”
“I left him a message before Mimi and I drove over here to the game, but I haven’t heard anything yet.”
“Well, I thought I’d share with you something Jayleen told me yesterday. It turns out she knows Nancy Marsted’s father, Felix, over at AA. She’d been his mentor and helped him a few years ago when he was trying to stop drinking. She says Felix has been sober for several years now. Anyway, he told Jayleen all about his daughter’s experience with that graduate student—”
“Neil Smith.” Burt nodded.
“Jayleen told me Felix looked like he was simmering with rage when he told her. She did her best to try to calm him down, but he walked out of the meeting. And he didn’t come back. He hasn’t been to AA for over a week now. He hasn’t called in. Nothing. No contact. She’s called him on his cell phone but he doesn’t answer, and he doesn’t return her calls. Jayleen’s really worried. I didn’t tell her that I’d already heard about Nancy Marsted’s father and had told you about it.” She met Burt’s inquisitive gaze. “I wondered if you’d had a call from Jayleen. I know she was feeling conflicted because she’s not supposed to reveal anything that one of their partners tell them. They take their confidentiality promise seriously.”
“I understand, Kelly. But no, I haven’t heard a word from Jayleen. But I will definitely share that information with Dan.”
Kelly looked out onto the ball field. The sounds of players cheering caught her attention. Eric was running off the field with a baseball held tight in his glove high above his head. That had to be the opponent’s third out. Eric’s team won. Eric and his teammates let out jubilant shouts and yells of celebration, while their parents cheered from the bleachers.
“I have a feeling Jayleen confided in me because she knew I would tell you. That way she doesn’t have to be the one who squeals on Felix to the police.”
Burt gave her a little smile. “I think you’re right. And you know that I will leave another message for Dan tonight. If Felix Marsted fell off the wagon and tried to punish the guy who hurt his daughter, Dan will find out.”
Cheers sounded from the bleachers again, and Kelly turned to see Eric striding up to the stands. Jayleen and Curt appeared at the front of the bleachers.
“Way to go, Eric!” Megan called in a loud voice.
“Great catch!” Pete shouted from the bleachers.
“Atta boy, Eric!” Jayleen said as she stood beside Curt.
Kelly spotted a slight flush creep over Eric’s face. “Thanks, guys.”
Curt reached out and clapped his grandson on the shoulder in a gesture Kelly recognized. “Good job, son,” Curt congratulated.
“Thanks, Grandpa,” Eric said with a grin as he removed his baseball cap and wiped his dripping forehead against his uniform sleeve.
Kelly and Burt both walked toward the front of the bleachers. Kelly waited until she caught Eric’s eye, then gave him a big grin and a thumbs-up sign. “Good job, Eric. That was the winning catch.”
Eric grinned. “I couldn’t believe it was coming down in front of me.”
“You were in the right place at the right time,” Jayleen said, giving him one of her encouraging back slaps.
“Hey, good job, Eric!” Steve called out as he approached the bleachers, two hot dogs in one hand and a drink in the other. “Marty and I saw that catch from the concession stand.”
“I bought an extra dog with the works,” Marty announced, holding out a loaded hot dog as he approached.
“Really?” Eric’s eyes popped wide, accepting the ballpark treat.
“Yep, it’s yours. I already ate one at the stand, and this other one’s for Megan.” Marty’s grin spread wide.
“Gee, thanks,” Eric said then took a huge bite.
Kelly laughed. “Eric’s going through another growth spurt. What’s your excuse for that giant appetite, Marty?”
“Cranked-up metabolism,” Marty answered. “You should have seen me when I was Eric’s age.”
“Oh, Lord, that must have been a scary sight,” Jennifer joked. “I remember my younger brother going through two large pizzas at a time when he was Eric’s age. There were no such things as leftovers in our house.”
“You got that right,” Curt agreed. “I remember Ruthie always made an extra turkey on Thanksgiving so Marty would have enough to eat.”
Everyone laughed at that, even Eric right before he consumed the last bite of hot dog. “Boy, your family’s grocery bill must be huge,” Kelly teased.
Jayleen said, “I’ve gone shopping with Megan and she fills up two entire grocery carts.”
Kelly laughed out loud along with the rest of the group. She thought she heard a cell phone’s ring and noticed Pete reach into his pocket. “Well, you’ve earned an ice cream treat, Eric. After you finish the hot dog. What flavor?”
Eric swallowed down the last bite. “Gee, thanks, Kelly. How about strawberry?”
“Strawberry it is.” Kelly was about to walk toward the concession stand when she watched Pete and Jennifer climbing down the bleachers. She couldn’t miss their worried expressions. They both beckoned to the group as they approached.
“What’s up, guys?” Steve asked as he stood beside Kelly.
“I just had a call from Cassie,” Pete said. “She’s over at a grocery store coffee bar in the shopping center down the street from Tanya’s apartment. Tanya was out buying ice cream, and Cassie stayed behind in the apartment with Tanya’s boyfriend, Donnie. Cassie said Donnie started acting funny. She said it made her really uncomfortable, and she left. That’s when she walked down to the drugstore and called me.”
