by Bradon Nave
I prayed. I prayed that the news stations would blast what had been discovered, that Jess and Kacey would know that the world was no longer against them and they could turn around. Just turn around. Reflecting on everything that’d happened, the situation as a whole, left me hoping he’d turn around today…now. So many things had not only hindered Jess, but had basically taken over the last few years of his life. Now this…if there was going to be any coming back from this for Jess, he was going to need a lot of help. He was going to need a lot of help now. He was so fragile before all of this. How in the hell could he ever come back from this?
“Duke?” Coach Danes’ gruff voice cut through the quite, scattering my thoughts and the cottontails.
“Coach…how did you know I’d be here?”
“I didn’t”
“Why are you here?”
Standing to greet him, I noticed he had on the same attire as the day before. He looked exhausted.
“I’ve got a meeting.”
“Here? You have a meeting out here?”
“This was my choice.”
“Um, okay, Coach. I was just enjoying some time alone with my thoughts.” Returning to my seat, Danes took a seat next to me.
“You were right, Austin. And I’m so sorry. I am so sorry.”
“Right about what?”
“We’re the adults. It’s our job to protect you kiddos. We failed you. I failed you. I didn’t see the big bad wolf and he got his hands on several of my girls. That son of a bitch touched my girls…and now he’s twisted you all up so much. I failed you. I failed Kasper. I should have listened to you, Duke.”
Coach Danes stared out at the field as the sun continued to rise. He was off. Something was off. I didn’t understand who he would be meeting with at such an early hour out here.
“You okay, Coach?”
Inhaling deeply, he looked to me. “I will be, Duke. Remember that. No matter what, I’m gonna be okay…and so are you. You all are gonna be okay.”
“You look tired, Coach. Maybe you should reschedule your meeting.”
“Ha! It’s a little late for that, son. Can you do me a favor, boy?”
“Um…sure.”
“Your sophomore year…first game of the season…we’re down by two…”
“Four seconds left on the clock. Their point hurls it across the court, only to have Cory fly through the air like a damn eagle and intercept. He passes to me just past the half, and me to Jess…Jess nails the three as the buzzer sounds.”
“I’d put you little assholes in because my seniors had all but shit-out on me.”
“Yeah…thirteen points in just under two minutes. I don’t think we sat on the bench for more than five minutes the rest of the season.”
“Don’t ever let this life bench you, boy…you’re too good for that.” His voice strained as he continued to look out over the field.
“Okay…you sure you’re okay, Coach?”
“You’re going to find Kasper and that girl. They’re going to need some strong support. You be that support, you hear?”
“Yes sir.”
“I’ve never been good with my words…I’m a coach…I’m a good coach.”
“Yes sir, you are.”
“I love you kids…I love all you kids. I’d do anything to protect you…you know that, right?”
Looking to me with his haggard face and tired eyes, Coach smiled as the faint sounds of approaching voices could be heard in the background.
“Is…is something going on, Coach?”
“You’re going to be okay, Duke Austin. I took care of it. I would have taken care of it a long time ago had I known.”
“Took…took care of wha…”
Looking past my coach, I saw four heavily dressed officers charging toward the stands. Within seconds they were racing up the steps and coming at us.
“Hands in the air, now!”
“The boy isn’t responsible…I acted alone.”
“What? Coach! What did you do?”
“I couldn’t let those girls run the risk of ever breathing the same air as that bastard again.”
“Henry Danes. You are under arrest for the murder of Patrick Cline. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you. Do you understand these rights as I have read them to you?”
“Yes, officer.”
“No!” My voice cracked as one of the officers held me back. Watching my coach handcuffed was too much.
“Why, Coach? You didn’t have to do this!”
“Ssshhh, Austin. Hush boy. It’s going to be okay from here on out. Look at me!” As the officers began pulling him away I felt a piece of my childhood—my youth being yanked from me right before my eyes.
“I’m okay. You’re okay. Everything is going to be okay, Duke.”
And then he was gone. Whisked away while I stood next to the dumbfounded female officer. On the stands.
***
The high school was closed after first hour. It was too much. It was all too much. It was announced over the intercom that guidance counselors from our school and neighboring schools would be available all week for any students that wanted to return to campus, but that classes were suspended until further notice.
Standing next to my car in the parking lot, I was approached by Dalton Hensley. “Duke…hey, Duke. You okay, man? I heard you were with Danes when they took him.”
“I’m good, Hens. You?”
“I’m in shock, man. Mom…my mom said Danes walked right into the ICU. He…he yanked his breathing tube out and was trying to snap the guy’s neck when security finally got to the room.”
I knew Dalton’s mother was a nurse at the hospital. Hearing the details of Dr. Cline’s demise made me feel good inside. I hoped the man suffered. I only wish it wasn’t at the hands of my coach.
“He’s gone, dude. This shit is crazy.”
“The rumors going around…are they true, Duke?”
“Rumors?”
“The rumors about that dude and the girls.”
“I think you know the answer to that, Hens. Coach Danes didn’t do what he did for no reason.”
“Yeah…neither did Kasper.”
“Exactly.”
