Cast the Cards

The hot shower rinsed away the dirt and majority of the guilt. Dry, he redressed in a light blue polo and a pair of khaki cargo shorts. Barefoot and refreshed, he turned to head for the door and came up short. Clark stood in front of the door, an odd expression on his face. He knows!

“I wanted this to happen. At least… I thought I did. But I never imagined it’d be this fast.” His voice was thoughtful. He glanced up, his eyes unnaturally bright with pain and anger. It sent a shiver skittering down Carey’s spine.

“Clark… it’s not … we’re not in a relationship.” At a loss for word,s Carey shook his head.

“Yet… but you will be.”

Carey’s attempt to placate was batted away like a cat with a ball of yarn. “That’s a lot of assumptions.”

“Can you honestly tell me you aren’t looking at her now wondering what-if?” Clark growled.

“Wondering and doing are two different things, and you know it.”

“Mmhmm. I’m not the only one in this room who thinks that sounds lame.”

“What were you just sitting around watching us?” Stunned by the words he let fly, Carey turned his head. A part of him still waited for the other shoe to drop with Clark. What was the downside to returning? It felt too good to be true.

“Not that I have anything better to do, but no. I popped in with an update. Perhaps I should’ve phoned, or at least knocked.”

Carey sighed. “I’m sorry, Clark. I honestly didn’t have this planned. It just sort of… happened.”

“That’s what they all say.”

The knife in his heart turned a bit deeper.

“Clark.”

“I’m just giving you shit. Better you than anyone else. I got a tip.” He shrugged but sadness clung to him. “A tip.”

“An insight on the killers. I heard it through the grapevine. The tarot card obsession is strange, and where I live folks have a long memory.”

“Grapevine?” Carey shook his head.

“Spirits talk, they hear things you know? I think I pinpointed the men we’re talking about. I don’t have a name but I do have descriptions and a possible hometown location.”

“Are you serious?”

The stern look he gave spoke volumes.

“Of course you are. Let’s go out front and meet up with Vannah. I’ll take notes.”

“Fantastic. Then the Scooby gang can be together again.”

“If you want her to move on, don’t you think you should take the same advice?” He left the room before Clark could answer. Let him chew on that for a while.

Vannah was seated on the couch, flipping through television stations, when he entered.

“We got company. Clark stopped by with some info on the killers.”

Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped.

“Does he know?” she mouthed.

“Yeah, he figured it out.”

She winced, and he nodded.

Footfalls sounded on the floor behind him. He turned. Held his breath as he waited for Clark to speak.