Callie's Sister

Chapter 14

“Give me the candy,” he demanded. My heart almost burst out of my chest. I looked over to Cam for rescue but he was having a heated argument on his cell phone down past the pumps. His back was to me, but I could see his arms moving and his head bobbing.

“I didn’t mean it,” I stammered, taking the Razzles out of my pocket.

“You stupid kids,” he said, spitting on the ground. “The cops are coming.”

“No!” I shouted. “Please, no. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it. I just…”

“I don’t want to hear it,” he said. Come on, Cam, look over here. Help me. I couldn’t have the police come. They’d call my parents and then… They couldn’t call my parents. God, what was I going to do?

“I meant to pay for them,” I said to him, practically throwing myself on the ground and begging mercy at his feet. “Look, my car’s right there. I was going to get the money from my bag.”

The police car came up the road and pulled into the station.

“It was just a pack of Razzles,” I said softly. Cam, who the hell are you talking to? Turn around and realize I am in big, big trouble.

The cop got out of his car and walked over to us. Oh, crap. Of all the luck. It was Tommy Billingsley. My mom went to the prom with him. Now I was really in for it. Tommy was one of those football players who never really got past their old glory. He was still beefy in that football player way and had the strut to go with it.

“Whattya got, Harley?” Tommy said to the old man, his boredom apparent.

“Another damn kid,” the old man said. Tommy then looked over at me. Maybe he wouldn’t recognize me.

“Harley, it’s Susie Carlton’s girl,” Tommy said. So much for that. “I went to the prom with Susie. Before she was Mrs. Knowles, of course.” I smiled weakly. Hopefully I could get out of this.

“Hello, Mr. Billingsley,” I said.

“How’s your mama?” he asked.

“Fine, sir.”

“And that pretty sister of yours? Callie, right? Saw her a few summers ago and I couldn’t believe how much she looked like your mama.”

That one glued me to the floor. Rendered me speechless. I looked up at him. Did he know? He was a cop, he had to have heard. My heart started pounding again, my breath coming in small bursts.

“Your mama and I had a good time at that prom,” he continued, oblivious to the fact I hadn’t answered. “That didn’t sound right. Not ‘that kind’ of good time. Just fun. She was a fun girl. Always smiling.” He looked at me again. “Haven’t seen her in a little while, though. I guess you all don’t come to the beach as much as you used to.”

I managed to shake my head “no.”

“Harley, man, you gotta give this kid a break,” Tommy said. “She’s one of us.” I didn’t feel like one of them, but I certainly wasn’t going to argue. My pounding heart and shallow breathing were steadying and some feeling returned to my fingers and toes.

“What’s your name, sweetheart?” he asked.

“Maddie,” I said. Or you can call me “Callie’s sister.” Everyone else does.

“Gimme back the candy,” the old man said, ignoring the camaraderie between Officer Billingsley and me. I handed over the Razzles. For a second I wanted them so badly I was going to run back to the car and offer to pay him double, but just as quickly the feeling passed and I handed them to him.

“I’m sorry,” I managed to say. The old man nodded, still pissed off. Nothing short of an arrest and jail time would have satisfied him. I turned and walked toward the car where Cam was still going at it on the phone.

“Now, Maddie, don’t go stealing any more Razzles, you hear?” Tommy said and winked at me. “And you tell your mama I said hi.”

I gave him a tiny grin. All I could really muster at this point. He didn’t seem to notice, which was a relief.

My feet started moving again and I went back to Cam’s car. Now he was sitting inside, hands on the steering wheel, staring ahead.

“Did you see any of that?” I asked him.

“No. What?” He looked terrible.

“They almost arrested me,” I said. “Did you see the cop car pull in or the old man who pulled his shotgun and aimed it right at me?”

“I didn’t see the gun,” he said, almost monotone, eyes focused on nothing, but looking straight ahead.

“Cam, what’s wrong?” My steady Cam wasn’t looking so steady. “Cam, who were you talking to? Was it my dad?” Did he give me away? Crap, I shouldn’t have left him alone.

“No. No. It wasn’t your dad. I called Jamie back.”

“Did you tell her where we were?”

“It wasn’t about you, Maddie.” I sat back in my seat.

“Do you want to talk about it?” He shot me a look that clearly said “no.” Cam turned the ignition key and put the car in gear. The sudden motion flung us back against the seats. And once again we drove in silence.

 “Do you know where to make the turnoff?” I asked. Cam had been to our beach house many, many times. But neither of us had been there this summer. This summer there was no time for beach fun.

“By the church, right?”

“Yeah, the one with all the stones.” And sure enough we looked up and saw the church with the stones.

His cell rang again.

“Don’t,” I started. He silenced it.

“Where do your parents think you are?” he asked.

“They’ve got a lot going on today,” I said. “I don’t think they’ll notice.”

“But they might.”

“They won’t.”

Turning onto the beach road I watched the waves lapping the beach. I didn’t want to think about what was going on at home. Was Cam right? I didn’t need to be there and my mother hadn’t spoken to me for weeks but maybe I should text them or something in the off-off-chance they noticed I was gone.

“Give me your phone,” I demanded. He gave me a look.

“Where’s yours?” he asked.

“Home,” I said. “I was getting away from everything. I didn’t want to have my phone with me. Now give me your darn phone.”

“Ask me nicer,” he said.

“Oh, geez. C’mon, Cam, give me your phone.” He seemed to be enjoying torturing me.

“Have I done everything you’ve asked today?”

I didn’t respond.

“I think I have,” he said. “So a little respect and appreciation for borrowing the phone.”

“What’s up your ass?”

“What’s up yours?” This was crazy. All I wanted was the phone to text my father, like Cam had suggested. And now he was giving me crap.

“Have things gone sour with little miss perfect cheerleader?” I taunted. I was taking it too far, but I didn’t care.

“Off-limits.” He was now gripping the steering wheel with two hands and driving too fast for these little beach streets.

“Let me out.”

Cam jammed on the brakes and we came to a skidding stop. I didn’t think he’d take me up on it. I looked down the road and back at Cam. He made an “open the door” motion.

“Be that way,” I said. Screw him. I got out. And slammed the door.

“Asshole.” He drove off.