The Deep End

by Debra Purdy Kong

  “Justin and Brady were fighting that night,” Tanya said.

  “So I heard.” Casey leaned forward. “What happened just before Brady fell?”

  “They were screaming at each other outside the bedrooms.” Tanya gripped the edge of the table. “Brady swung at Justin and missed. He then went and kicked him right in the knee, and Justin fell.” She took a breath. “Brady went after him again, only he tripped over Justin’s foot . . . Lost his balance and tumbled backward all the way down to the bottom. The stupid cops didn’t believe me.”

  “I can see where proving it will be a problem.”

  Tanya picked at her chipped nail polish. “Maybe not.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Didi saw it happen.”

  Brady’s sister? “Do the police know?”

  “No one does. I made her promise not to tell anyone and not to delete the footage.”

  “Footage?”

  “On her phone.”

  Holy crap. “How did Didi come to be there?”

  “She wasn’t feeling good that night, so she stayed home. She was in her room, on the phone, until the fight got loud.” Tanya’s narrow shoulders hunched. “She came out, saw how bad it was, and started recording everything.”

  Oh, god. “And she didn’t tell the police because of a promise to you?”

  Tanya paused. “It’s more than that. She was afraid of what her dad would do if she told the cops it was Brady’s own fault. Brady’s dad hates me and Justin. Wants to see us in jail forever.”

  Damn. This needed following up. “I’m guessing that Justin was too busy brawling to notice what Didi was doing?”

  “He didn’t even know she came out of her room. At least, he never mentioned her.” Tanya hesitated. “After Brady fell, Justin ran down the stairs to check on him. Didi was so freaked out that she ran back to her room. Told everyone she was listening to music and didn’t hear anything.”

  Clever girl. Tanya’s arrangement with Didi allowed her to control Justin and make juvie bearable for a while. She’d probably planned to escape with him all along. Casey didn’t bother to hide her irritation. “You should have told Justin.”

  Tears filled her eyes. “I wanted to, but the longer I waited the more pissed off he’d be.”

  And the less control she would have. “Do you think Didi still has the footage?”

  Sniffling, she nodded. “Didi doesn’t break promises . . . Unless her dad found it. When they stuck me in that other juvie, I wanted to call her, but they wouldn’t let me have a phone.” She wiped her eyes. “That’s when I . . .” She looked at her wrists.

  Had Tanya manipulated Didi as cleverly as she had Justin? “Have you tried contacting Didi from here?”

  “Yeah.” She lifted her phone. “Got this back and called a few times, but it always goes to voice mail. I’ve left messages but . . .” She shrugged. “We haven’t talked much since that night. I don’t even know if we’re still friends. Didi’s always been a little messed up.”

  “In what way?”

  “She hated Brady for treating her like shit. And Didi’s afraid of her dad, but he’s family. She’s probably confused about loyalty between them and me.” Tanya fiddled with the tips of her hair. “If Didi still has the recording, she needs to turn it in now. Justin and me need to be together. But what if she won’t talk to me or still won’t do anything ’cause of her dad?” She started to sway and gripped the IV pole.

  “We won’t know until you and she can communicate.”

  “They won’t let me out of here.” Tanya fidgeted. “Will you talk to Didi for me?”

  Part of Casey wanted to say no, but another part of her wanted to see that recording. “Would she talk to me?”

  Tanya looked at Casey, then sighed. “Tell her that Princess has a message for Pixie. That you’re friend, not foe, and that the last promise she made can now be broken.”

  Casey raised an eyebrow. “Princess? Pixie?”

  “I know it’s kid stuff, but it’s what Didi understands.” Tanya paused. “She’s not retarded, but she’s a little slow, and she’s scared of a lot of things. We’ve played a lot of make believe over the years. It makes her feel better when things are bad.”

  So, Tanya had a compassionate side after all. “I have to ask, is her dad abusive?”

  “He doesn’t hit her or anything, but he yells and threatens a lot.” Tanya glanced around the room. “When we were little, kids picked on her pretty bad at school, so I stood up for her. We’ve been friends ever since. Or we were.”

