In Cassie's Corner

by Mayer, Dale

  "What?" Adam reached up and scratched his head.

  Cassie closed her eyes briefly. It was through Adam she’d learned a long time ago that one couldn’t talk to a drunk, never mind trying to argue with one.

  "Did you see Todd that last night?" she said suddenly.

  "Did I? I don’t remember."

  "Yes, before I went out that night we spoke briefly." Todd supplied the information, studying his father’s confused face.

  Cassie quickly put that information to use. "I’m sure you must have spoken before he went over to Rob’s house to play games that night."

  Adam nodded, "Yeah, I think so. I think it was over the phone. That’s what I remember."

  Cassie took a couple of steps forward. "Maybe you called him that night? Did you ask him to pick up something for you?" She hated the rising tide of hope.

  He wavered on the spot as if he couldn’t think and stand at the same time. "I called him?"

  "No. I’m asking if you called him?"

  Adam scratched his bristled chin with his truck keys. "I think I talked to him. On the phone."

  "Maybe he called you?" She didn’t know what difference it made, yet the concept wouldn’t leave her alone. Todd had talked to someone on the phone. Someone who’d pissed him off. That put his father at the top of the list.

  "Talked to him. Don’t know." He shook his head and continued his journey to the front door.

  "He called me." Todd frowned at his father. "I remember talking to him."

  "Maybe you called him?" Cassie said to Todd softly. At least she thought she'd whispered.

  At the front door, Adam turned back. "Huh, what did you say?" He stumbled, grabbing the wall for support.

  Cassie groaned softly. "Sorry, I’m just talking to myself." Smiling, Cassie took several steps back toward the driveway. "Good-bye."

  Adam half raised the arm holding the booze before letting it drop as he pushed the front door open and fell inside.

  "He’s too drunk to talk to right now. Call him in the morning, or better, around lunchtime and ask him again. If you want to, that is." Todd fell into step beside her.

  "Maybe not. Chances are he’ll be too drunk tomorrow to talk, as well." As they walked back to her house, Cassie couldn’t stop the feeling that something in that recent conversation was important. It would be normal for Todd to have spoken on the phone with his dad. Most kids did on a daily basis and some on an hourly basis. That didn’t feel like the problem, but she couldn’t put her finger what was.

  As they reached her house, a trip made mostly in silence, she stopped and spun around, looking to ask Todd a question.

  Only he’d disappeared – again.

  ***

  Deputy Magnusson strolled around the side of the house, calling out for Peter and Martha. The pickup was there. They had to be somewhere. "Martha, are you here?" He stepped up on the back porch and glanced in the glass doors. Martha appeared to be sleeping on the couch. She slept a lot lately. According to the doctors her end was near. As he peered inside, Martha opened her eyes and shrieked.

  Gerome held up his hands. "Sorry, Martha. Didn’t mean to scare you."

  Shaky, Martha sat up, stumbling to her feet before making her way to the door and unlocking it so he could enter. "Sorry, Gerome, I was catching a nap."

  "No, it’s me who’s sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you." He walked into the sitting room, watching Martha retake her seat. Sweat beaded on her brow. He winced. "Is Peter around?"

  Lying back down, she yawned, covering her mouth with her hand. "I don’t know where he’s at."

  "His truck is parked out front, which is why I walked around back to look for him. Again, I’m sorry. I’ll check outside for him." He tilted his head in a respectful nod and backed out.

  Martha smiled at him as she lay back down. "Do that. It's nice to see you again."

  As he walked away, he noticed a dark blue cell phone lying on the coffee table. That was the same color as Todd’s. He couldn’t see the brand. He frowned. Martha certainly counted as an old crochety woman, as per Cassie’s description of the person who’d answered Todd’s phone. Only why wouldn’t she have answered when he’d tried to call the number? Walking around to the front of the house again, he called out, "Peter, are you out here?"

  Again no answer. Puzzled, he walked around the other side and yelled again. This time he thought he heard a faint moan. He ran around the side of the house to find Peter lying in the deep grass, his left leg crumpled at an odd angle beneath him. Gerome dropped beside him on the grass. He quickly realized Peter was barely conscious, his heart racing and uneven.

  He needed help and fast. After calling for the ambulance, Gerome took off his jacket and used it to cover the old man up. Too short by half, but it was all he had. Peter’s skin had a gray cast, tinged with white.

  He needed to let Martha know what had happened, only he didn’t want to leave Peter alone. Damn. He made a quick decision and raced up to the back deck where he reopened the glass doors. Martha had fallen asleep again.

  "Martha? Martha?" he repeated louder.

  She murmured, drifted silent, never lifting her head or opening her eyes.

  Damn it. Sirens sounded in the distance. They’d still need a good ten minutes. "Martha?"

  This time she hardly moved. Gerome walked in and touched her gently on her shoulder, "Martha, wake up. Peter’s hurt." He shook her harder.

