“Are you really going to ask me after what happened before? I can’t take chances, Cassie. You’re under my protection.”
“I won’t go anywhere. I don’t even have a place to go.”
“That doesn’t stop you from running away from the investigation. Like it or not, you’re going to have to testify, and until I know you’ve kicked your habit and can manage on your own, I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
“You suck. You know that right?”
“I’ve been called worse. If you need anything,” he paused. “It can wait until I get up.”
“What if I have to pee?”
He scratched his head. “Hold it.”
I watched him walk down the hallway and disappear into one of the bedrooms. As upset as my stomach was I knew I couldn’t possibly eat anything. For several hours I laid awake trying to come to grips with everything. I shed more tears, and tried to remember all the good times I’d had with Brant. Each memory left me feeling worse than the one before it. I even tried to watch television, only to fall apart when I saw any shows with couples in them. Well into the morning I suffered inconceivable agony and grief.
The sound of someone coming in the front door startled me. I worried someone was coming back to finish the job Rocky hadn’t been able to do. Key’s jingling caught my attention and then I spotted a female rounding the corner at the top of the stairs. She froze when she saw me sitting there, cuffed to the table.
“You must be Cassie.”
“Are you the roommate?” I inquired.
“Yeah. I’m Charlie, well it’s what I like to go by now.”
I could tell she was a tomboy, and maybe even a lesbian. She had a short men’s hairstyle and wore her pants like a man would. “Agent Campbell went to bed a while ago.”
“Agent Campbell. I’m not used to hearing people call him by his last name. Around here he’s just Logan.”
“He’s made it clear I’m a witness, not a friend.” I started to break down. “Tonight I watched my boyfriend die. Now your roommate won’t let me go. He’s afraid someone might be after me.”
She sat on the edge of the furniture. “Logan is good at his job. You’re lucky to have someone like him looking out for you. If I were in trouble he’s the first call I’d make.”
“I’m sorry. I probably seem like a crazy person. You don’t even know me and I’m telling you my business.”
“I’m a nurse. I hear it all, honey.” She looked down at the cuffs. “I see you’re limited to where you can go. Are you thirsty? I think we have water, soda and maybe some milk.”
“Water would be nice.”
She reached over and felt my forehead. “How are the withdrawals? Are you managing okay?”
I shrugged. “I haven’t had much time to dwell on the symptoms. I’ve been too distracted.”
“That might be a good thing, at least for that part of it. I know drugs can be a bitch to quit.”
After grabbing us both a drink, Charlie came back and sat with me again. She told me about how she’d come to Vegas and gotten in trouble. She met Logan years ago, and he offered to help her get back on her feet.
It wasn’t that I didn’t respect Agent Campbell, I just had a bunch of pent up feelings regarding our ordeal. Plus, without Brant, I was completely alone. Since I didn’t want my family knowing about the drama, or the fact that Brant had been shot while I was in the next room, I refused to call home.
When Charlie decided it was time to go to sleep, I was able to rest for a little while. The smell of coffee woke me. Logan was sitting on the table in front of me with a cup in his hand. I sat up abruptly, feeling as if he was stalking me. I knew he wasn’t, but it was odd to wake up and see someone was watching you. “Holy crap. What are you doing?”
“You’re peaceful when you sleep.”
I noticed he’d removed the cuffs from my wrist. “You can get up and move around, Cassie. I hope you know I only did that to make sure you stayed put.”
“Yeah,” I managed to say while sitting up. “I get it.”
“What do you like to eat for breakfast? I usually make a shake and run five miles, but we’ve got plenty of food here.”
I felt hungry for a brief moment until everything from the night before came back to me. “I don’t want anything.”
“You need to eat. I know your stomach is empty. Do you want pancakes? I’m good at making them.”
In that instant I lost it. Pancakes. It was like a silent trigger in my brain. Pancakes reminded me of home and being safe; everything I wasn’t at the moment. “I’m sorry. I’m not usually such a cry baby.” I covered my face with my hands for a second. “I can’t believe this is happening. When did my life start falling apart? I thought we were meant to be together. I thought we could prove everyone wrong,” I explained to Logan, while my sobs became uncontrolled again. “I’m sorry. I know you can’t begin to understand. You think I was crazy for loving him?”
Logan ran his hardworking hand over my wet cheek. “Life isn’t simple. You’re not the only person who has felt like they’ve lost everything, Cassie. You can beat this. You can heal, all it takes is time.”
There was no use trying to hide my pain from him. He’d made it obvious he’d never let me out of his sight. I knew it was for my own good. He was there to help me, not make it worse. I just wondered if his support would be enough, or if I was a lost cause; a sinking ship without life jackets. Maybe I wasn’t meant to have a future. I didn’t feel like I deserved one, not after what I’d done. “I know you mean well. It’s just hard to imagine getting over something like this.”
He stood and walked into the kitchen while still speaking. “It takes a ton of time. How do you like your coffee?”
“Extra cream and sugar if you have it.”
“Figures,” he responded.
While I heard him stirring my cup, I got up and made my way down the hall to the bathroom. When I saw my reflection in the mirror I thought I was mistaken. I didn’t know the person staring back at me. What had I done to my body? Who had I become?
