How Perfect You Are (Carlson College Mysteries Book 1)

by Isabel Fox

  39

  “Cassie! Cassie, wake up!” I heard someone hissing my name and shaking my arm. I moved my head slowly and tried to look around, pressing my fingers to my eyes in an effort to get them to focus. I was laying on a couch, that much was clear, but beyond that it was anyone’s guess what was going on.

  “Cassie, can you hear me?” the voice came again, very close to my face and sounding familiar this time.

  “Drew?” I asked, alarmed. My vision suddenly cleared, and I saw Drew sitting awkwardly on the floor next to the couch, his face inches from mine. With a startled squeak I sat up, moving quickly to the far end of the couch away from his touch. My head and ribs both throbbed in protest, and a wave of nausea washed over me.

  “Yeah. Cassie, I am so sorry,” Drew said. “This is my fault.”

  “Sorry? For what? Stalking me?” I snapped, using the arm of the couch to stand up. Drew remained sitting on the floor at the far end of the couch, seeming confused. On second look, I realized that he appeared unnaturally disheveled. His brown hair stuck up in random places, and his skin had a damp, sweaty look to it, almost like he’d been working out. I supposed dragging an unconscious girl from a car and into a house would be fairly strenuous exercise, though.

  “What? Cassie, no. No. You’ve got it all wrong. I haven’t been stalking you,” Drew said, sounding surprised. He shifted awkwardly, seeming to wince in pain.

  “Oh, please! Of course you have! What else do you call following me around, taking pictures of me, breaking into my house, and kidnapping my cat?” I accused. Standing up, I gripped the back of the couch to keep from falling over and kept moving away until I bumped into a wall. For the first time I took a moment to survey my surroundings. We were in a small space that seemed to be some kind of game room. There was the couch, a giant TV, and a pool table squeezed into the room. A dartboard hung on the wall along with a velvet Elvis painting. To my left there was a door opening in to what appeared to be a bathroom and a staircase leading up. Based on the lack of windows, I guessed we were in a basement of some sort.

  Typical. Kidnap the girl, lock her in the basement. At least it wasn’t a tower, a la Rapunzel.

  “Cassie,” Drew said, holding up a hand. “Calm down. It’s not what you think. I’m not your stalker. I promise.”

  “Then what the hell is going on, Drew?” I demanded, keeping my distance. I wasn’t sure what kind of trick he was trying to play, but I wasn’t falling for it.

  “Ashton,” replied Drew, sighing deeply. “Ashton’s the one who’s been stalking you.”

  “Ashton...your roommate?” I clarified, baffled. When Drew nodded, I asked, “How could Ashton be my stalker? I only met him, what, a week ago?”

  Drew shrugged, still sitting awkwardly on the floor. “Maybe you bumped into him somewhere without you knowing it? I’m not really sure, but he definitely knew you before last week. But, Cassie, I swear to you, I had no idea. I should have realized what Ashton was up to way sooner. And I should have warned you right away after I found out. Instead, when I confronted him we got into a fight. He...he was trying to force me down here, to lock me in, and when I wouldn’t go he pushed me and I fell down the stairs. I think my leg’s broken,” Drew said sadly. “But I promise, I had nothing to do with him kidnapping you, or anything else. I’m only guilty of being an idiot.”

  “So you’re saying he’s left you down here for days with a broken leg? And where is “here,” exactly?” I asked, hesitantly moving back to the couch. I would have preferred to maintain some distance between myself and Drew, just in case he was making all this up and didn’t really have a broken leg. I was pretty sure I had read about a serial killer who lured women into his van by faking a broken arm, so this didn’t seem entirely out of the realm of possibility. Standing was proving to be surprisingly exhausting, though, so I settled for sitting on the far end of the couch, perched near the edge so I could make a quick escape if need be.

  “The basement of Ashton’s parents’ cabin,” Drew replied. “We live here. And yes, I’ve been locked in the basement for three days. Like I said, I think my leg is broken. Or maybe something else. You don’t know what a broken pelvis feels like, do you?” He let out a sour laugh.

  “Oh, my god,” I exclaimed. “Drew, this is serious. And bad. And...oh, my god.”

