by Judy Clemens
“Okay. You going to call me back?”
“Yup. This number? Where are you, anyway?”
“I’m safe. Thanks, Davey.” She hung up.
“So, who’s the guy in the photo?” Death picked up the rubber band again, and Casey snatched it away.
“Will you stop already?”
Death pouted. “The guy?”
“Old college friend of Bailey’s dad.” She dug through her notes, finding the photo of Pat Parnell. It was the picture where Blond Guy—Owen Dixon—was handing the trucker a package. But was Pat Parnell a trucker? Bailey seemed to think he was a farmer. Casey supposed he could be both.
The computer went into screensaver mode, with photos of Bailey and her friends moving in a slide show on the screen. Casey watched several slides of the kids she’d met the night before then sat up, her finger hovering over the keyboard.
“Uh-oh,” Death said. “What are you doing?”
“There would be newspaper articles.”
“Yeah, you already saw them. Davey and Wendell covered for you big time.”
“Not about that. About…two days ago.”
“Oh, boy. Huh-uh. Don’t go there.”
“But there’s got to be something saying what’s happening in Clymer.” Her finger dropped, and the slide show evaporated. Casey clicked in the search engine box and wrote “Clymer, Ohio,” and the date.
“This is a mistake,” Death said.
FACTORY CLOSED FOR GOOD AFTER CONSPIRACY UNCOVERED the headline screamed. Also in the “hit” list were, CURTAINS FOR LOCAL THEATER AFTER DEATH OF CAST MEMBER, and Woman Wanted In Connection With Murders.
“That would be you,” Death said helpfully.
The phone vibrated on the bed, where Casey had set it. The number displayed was Davey’s. She answered, comforted that while he had this number, he at least wouldn’t have Bailey’s name displayed on his phone, since she wouldn’t be in his contact list.
“Supper,” Davey said. “Six-o’clock.”
“Davey—”
“Where should I pick you up?”
“Where are we eating?”
“My daughter’s place. She won’t mind an extra mouth or two. She’s already got five kids.”
“No, Davey.”
“No?” He sounded hurt.
“I won’t go to your daughter’s house. I’m not putting her or your grandchildren in danger.” Plus that would be six more people who could identify Casey should cops—or anyone else—come calling. “Someplace else, Davey. Someplace we won’t be seen by a lot of people.”
“Well, I guess we could just meet at Tom’s work.”
“People, Davey.”
“If we meet late enough, no one will be there. Or not many, anyway, and Tom has his own entrance. You won’t have to see anybody but him.”
“Okay. What’s the business called?”
“Southwest Trucking. Tom’s a co-owner.”
“Great. Can we go later in the evening, to be sure people are gone?”
He hesitated. “After supper, then, I guess. Seven-thirty? That way Tom could still get home to help with bedtime.”
“Sounds good. I’ll meet you there.”
“Can’t I—”
“See you at seven-thirty, Davey. Thanks.” She hung up and the phone buzzed, showing her a text message that had come while she was talking. Sheryl Crovitch. Great. The girl who wanted Casey to take a hike.
I cant blv u tuk hr 2 ur hous
r u TRYNG 2 get in trble?
Casey clenched her teeth. Bailey had said she’d told the whole group. Could they possibly keep it a secret?
The door flew open. “Casey, we have to go.” Bailey’s cool composure was gone, replaced by a manic look. “My dad’s home, and if he catches me here I am so dead.”
Chapter Nine
The last thing Casey wanted to do was get Bailey in even deeper trouble, but even more she didn’t want Casey’s dad to see her. “Suggestions?”
Bailey grabbed Casey’s wrist and dragged her toward the door. “Dad drove the grain truck out to the barn and went in there. If we can get to the garage and out the lane while he’s unloading we might escape.”
“Bailey, he’s sure to see—”
“It’s our only chance.”
