Cast the Cards

“And now that I can’t be that person you have to. She’s missing out on what life’s all about, Carey. There’s so much pain locked away inside her. If she can just let go, I think she’d begin to heal.”

“Clark , I’m not some sort of emotion whisperer.”

“I know.” He looked Carey in the eyes. “But you can do this.”

“Damn you, Clark.” Carey sighed. “Fine.”

Clark’s tense muscles relaxed. “If I know you two will be taking care of one another when my time comes again, I’ll be able to go.”

The look of discomfort that crossed Carey’s face made Clark feel like shit. It was a lot to ask but he needed some hope to help ease the pain that came with the thought of leaving them behind once more.

Chapter Five

The sound of her phone jerked her from the heavy sleep she was loathe to leave behind. Savannah pried open her scratchy eyes and stuck her hand out of the blanket. She felt around for the device she’d set on her dresser. Finding it, she pulled it inside her cocoon.

“Hello.” Her throat felt raw, and her eyes burned.

“Vannah?”

“Carey?”

“Yeah. I hate to wake you like this when I’m the one who told you to get some rest, but this can’t wait.”

“What happened?” She swallowed, focusing on his voice as she struggled against the stranglehold of sleep.

“You got another package.”

The words made her gasp. “They know I’m here.” And I thought this case couldn’t get any more personal. Murphy’s law strikes again.

“It looks that way.”

“They’re watching me. This isn’t good. They are actively hunting.”

“How can you sound so calm?”

“Because panicking isn’t an option right now. I need a squad car monitoring my house. I have to tell my parents about this. Their safety is compromised.” She made a mental list and began to run down each item.

“You think they’d come to your house?”

“If they thought it was necessary, yes. I put nothing past these people. It bothers me I don’t know how long they’ve been observing. I’d wager not too long. Their letter suggested my occupation was a recent discovery.”

“I’ll talk to the Chief and get it started.”

“Thank you. I’m getting up and coming in now. Have you opened the package?”

“Only to have the bomb experts examine it.”

“Good, keep the vultures in the office away from it.”

He chuckled. “You got it, Sherieff.”

“Don—” The dial tone was her only response. “That little shit hung up on me!” A smirk twitched her lips upward. She pushed the covers off her body and escaped her warm nest. The wood floor was cool on her bare feet. She hissed.

The sun was just beginning to rise, so it couldn’t be much more than seven. The hushed whispers of her parents and clanks of pots and pans being moved around told her she’d caught them before they started their day. She made her way down the stairs and into the kitchen where they stood at the counter drinking coffee.

“Morning, Mom, Dad.”

“Good morning, Savannah. You’re up early.” Her mother smiled.