by Judy Clemens
“Oh, guys,” Casey said. “It’s not that. Not at all. I like…you guys are great.”
“Then what do you need?” Bailey pleaded.
What did she need? She needed these sweet, exasperating kids to be safe. Oh, yeah, there was something else. “Pat Parnell. Did you ask your dad if he has a second job?”
“Didn’t have to. Asked Mom. And I didn’t know it, but he doesn’t farm anymore. Hasn’t for awhile. He took up another job. Driving trucks.”
Bingo.
“But he doesn’t anymore.”
“How come?”
“Don’t know. Mom wouldn’t say. In fact, when I asked about him, she got all weird.”
“Weird? In what way?”
“Just got all…like she was creeped out. Or disgusted. Who knows with her. She gets freaked out if you even mention the word bellybutton.”
Casey considered this new information. “I need to talk to him.”
“Pat?”
“Can you get me his number?”
“Sure. Easy.”
“Without your dad knowing.”
“You forget,” Bailey said with a smirk, “I do all sorts of things without my dad knowing. And anyway, this is simple.” She pulled out her phone and dialed 411. She listened, said Pat’s name and city, and waited. And frowned.
She slid her phone shut. “Unlisted.” Her face cleared. “So I’ll go home and get it. Dad would have his cell number.”
“And I’ll get it from you how?”
Bailey looked at Terry. “Ter, give Casey your phone.”
“What?”
“No,” Casey said. “I don’t want—”
“Come on,” Bailey said. “You hardly use it, anyway. You haven’t sent me a text for at least three days.”
“Bailey,” Casey said. “Terry doesn’t need to—”
“She’s right.” Terry handed Casey his phone. “Go ahead.”
“Terry!” Sheryl was on her feet now. “Don’t give her your phone.”
“The sooner she finds out what she wants to know, the sooner she’s gone!” Terry said, his voice loud and harsh in the enclosed space.
That shut them all up.
“I’m sorry,” Casey said. “I’m making things difficult for—”
“No,” Bailey said. “You’re making things exciting around here. For once. Don’t listen to him.” She glared at Terry. “Come on, guys. A few songs before we hit the road. I need the pick-me-up.”
Martin programmed a few lively songs to play, and he and Bailey danced around the room, Sheryl and Terry watching from the sidelines. Several times Bailey tried to get them to join, but Sheryl simply sulked, and Terry was watching her for cues.
Finally Bailey dropped onto a bucket, wiping her forehead. “Okay, come on guys. Casey needs her sleep. And I need to go get this number.”
“Thank you for the phone, Terry,” Casey said.
He busied himself covering the cake and shoving trash into his bag. Sheryl sulked in the corner. Martin packed away his iPod and accessories. Everybody strapped their things onto their bikes and wheeled them outside.
“So I’ll be in touch,” Bailey said.
“Thanks so much. For everything.”
Bailey led the group down the lane, Terry’s bike wobbling with his heavy load.
Martin hung behind. “Don’t worry about Terry. You’re not the reason he’s so crabby.”
“Sheryl?”
Martin laughed. “So you see it, too?” He straddled his bike. “All I can say is, good luck with that. If she never sees him, it’ll destroy him. But if she ever takes him up on it? She’ll eat him alive.” He hopped on the bike and pedaled down the lane, waving over his head.
Speaking of eating…
Casey went into the shed and devoured everything the kids had brought.
Chapter Seventeen
The Bugs Bunny theme blared, and Casey sat straight up. It was still dark. Terry’s phone wasn’t hard to find—it lit up her entire side of the shed. Casey grabbed it and pushed buttons until it quieted. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, letting herself wake up.
“Annoying tune,” Death said, from the darkness of a far corner. “Kids these days.”
“Yeah, well, it’s a tune I remember very well from my childhood. I’m surprised Terry even knows who Bugs Bunny is.”
“Some things remain constant,” Death said.
Casey read the phone’s screen, which held Pat Parnell’s cell phone number and address, and a demand that Casey let Bailey know she got it. Bailey Rossford. Her full name appeared on the screen. Casey pecked out a short reply and turned off the phone before lying back down.
“Want a lullaby?” Death asked.
Casey rolled over without answering, and went to sleep with Death singing Away in a Manger, accompanied by an autoharp.
Casey woke up alone and surprisingly rested. Her stomach growled, having been reminded the night before what it felt like full. Casey wished she hadn’t been quite so greedy, eating everything all at once. She turned on Terry’s phone to check the time. After nine. The kids should all be in school. At least, she hoped none of them had skipped.
Bugs Bunny began playing again, and Casey found the button to mute it. Bailey and Martin had each texted her. Martin once, saying good morning and that she should contact him if she needed to, and Bailey nine times, wondering where Casey was and why she hadn’t texted back.
Casey let her head fall onto her arms. She just didn’t have the energy for modern technology. Or kids.
After a round of hapkido forms, stripped to her underwear, Casey checked the field for farmers and rinsed off at the pump, pulling on the set of clothes Bailey had brought the night before. What would she do without those kids? And why wasn’t she running from them as fast as she could?
