Standing under a stream of hot water Casey wondered how Emma was holding up and if Kerry had come around so they could talk to her. They needed to find out what had happened between her and Jimmy Joe.
Emma. He’d tried not to think about her when he tumbled in to bed this morning, but his thoughts kept returning to her. Why did he care? She was just a girl. Sure, a very pretty girl, but he’d been around a lot of pretty girls when he was in college. What was it about Emma that made him want to see her, to be around her? His grandmother had always told him you couldn’t help someone you were attracted to, but he’d always thought that was an old wives’ tale.
A person had a mind and free will. They could choose who they wanted or didn’t want. His grandmother had just smiled at him and said a heart wants what a heart wants, and he had thought that silly. Your mind was stronger than the feeling of the heart, he’d told her and he believed that. At least, he had believed it until yesterday. Now he didn’t know what to think. The only thing he did know was that his thoughts kept returning to Emma.
He shook his head, stepped out of the shower, and grabbed a towel off the rack. Feeling this way about someone he’d only met yesterday was crazy, and it was unprofessional. She was the sister of a crime victim and he’d have to treat her accordingly.
After drying himself off, Casey pulled on a clean uniform. He would swing by the office before heading to the hospital. Unwittingly his thoughts strayed again to Emma.
***
Casey pulled his cruiser into headquarters and scanned the parking lot for the chief’s car. He must still be at home. It was nearly dark and already the lights from the police station shone vividly against the gloomy sky. The wind had picked up again and gusts were chasing leaves and scraps of paper around the parking lot.
He paused at the front counter and planted a kiss on top of the woman’s head that sat behind the desk. “Good afternoon.”
“Good afternoon to you to. Do you kiss all the women on the force?” Nan joked, smiling up at him.
“Just the ones I’m related to,” Casey answered sitting on the corner of her desk. “Have you heard from the chief?”
“No, I hope he’s sleeping, he didn’t leave here till after eleven,” Nan answered, leaning back in her chair to look up at her nephew. She could hardly believe how good -looking he was. It didn’t seem that long ago that he was just a baby. Now here he was all grown up and a police officer.
“Anything come in on Jimmy Joe?” Casey asked, tapping the desk with his finger.
“The report is on the chief’s desk, looks like he didn’t die in the trailer though.”
“No, that’s too bad. I wonder where he is. ” Looking over at her, he sighed. “How rough has the press been?”
“Not too bad,” Nan said. “I think they’re all camped out at the hospital.”
“Have the Stewarts spoken to them?”
“No. I think the staff has drawn a line in the sand. From what I understand, the reporters aren’t allowed on the floor where the Stewart girl is being kept.”
“That’s good,” Casey said, standing up. When are you getting off?”
“Any minute now Margo should come walking through that door and I’m out of here.”
Casey poured himself a cup of coffee from the pot kept on the go all day. He grabbed the report and the notes the chief had left for him and sat behind his desk.
Damn thing didn’t say much, he thought, leafing through it. No sign of human remains found inside the trailer. Blood leading from the front steps out into the yard. Most of the blood found about ten feet from the front steps. Cause of fire: accidental. Start of fire: a kerosene lamp.
Casey cupped his chin in his palm and frowned. If Jimmy Joe had lost as much blood as the report indicated, then he couldn’t have just got up and walked away. That meant someone had to have helped him. The question was who? He remembered seeing Jimmy Joe with that Scooter boy a couple of times. But he was pretty sure Scooter had been sent up not too long ago for B&E. Who else? That boy that drove the old Comet, Orley Pratt, palled around with Jimmy Joe. He could talk to him. Of course, Jimmy Joe had three or four brothers and a sister they needed to talk to.
He pushed himself out of the chair and walked over to where Margo and Nan stood talking. “Margo, do you know Jimmy Joe at all?”
“Yea, kind of, I knew him from school. Susie was in his class. He never struck me as someone I had to be afraid of.”
“Do you know his sister?”
“Not really, she was older then Susie but I know she works at the Old Crow down on Main Street. Her name’s Bonnie.”
