Cast the Cards

“Yes, but some mistakes can follow you for a lifetime.” Clark stood from the desk and grabbed the jacket he had draped over the back of his chair.

“Really, Clark? You preaching to me now?” He rolled his eyes.

“No, just stating the obvious.” Clark pulled on a brown leather jacket over his shirt. It got cold here at night.

“Noted, but I’m fine.”

“Your grades say otherwise.”

The matter-of-fact statement raised his hackles. It’s not like I’m failing everything.

“Come on, math was never my best subject. I can make it up later.”

“You need to get a handle on your partying and buckle down.”

“Since when did you become such a stick in the mud?” Carey sat up in bed, disgusted. “Look. You do what makes you happy and I’ll do the same. You’re the golden boy. Be happy with the title and leave me alone.” Last thing he wanted to be was their father’s yes man. I’m out of the house and I’m going to explore everything denied me before. Deal with it.

“Why do you always say that?” Clark snapped. “We’re equals.”

“You actually believe that, don’t you?” Carey shook his head. “At the end of the day I’m going to be me. You need to focus on what’s right in front of you before you lose it.” Swinging his legs off the bed, he rose.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Clark frowned.

“Think about it. You’ll figure it out.” He grabbed his keys off the dresser and walked out the door, laughing at the confused expression Clark wore. For being so smart he was missing the obvious.

Present

“I think I’ve found some important clues I can work with.”

He spun around. Her eyes were glossy. Yet, she managed to hold it together.

“What do you need from me?”

“Copies are out I know, so just let me take notes. Have you seen these files?”

“Yeah… too many times.” He pulled the file out periodically and kept a constant lookout for any similar activity.

“These markings and the removal of the heart mean something.” She scrunched her face up as if she’d tasted a bitter beer. “I can’t figure out what though. I’m going to plug them into the computer and see what I can come up with.”

“What do you think about the heart being missing?” Other then the fact that they were sick bastards.

“Honestly… I think they kept it as a souvenir. It’s not uncommon for these people to keep a memento they can look at and re-live the moment.” Her voice wavered.

He was grateful for the show of emotions. It confirmed below the surface of her cool, calm exterior, things were happening.

She picked up her satchel, opened the flap, stuck her hand inside, and froze. “Shit.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I forgot to open this yesterday.” She pulled out a small, manila envelop

e. “Give me a second?”

“Sure.” He walked away from the window and sank into the chair on the opposite side of his desk. She opened the envelope gingerly and pulled out an item wrapped in red tissue paper and a white card with a giant red heart on the front.

“Get fan mail often?” Carey asked smugly.

“You’d be surprised.” She shook her head. “There are a lot of loose cannons out there.”