  “You’ve said that already,” Drew pointed out wearily.

  “This is why you’ve been AWOL at work?” I clarified.

  “Yeah. It was the weirdest thing. After I made those posters for you, I came home and saw your cat, just sitting in the living room. I knew Ashton had a big crush on you, but I had no idea he was so...obsessed. When he got home I told him how crazy he was, and said I was going to bring your cat back to you. The next thing I knew, he was trying to lock me down here. When I tried to fight back, he hit me over the head and down I went. At least there’s a bathroom, and TV. And he brings me food. Hey, you want some pizza?”

  “No thanks,” I replied, my stomach lurching. “Is Willow okay?”

  “The cat? Yeah, I think she’s fine. Ashton’s original plan, before I kind of ruined it for him, was to “find” her, so to speak, and return her to you. He’d get to be a hero, or whatever.”

  “I still don’t understand. How could I not have noticed him? He’s been in my house, Drew. Followed me around campus and town. Threatened my boyfriend-James!” I broke off, a sudden wave of panic flooding over me. “You don’t think he’s done anything to James, do you?”

  “I mean, he’s not down here with me,” Drew shrugged, though he seemed to wince with the effort.. “He’s probably fine. Unless he, you know, killed him or something.”

  “What?” I said faintly, alarmed.

  “No, no! Sorry. I didn’t mean to freak you out. I was just thinking out loud. But I don’t think Ashton would kill anyone. I mean, he seemed like he felt really bad about hurting me. I don’t think he meant to. Besides, from what I remember, James seems like the kind of guy who could take care of himself. Plus he’s like half a foot taller than Ashton.”

  “Still. We’ve got to get out of here, Drew. Before your leg turns septic, or heals crooked, or whatever it is that happens to unrepaired broken legs.”

  “Well. Duh. But how?”

  “Um, hang on. Let me think for a second,” I said. I pressed my hand to my forehead. I felt a bandage there, and I wondered briefly if Drew or Ashton had been the one to put it there.

  “I’m assuming the answer is no, but there’s not a phone down here, is there?” I asked.

  “You think I’d still be here if there was?” Drew sounded mildly offended.

  “I figured. Just making sure, though.” I replied. “You said he brings you food and stuff?”

  “Right.”

  “How often does that happen?”

  “Sporadically. I think he’s cooking dinner for you right now, though,” Drew explained. “Something about a “romantic evening,” I think. He wanted to know if I knew how you liked your steak.”

  “I like my steak with a side of freedom. Also, medium rare. Okay, what do you think about me ambushing him when he comes down? Knock him down, tie him up, something like that.”

  “Honestly? I kind of doubt that will work. No offense, Cassie, but you look like shit right now. You have a black eye, and your head was bleeding like a lot. It’s all dried in your hair now. And you’re all pale and wobbly. I’d bet you have a concussion, or something, and I’m not exactly going to be much help-”

  “Okay, okay. Point taken. And you’re right. I’m not really in any shape to start a fight,” I admitted. “But what if I get him to let me upstairs? Maybe you could distract him while I make a run for it. Are there any neighbors close by? Or a landline upstairs, at least? Or your cell phone?”

  “I don’t know where my phone might be,” Drew said slowly, thinking. “Ashton obviously didn’t leave it down here with me. And no landline. But we have some neighbors a little ways down the street. You could go there.”

>   “That’s good,” I said encouragingly. “Tell me how this sounds. When Ashton comes down here, you pretend to be unconscious. I’ll tell him I haven’t been able to wake you up. I’ll act really freaked out, play it up. While he’s distracted with you, I’ll run for it.”

  “Wait, seriously?” Drew’s eyes were wide. “You actually want to do this?”

  “Of course I do! Why the hell else would I plan it with you?” I retorted, baffled.

  “Oh. Um, well, I guess I can…” Drew sounded sheepish. “But, maybe we should just… I don’t know, like-”

  “Drew, you may not mind living in a basement, but I’m sure as hell not staying down here. I don’t know what exactly Ashton’s planning, but I am not about to find out. I’m getting out of here with or without you. It would be a lot easier with your help, though. Are you in, or out?”

