9. Casey
I’d been calledto do an observation on a possible cheating husband.
These were usually a ‘one and done’ kind of gig, so I agreed.
Tripp, Phoenix, Trace, and a handful of others went out on a ride. The sound of their motorcycles was the last thing we heard before I left the house. Scooter was taking Penny to the park later on to have a playdate with all the Landry and McKenna kids. I’d swing by and pick her up later.
I had to say, small towns full of trucks helped a pick-up truck blend right on in to the crowds. Even on the not-so-nice side of town.
My guy first left his house this morning at 7:13am, walking three kids to a bus stop. The bus arrived at 7:27am, and he went back inside.
His wife, the woman I was working for, left for work at 7:32am, and by 7:50, my guy was coming back out of his house, dressed in jeans and a polo, and climbing into an old beat-up truck. I hunkered down, hoping the tint on my windows was as good as I thought it was. When I pushed up in the seat, I saw he was heading toward town.
So I followed.
He made a few stops: the corner store, the liquor store where he met someone at the back door and took a bag that he tossed into his truck before getting back in. He did a drive-by of another building; it had a few sketchy-looking men outside. He didn’t stop though.
He pulled into the parking lot of a raunchy, rundown motel. I can’t tell you what was in that white bag he was pulling from the truck, but I had a few ideas. I could guarantee you that my phone and dash cam caught the woman that opened the door. She was wearing nothing but a bra and panties.
The wife’s suspicions were confirmed. He was cheating, but not with a friend, neighbor, or coworker. Oh no, this bastard was using the oldest profession known to man to get his dick wet.
I sure hoped this visit was worth him losing his wife and kids.
I waited and slid out of the truck once he’d been in there for a little bit. I walked to the main office. Inquired about their rates and then slipped back out so I could snap a pic of the car’s front plate.
I pretended to be on my phone when I did it. Keeping up the charade, I went to the soda machine and popped in some change. I pressed the button for a Big Red soda. A few others pulled up and headed into the office, so I headed back to the truck.
I couldn’t afford to get caught out here.
For two hours, I sat outside this dang hotel, burning up in the Texas heat. The sun said, ‘Hey, I’m here to party,’ then got drunk and passed out, cooking us all.
I had my windows cracked and a battery-operated fan that was doing a good job of blowing cool air, but the outside weather was drawing it right out.
Finally, the room door opened. When he came out, he scanned the parking lot and hurried to his truck. I stayed where I was, not moving until he was turning out of the parking lot.
Slowly, I crept out of the lot and checked the roads. I watched as he stopped at our very own ‘Laundr-o-mat.’ He took the white bag in with him.
I wanted a closer look, so I clipped on a small pen camera and climbed out. I’d just walk by and see what he was doing.
I made a mistake though. I was so wrapped up in catching him doing whatever it was that he was doing, that I wasn’t watching my own surroundings.
I knew better. Really I did. No matter where I was, I should see who and what was around me.
It wasn’t until the man passed me that I actually saw him. He spun on his heel, a hand reaching out for me.
“Well, if it’s not the sniveling little bitch herself.”
I jerked my hand free. “Fuck off, Manny.”
My heart was racing so hard in my chest, I was sure he could see it from where he stood a few feet away. I had to play it cool. I didn’t know anything about him.
Fuck!
I walked away from him, trying to find a store I could go in. There wasn’t much over here. The motel was down the street, but I’d not make it that far.
I was hit from behind, his body slamming me into the side of the building. My head bounced off the wall, but it was my shoulder that screamed in pain. The uneven pieces dug into my exposed skin.
“You thought you could get away that easily?”
I bucked, fighting his hold. “Get off!”
“You thought I was going to let it go, didn’t you?”
“I don’t answer to you!” My voice cracked. Pain, fear—all the emotions swamping me made it hard to think.
“Oh, but you do.” He ran his nose along my neck. Bile rose up, my stomach churning. “You thought he would keep me away?” His grip tightened on my arm. “I’m going to gut him in front of you. You’ll watch him bleed out before I make you pay for leaving.” He was pressing against me, his excitement evident.
I wanted to throw up.
“I’ve been watching you. You naughty girl, spying on people.” The tsk-tsk that followed had memories flooding me. That was how it had started in the beginning. He’d tell me that I’d done something wrong, cluck his tongue or tsk at me, and walk off. It had escalated. Each time getting worse and worse.
I was not going to be a victim again. I couldn’t—wouldn’t—let him break me down.
“You’re watching me…you’re…no better.”
“I know where you live. That little house can’t keep me out.”
If he knew where I was, wouldn’t he have already tried something? Manny wasn’t the type to just watch. Right? I was so conflicted. The divorce, it had been quick and easy. Painless. I knew, after what had happened at the junkyard, that was because of Tripp. He’d made sure he left me alone, but now…something had changed.
“Your precious daughter. Does she know her mama is a fucking bitch?”
He knew where my house was…I could deal with that, it had an alarm, but he was talking about my child. My sweet innocent baby. Nope.
She was always off limits. I’d kill him for looking in her direction. Anger and panic were riding side by side right now.
The mama bear crazy train was full speed ahead.
I pushed my hips out and jerked my arm down. I didn’t think about the consequences. Or the pain involved with dragging my entire arm down the wall. “Fuck!” The pain—oh, it had nothing on the fires of hell racing through me.
“You stay the fuck away from my daughter!”