Casey got free from Bailey’s grasp long enough to shove her papers into the bag, put on her shoes, and delete the Clymer search from the computer before following the girl through the house, taking her place in the passenger legwell while Bailey started the car and prepared to back out.
“Bailey!” Casey said.
Bailey turned frightened eyes on her.
“The garage door.”
“Oh.” Bailey punched the button and the door slid up. “Please don’t let him see us, please don’t let him see us.”
“But won’t he hear us?”
Bailey shook her head sharply. “Not while the auger’s going. You can’t hear anything with that on.”
As soon as they’d cleared the door Bailey was pushing the button again, and driving carefully down the lane. “I can make something up. I’m good at that, right? It’s not like this would be the first time. I forgot some homework. I needed money. I felt sick at school. That would be a good one. It would go along with what my mom said when she called the school this morning.”
“She didn’t call the school.”
“Well, technically…”
The car spun around a corner, and picked up speed.
“Okay,” Bailey said. “You can get up now.”
Casey climbed into the seat and strapped herself in.
“So now what?” Bailey glanced at the dashboard clock, her posture already relaxing, the farther they got from her home. “School will be out in an hour and a half and I’ll need to go home. Without you. Where would you like to go until then? Back to the shed? It’s so boring there.”
Casey considered. Downtown was too small. If she went to the library or Wendell’s gas station, she was sure to be noticed. Even if they didn’t equate her with the woman from the accident she would be recognized as somebody new, and it would inevitably get back to the wrong people.
What she really wanted to do was impossible. Those two men she’d beat up were just lying there in the hospital, with all kinds of answers she’d like to hear. But even if there weren’t cops waiting outside the doors, there would be nurses and doctors and nutritionists, and who knew who else. Besides, the men were bound to freak out if she showed up, and rip out their IVs and whatever other contraptions they were hooked up to. Not that the guy with the bad knee would be going anywhere.
“I guess the shed is it for now. I have an appointment this evening, so I’ll just wait for that.”
“An appointment? With who?”
Casey shook her head. “Nobody you need to know about.”
Bailey opened her mouth, then shut it with a huff, glaring out the windshield.
Casey sighed. “If you could find out from your dad about his friend Pat and whether he has another job, that would be really helpful.”
Bailey relaxed a bit. “I’ll try. Except if he saw us just now I will be so grounded.”
“Thank you.”
They were quiet for a couple miles, and Bailey’s phone buzzed in Casey’s hand, where she still clenched it. She held it up. “Want me to answer?”
“What does it say?”
Casey grimaced. “I forgot to tell you Sheryl texted just before we left your house.”
“Oh, great. Did you read it?”
“She was yelling at you for taking me to your house and wondering if you wanted to get in trouble.”
“And this one?”
Casey glanced down. “It’s from Martin.”
I got thm Wil brng 2 shed 2nite
Casey looked up. “Got what?”
“Surprise for you.”
“More cinnamon rolls?”
“That would be Terry, not Martin.”
“Oh. Right.”
“Th
ere’s this girl that likes Martin, which is so annoying because she only started being interested this year, once he started growing his hair out and got control of his acne, while I’ve been around all this—” She stopped and glanced at Casey. “Not that I like Martin or anything. I mean, he’s a nice guy, and he has his charms, and –
“Bailey. I liked Martin, too.”
Bailey stopped talking and gave a little giggle. “Sorry. Anyway, this girl, her mom works for the police department. Their receptionist.”
Casey tried to see where this was heading. “And?”
“And…Martin got copies of the report from your accident.”
“What?” How had he known who she was? And why would this police department have access to an accident that had taken place almost two years earlier? Casey hadn’t said anything about Reuben or Omar, or… “How did he know about it?”
Bailey blinked. “Um, you told us? It was in the paper? The trucker died.”
Casey closed her eyes, trying to catch her breath and come back to the present time, and this accident. “Right. I’m…I’m sorry…I…” She shook her head. “What I meant was, how did Martin get the reports?”