  Drew gulped, then sighed. “In, I guess.”

  I stuck my hand out and shook his, then stood up and headed in the direction of the bathroom. “Good man. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I’m going to be sick.”

  40

  I couldn’t be sure how much time had passed later when Drew gave me the signal for Ashton’s impending entrance. It could have been an hour, or two, or maybe even more. My head was still killing me, and I’d passed most of the time laying on the couch with my eyes closed and trying to not throw up again while Drew, propped up against the couch with his head near mine, had answered in whispers my questions about Ashton.

  The son of a real estate agent and an actuary, Ashton and Drew had been roommates since sophomore year, the same as Amber and me. Ashton had changed his major several times, Drew told me, from math to business to graphic design and then back to math. As far as Drew could recall, he’d never had a girlfriend or been on any dates. (“Gee, I wonder why,” I had replied dryly.)

  Drew had gone on to explain that once upon a time Ashton had been his best friend, but over the past year had become increasingly possessive.

  “He wanted to go everywhere with me,” Drew had said, sighing. “And he’d freak out if I had plans that didn’t include him. That’s when I realized I was pretty much his only friend. I don’t really know what happened to the other guys he used to hang out with. I guess he just stopped talking to them, or something. His parents split up over the summer, and he got kind of moody after that.

  Honestly, I probably should have guessed something was up when he stopped following me around so much. It must have been around the time he discovered you, and decided you were the key to his happiness or whatever the hell it is he thinks about you. Really, though, I was, uh...I was just so glad to have some time to myself that I didn’t really question it. I’m so sorry, Cassie.”

  I had assured Drew it wasn’t his fault. We sat in silence for a moment until I was able to work up the courage to ask him another question about something that had been bothering me.

  “Drew, if you had nothing to do with this, why were you so weird the other night? When we were putting out lost cat flyers. You started acting so nervous and strange, I was half convinced then that you were my stalker.”

  Drew didn’t answer for a moment, and I thought he wasn’t going to answer at all.

  “Umm, this is probably an awkward time to mention this,” he finally said. “But...if I’m being completely honest, I did have a little bit of a crush on you, too. Clearly I had nothing on Ashton’s level of obsession, but...yeah. I’ve always thought you were cute, and lately I had kind of been thinking about asking you out. But then I found out you had a boyfriend, and it kind of caught me off guard. And then I met James and realized if that was your type you probably wouldn’t be interested in me anyway.” His cheeks flushed red, the first color I’d seen in them all evening.

  “Oh, Drew,” I said sadly, feeling both guilty for assuming the worst of him and bad for his embarrassment. Sliding off the couch and kneeling beside him, I hesitated for a moment before putting my hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry I thought you might be my stalker.”

  “And I’m sorry I couldn’t keep any of this from happening,” Drew replied, sounding equally sad.

  We sat in silence for awhile, shoulder to shoulder, each of us contemplating our situation. I was so deep in thought that when Drew suddenly hissed “Incoming!” in my ear, I jerked forward so suddenly that my head began to spin again.

  Whoa, there, girl. Keep it together. You can do this.

  “He’s coming,” Drew hissed again in my ear.

  “I gathered. Okay. You know what to do. You can do it, Drew,” I whispered as Drew awkwardly lowered himself to lay on the floor. I positioned myself above Drew’s “unconscious” form. I heard the sound of a deadbolt being unlocked from somewhere up above, followed by the door opening, then closing. Then, to my dismay, I heard the distinct sound of the deadbolt being slid back into place.

  “He locked the door back!” Drew whispered, alarmed.

  “I know. It’s okay, we can still do this! I’ll think of something, just go along with it,” I replied, my heart pounding in my chest.

  “Ashton?” I called, my voice wavering with nerves. Luckily, it also made me sound suitably panicked. “Ashton, I can’t get Drew to wake up. I think there’s something wrong with him!”

  The footsteps coming down the stairs sped up, and a moment later Ashton appeared. For the first time since I had met him at the coffee shop with Drew, I was able to get a good look at him. He was dressed in jeans and long sleeved Henley shirt, the sleeves of which were pushed up to reveal his slim forearms. He was slightly taller than I remembered, but I noted with pleasure that he was barefoot. I hoped that would give me the advantage of a head start if he tried to follow me out into the snow when I made my break.