  Martha’s head wobbled and fell to the side, but she didn’t open her eyes. Gerome reached a hand to her chilled forehead and frowned. He pressed his fingers to her neck and found only a faint pulse. Her skin felt clammy. She seemed fine ten minutes ago.

  Damn it. He needed an ambulance now – for two patients.

  He glanced at the cell phone he’d seen earlier. Picking it up, he raced back out to Peter. The older man was still unconscious. Gerome stared down the road. Where the hell was the ambulance?

  Opening his wallet, he pulled out a ripped piece of notepaper with a number on it. Using his own phone, he dialed the number. Within seconds the phone in his hand rang. He stared at it in disbelief. Checking the back, he found TS scratched on one corner. Gerome glanced back at the house.

  How the hell had Martha ended up with Todd’s cell phone?

  ***

  Jessie texted Cassie.

  She answered immediately, telling him she’d just returned from trying to talk to his father. Said it hadn’t worked out well and she’d try again later.

  He snorted. Like that would be effective. His father was drunk now and would be drunk later.

  Wanting to hear her voice, he phoned her instead of texting. "Hey, Cassie. Yeah, sorry about Dad. He’s not likely to be sober tomorrow, either."

  "Maybe, he did mention having talked to Todd on the phone the night he died." Cassie sighed. "I’d hoped to find out what they talked about."

  "He spoke with him?"

  "Yes, on the phone. At least that’s what he said."

  "I’ll call and talk to him myself in the morning." Jessie checked his watch, realizing he had a few minutes to spare before starting work. "He often calls us, particularly when he’s drunk, so that’s possible. Still I can’t see how this might help."

  "It might not. We need to retrace Todd’s steps right to the end before we know for sure."

  Jessie rubbed the bridge of his nose. "What are you going to do if you find out Todd was the one drinking and driving."

  Silence.

  Her voice, when it came, was small and painfully honest. "I don’t know. I want the truth, only there’s always been a small part of me that’s afraid of what that is."

  "I’m not saying that’s what happened, but we may never find out the truth, and that possibility will always be there."

  "I know that. I just have to give him every chance first."

  Jessie winced at the pain in her voice. "We only have a couple of leads left to follow. After that…well, we’ll have to leave it well enough alone."

  "I know�
�and thank you," she whispered. "I need to know I’ve done everything I can before I walk away."

  ***

  Frustration burst forth. "Walk away. She’s going to walk away?" Could she do that? Of course she could. He just hadn’t thought she would.

  A small voice of reason popped up. What had she said? Something about doing everything she could do first before walking away. He hated only getting half a conversation. He didn’t know who she was talking to, so far the conversation was not optimistic

  "Jessie, I need to get out. My parents aren’t home for a while yet, do you want to go for a coffee?"

  Jessie? His brother. Instead of raging anger, there was only confusion and…jealousy maybe. That was an unfamiliar sensation. Mixed emotions swept his brain, tiring him. When had his life gotten so confused?

  "No, that’s okay. I understand. Maybe another time. I’ll see you at school tomorrow. Good luck talking to your dad. Don’t forget to let me know how it goes."

  Todd’s emotions fired up and twisted again. Jessie wouldn’t meet her for a coffee? What the hell? How dare he? She was a great girl. How could he not go out with her? Just the concept pissed him off. Didn’t Jessie know how special Cassie was? He should’ve been jumping for joy at being asked.

  Belatedly, he realized Cassie was still talking to Jessie. "Have a good evening at work. Yeah. Later."

  Shit. Jessie was on his way to work. Todd groaned. He was losing it. He’d shifted from being jealous that Jessie was talking to Cassie, to being pissed that Jessie wouldn’t meet her and now he was relieved that Jessie couldn’t meet Cassie, not that he wouldn’t. He was a mess. A dead mess.

  "Todd, hi! I’ve missed you." Her beaming smile as she saw him and put away her phone warmed him inside, easing the edgy emotions. His sigh of relief was heartfelt. She loved him.

  He knew that and he also knew she needed some people in her life. Good people. And if he couldn’t be there for her, and he’d given it an almighty try to remain longer, then, he had to admit that Jessie might be the right guy to take his place.

  ***

  The hospital never seemed to go into quiet mode. The sun went to bed, the moon rose and fell, yet the hospital always hummed with activity.

  Gerome, hat in hand, hovered. He couldn’t help it. There was nothing like seeing a group of industrious people moving to a silent orchestra that only they could hear. They did it with musical precision, making him feel useless.

  Martha and Peter were both in Emergency, being worked on by separate teams. Gerome had no idea if either, or both would survive. He’d contacted his boss and brought him up to speed on the situation. Sheriff Lance Donner was a good man and even he realized the cell phone issue needed to be clarified. There was no way to know when that could happen, given the craziness going on now.

  "Deputy, please move down to the waiting room. You’re in the way," scolded one nurse on her third pass around him.