He came at me, and I had enough of my wits left to brace, grab his arm, and use his momentum to flip him over my back.
The thud his body made when it hit the concrete made me smile.
“You stupid bitch!”
I took off toward my truck. I had to get inside. I’d be safe in the cab. I could call for help.
I got the door open and dove in. The door was almost shut when he grabbed it. When it flew open, I could see the rage in his eyes. I had not only poked the bear, I’d royally pissed him off.
Good. We could be pissed together. I screamed, kicking out. My feet hit him square in the chest. It happened so fast, he wasn’t ready. He stumbled back, falling over his own feet. I was able to shut the door and lock it before he could grab it again.
“I’m going to kill you, bitch! You hear me?”
I fumbled to find my keys. I patted my pockets. I was shaking so hard it physically hurt. My heart was racing, head pounding, and now the tears started. I dropped the keys and as I ducked to reach for them, the window shattered.
The alarm started blaring, and I screamed. This was all too damn much. I waited, but he didn’t make a grab for me. I wasn’t pulled out of the window. I sat up, putting my back to the solid window behind me. I looked around, but he was gone.
I tried to get a grip on my cell, but it fell between the seats. Fuck it.
I fought to get the key in the ignition and start the truck. When the engine purred to life, I burned rubber leaving that parking area. The smoke and squealing of my tires drew some attention, but most looked the other way. If I had not made it to the truck—no one would have helped me.
That revelation made my heart hurt. Though, on the other hand, I got it. People nowadays—lord, you didn’t know who had a knife they’d slice you with or a gun that would end your life.
I couldn’t hold that against them. I wouldn’t. What I would do, was get my ass to the Sheriff’s Office. I had to report that I’d seen him and where.
Maybe they could use the new street cameras to find him…to stop him.
He’d been following me.
He knew what vehicle I drove.
He knew where I lived.
He’d threatened?—
A sob broke free as I sped down the road. I slowed, not wanting to hurt someone else just because I was upset. If it wasn’t for the bleeding mess that was my arm, the throbbing pain in my shoulder, and the panic rolling through me, I’d swear this was all a bad nightmare.
I managed to get my cell phone between my fingers and pulled it up from the floor. I hated the ‘no man’s land’ that was the space between these seats. I tried to get the screen to unlock, but my face wasn’t being recognized. I threw it on the seat and took the next left.
I hadn’t seen a car behind me, but was he there? How had I missed him all those other times?
Halfway up the street I could see the kids playing in the park. Out in the open. God. He could run up and snatch her, and they’d not be able to stop him.
I pressed my foot to the accelerator, my tires squealing as I made it in the parking lot and slammed on the brakes. Heads turned, the noise getting everyone’s attention. I frantically looked around. I saw kids but not my baby. Where was she?
I threw the truck in park and jumped out. And that was when the world around me decided I needed to be in a fun house. I stumbled, my stomach heaving at the same time. I went down on all fours and tossed up whatever was left in me.
“Oh my God.”
“Is she alright?”
“Casey? Shit. Shelby, get over here.”
“Mommy, she’s hurt.”
“I know, baby, can you go watch your sister for me? It’s okay. Aunt Shelby will help her.”
“Casey, hey, look at me, hun.”
I fell over, my head in a lap. My gaze landed on Dani Lynn’s worried face.
“He knows…Penny…where’s my baby?”
“What happened?” Shelby fell to her knees beside me. The black bag she clutched fell open. “Jesus. Were you in an accident or something?” She pulled out gloves, handed a pair across me to Dani Lynn, and tossed gauze at her. “Apply pressure to her temple, she has a pretty good cut there. And here. Is that glass in your hair?”
“He knows. Can’t let him get her.” The sob rocked me. I clutched at Shelby’s hand. “Please.”
“Hey, she’s okay. She’s with Tripp. The fellas took some of the littles to get ice cream. You just missed them.”
If she was with her daddy, she would be okay. Tripp would protect her with his life. The thought of something happening to her—them. My stomach rolled, and I tried to get up. Shelby moved fast, and I was able to puke and not on her. My nose and throat were burning.
The pressure of the bandages being held to my head and arm sent pain racing through nerves I didn’t even know I had.
“Lay back, that’s it. I know it hurts. Let me get something in you. Take a deep breath, this will pinch.”
I closed my eyes and swallowed back more bile.
The warmth racing through my arm spread quickly. Easing the pain back a little.
“Daddy, we need help at the playground. I—fuck, I don’t know. Casey—someone’s hurt her. Yeah. He’s at the Ice Cream Shack. Yes. She says someone is after Penny.” Dani Lynn looked down at me. “Get someone to take her to the center. Have them tell Mama J to lock it down.” She nodded at whatever he said. “Thanks, Daddy.”
“Casey, Daddy’s going to get Tripp and take Penny somewhere safe. Just breathe for us, okay? No one will get to her. I swear to it.”
“This is Doctor McKenna; I need an ambulance at the park. Female with multiple lacerations to the temple, face, and arm. Possible concussion. Thanks.” Shelby cupped my face, using a pen light to blind me. “Ambulance is on the way. You get a first-class ride to Lufkin. I want a CT scan on this noggin of yours. Okay?”
“Okay.” They could do whatever they needed as long as my baby was safe.
The last sound that registered before the darkness I’d been fighting took me, was the cacophony of motorcycles racing my way.