  “I guess it wouldn’t be a good idea to meet Didi at her home.”

  “Hell no,” Tanya replied. “This is Saturday, right? Didi always hangs out at the Brentwood Mall food court on Saturdays because a boy she likes works for the sandwich place.”

  “How will I know her?”

  Tanya removed her phone from her pocket and quickly sorted through her photos. She then handed the phone to Casey. Pixie was right. The girl in the picture standing next to Tanya was several inches shorter than her, with short dark hair and large round eyes in an oval face.

  “She usually doesn’t show up till after three ’cause she has to do chores and homework first.”

  Casey checked her watch. Just enough time to get there.

  “Tell Didi that it’s okay to give the cops the recording now,” Tanya added. “If she doesn’t believe you, then get her to call me.”

  “Think she’ll cooperate?”

  “Didi’s the most loyal person on the whole stupid planet. Big on doing the right thing.” She flashed a derisive smile. “I’m amazed she stuck with me as long as she did.”

  Still, it was a long shot. The incident with Brady happened a couple months back. And it wasn’t Justin’s only problem. “Didi’s footage could get the attempted murder charge dropped, but what about the drugs? I heard that the police found heroin on Justin.”

  “Brady planted it.” Tanya rested her elbows on the table. “Justin was pissed at him for bringing drugs into the house, and threatened to call the cops. We figure Brady stuck some in Justin’s pocket at the party. Probably planned to call the cops on Justin himself, but then realized we were heading home early. I wouldn’t be surprised if his friends saw him try to set Justin up, or if Brady bragged about it. Bet none of those losers fessed up.”

  “Now that Brady’s dead, maybe they will.” Casey leaned back in her chair. “It’s time to put things right, Tanya, which means talking with the police.”

  She shook her head. “They won’t believe me.”

  “They won’t have to if Didi still has the recording.”

  “What if she doesn’t have it?”

  “She can still give a statement, away from her dad.” Understandably, Tanya still looked skeptical. “There’s another problem, though.” Time to push the issue. Casey leaned forward. “Justin told me that Mercedes’s uncle, Cristano Cruz, was Brady’s supplier, and that the uncle helped you escape from Fraserview.”

  Tanya turned and glanced over her shoulder. “I’ve been scared that Cruz will come here. That old security fart can’t protect me.”

  “The police can.”

  Her mouth twisted into a sneer. “How many times do I have to tell you that they hate me?”

  “They don’t hate kids who are trying to do the right thing.” Casey understood, though, why this girl would try their patience. “Some Fraserview residents, including Roxanne and Mercedes, work for Cruz, don’t they?”

  Tanya’s blue eyes became suspicious. “Who told you that?”

  “Justin.”

  Tanya slid further down the chair. “He shouldn’t have said anything. It could get us both in deep shit.”

  “Listen, the more I learn about Cruz, the more I can help protect you and Justin. But you have to work with me, okay?”

  Tanya glanced nervously around the room, as if expecting Cruz to materialize. “I dunno.”

  “Please, Tanya. This is your chance to put things right and do som
ething good for you and Justin.”

  Tanya studied her, as if trying to gauge her sincerity. A woman pushing a girl in a wheelchair entered the room and made their way to the far end.

  “Roxy started working for Cruz a couple months back. He promised her a nice house to stay in and tons of food and cash,” Tanya murmured. “Turned out not to be a great deal. Roxy wants out, but Cruz says he’ll hurt her if she doesn’t do what he wants.”

  Casey believed her. “Roxanne’s out of Fraserview now. Are you keeping in touch?”

  “No. They monitor all her calls. They know where she is and who she’s talking to every minute. It’s like living in a ginormous cage nearly as bad as juvie.”

  “Any idea how I can find her?”

  “Just follow Mia or Cruz. Mia works for him too.”

  Casey nodded. “I gather that Roxanne hates Mercedes because she spies for Mia?”

  “Totally. The last time Roxy was due to get out of juvie, she was gonna run away from Cruz. Mercedes found out and told Mia, who told Cruz. He threatened her the night you first showed up.”

  “I remember the fight and a missing twenty-dollar bill.”