  Gerome looked around the room and realized there was no place to get out of the way without leaving. The same nurse stopped, grabbed his arm and turned him in the direction of the seats. "Down there." She gave him a little push on his ample shoulders. "Go, now."

  He gave her a goofy grin and headed over to sit. He waited. He got coffee, pondering the cell phone. He’d taken a moment to check the calls on Todd’s phone while he could and there’d been a few. At this point, he didn’t know if any were important. The ambulance had arrived then and he’d raced out to follow.

  Finally a doctor walked over to him.

  "Deputy?"

  Gerome struggled to his feet. "Doctor Robinson. How are they?"

  The doctor studied Gerome’s face. "It’s a good thing you were there, Deputy. Peter’s going to be fine only we’re going to keep him and run some tests. His pulse is too low and he’s still in shock. As for Martha, well, her time has come. We’re hoping Peter wakes up so he can see her before she’s gone, except if he doesn’t wake up soon…I think he’ll be too late."

  "She’s been sick a long time." Gerome knew it would be hard on Peter any time. It would be harder still if he didn’t get a chance to say good-bye.

  "Yes, she has, and she’s come to the end of the road. Not to worry, we’ll make her as comfortable as possible."

  "Is she awake? Any chance I could ask her a few questions?"

  "No. And she’s not likely to wake again."

  Gerome pursed his lips. It’s what he’d figured. "What about Peter?"

  "Now he might be able to talk in a bit. They’re still getting him stabilized. His leg is going to need to be set and the cardiologist needs to see him. He just might need a pacemaker before he leaves the hospital."

  "A pacemaker?"

  "Depending on the test results. With his pulse dropping like it did…that could be next. The cardiologist will decide. Why don’t you go home? Call the nurses’ station for an update before you come back."

  "Thanks, I’ll do that."

  "Don’t forget, he’s liable to be pretty emotional over Martha already, so try not to upset him. That will cause heart trouble he can’t afford, in his condition."

  "Understood." With a final nod, Gerome headed to the nurses’ station to request a call when Peter was able to talk. Then he would head home. On his way out, the dispatcher called. Another car accident.

  So much for dinner tonight.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Tuesday really sucked once she logged onto her Facebook account and saw a message from Todd.

  It couldn’t be from Todd. Not unless he’d found a way to communicate electronically. And even then, he'd have told her himself. Some jerk had to be using his account. Why? To scare her? To make her wonder if Todd had really died? His coffin had been closed. She never did see Todd’s body. She grimaced. Like who’d want to?

  Using his account to stir up trouble? Now that was low.

  Pissed, and with all that hurt to deal with, crabbiness ruled while she finished dressing and headed downstairs. Giving a perfunctory smile to her mother who stood at the stove, she strode right out the door.

  "Aren’t you going to eat breakfast, Cassie?"

  Cassie let the door slam behind her, ignoring her mother’s question. She didn’t want breakfast. She only wanted peace.

  As she approached the place she usually met Penny, she wasn’t surprised to find there was no sign of her, either. Had someone sent her a message from Todd, too?

  Cassie kicked a rock the rest of the way to the school, wanting to release some of the anger inside.

  "What’s the matter, Cassie?"

  "Missing your boyfriend, Cassie? Need a new boy toy for some fun?"

  Brodie and Aric had come up behind her. Great. She’d hoped she was done with these two. Yet if they wanted a fight today, well, they could have it.

  "I don’t want to talk to you two. Go away."

  "Go away." Aric snorted. "Like we have to listen to you."

  "No, you don’t have to, but you will. Like I want anything to do with you."

  "And what’s wrong with us?" asked Aric, indignantly.

  She slid him a disgusted look. "What’s right with you?"

  He came to a halt. "Hey, be nice."

  She spun around to walk backwards. "Don’t be an idiot. You spend all your time trying to frighten and intimidate everyone. Who’s going to like you, except Brodie and Dory?"

  "We do not," he blustered. "Everyone likes me."

  Brodie sent a silent dark look at Aric. "Don’t be an idiot."

  Aric subsided with a dirty look at Cassie.

  The school gates appeared in front of them. Cassie strode through. Aric fell in behind. At the stairs, Cassie twisted to look behind her. Brodie stood at the gate, his arms crossed, glaring at her.

  "What’s the matter with your friend?" Cassie motioned behind her.

  Aric shrugged. "He’s having a bad day. Someone sent him an email from Todd’s account. He’s pissed about it."

  Cassie stopped mid-stride and grabbed his arm. "What did you sa
y?"

  "You heard me," he muttered. "And don’t tell him I said so."

  "You don’t understand. I got one, too."

  "No shit?"

  "Yes. It was there this morning. That’s why I was so nasty. It pissed me off. I know it could be just a harmless joke, only it feels nastier. If you hadn’t said that about Brodie, I’d have thought the email was his work."