  Ashton stood at the bottom of the stairs for a long moment, simply staring at me. He had a strange look on his face, one I couldn’t quite read. It seemed to be equal parts pleased and entranced, and it made my skin crawl.

  “Ashton!” I snapped, my nerves making me speak more harshly than I had intended. “Drew needs help, now!”

  “He’ll be fine. I’ll take care of him,” Ashton sounded dismissive as he came to stand over his roommate’s still form. I hesitated to ask what, exactly, he meant by “take care of him.”

  “Are you qualified to reset broken legs? Because that’s what he’s got, Ashton. It’s probably infected, or something. His breathing sounds wrong, too. It’s really slow. And look at his skin, it’s all clammy. This is really serious!”

  “But...but he was fine!” Ashton sounded more distraught now, as though he had snapped out of his daze and was finally registering my words. He knelt down next to me, his shoulder grazing mine. For a moment I couldn’t breathe. It was hard to believe that Ashton, the person behind my nearly two weeks from hell, was right here, clearly completely oblivious to the torment he had caused me. My instincts told me to get away, and I had to work to convince myself to stick with the plan. Ashton hadn’t hurt me so far. I had to keep faith that he wouldn’t now, at least long enough for me to get in a better position for escape.

  Ashton didn’t seem to notice my alarm as he shook Drew’s arm.

  “Drew? Come on, buddy. Drew? Wake up! Damn it. What do I do?” Ashton turned to look at me.

  “Call an ambulance,” I said matter of factly. Though I knew it was unlikely, I was praying he’d agree. But of course it couldn’t be that easy...could it? I waited a long moment for his response.

  “No! No ambulances. I’ll...I’ll take him to Robert.”

  “Who?” I asked, confused.

  “My brother. He was pre-med. Well, until he got expelled. But he’ll probably know what to do!”

  Horrified, I shook my head. “Ashton, I don’t think Robert’s going to be able to help. Drew needs an actual doctor, with bone setting rods and x-rays and stuff like that. Look, Ashton, we have to help him. We can’t leave him down here,” I said, strategically using the word “we” in the hopes that Ashton would be more likely to agree if he
thought I was in it with him.

  “Maybe,” Ashton said softly. “Maybe. Let me just…” his voice trailed off as if he was thinking. I glanced down at Drew. He was doing an excellent job of faking unconsciousness. At least, I hoped he was still just faking.

  “Okay. Do you think you can help me get him upstairs? You were just in a car accident yourself, after all. You’re looking a little pale,” Ashton said. Before I could stop him, he had reached out and traced a finger along my cheek. I drew back, fighting the urge to gag.

  “I’m fine. I’ll be okay. Here, you get his arms. I’ll grab his legs...uh, leg.”

  Yes! I thought. This is actually working. Come on Drew, just keep it up a little longer.

  Slowly but surely we traveled up the stairs. Drew was heavier than he looked, and while I didn’t want to admit it, carrying dead weight up the stairs was not making me feel so great. My ribs and head both ached horribly. I hoped that when the opportunity presented itself I’d still be able to run for it.

  At the top of the stairs, Ashton awkwardly withdrew a key from his pocket and unlocked the door. Light spilled into the stairwell as we made our way into a living room on the main floor.

  “Okay, put him on the couch for now,” Ashton said, and we lowered Drew onto a suede sofa near the massive fireplace where a real log fire was already blazing. In spite of myself, I edged a little closer to it for warmth. Ashton took a blanket from the back of the couch and draped it almost tenderly over Drew’s body. If I hadn’t known that he was the reason for Drew’s broken leg I might have been touched by the gesture.

  “Cassie, will you get me an ice pack from the freezer?” Ashton asked, nodding his head toward the kitchen, the doorway to which was at the far end of the living room. I wasn’t entirely sure how he thought an ice pack was going to help with a broken limb, but I nodded, figuring I could use a chance to get my bearings. Maybe there was a back door I could slip out, unnoticed for at least a few moments.