Yeah, Freddy.

Im going to get those guys just as soon as I get out of here, he said.

You let me know if theres anything I can do for you, Freddy.

He gave me an almost imperceptible nod then went back to staring out the window at the freeway traffic.

Chapter Thirty.

Casey called me back just as I was getting lunch. Hang on for a second, Casey, I said, then placed my order. Ill have two McChickens.

Would you like anything to drink?

No thanks.

Did you want fries with that?

No.

Your total is two dollars and fourteen cents please pull around to the first window to pay.

You still there, Casey?

Hey sorry, I see youre back on that health food kick. I just saw your text message a minute ago. Whats up?

Where are you?

Im at the house picking out room colors.

You gonna be there for a bit?

Yeah, I guess. Is everything okay?

Yeah, no problems on this end, Casey. Just wanted to check in. I finished early and Im heading up to your place. Ill be at the house in the next half hour if youre gonna still be there.

Ill be looking for you, she said and hung up.

On the drive over to Caseys house I was practicing different ways to tell her that I thought the same guy who killed Dermot, namely Bulldog, was trying to kill her. I wasnt coming up with a nice way to say it. On the way I stopped at Solo Vino and picked up a bottle of sparkling white wine thinking that couldnt hurt. I arrived at Caseys a lot sooner than I wanted.

She was talking to two guys in the front parlor while she held color swatches up against the wall. They were nodding in agreement to whatever shed just said. She turned and gave me a smile as I came in the front door then said, Give us a couple of minutes, Dev. Ill see you in the kitchen.

That was just fine with me. I walked back to the kitchen, set out two wine gla.s.ses, opened the bottle, filled the gla.s.ses and tried to practice my lines, it still wasnt working. I heard the front door close and a moment later I heard Caseys footsteps coming through the dining room.

Oh, Dev, what a surprise, isnt that sweet. You are just so nice. Whats the occasion?

I think someones trying to kill you, I blurted out.

She stood there in shock for a long moment just staring at me.

What?

Ive been doing some checking, I dont think it was an accident the other night, that guy that broadsided you.

She sort of slumped onto a kitchen stool and just stared at her wine gla.s.s with a numb look on her face.

Let me explain, I said.

She looked at me, but I wasnt sure she actually saw me, she seemed in shock.

Casey?

Dev, if youre trying to be funny that is the most awful thing anyone has ever done to me in my entire life.

Believe me, Im not finding anything funny about this.

She closed her eyes and slowly shook her head from side to side.

You started me thinking when I drove you to your brothers after the accident. You said something about a black car.

Yeah.

I heard about a criminal kind of guy who was beaten up and robbed. Whoever did it put him in the hospital.

She had a look on her face like this wasnt making any sense, but didnt say anything.

Anyway, his car was stolen. Im pretty sure, well in fact I know its the same car that was driving past your house that night you called me.

The same car?

Yeah. He was a.s.saulted, his car was stolen and then it was found torched down along the river early yesterday morning. The thing had been in an accident. I think whoever stole his car was following you, cut through that parking lot and came around and broadsided you. The fact that you jumped the car forward most likely saved your life. Then the driver took off and well, torched the car to destroy any of the evidence.

And you know this for certain? she said then gulped down about half her gla.s.s of wine.

I know the same guy who was creeping you out the night you first called me was a.s.saulted and had his car stolen. I know that car was involved in an accident and I know the same car was set on fire down along the river.

Did you tell the police?

Actually they told me about the car, they confirmed it by the vehicle id number.

And who owns it, she shook her head suggesting things werent making sense then gulped more wine like that might help.

Well, I sort of know the guy, know of him I guess.

And he was a.s.saulted, you said?

Yeah, hes in Regions right now. Hes gonna be okay, I went and visited him and What? she screamed.

Hes in Regions, they beat him up pretty bad so h.e.l.l probably be there for a couple more days.

You went and visited him? This, this maniac who was stalking me? Is he the b.a.s.t.a.r.d who shot Dermot? she screamed.

No Casey, he didnt have anything to do with that, I dont think.

You dont think, Dev, Dermot is dead, hes not coming back. Do you know that? Do you even f.u.c.king understand? Does anyone? He is not coming back. He is not going to walk in that door and kiss me tonight. Ill never hear him laugh, ever again. He is not coming back, she said then a tear rolled down her cheek and she started to cry.