Suddenly, all laughter and good humor that surrounded them evaporated. Kelly felt a cold fist inside her stomach.
“Did he touch her?” Burt demanded in a low voice.
Pete’s face had an angry expression that Kelly had never seen before. Good-natured Pete never got angry. Kelly glanced at her dear friend. Jennifer looked more than worried. Kelly detected a touch of fear in Jennifer’s expression.
“She said he put his hands on her shoulders and started rubbing her neck as he talked about playing music. Cassie said it gave her the creeps, as she called it, and she told him to st
op.” Storm clouds darkened Pete’s face now.
“Son of a bitch,” Steve muttered beneath his breath.
“That’s when she left and walked to the shopping center. She’s at the coffee bar in the corner Sooper Dooper grocery store.”
“Atta girl,” Jayleen said. “You get on the road now, Pete. You need to bring that girl back home!”
“I’ll drive, Pete,” Steve offered, putting his hand on Pete’s shoulder. “That way you and Cassie can talk in the backseat as we drive home.”
“Good idea, Pete,” Kelly said. “We don’t want you getting a distracted driving ticket.”
“I’m going along, too, guys,” Marty declared. “Just in case Tanya starts to protest. I can inform her that you have already filed for guardianship of Cassie.”
“I’ll drive along with you folks,” Curt said. “Jayleen, you wait for me with Megan. Marty, you can ride with me.”
Pete reached over and gave Jennifer’s arm a squeeze. “You wait for me there, too, Jen. I’ll call as soon as we get Cassie.”
Eric grabbed his grandfather’s arm. “I want to go, too, Grandpa,” he said, his brown eyes intense.
“Sure, son. You can join the menfolk,” Curt said, clapping his grandson on the shoulder again. “Now, let’s go and bring our girl home.” Curt strode off, Eric beside him, joining up with Pete and Steve and Marty as they strode toward the parking lot.
Burt followed after them, glancing over his shoulder at Mimi. “I’m going to join them. Let him think I’m still with the department. The more of us, the better. We can throw some fear into that bastard.”
“Guys!” Kelly yelled. “Give us a call on the way back, okay?”
Steve turned and gave her a quick nod before his long legs took him farther away.
Kelly looked over at Jennifer, who was chewing her lower lip, her face devoid of color. Kelly slipped her arm around her friend’s shoulders. “Don’t worry, Jen. Cassie was smart enough to get away from there.”
“Low-life scum,” Jayleen said, her tone making it sound like a swear word.
“You got that right,” Megan said in a low voice.
• • •
“How far are you from Fort Connor?” Kelly asked her boyfriend over the cell phone.
“Less than half an hour. We’re kind of pushing the speed limit.”
“Be careful. You said Cassie is okay, right?”
“Yeah. She got out of there as soon as that creep made a move.” Steve’s voice was tight with anger, which Kelly could hear over the phone. “Thank God. Listen, I’ll hand the phone to Pete. He can talk while I’m driving.”
Kelly handed her phone to Jennifer. “It’s Pete. Steve’s driving back. He thinks they’re less than a half hour from here.”
Jennifer grabbed the phone. “Pete? Cassie’s really all right?” The phone pressed to her ear, Jennifer nodded to her friends, who stood around her.
“Thank God,” Mimi said from her perch on the sofa. No one sat.
Kelly felt a muscle let go inside her chest. She wouldn’t completely relax until she saw Cassie. She glanced at her friends and saw her worry reflected on all their faces.
• • •
Megan’s front door opened and Pete walked into the foyer, his arm around Cassie’s shoulders. Steve, Marty, Curt, Eric, and Burt followed after them.
“At last!” Mimi cried and jumped up from the sofa.
Cassie glanced around the room and made a beeline straight to Jennifer, who held out her arms and enveloped Cassie in a big hug. “We were all so worried,” Jennifer said.
Cassie gave her a squeeze then leaned back and stared into Jennifer’s face. “I’m not going back there. Ever. If my mom wants to see me, she can come to Fort Connor.”
Pete joined her and slipped one arm around Jennifer’s shoulders and the other around Cassie. “I told Cassie there was no way I was going to let her go to Denver alone again. Tanya can damn well come here.”
Jennifer glanced from Pete to Cassie. “You won’t have to, Cassie. I promise.”
Kelly felt the last tight muscles inside her chest let go at last. Thank God. “We’re all proud of you, Cassie, for getting out of there when you did. Good girl! You listened to your instinct.”
“Was that guy drinking?” Megan asked.
Cassie stepped out of Jennifer’s embrace. “He was drinking a lot of beer. I don’t know if he had anything else.” She gave a little shiver. “He stared at me a lot when we were all together in the apartment last night having pizza. It kind of made me feel funny then. Every time I looked over at him, he was staring at me. He’d give me a wink or something.” She made a face.