Bailey grinned. “I told you, the lady’s daughter’s hot for Martin.”
“But won’t the girl—”
“Pay for it? Probably, at least a little. You want me to tell Martin to forget it?”
Casey clenched her teeth. “No.”
“Fine, then. Let me write back.”
“How ’bout you just tell me what to say?”
Bailey shrugged. “Whatever. Just tell him that’s great. And thanks.”
Casey keyed in the message and sent it off, and took the opportunity, while Bailey thought she was still texting, to delete the records of her call to Davey and his call back to her, getting his number off Bailey’s phone. By the time she’d finished, Martin had sent a reply.
Hi KC hope u r ok c u 2nite
Casey sighed. “He knew it was me.”
“Of course. You probably spelled everything wrong.”
Casey laughed, and Bailey smiled, her teeth brilliant white between her dark lips. Casey stared at her, at her black-lined eyes, dark fingernails, and dyed hair. So different from the earlier family pictures on her father’s office table. In fact, Casey didn’t think she’d even recognize her if she took off all of her artificial coloring.
Bailey glanced at her. “What?”
“I think I do have something you can help me with. Any chance you’d lend me a few bucks?”
Chapter Ten
It took Bailey longer in the Family Dollar than Casey had foreseen. They’d driven to the next town, Bailey conscious of the fact that she was supposed to be in school and the clerk at the local pharmacy would be sure to tell somebody they’d seen her there. Bailey assured Casey that no one in this neighboring store would have the slightest idea who she was. Casey, having to take the girl’s word for it, scrounged around in the back seat to find another ball cap, and pulled it low over her face as she sank down in her seat, keeping her eyes averted whenever she heard or saw movement outside the car. Casey had instructed Bailey to park in the far corner of the lot, hoping no one would come close enough they would get noticed.
Bailey finally exited the store. A man going toward the store did a double take, and Casey sucked in a breath. She unlocked the driver’s door and Bailey slid in, thrusting the bag at Casey. “See what you think.”
“You see that man?” He was just disappearing into the store.
“Yeah, I guess.”
“You know him?”
“Don’t think so. Why?”
“He sure noticed you.”
“I’m telling you, Casey, no one in this town knows me. Maybe he just thought I was pretty.”
Casey couldn’t tell if this was a challenge or a plea for affirmation. “Of course he did.” Or he wasn’t used to seeing Gothish girls at their small town store. “I was just worried about you being recognized.”
Bailey pulled the car out of the parking lot. “So, how did I do?”
Casey peered into the bag. “I don’t think I had this many things on the list.”
“Of course you didn’t. But you obviously don’t know the first thing about make-up.”
She had, at one point. She could actually clean up pretty well. Reuben had always liked those nights when she would put on something other than her dobak or the yoga pants that were so comfortable for playing on the floor with Omar. Not that Omar could play much, at his age. He was at the point, though, that Casey spent a lot of time on the carpet, trying to convince him it was time to roll from his tummy to his back. But every once in a while the comfy clothes would come off, the dress and heels would go on, and Omar would have an overnight with Grandma. Casey could still see Reuben’s eyes as he took her in, him looking handsome in his suit, his Mexican heritage showing in his dark skin and glossy black hair. He would take her in his arms, telling her they only had to play nice with his colleagues for a few hours and then they could come back home, and he would be happy to take her back out of that dress and heels…
Casey looked out the passenger window at the passing buildings, not wanting Bailey to see whatever was showing in her face. Those days with Reuben were long, long gone.
“Sorry,” Bailey said. “I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m sure you look pretty when you try.”
Casey gave a little laugh. “Thanks. I think.”
Bailey whapped herself on the forehead. “I’ll shut up now.”
Casey let herself be brought back to the car, and to the bag of make-up on her lap. She pulled out the hair color. “So, you think I can do this myself?”
Bailey wrinkled her nose. “I guess. It won’t look professional.”