It was a hard, brutal truth.
Chapter 20
Logan
Sometimes it was hard separating my personal life from work, especially when they meshed together. Cassie was a perfect example. My job was to protect her, but it was my personal choice to allow her to stay in my home until she could get on her feet. I didn’t do this for every woman who came into my life with troubles, but I knew she had nowhere else to go. I’d done a thorough background check on her when she moved in with Mr. James. It was important when we knew everything we could about the people he was associated with.
I was surprised to discover she was a good girl, who came from a small town with deep roots. There wasn’t much about her. She’d been fingerprinted when she was a kid, probably on a school trip to the police department. She’d never been convicted of a crime. She’d gotten her license when she was sixteen, but hadn’t received a speeding ticket. Hell, I even checked out her parents to make certain they had no connection to Mr. James. I was surprised when I mapped out her residence. They owned hundreds of acres of land. I wondered what a girl like her was doing in Las Vegas with a bunch of criminals. I suppose that’s why I knew she would be the perfect in. She was too much of a good girl to revert to a life of crime. I waited until the opportunity was right and picked her up for possession. In all honesty, it broke my heart to see she was using. It boggled my mind how a person from a good background could ruin their life so easily.
I’d hoped by keeping an eye on her she’d get clean and eventually go home where she belonged. Unfortunately, fate had other ways of interfering. Now I was stuck being the person she hated more than anyone else in the world. Even with her staying under my roof, I feared she’d never trust me.
After waking up to find her still cuffed to my coffee table, I knew I had to prove I was one of the good guys. The girl was hurting. She was struggling, both to come off the drugs, and also emotionally deal w
ith the loss of her boyfriend. I was no miracle worker, but I knew what she’d need.
The first thing I did was free her from the restraints. They weren’t necessary. I’d gotten word in the middle of the night that Tammy Larsen had been detained. They found her at a bar she frequented, usually to pick up men she would take home. I swear the woman was a walking sex addict.
Anyway, it didn’t take her long to start spilling about Rocky and how his operation was run. She gave us names, and once we obtained the right warrants, we’d spend the next week making sure everyone involved was charged. Tammy would probably have a minimum sentence, but she’d have to do time, even if it was reduced to a couple years. She’d been a big part of the business, and for that she was going to be held responsible.
For the time being, Cassie would remain under my watch. I’d make sure she stayed under the radar, and prepare her for when the time came to testify. That was probably going to be the tricky part. With the amount of crime in Vegas, even the biggest criminals had to wait their turn to be tried. I hoped she’d be able to stay content for as long as we needed her to. It was important she remain the witness in Brant’s murder, because if James somehow found a loophole in his trial, we’d still have him for that.
I wanted to tell Cassie about it, but since the investigation was still ongoing, I had to keep all information from the witness.
So I did the best with what I did have – time. I proceeded to make her a coffee with extra cream and sugar. I could hear her walking to the bathroom and wondered if she was going to get a shower or just use the facilities. I walked out on the porch, leaving the door open for when she finished.
It wasn’t long before I heard someone come up behind me. Since I knew my roommate had worked the late shift at the hospital, it could have only been one other person. “Did you see your coffee on the counter?” She came around and sat in the chair beside me.
“I did. Thank you.” She was quiet as she sipped on her hot beverage. “This view is beautiful.”
“It’s what sold the house. Once I was transferred, I needed to find a place pretty fast. I looked at a few places, but they were too close to the city and the lights. I enjoy being out here away from it all. It’s quiet, almost like Vegas doesn’t exist.”
“Where I’m from, it’s quiet too. You can see all the stars in the sky. It smells clean, if that makes sense. I miss the smell of freshly tilled pastures, and when the summer breeze leaves a hint of watermelon.”
“Have you thought about returning? I mean, aside from the investigation, what is keeping you from going back?”
“Pride I suppose.” She chewed on her thumbnail as she spoke about it. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to face my family, not after what I’ve done. I didn’t just steal and lie. I disrespected them, and the way I was raised, that’s inexcusable.”
“I don’t believe that. Granted, my parents were also strict when it came to us kids, but they were also kind. There was nothing they wouldn’t have done for their children. I think they would have forgiven my sister, had they survived.”
In that instant I realized I’d divulged information to Cassie, who was still a stranger. I regretted it immediately.
“Wait,” she caught on quick. “Are you saying your sister caused the fire you told me about? Your sister was responsible for your parent’s death?”
I nodded. “Yeah, that’s exactly what I’m saying.” I paused for a moment, contemplating continuing the story. “She was on drugs.” I waited and watched her reaction. When I knew she was waiting for me to keep going, I explained. “She was out of her mind. With the help of her piece-of-shit boyfriend, they set fire to our home. I don’t know whether I was supposed to be inside. I’d spent the night at a friend’s house because he had a video game system my parents wouldn’t buy me. That damn game they refused to let me play saved my life.”
I took a second to gather my composure. Still to this day it hits me hard.
Cassie put her cup down on a small glass table and turned her body to face me. “What happened to your sister?”
“She was charged for their murder. She’s been in a women’s prison since the night it happened.”
