I Just Saw her

TEN

The relief that washed over me when I saw that everyone, including Casey, was gathered was overwhelming. I had built up the fears and paranoia to a fever pitch during my drive, convinced she would be absent, figuring someone had snatched her in the early morning hours as she tiptoed down my driveway to where she had parked her car away from prying eyes. I had already accepted responsibility.

When I slid into the edge of the booth, Casey gave me a desperate look. In fact, as I looked around the table to gauge the mood, everyone wore almost identical expressions. "What is it?" I asked.

Casey slid her phone across the table to me. It was unlocked, and the messages opened. "It started again this morning, just after I left your house."

I visibly jolted and read the message.

My beautiful Casey. You're playing games with me and with that pretty boy. Are you telling me you're ready for me? Or are you just being a little cock tease? Either way, the time is now.

I dropped the phone as though it burned me. "Holy shit."

Bree caught me up. "She didn't see anyone when she left your house. She can't reply to the message because the phone doesn't accept incoming messages. And yes, she already told the cops, who advised her not to do anything out of the ordinary." She leaned closer to me and lowered her voice. "They're here now. Don't look."

I sat up straight, trying not to look obvious as I swiveled my head at the other diner patrons. Turning further than I should have, I spotted two men, both alone as separate tables. I thought they looked too conspicuous not to be noticed.

"So, what are we supposed to do?" I asked.

Alex picked up his menu. "We order breakfast."

Dez followed suit. "Banana pancakes, Casey?"

It was always their thing to share banana pancakes and crispy bacon. Casey looked grateful for the familiar order. "Obviously."

We picked at our food when it arrived. Casey laid out what she had been told by the police and detectives. "I'm supposed to go about my day like before. I don't know how that's possible."

Joel dragged his fork through the puddle of ketchup on his plate. "We can go to the baseball game."

"When have we ever done that?" Heather laughed.

"We could go to my house and study," Bree suggested.

"Pass," Alex grumbled.

We all heard Casey's phone at the same time. She picked it up, read the screen and pressed some buttons. Turning the phone face down, she placed it back on the table. Raising her gaze, she saw our expectant faces. "When I get a message, I'm supposed to forward it to the guy behind us. Then he sends it to someone. I don't know."

"What did it say?"

She squirmed in her seat. Dez squeezed her hand. "It said 'enjoy your day off. You look lovely'."

After a moment of silence, Alex whistled. "That's messed up."

"Does that mean he's here?"

Casey took a long drink from her straw. She shrugged, her cheeks burning red. "I don't know." She searched our faces, pleading. "Can we go, please?"

"Beach?" offered Joel.

Casey smiled with relief. "Beach."

The day was cold, early March winds snapping at our skin, but we didn't dare leave. The police hovered nearby, everywhere we went. When the texts came in, she would forward them. After a while, she stopped reading them to us.

She just wanted to try to feel a little normal, she explained.

When the sun began to set, Casey was signaled to leave. She deflated. We trudged to our cars in the parking lot, as snowflakes began swirling from the sky.

Casey followed me to my drivers door and leaned close. "Thanks for pretending everything was the same," she said. "I know it's weird."

"It won't be weird forever. I'll deal with the weirdness."

She smiled at me. "I wish you could drive me home," she said wistfully.

"Me too."

She took a few steps towards the waiting car, idling just a few feet away, and turned back. "Do you still, you know, want to?"

It took just a second to understand. "I told you I would."

"So you do?" She was beaming.

"I really, really do."

"Me too." She opened the back door. "Soon," she shouted just before she slipped into the car and out of sight.