  “The money was from Cruz to buy her off. Mercedes was the one who actually gave it to her, but then it went missing. Roxy figured Mercedes stole it back for Cruz, but it was one of the other girls.”

  Casey said, “Are any other staff involved with Cruz?”

  “Dunno.” Tanya’s expression hardened. “But it wouldn’t be a shocker if there were.” She glanced at the other patient, then whispered, “I think Mac’s dead because he found out what was going on.”

  Casey leaned closer. “Do you think Mia or Cruz killed Mac?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Do you know what Mia does for Cruz?”

  “It’s her house the kids stay at. She keeps everyone in line for him.” Tanya’s eyelids were starting to droop. “I should go back to my room.” Casey stood while Tanya used the IV pole to pull herself up. “Tell Justin I love him and that I’m really sorry, okay?”

  “I will.”

  “He needs to get out of juvie fast. If Mia finds out how much he knows, he could get hurt too.”

  “Agreed.”

  Returning to Fraserview would be riskier than ever, but she needed more corroboration about Cruz and Mia, preferably from an adult, one who wasn’t trapped in one of Cruz’s schemes. Only one staff member came to mind; however, that would have to wait. “I’ll go see Didi now.”

  “Be nice to her, okay? And don’t force her to talk ’cause that’ll only scare her.”

  “Right.” Be gentle with the Pixie.

  TWENTY-FIVE

  CASEY DIDN’T MIND MALL FOOD courts. Some of her favorite foods lived here, which was also the problem: so many sweet, fatty flavors and not one salad bar to be found. Oh, well. She lined up for a burger, mainly because this vendor gave her a clear view of Didi.

  The girl sat at a table in front of the sandwich vendor, her adoring gaze fixed on a boy with large green eyes and dimples. The boy had the body of a gymnast and a smile that revealed large white teeth.

  Didi wore a minimal amount of makeup, but her bling and bright cashmere sweater were definite attention grabbers. The boy flashed a smile at Didi, who blushed bright red as she beamed right back at him. Apparently, the girl didn’t know how to play it cool.

  Casey carried her burger and fries to Didi’s table and sat down, smiling at Didi’s shocked expression. “Hi, Didi. My name’s Casey. I’m a friend of Justin and Tanya.”

  The girl blinked at her. “How do you know them?”

  “I work with Justin’s grandmother, and I’ve known Justin since he was a little boy.” She unwrapped the cheeseburger. “Amy used to bring him to work sometimes. His picture’s always on her desk.”

  Didi glanced at the sandwich boy, who was busy with another customer. “I don’t know Justin’s grandmother.”

  Tanya had said the girl was slow. She’d have to tread carefully. “No, I guess you wouldn’t. Have some fries. There’s too many for me.”

  “I can’t take food from strangers, or talk to them.” Didi glanced over her shoulder, as if afraid of being caught breaking the rules.

  “I have a message from Tanya.” Casey leaned forward. “The Princess says to tell the Pixie that I’m friend, not foe.”

  The girl’s eyes bugged out and her mouth fell open. “Really?”

  “Totally.”

  “Well . . . Okay then.” Didi glanced at her phone with the pink rabbit ears protruding from the top, then sipped what remained of a chocolate milkshake. “I miss her.”

  A good sign. “Tanya’s been calling and leaving messages. She’s afraid you’re mad at her.”

  “No! I’m not.” She shook her head vehemently. “I just don’t know what to say.”

  “I understand.” Casey nibbled the cheeseburger and chewed slowly as she prepared for her next comment. “Tanya told me what happened with Justin and Brady the night Brady fell, and that you recorded their fight on your phone.” She noticed Didi’s pensive expression and the fading color in her cheeks. “Do you still have the video recording?”

  Didi glanced around the food court. “I never play it.”

  “Then you still have it?” As the girl gave a tentative nod, Casey wanted to jump up and shout halleluiah. “I’d like to see it.”

  Didi said, “It’s bad.”

  “That’s all right.” She needed to know if Didi had actually recorded Brady tripping over Justin’s foot. “Please, help yourself to some fries,” Casey said. “Can I buy you something to eat?”