Setting his bag down, Dalton leaned next to my car. We continued watching our classmates, stunned, and left with only broken reports and pieced together explanations, as they made their way from the parking lot.
“You think Jessie is okay, Duke?”
“No. I don’t. Not yet anyway.”
“But I mean…you think we’ll ever see that guy again?”
“For sure, Hens. Everything’s going to be okay once we get him and Kacey back.”
“I’ve always liked that dude. He was always a good guy.”
“Yep.”
“Take care of yourself, Duke.”
“You too, Hens.”
As he walked away my phone began buzzing…Lily.
“Hey, sleepyhead.”
“Duke…is it true? Is it true about Danes?”
“Yes.”
“I heard he was arrested. It that true?”
“I’ll be there in a few minutes, Lil. Stay there.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Holding Lily to my chest in the kitchen, we were both in agreement that the only word to describe our emotional state was numb. The situation really was too much and it was only expanding.
Lily was fond of Coach Danes. Most all of us were. His being arrested on top of finding the nauseating evidence we discovered was just over the top. With Jess and Kacey still M.I.A. the situation was bleak at best. Each day that past came with an increased sense of despair. In short—it totally sucked. “I’m so stupid.” My whisper had her lifting her head from my chest.
“Why would you say that, D?”
Squeezing her into me, she was sporting ball shorts and my old sweatshirt, I found myself wond
ering where I would be in all of this if she wasn’t there.
“Lil…if you weren’t here right now. I mean, I have Mom and dingle-Larry…but if you weren’t here right now I think I’d lose my shit. I’m so lucky to have you in my life. I mean that.”
“Well duh, D. I’m a catch and you—”
“I love you, Lily.” My words froze her face and wet her eyes. I never broke eye contact. She had to know I meant what I said. “We don’t know how long we get on this earth with the people with love and care about. I of all people should know that by now. I love you, and I’m thankful you’re in my life. I’m stupid for not telling you sooner.”
Her lip quivering as a tear left her eye, she buried her face into my chest. “I love you too.” I cradled her in my arms, not wanting to let her go.
“I know…dramatic. Everything in my life either runs away or it’s taken from me. I just wanna hold you. I wanna hold you forever.”
“I won’t go anywhere. I promise.”
“’K.” The crack in my voice had her looking toward my face, the palm of her hand resting on my cheek.
“Listen to me, Duke Austin. I mean that. I’m not going anywhere…and I’m going to be right here when we find Jess and Kacey. No matter what circumstances come with that, I’ll be right here.”
“’K.”
Her hands worked their way under my shirt, her fingertips lightly tracing along my spine. She was comforting. She was solid. She was love. Saying it was one thing, but feeling it was another.
“I’m not sure how much more I can do this, Lil. I don’t think I can go another day without any word from Jess. Not knowing is killing me.”
“Look at me, Duke.” Lily’s hands reappeared from under my shirt. Placing them on my shoulders, she squared me to face her. “This life has been a big ole bitch to you here recently.
The way I figure it, you’re just about due a break. I think this is going to be your break.” Her sweet smile…the tiny freckles on her perfect nose left me wanting to pick her up and squeeze her.
“You think?”
“Pretty sure. They’ll find Jessie and Kacey. Jess is finally going to get the help he’s been needing and in years from now when he’s got a storybook life and he briefly thinks of this sad time…of this horrible time…he’ll know that you never once lost faith in him. He’ll know you never once gave up on him. You, Duke Austin, are the definition of friendship and loyalty. I’m the one who’s lucky to have you in my life. I’m putting my foot down. This will be your break.
This will be our break. And if life has anything to say about it, then Tiger Lily is gonna whoop that bitch’s ass.”
I had to laugh. She leaned back into me as my mother came back into the kitchen.
“Is that coffee about ready?”
“Yep. It’s ready. Love you, Mom.”
Smiling at me with puffy, bloodshot eyes, my mother walked to me and kissed my cheek. The news of Coach being arrested in front of her son hit her pretty hard. The entire situation was taking its toll on everyone I loved. Surely Lily was right…surely our break was coming.
***
Beating on the door while Lily held a plate of fried potatoes, bacon, and eggs, I finally turned the door handle and stepped inside the Kasper home. It was silent. Walking to the kitchen, Lily placed the plate on the table as I made my way to Joe’s bedroom. I was shocked to find him passed out with an empty bottle of liquor on his bed with him.
“Joe?”
Blinking, Joe attempted to smile, his cracked lips and sunken eyes had me concerned.
“Duke…boy…how are you?”
“I’m okay. I think. How ’bout you?”
“Bad deal, Duke. Real bad deal.”
Stepping into his musky bedroom, I took the bottle from the bed. “I brought you some breakfast, Joe.”
Smiling once more, he merely shook his head. “Go home, Duke.” At first I thought perhaps I’d heard him wrong.
“What?”
“I need to be alone right now.”
“But I made you breakfast. Lily and I made you something to eat.”
“Please, go home, Duke.”
His tone was soft and he was smiling with squinted eyes, but his request got to me. I could take teammates and Coach in my face, belligerent and yelling, but his soft words got to me. He’d never asked me to leave his home before.