“Anyone talk to her yet?” Casey asked, looking at Nan.
“Not that I know of, but the Chief might have stopped there on his way home,” Nan said, slipping on her coat.
“I’m going to take off, if the chief needs me I’ll be at the hospital and after that I’ll run on over and see if Bonnie’s working,” Casey said, grabbing his coat off the back of his chair.
“Well, keep your radio with you in case the chief comes in and needs to talk to you,” Nan reminded him.
Casey climbed back into his car and thought about Jimmy Joe. He’d seen him around town, even talked to him a few times. The guy seemed harmless. Always polite, soft-spoken.
He started the engine and headed toward the hospital. Pulling into the back parking lot, he was surprised to see television trucks parked haphazardly around the back of the hospital parking lot.
He stepped out of his cruiser and shouldered his way through the crowds of reporters shouting questions at him and through the back door, stumbling briefly on a television cable strung from the back of a truck.
He heaved a sigh of relief. He could still hear them shouting questions at him. The chief was right, all they wanted was a story and they didn’t care if it was true or not. What a bunch of hyenas.
Once he was riding up in the elevator, Casey started feeling silly. Getting all excited about seeing someone he’d only met that morning seemed kind of foolish now that he thought about it. She was just a girl he was responsible for because of the case he was involved in. Nothing more.
He had a nice looking girlfriend who was in love with him. At least that’s what Cindy told him all the time.
He must’ve been over-tried to even think that way about Emma. Shaking his head in disgust, he stepped off the elevator onto Kerry’s floor.
The first thing he saw was Emma sitting on the floor outside Kerry’s room. Her head was resting on knees drawn up tight against her chest. Her long blonde hair spilled over her shoulders and down to her waist.
He squatted beside her, “You know, even in the south we have these things called chairs. If you’re real nice to me I might find you one!”
When she raised tired gray eyes up at him and smiled, he felt his heart turn over. No matter how many times he tried to convince himself she was just another girl, he knew it was bullshit. She wasn’t just another girl to him and she never would be.
“Hi,” she said smiling. “I was hoping you would stop by.”
“I bet you say that to all the police officers you meet,” Casey said, grinning. “Speaking of officers, I thought the chief had arranged for a guard for your sister’s room.”
“He did, he’s in the room with my parents and Kerry.”
“Has she woken up?”
“Not for any length of time. Just long enough to make sure we’re here, then she goes right back to sleep. The doctor said she’d probably do that for a couple of weeks. He said she’s very weak.”
He narrowed his eyes and looked at Emma. “Did he say when we might be able to talk to her?”
“No, he didn’t mention the police at all,” Emma said, watching him. “Why?”
“Emma, we really need to talk to her. We have to find out what happened. She might be the only victim, but then again she may not be.”
“My parents won’t let anyone near her until the doctor okays it.”
“Then I gues
s we’ll have to talk to the doctor,” Casey said straightening up, holding his hand out to help her up.
She let go of his hand as soon as she could, then stuck her hands in the pockets of her jeans. The heat from his hand made her feel weak. What in God’s name is the matter with me? she wondered. This guy is cute, but this isn’t the time or place to find a relationship. I have to get some rest, she muttered to herself.
“What did you say?” Casey asked concerned.
“I said I need to find out what Jimmy Joe looks like,” Emma said.
“Why do you need to see what he looks like?”
“Casey, he could come right up to me and I wouldn’t know who he was.”
“That’s true,” Casey agreed, realizing he’d feel the same way. “Look it’s almost dinner, we could go grab a bite to eat and stop at my house. I have some old school yearbooks. We could probably find a picture of him somewhere.”
Emma smiled. “That’s very nice of you.”
He ducked his head so he wouldn’t have to look at her, “Let’s tell your folks, then we’ll head out.”
“Okay.” Emma shoved her hands deeper into her pocket, so she wouldn’t be tempted to touch him.