  Didi looked at her beloved, evidently longing to be served by him. Casey drummed her fingers on the table, hoping this wouldn’t drag out too long. “How about a sandwich?”

  “You mean up there?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I can’t do that!”

  Casey sighed. This was going to take some patience. Casey turned and looked at Sandwich Boy, who was giving Didi a small smile. The kid seemed infatuated with her too. She turned back to Didi. “Does that guy go to your school?”

  Didi’s face was now turning candy apple red but without the glossy shine. She looked everywhere but at Casey or the boy. Tanya’s warning to be gentle with the Pixie was easier said than done.

  “I’m sorry,” Casey said. “I didn’t mean to invade your privacy. I was just trying to make conversation.”

  Didi slowly turned to her. The girl’s scrutiny went on for several long seconds before she finally slid the phone toward Casey.

  Casey let out a long sigh. “Thank you.”

  She picked up the phone, found the footage, and began to watch the altercation between Justin and Brady. By the time the recording started, their fight was already intense. Brady had been a big, pudgy kid, who—perhaps because he was drunk—punched recklessly, missing Justin far more than he connected. His kicks weren’t much better. The kid staggered a bit and then tripped over Justin’s foot, exactly as Tanya had said. Brady’s arms pinwheeled in an effort to regain his balance, but he was already so off balance that it was too late to prevent what would happen, and down he went.

  The footage didn’t reveal every second of the fall, but clearly Brady had fallen backward. It was also clear that Justin was still picking himself up off the floor when it happened. The footage became haphazard for a moment, as if Didi was running. The next clear shot was of a motionless Brady at the bottom of the staircase, his limbs twisted at unnatural angles. Justin ran down the stairs, shouting at a screaming Tanya to call 911. He seemed oblivious to the fact that Didi was watching all this. Suddenly there were brief fragmented images of the floor and hallway, and then nothing.

  Casey put the phone down and observed Didi’s downcast expression. “Justin told the truth. It was an accident.”

  “Brady was wearing socks. Socks are slippery on the stairs. I’ve fallen before.”

  Casey nodded. “Tanya wants the police to see the footage now.”

  D
idi shook her head. “My dad wouldn’t like that.”

  “I understand, but is it right that two innocent people remain in jail?” Didi’s mouth pinched closed. Man, this girl could be stubborn. “The police really do need to see this right away.” The girl remained frustratingly still. What would it take to get through to her? Unless . . . Casey leaned forward. “There was a second part to Tanya’s message.”

  Didi perked up, her expression hopeful. “For me?”

  “Absolutely.” Casey paused. “Her message is that the last promise you made to her can now be broken.” More silence and downcast eyes. Casey kept a gentle tone of voice. “Listen, you don’t have to say anything to your dad. If the police download this footage, then the truth will come from them.”

  “Really? So I wouldn’t have to tell him?”

  “No, you wouldn’t. Remember, I’m the one who came to you. You didn’t come looking for me, and I’ll be the one who tells the police about it.”

  Didi’s wispy brows furrowed together. She appeared to be thinking this through, deciding if this would be enough to keep her out of trouble with her dad. “Maybe.”

  “Since this is your phone, we should probably go to the police together. I could drive you there right now.”

  “I can’t leave!” She tossed a worried look at her beloved.

  Casey stifled a groan. Good god, would she ever get this girl away from Sandwich Boy? “Is the guy behind the counter expecting you to stay?”

  “What? No! He doesn’t know me.”

  Sure. Right. “Would you like me to introduce you?”

  Didi’s mouth dropped open. “You know Chad?”

  Casey gritted her teeth. Patience. Just a bit more persuasion. “No, but what matters is that you two get to know each other. Should we go up to the counter?”

  “No! I couldn’t!”

  She sure in hell could. “Let’s be courageous knights, okay?”

  Without waiting for a response, Casey stood up from the table, took Didi by the hand, and led her toward the sandwich counter. Mercifully, Didi wasn’t struggling. Casey ordered a pop from Chad and then introduced her to Didi, who hid behind her.