“You…you really want me to leave, Joe. You’ve never asked me to leave before—”
“I love you, boy. I don’t know if I could love you anymore if you were my own. But I can’t anymore…I need you to go…I need you to go home.”
Staring down at him, his sentence nearly knocked me on my ass. It hit me then—he was literally done. And why wouldn’t he be? His wife was dead, one son was dead, and for all he knew the other one was too.
“Joe…they’re going to find Jess. It’s going to be okay. It’s a long road ahead of him but he’s going to be okay.”
I sat on the bed next to Joe as the man grabbed my forearm.
“Duke. I’m praying you’re right. I’m hoping you’re right. But I can’t…I can’t handle the thought of that officer standing on my porch and giving me the news that it isn’t okay. I can’t take that risk. I can’t handle anymore.”
“Joe.” My voice was pleading. “Joe please listen to me. When we find Jess he’s going to need a lot of support. He’s going to need you to be here. If you check out now it’s going to be all it takes to completely finish him.”
“Duke.”
“Look at me. Please. I promise you, Joe…I promise you we’ll get him back…I’ll get him back. Please trust me.”
Smiling at me with haggard eyes, Joe turned from me.
“Joe please—”
“I trust you with all I have, boy. I just…I don’t think I can be strong anymore, Duke. I’m done being strong.”
Grabbing his shoulder, I squeezed. “I’m not asking you to be strong, Joe. I’m asking you to please get up…get up and eat some bacon and eggs. Eat the breakfast I cooked you.”
Turning his face to mine, Joe began to chuckle softly. “You say you and Lily cooked me breakfast?”
“Um…yes sir.”
“Well then…I’m as good as dead.”
Laughing, I helped Joe up and out of bed.
In the dining room, I opened the heavy wood blinds and let the morning light into the room while Joe sat at the table, forcing down his breakfast.
“Does it really taste that bad?”
“No, Lily. It tastes fine. My nerves have got me worked up.”
Walking to the adjoining kitchen, I ran water to wash what few dishes Joe had in the sink.
“Hey, Joseph. How strong do you like your coffee?”
“Pretty strong.”
“Cool. I’ll get that started while you clean your plate.”
Smiling from the table, Joe shook his head. “You really are a pain in my ass, boy.”
“Yep. We’re family…that’s what families do.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
The night had gone by in what seemed like ten minutes. I slept hard. I needed it. Walking to the bathroom and checking my phone, once again I found nothing from Jessie.
Showered and dressed, I made my way downstairs for some Captain Crunch. The knocking on the front door had me jumping backwards.
Lily and Sarah came charging through as I stepped off the last stair.
“Duke.”
“Lily…what’s wrong? What’s going on?”
“They’re in New Orleans.”
“What! They found them? The police found them?”
As Lily and Sarah entered the living room, I wondered why they knew but I didn’t.
“No…D. They don’t know.”
“What? That doesn’t make sense, Lily. What do you mean?”
“Sit down, Duke.” Sarah’s command was soft as she motioned me to the couch.
Making our way over, I found myself irritated, anxious and wanting to know everything immed
iately.
“I…I went to Kacey’s home this morning. Her mom isn’t doing well—”
“Sarah, where the hell are Jessie and Kacey now?”
“Kacey’s grandfather called her mom this morning…Kacey was at his house four days ago.”
“And Jess?”
“He didn’t mention Jessie but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t there.”
“Okay…so the police have a lead now—”
“They didn’t tell the police.”
“What? That’s ridiculous! Why the hell not?”
“Andrea thinks they’re at her house. She’s sure of it. If they’re in the New Orleans area they have nowhere else to go. Andrea left this morning. She wants to get to them before the police do.”
“Oh my god…they’re alive…they’re okay.” I found my mouth curling into an uncontrollable smile. “You two can’t tell anyone you know about this. You’re withholding evidence.”
“Right…like we haven’t already attempted to break into a Doctor’s office, then broke into his home.” Sarah was right.
“We’re so dumb…of course they’re in Louisiana. Where else would they go?”
“None of us expected them to be gone this long or go that far from home, Duke. I honestly thought they would have been found by now. I thought they were hiding out somewhere closer.” Lily sat forward, clearing her throat. “I mean, up until we found the video files, everyone but us was kinda under the impression that it was Jess dragging Kacey off. Why would they think to look near her home town?”
Standing, my heart racing, I began pacing. This was something. I’d been drowning in a sea of not knowing and this was something.
“We’re going to get them back. He’s gonna be okay.”
“I told you, D. This is your break.”
“Are they going to let us know? Will Andrea let us know when she gets to her home?”
“Yes.” Sarah’s enthusiastic tone had me smiling. “They promised we’d be the first to know, even before Andrea takes them to the police station.”
“Oh my gosh. I hope she flies there.”
“I have to let Joe know…we have to tell Joe—”
“No, Duke. That might get Andrea and Kacey’s mom in trouble…and what if they’re not there? What if we tell Joe and it turns out they’re not there? That would devastate him.” Sarah had a point.