“Because you need them,” Death said.
Casey jumped. “Would you stop that?”
“Without the kids you’d be screwed. No money, no clothes, no way to be in touch with people.” Death’s chin tilted toward Terry’s phone. “You thought about who else you could call on that phone?”
Of course she had. Her brother, Ricky. Her lawyer. Eric.
“If I call any of them I might as well just call Pegasus and the cops and tell them where I am. You know Ricky’s phone is being watched, especially now that—” She shook her head. “You know my real name came out in Clymer.”
“I would assume so. But maybe Ricky got a new phone.”
“Which I wouldn’t have the number for.”
Death acknowledged the problems. “So we’re pretty much in a deep, dark hole.”
“Thank you so much for your helpful observations.”
“I aim to please.”
Casey sat down to tie her shoes.
“So,” Death said. “What first?”
“First, I give our friend Bruce Willoughby a call.” She dialed the hospital and asked for his room. The phone rang and rang until Casey finally hung up. She re-dialed, and when the receptionist answered, she asked if Mr. Willoughby had been released—although she couldn’t imagine it. The receptionist assured her Mr. Willoughby was still booked into his room.
“Must be in surgery, or getting tested,” Casey told Death. “I’ll try later. Now for Mr. Pat Parnell.” She picked up the phone and dialed the number, listening as the phone requested she listen to the music while her party was being reached. A song from Oklahoma! blared in her ear and she held the phone several inches away.
“What are you going to say?” Death asked. “‘You don’t know me, but I’m about to ask you a whole lot of personal questions?’”
“’Lo.” A gruff voice answered.
“Hello,” Casey said. “Mr. Parnell? I’m a friend of Bailey’s, and—”
“Bailey Rossford? Danny’s little girl?”
“That’s right. Although she’s not so little anymore.”
“You got that right. Anyhow, what is it?”
“I was wondering if we mi
ght be able to get together to talk.”
“About what?” His voice chilled a few degrees.
“About…trucks.”
“Trucks?”
“And driving them.”
“Listen, lady, I don’t know what—”
“You know what happened this past Sunday, in Blue Lake.”
Casey could hear him breathing.
“I don’t want the same thing to happen to you.”
“I don’t know why you would think that. I have nothing to do with what happened. Besides, I’m not driving again till Friday.”
“Mr. Parnell. I have pictures.”
His breath hitched. “Pictures? Of what?”
“Of you. With them. Owen Dixon and Randy Westing.”
“But I haven’t…what is this? Who are you?”
“I want to help…Mr. Parnell, please—”
But he’d hung up.
“That went well,” Death said.
Casey leaned back against the wall. “And now he’s probably going to call Bailey’s dad, asking why some strange woman was calling him.”
“Or not.”
“You don’t think he will?”
Death blew a chord on the harmonica, salvaged from the creek. “Not if he’s into something shady. He won’t want his friends to know.”
“Unless Bailey’s dad is involved somehow.”
“Wow.” Death lowered the harmonica. “You really do think the worst of people, don’t you?”
“Not everybody.” She looked up her notes and punched another number into her phone.
“Wainwright’s.”
“Davey?”
“Hey, I’ve been wanting to call you, but you aren’t answering and…this is a different number.”
“Yeah. Forget that other one. While you’re at it, forget this one, too. Any word from Tom about that database?”
“Not yet. But I had somebody call this morning, ask where I sent the truck. It was a guy, and the number was blocked.”
“Did you tell them where it went?”
“Sure. No reason not to. It’s a huge junk yard, with lots of employees. These bozos will have a hard time pulling anything off there. And I warned the guys there about the possible interest in the truck. They’ll be ready.”
“Good.” No reason for more people to get hurt. “What will they do if Westing shows up?”
“Stall him. They’ll let him at the truck, but they’ll make it take a long time. And they’ll give me a call.”
“Great work. Thanks. Will you let me know if Tom calls?”
“At this number?”
“It’s the only one I have for now.”
“And where is this number?”
“Good-bye, Davey.” She hung up.
“He’s going to find you, you know.” Death blew in the harmonica. “One of these times.”
“If he’s the worst person to come calling, I can deal with that. Seems to me that’s the least of our worries.”
“Unless he and the others find you at the same time.”
“You are a ray of sunshine, aren’t you?”
“I try. So, what next?”
“I have Pat Parnell’s address in Wichita.”
“And no way to get there. Davey?”
“He’s involved enough. Maybe Wendell today.”
Death raised an eyebrow. “You trust him?”
“He covered for me.” She flipped the phone open and dialed information. The operator put her through to the garage where Wendell worked.
“Blue Lake Gas,” a man said. The bored one, Casey guessed.
“May I speak with Wendell Harmon, please?”
“Minute.” The receiver crashed down—onto the counter, probably—and the man hollered Wendell’s name.
A couple minutes later Wendell came on the line.
“Wendell, it’s Casey.”
“Hey! Where are you?”
Everyone was so concerned about that.
“Around. Any chance you could drive me to Wichita today?”
“Wichita?” He paused, and when he came back, his voice was muffled, like he was speaking behind his hand. “What do you need there?”