Chapter Twenty-One
Bonnie leaned over the front seat to check on Jimmy Joe and swore softly. “Son of a bitch, Orley. We need to find a doctor pretty damn fast. Jimmy Joe doesn’t look so good.”
“You really think we had to leave Arkansas to find him a doctor, Bonnie? We’re way the hell out in Tennessee and it’s darker than a bobcat’s ass. I can’t see a damn thing,” Orley whined, taking a drink of his beer. He peeked over at Bonnie’s ass, which was still hanging over the front seat and mumbled a few choice words about nice asses.
“You heard the radio same as me, Orley. They’ve got a warrant out for Jimmy Joe in Arkansas. We had to leave the state or sure as hell someone would’ve turned him in,” Bonnie snapped. She knew exactly where Orley’s thoughts were focused.
Drunk as he could ever remember being, Orley tried not to think about Bonnie’s ass that was still leaning against his arm. “Well, now what? We’re up in the hills and we don’t even know where we are.”
“Just keep driving. We’re bound to run into a town sooner or later,” Bonnie answered wearily, sitting back in her seat.
God, he was dumb. How much longer she could take his whining she didn’t rightly know. Damn Jimmy Joe anyway, if it weren’t for her mama she’d be back at work, getting high and flirting like crazy.
“We need to find a phone so I can call mama. She’s gonna be worried as all hell about Jimmy Joe,” Bonnie said, leaning over to grab Orley’s bottle of beer. Taking a long swallow, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
“Do you think we’re gonna be in trouble, Bonnie? I mean, ain’t what we’re doing helping Jimmy Joe against the law or something?”
Bonnie sighed at his stupidity. “It’s called aiding and abetting or some shit like that. So yea, if we get caught we’re gonna be in trouble.” She had to bite her lip to keep from screaming at him. She wished with all her heart Orley had just left her alone and gone somewhere else, but he didn’t and now she was running from the law same as Jimmy Joe. She only hoped her mama would appreciate what she was doing.
“There’s a sign out there, see it Bonnie? What’s it say?”
“Slow down Orley so I can read the damn thing,” Bonnie ordered. “It says 10 miles to Marion, population 35,000. There should be a doctor in a town that size, I’d say.”
“What we going tell them happened to Jimmy Joe?”
“We’ll look in the phone book and find out where the doctor lives and take him there. You got your rifle? We’ll make him help Jimmy Joe, then we’ll take off.”
“I don’t want to get in trouble, Bonnie. Not even for Jimmy Joe. Remember that time I got put in jail for fighting? I hated being penned up like some kind of dog. I ain’t doing nothing that’s gonna make me go to jail.”
Bonnie swallowed back her irritation and put her hand on Orley’s thigh. “You ain’t doing it for Jimmy Joe, Honey; you’re doing it for me.”
Orley grinned absurdly. He was suddenly very happy. “I didn’t know I was doing it for you, Bonnie. I’d do anything for you,” Orley said grabbing her breast, feeling macho again. Men had to help their woman, which was the way of the world. Orley knew that. Hell, they were too smart to get caught, at least Bonnie was smarter than he was. Frowning, Orley wondered if he should let go of her breast. She hadn’t said he ought to but it was kind of awkward just holding it like that.
His arm was getting tired too. Still, she might think he was weak if he took his hand away after he grabbed it and all. Fighting to keep his hand in place, Orley drove on.
***
Bonnie sat silently while Orley drove. Annoyed, she turned to look out the window. How long was the man going to hang on to her breast? His arm had to be getting tired. She was no stranger to men’s hands. God only knew how many men she’d been with since she was thirteen. And she’d woken up next to worse than Orley, but she couldn’t remember having a man just grab hold of a breast and drive. Maybe he was stranger than she thought. Maybe he wasn’t so dumb, just strange. Glancing over at him, she saw tears sliding down his cheeks. No he was stupid. The poor dumb bastard was in agonizing pain and too dumb to move his hand.