“Smart girl for getting away from there. You did good, Cassie,” Kelly said then opened her arms. “We all need a hug.” Cassie didn’t hesitate. She sped over to Kelly’s embrace, and Kelly enveloped her in a big hug.
“Me, too,” Megan said, coming closer, arms spread. Cassie smiled and sped over to Megan then a waiting Mimi.
“Oh, my girl, my girl,” Mimi crooned over Cassie’s ear. Jayleen stood behind Mimi, waiting her turn.
“Hey, thanks for putting these out,” Marty said as he walked toward the granite counter between the kitchen and the great room. Several plates of cheese and crackers and chips and dip were spread over the countertop.
Burt, Steve, Curt, and Eric headed toward the kitchen. Kelly hurried over to Steve and gave him a big hug, squeezing hard. “What did that guy do when all of you showed up?”
“The bastard was too scared to come near us,” Steve said, releasing Kelly. “Eric, c’mon and help us out with these snacks.” Steve beckoned Eric over.
Eric walked to the counter and scooped up a handful of chips, hanging back a little, Kelly noticed. She gestured toward the plates of food. “Eat up, Eric. You haven’t had anything since that hot dog. You must be starving.”
“I saw a guy peering at us from an apartment window above,” Curt said. “I figure that was him.”
“Low-life scum,” Jayleen said once more, scowling. “If it weren’t for the kids here, I’d be cussing a blue streak.”
Cassie smiled at Jayleen as she went to her embrace. “I’m okay, Jayleen.” Jayleen clasped Cassie tightly.
“What did Tanya do when you guys showed up?” Kelly asked. Steve was draining a can of soda.
“She was shaking like a leaf,” Burt answered as he walked over to Mimi, slipping his arm over her shoulders. “I made it a point to remind Tanya that Pete has filed for custody of Cassie. And any judge would be taking Cassie’s well-being into consideration. This past weekend will speak loudly as to Cassie’s safety.”
Pete and Jennifer walked over to the counter, where everyone had gathered. “Marty, let’s aim to get those papers filed in the next couple of weeks.”
Cassie approached Eric, who had tossed a dip-filled potato chip into his mouth. Cassie scooped up several cheese cubes. “How was your game?” she asked Eric between munching the cheese.
“It was good,” Eric said with a nod.
“He did better than good,” Kelly said, grinning at Eric as she reached for some cheese cubes. “He caught the winning out for his team.”
“Awesome!” Cassie said, giving Eric a smile. “I wish I could have seen it.”
Eric swallowed his mouthful of chips and dip. “I’ll catch another one.” Then he grinned at her.
“Did Tanya act upset when you told her you were taking Cassie back to Fort Connor?” Jennifer asked, her expression still anxious.
Pete shook his head as he popped open a soda can. “No. She looked scared, just like Burt said. I don’t think she had any idea of what a scumbag her boyfriend really was.”
Kelly reached for a handful of potato chips. “And maybe she did. But was hoping he’d be okay.”
“I think that’s more like it,” Steve adde
d after he drained his soda.
“How’s the little one?” Marty asked Megan.
“She went to sleep right away. The sitter said Molly was busy the whole time we were gone. She carried those big blocks around to different rooms and built things. Houses, I guess.”
“Good sign. Maybe she’ll be an architect,” Steve said with a grin before tossing a cheese cube into his mouth.
“No way. She’s gonna be an attorney,” Marty said, leaning over the tray and scooping dip onto his corn chip.
Kelly laughed softly. They could all use a laugh right now. “Wow, Molly’s only nine months old and you’re planning her future already.”
Megan leaned back into her favorite chair and grinned. “I have a feeling Molly will choose her own career.”
Marty glanced back to his wife. “Yeah, you’re probably right. Molly’s not one to take suggestions. Like it’s time to go to bed, or it’s time for a bath,” he said with a laugh.
Kelly and her friends joined Marty’s laughter.
Thirteen
“Well, I’ve gotta say I’ve seen you looking better,” Steve teased lightly as he and Kelly stood around Greg’s hospital bed.
Kelly watched Greg’s bruised face twist with a smile. “Yeah, I saw myself in a mirror as they were wheeling me in here. Scary.”
“He’s actually starting to heal,” Lisa said, her hand on Greg’s arm, the one that didn’t have a cast. “The bruising on his face is not as blue. It’s purple now.”
“Well, this is a really nice place to recuperate, I’ll say that,” Kelly commented, glancing around the single bedroom. “They’ve got lots of nurses and nurses’ aides scurrying around, and they must have all the newest equipment. This place is only a couple of years old.”
“Yes. All the doctors at the sports clinic sing its praises,” Lisa said. “It’s perfect for people to recuperate after orthopedic surgeries and before they go home. Greg needs more physical therapy before he can come home.”
Kelly looked at Greg’s right leg, which was encased from above the knee to his toes in a cast. And it was elevated from an apparatus attached to the side of his bed. “How is he going to get around on crutches? He’s got a broken arm, too.”
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