“Somebody I want to visit.”
“I really wish I could, but we’re slammed, so I can’t get away. I could lend you my truck, though.”
Casey stopped breathing for a few seconds. “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.”
“Aw, the truck looks worse than it is. It’ll get you there.”
“It’s not the truck I’m worried about. I don’t…my driver’s license got stolen.” Might as well go with the story she’d told the hospital clerk. Wendell didn’t need to know her wallet was back in Ohio, waiting to incriminate her, if it hadn’t already.
“I won’t tell. Drive the speed limit, and you’ll be fine.”
Casey swallowed. The kids all had bikes. She could borrow one of them.
Death snorted. “You think a bicycle’s gonna get you to Wichita?”
“I…don’t think I can, Wendell. Thanks, though.”
“Sorry. Come after work and I could probably take you. I’d have to call my wife, though. Tell her I won’t be home for dinner.”
“Forget it. I’ll find another way.”
“If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure. Thanks.” She hung up and let her hands and head hang between her knees.
“You know,” Death said, “one of these days you’re going to have to face—”
“I know, okay? I know.”
Death made a face and picked up the harmonica. “Geez, I’m just trying to be helpful.”
Casey considered her options: Davey. Wait till after school and ask Bailey, who knew Parnell and would probably be getting hell for her part in all of this. Wait until after work and go with Wendell, adding his wife to the list of people who knew what was going on.
Or she could drive Wendell’s truck.
She dialed Davey’s number. He didn’t answer, and the machine asked her to leave a message. She hung up. Sweat sprouted on her scalp and upper lip, and she went hot, and then cold. Could she do it? Could she get behind the wheel of a truck?
“Was Wendell’s truck a stick?”
Death blew a discordant rush of air. “Nope. Automatic.”
So she couldn’t use that excuse.
“Come on, Casey,” Death said. “I’ll be with you every second.”
“Oh, great. That helps so much.”
The bag the kids had brought the food in was a backpack, and Casey stuffed her things inside it. She used the broken broom to sweep away her footprints, and made sure there was no sign she’d been there. She looked for cars, and headed down the lane.
In the past week she’d been in an accident, run from the cops, avoided Pegasus, made and lost friends, seen a couple of people die, and killed someone.
If she couldn’t drive a truck, there was something wrong with her.
Chapter Eighteen
“Changed your mind?”
Casey caught Wendell outside on his lunch break and pulled him to the side of the building, where the other guys wouldn’t see her. “If you’re still offering.”
“Sure. Here.” He held out a keychain with more keys than Casey could imagine ever needing. “She’s full up on gas, and ready to go.” He grinned. “Figured you might be by.”
“Thanks, Wendell.”
“Anything else I can do?”
She peeked around his shoulder. “Don’t tell the guys?”
“No reason they need to know. When will you be back?”
“When do you get off work?”
“Five-thirty.”
“I’ll be back by then.”
“If not, it’s no biggie. One of the guys can give me a ride home. One more thing.” He pulled out his wallet and counted out twenty dollars. “Get yourself something to eat.”
“Wendell—”
“Don’t like seeing a woman look so hungry.”
Casey took the mo
ney. “Thank you.”
“You know where you’re going, how to get to Wichita?”
“I think so.”
He pointed up the road. “Catch the highway there; it’ll take you right into the city. Got directions for once you’re there?”
She had them. Terry’s phone was equipped with the Internet and GPS.
“Okay, then, see you in a few hours.”
“Thanks, Wendell.”
He gathered up his lunch supplies and headed back inside.
Casey let the keys dangle by her side as she stared at the truck. Death stood beside her.
“I don’t think I can,” she said.
“First step,” Death said. “Open the door.”
Casey took a step, faltered, then took another.
“Come on. You can do it.”
Casey tugged on the door handle, and the door swung open.
“Thank you.” Death climbed into the cab and scooted across the seat. “Second step. Get in.”
The sweat was back, and the hot flashes. Casey glanced toward the window of the gas station. Wendell was watching. She held her breath, and got in.
“Okay,” Death said. “Shut the door.”
She did.
“Keys in the ignition, turn them forward—”
“I know how to start the damn truck!”
Death sat back, hands up. “Sorry. Sorry. Just trying to be supportive.”
Casey turned the key.
“Don’t forget your seatbelt.”
Casey growled, but buckled herself in and clenched her hands around the steering wheel.
“Take your time,” Death said.
“I am.”
“No need to be a speed demon.”
“Will you shut up?”
Death sat back, whistling the theme from Knight Rider.
Casey eased her foot onto the gas pedal, turned the steering wheel…and stalled the truck.
Death stayed very still.
Casey wrenched the keys, started the truck, and floored it, screeching to a stop at the road. She blinked, completely disoriented.
“That way,” Death said, pointing.
Casey swallowed, clenched her teeth, and pulled out.
Once they got within sight of the highway—it took twice as long as it should have, since she drove fifteen miles per hour under the speed limit—she was beginning to loosen up. She would be driving the opposite direction of the accident scene, so at least she wouldn’t have to see it.