She took hold of his hand and moved it back to his beer can. Shrugging her shoulders at Orley’s mumbled thanks, Bonnie bit her lip. Goddamn, that Jimmy Joe was going to pay for this. She was the only half-assed smart person in the car, which didn’t bode well for any of them. Swallowing a sob, she watched as the lights of the town drew closer.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Casey held the restaurant’s heavy door open for Emma, and then glanced around the small eatery. Thank goodness, no Cindy in sight. Even though he’d decided to end it with Cindy, he didn’t really want to do it in front of the whole town.
He followed Emma to a booth, greeting everyone along the way. Growing up in a small town had its drawbacks. One of which was everyone knew your business, who your parents were and who you were dating. Not that he was doing anything wrong, he thought, he wasn’t.
He slid into the booth across from Emma. Casey felt happier than he had in a long time. She really was beautiful and she was sitting across from him.
“What’s good here?” Emma asked, glancing at the menu the waitress had handed her.
“The hamburgers are good,” Casey said, smiling at her, enjoying just being near her.
“Okay, I’ll have a hamburger.” She looked around the small café. Everyone seemed to be staring at them. Blushing under the close scrutiny, Emma asked, “Is it my imagination or is everyone staring at us?”
“They’re probably just wondering who you are,.” Casey reassured her.
“This is just as bad as back home.”
“Yea, I guess all small towns are about the same.”
“So,” Emma began looking over at Casey, “tell me what you know about Jimmy Joe.”
Casey picked up the saltshaker and twirled it in his hand. “There’s not an awful lot I can tell you. He grew up here. His mom and dad live over on Twilight Street. We’ve picked all his family up for one thing or the other except for his mom and Jimmy Joe. His dad drinks a lot, beats his mom and we throw him in jail for a night or two. She bails him out and then we start all over again.”
“Sounds like a lovely family.”
“His mom’s a good woman. The sheriff said she works harder that most men. He said she does the best she can, given the circumstances she lives under.”
“Do you think Jimmy Joe will try to get Kerry back?” Emma asked anxiously, staring at the saltshaker her was twirling.
“I don’t know. I hope not.”
Emma looked at Casey and sighed. He really was good looking. Dark brown hair, finely sculptured face. A sense of humor shone from his deep brown eyes. What a time to meet someone she was interested in. She had been so careful whi
le she was in school not to date all that much. She didn’t want the distractions of a boyfriend. She wanted to be a doctor and was determined to get through college at the top of her class. Meeting Casey like this seemed almost pre-destined.
Aware of a presence standing beside their booth, Emma looked up. A woman with intense blue eyes was staring down at her. At the same moment she was aware that Casey had tensed across from her.
“Casey, I was driving by and saw you in the window. I thought you had to work.” The southern drawl was more pronounced than any Emma had heard since her arrival in Arkansas.
“I am working,” Casey said, his eyes narrowing in warning.
“I don’t think I ever remember you working in Sophie’s cafe. I mean, are you surveying someone or maybe you suspect this here girl is going to rob the place or something.”
“Actually we’re having dinner,” Casey answered, settling back against the booth and staring at Cindy.
“And you are?” Cindy asked, glaring down at Emma.
Great, so much for destiny Emma thought. Obviously, this must be the girlfriend.
Emma held her hand out and smiled. “Emma Stewart.”
“Emma, what an entirely pretty name. I don’t think Casey has ever mentioned you,” she said, ignoring the outstretched hand.
“No reason he should,” Emma said, drawing her hand back.
Cindy turned her attention to Casey. “I waited for you to call last night,” Cindy said, her voice as sweet as tea. She brushed back a lock of Casey’s hair.
He moved out of reach, “I’ve been busy.”
Cindy bit her lip uncertainly and watched Casey a few moments. “Well, I guess I need to get going. See you tonight?”
“I don’t think so,” Casey answered, staring up at Cindy. “I’m working.”
“I understand.” Cindy was determined to pretend she wasn’t bothered by finding him with another woman. She turned her attention to Emma instead. “Even though we’ve been dating for two years and we’re practically engaged, I still can’t get used to him working nights.”
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