“What happened to you?”
“I bounced around with family members and the foster system until I was eighteen. I went to college, and finally when I turned eighteen, I joined the academy.”
“You turned your pain into something productive. Instead of getting lost in grief you used your loss to serve a better purpose. I admire you. I don’t know if I’ll ever be a strong enough person to make a difference. Take the drug use for instance. I didn’t need to be pressured. I wanted to know what it felt like. I wanted to experience it. I actually liked who I was when I did it.”
“And now?” I asked. I couldn’t have her using while staying at my house. I had to draw the line somewhere.
“Now I see what it’s cost me. I saw myself in the mirror for the first time in weeks, and I’m ashamed. I look terrible.”
“You’re still attractive.” It was a gut reaction to comfort her, but it came out very wrong.
She smiled awkwardly. “Thanks, I think. You don’t have to be nice to me. I know why I’m here and what you’re trying to do. I’m not your next charity case, Logan.”
I liked hearing her call me by my first name. It made me feel like she was seeing me as a person instead of an agent. “I never said you were. I’m just trying to help. I have the means to help, and I know you’re in a bad way. That’s all there is to it.”
“I’m grateful. I’d probably be at some fleabag motel if you weren’t around to insist I remain hidden.” She crossed her arms and stared out into the distance. “I’d rather be here than on the street.”
“You know you have a place to go, Cassie. You have a family that loves you.”
“Yeah, well I don’t love myself right now. I can’t go home until I learn how to change that.”
I could appreciate she needed time. I stood and grabbed my cup off the table. “It will get easier as time goes by. Can you come inside with me? There’s something I need to show you.”
She followed behind me until we entered the last room down the hallway. It was empty except for a futon. “This is where you’ll be staying. If it’s not good enough you can put whatever furniture you like in it, as long as you foot the bill. What you bring in, you take out.”
“It’s fine the way it is.” She sat down on the mattress and ran her hands up her thighs. “I really appreciate you helping me. I know what happened last night was my fault. It was wrong of me to run. I’ll regret what happened for the rest of my life.”
“Like I said before, it will get easier. Listen, I need to get ready to head into the office. We’ve got a busy day ahead of us. Take out menus are in the kitchen drawer. There are no prescription meds in my house, so you won’t have to worry about being tempted. I’m going to need your cell phone. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure I bring you one on a secure line in case you change your mind about calling your parents. I’ll check in with Charlie on her phone later. She’s off today, so once she wakes up she can show you around more. Do you think you’ll be okay?”
She continued looking around the room. “Yeah, I’ll be fine. I didn’t sleep much last night, so maybe I’ll stay in bed for a while.”
“Sheets are in the hall closet. I’m not sure which fit what. Just try to eye it up. If you need anything wake Charlie up. I’ll see you tonight, Cassie.”
“Yeah, I’ll be here.”
I prayed she would be.
Chapter 21
Cassie
As soon as Logan left I brought my things into my new temporary room. I call it that, because let’s face it, I wasn’t going to be staying long. I know he talked about furniture, but I could tell he was walking on eggshells when he had to speak to me.
I couldn’t believe he’d told me about his sister, and how she’d been responsible for his parent’s death. My heart hurt for him, because even though
I experienced loss, I couldn’t even begin to imagine what it would be like to have a sibling murder our parents. I may have been angry at them for leaving me no choice but to move away¸ but I’d never wish harm on them. The idea of him having to go through it alone was devastating to imagine.
My moods throughout the day were unpredictable. One minute I’d be okay, and the next I was a blubbering mess. Charlie woke up mid-afternoon. She headed right for the kitchen and made tuna. I was elated. It had been months since I’d had that kind of sandwich. I think she might have thought I was a little absurd becoming giddy over stinky tuna, but I didn’t care. Sometimes it was the little things that distracted us the most.
As much as I also enjoyed her company, Charlie had things to do while normal office hours of businesses were open. She made a couple calls and got online to pay bills. I sat watching daytime television, and even called my work to tell them I wouldn’t be returning for a while. I was informed they’d been notified about my situation. Apparently someone in the bureau had contacted the casino manager and let them know I was a key witness in one of their cases. They worked fast.
While trying to stay out of Charlie’s way, I decided to do something to keep myself busy. I started on the kitchen, scrubbing the countertops and doing the little bit of dishes in the sink. I cleaned out the refrigerator, and inventoried what was there to make for dinner.
There wasn’t much.
I found a pack of chicken that had expired months before, a frozen ham bone, and a package of ground beef. In the cabinets, I located a box of pasta and some sauce. Spaghetti would be easy to put together, and I wouldn’t have to go through the take-out menus like I had to do on most nights. Besides, I was craving a real meal, full of carbs to satisfy my starved stomach.
I tackled the bathroom next, scrubbing the tub with an old can of powdered bleach. It reminded me of watching my grandmother cleaning when I was a small child. I wiped down the baseboards, and finally cleaned in and around the toilet. The vanity was the last thing I scrubbed. I made sure I shined the chrome faucet before stepping back and looking at what I’d accomplished.
Cassie (The Mitchell/Healy Family #6) Page 12