“Good enough to fool a man?”
“Probably. But a woman would notice in a second.”
“I guess I’ll just have to chance it.” Casey pulled out the other things, one by one. Lipstick, foundation… “Reading glasses?”
“Yeah, you didn’t mention those, but they’ll add years to your looks. You’ll look ancient.”
“Great. So when you see the transformation you’ll run screaming.”
“You know it.”
Casey found the receipt in the bag and blanched at the total. Bailey had really outdone herself. “I’ll pay you back.”
“Oh, I’m not worried. This is the most exciting thing that’s happened since Terry’s dad discovered a recipe for chocolate bagels.”
“Chocolate… But, Bailey, two sets of scrubs?”
“I couldn’t decide, since you won’t tell me what you’re doing.” She looked at Casey accusingly. “So I had to think…cats, or plain blue. On the one hand, the cats are cute, but maybe not the look you’re going for, if you’re not going to be around kids. On the other hand, the plain blue might make you look like some sort of surgical assistant, and I wasn’t sure you wanted that. So, you know, if you’d give me more information, I wouldn’t have had to buy more than one. So I’m sorry.”
“No, I’m sorry. I’m asking a lot of you.”
Bailey sulked for a few more seconds before breaking into a grin. “Like I really care, one way or the other. I’m having fun. Usually that just happens at night with the other kids. They’re going to totally want to hear all about this.”
“Yeah, Bailey, about tonight…”
“And really, don’t worry about Sheryl. She’s okay, normally.”
“I hope so. Otherwise I don’t know how you deal with her.”
“She’s had a hard time lately. Her dad lost his job a month ago, because he has Parkinson’s and the company was afraid it would affect his work.”
“Can they do that?”
“They did. And Sheryl’s family doesn’t have the money to hire a lawyer.”
“So they’re stressed.”
“Not only that, but her folks announced last week that they’re moving.”
“And Sheryl doesn’t want to move?”
Bailey gave her an astonished look. “Are you serious? Sheryl grew up here, with the rest of us. She’s a junior. She doesn’t want to go anywhere now.”
“Where are they going?”
“Kansas City. That’s where her mom is from, and they’re going to live with her grandparents until her folks figure out what to do.”
Casey felt sorry for Sheryl. Her parents, too. She knew what it felt like to be separated from all you hold dear. She hadn’t seen her mom or brother in close to a year now, and she hated it. The house she’d shared with Reuben and Omar was on the market, and she hadn’t stepped foot in her dojang in forever. Before, with only Pegasus after her, at least she could go home without landing in jail. Now…
“I invited Sher to come live with us, but her parents didn’t think that was a good idea. I don’t know why not.”
Casey smiled. “Because they’d miss her.”
“Oh. I hadn’t thought of that. Huh. But anyway there’s this private school they said they might send her to—there are scholarships, you know—but the only way they’ll even apply is if she stops getting in trouble.” She sighed. “Ever since they told Sheryl last month, she’s been doing stupid things. Cheated on a test, snuck out at night—”
“But don’t you all sneak out at night?”
“—stole some lipstick from the drugstore. She’s a mess. So that’s why she doesn’t want to call the cops on you—she’s been seeing them way to much these days.”
They were nearing the shed, and Bailey held up her hand. “Anything around?”
“Nothing but corn and soybeans. And dust.”
“Like I said, you know, about the excitement?”
Bailey stopped the car beside the shed and Casey opened the passenger door. “You coming in?”
“Wish I could, but that trip to the store ate up all my time for the school day. I have to get home.”
“And if your dad saw you driving away earlier?”
“I’ve got all kinds of stories.”
“Good, I hope he believes you.” Casey opened her mouth to say something else, then shook her head. So now she was advocating kids lying to their parents. Some role model she was. Hitting up kids for money, using their phones and erasing messages, beating up strangers, then preparing to harass them as they lay in their hospital beds…