I let her sit there and cry for a long moment, hoping shed just get it out of her system. I wanted to hold her, but I didnt think shed accept that just now. Finally I said, I know all that, Casey. G.o.d, do I ever know it. Im trying to find out who is responsible. Im trying to help the cops. Ive been in touch with them every day and they, or rather we, are doing everything we possibly can to find who is responsible. And when we find them and we will, theyll be arrested.

She raised her head up slowly and looked at me, then rubbed her hand under her nose and sniffled. Arrested? Youre going to have them arrested?

Casey, look, Im telling you all this because you are in danger, too. I dont know why. I dont know what caused any of this, but Im trying and the police are trying. Were all working very hard to find out what in the h.e.l.l is going on. Right now, the most important thing we can do is get you in a safe place.

Im at Tommys.

Thats right and the other night you thought you were being followed.

But the car turned?

I think he went through the parking lot, circled the building and smashed into your car. You cant stay at Tommys. We need to get you out of town, the sooner the better.

But the house? she said and sort of looked around.

The house will be fine. Ill stay here, right now Im worried about you. You have somewhere you could go, someplace out of town?

Ahhh, a girlfriend in Chicago, but I think shes out of town now. Umm, an old collage roommate down in New Orleans, I guess.

Can you call her?

Yeah, I suppose I can, but?

Call her, tell her you got a chance to get away and you want to visit. You got cash?

A little, but, Dev, this is crazy.

Look, Ill buy the ticket, you call her, now. Im calling the airline maybe theres something out of here yet today.

Today?

Call her, Casey, I said and pulled my cell out to call the airline. It turned out there was a 7:30pm flight to Atlanta and then a hop to New Orleans. Eight hundred bucks and it wasnt even direct. Casey was on the phone to her former roommate.

I know it just sort of happened all of a sudden, she was saying into her phone as she looked over at me.

I nodded and said, Youll get in at 12:30am, Im booking it now.

Chapter Thirty-One.

I dont know, I still think this is just crazy, Casey said.

I was about to merge into the main terminal entrance. Wed just pa.s.sed the sign on the freeway that always said there was an amber alert and to contact authorities if you saw any suspicious activity. It was five oclock, peak rush hour, but we were still a good twenty minutes ahead of schedule.

You left Tommy a note? I asked.

Yeah, and Ill call him as soon as I get through security.

Just tell him youre going on a whim and you needed to get out of town.

Theyll probably be glad to see me go. You know how it is with a houseguest after a few days.

Ill keep you posted, call me whenever and as often as you like. You think of anything, Casey no matter how insignificant it might seem you call me.

Okay, okay, she said as I pulled into the departure drop off area in front of the Delta door.

You stay safe down there, and just relax. You need anything communicated to the contractor just let me know and I Ive got his number, Dev, she said and opened the pa.s.senger door. She pulled her suitcase out of the back seat and set it on the curb. She closed the rear door then leaned back into the front seat and stared at me for a long moment. Sorry if I yelled earlier. I know youre just trying to keep me safe. Just one more thing, Sure, you name it, Casey.

That arrest. It doesnt work for me, Dev. I want that b.a.s.t.a.r.d killed. Its what he did to Dermot, its what he deserves.

Casey, I dont think I am so not kidding. I want that b.a.s.t.a.r.d killed, Dev. I dont want him arrested. I dont want him to go to trial. I want him to be dead. He doesnt deserve to live. Dead. Promise me. She said and then just stared at me with very cold eyes.

Ill see what I can do, Casey.

Im not f.u.c.king around, Dev, she said very softly, leaving no doubt, then she slammed the car door and stormed into the airport.

Chapter Thirty-Two.

I had nightmares throughout the night. I couldnt really remember what any of them were about and maybe thats a good thing. I woke well before the work crew arrived and decided to just get up and get dressed. I was drinking coffee in the kitchen when they arrived. I was seated at the kitchen counter reading the text message from Casey that came through last night letting me know shed arrived safe and sound.

I left the house a little after eight and took a detour on the way to my office stopping in at Regions Hospital. The couple of times Id been there made the path back to Freddys room seem not so convoluted. I walked past the nurses station and into his room with a wise guy greeting on the tip of my tongue. The room was empty, the cheap gla.s.s vase on the window sill was gone, the bed was stripped and Freddy was nowhere to be found.

I went out to the nurses station. A man and a woman were seated behind the counter in blue hospital scrubs. Both of them held clipboards on their laps and had stethoscopes wrapped around their necks.

Hi, what can I do for you? the guy said to me.