Intersection Read online

  The agent sighed and kissed Cassidy on the cheek. “Cass, I just wish I could…”

  The teacher could’ve guessed the end to that sentence. Alex wished she could change her departure and she wished that the case was solved. “I know you do,” Cassidy smiled. The day had been wonderful so far. Dylan was off with Christian and every so often the adults would chuckle at the sound of playful laughter rising through the house. Nick and Alex had traded jabs and stories about growing up and the trouble that Alex seemed to always coax her brother into; things like stealing apples from a neighbor’s orchard at night. The two siblings had gotten into a fit of laughter when Alex explained how they got chased by a dog one night after stealing apples and ran frantically to escape home safely; only to find that the dog was their own, Barney. Barb was charming and easy going and Cassidy immediately felt welcome with the pair. Whatever was to come could wait. She put her hand on Alex’s cheek. “Let’s not think about it today,” she suggested, soliciting an appreciative grin from the agent.

  “Sounds like a great idea,” Alex agreed.

  But, as life would have it their brief moment and their plan for the day was abruptly changed when a small boy came crashing into the agent’s lap with tears in his eyes. Barb followed with Christian in tow looking sheepishly on. “You’re leaving me too,” Dylan cried. Alex lost her breath and looked at Cassidy, neither sure what had brought this on.

  “Dylan,” Cassidy said gently reaching over to her son who was sobbing into the agent’s shoulder, “why would you say that?

  “Cat told me. You came to see him before you leave,” Dylan pulled back and looked at Alex.

  Alex inhaled deeply and let her breath escape slowly. “Dylan, I am leaving Monday…”

  “See!” He said somewhere between devastation and anger. Barb looked down at her son and pointed to the kitchen sternly. She lingered for just a moment watching Alex and Cassidy with the small child before them and smiled softly. She wasn’t certain what all the facts were but in a few short hours one thing had become clear to Alex’s sister-in-law; the sometimes hardheaded agent was very much in love with both Cassidy and her son.

  Cassidy brushed a tear from Dylan’s cheek and she and Alex looked intently at one another. The teacher offered a crooked smile of understanding as Alex put her hands on both the young boy’s arms. “Dylan…I want you to listen to me, okay?” Alex began. The boy looked down and did not answer, leaving the agent to turn to his mother for support. Cassidy smiled again and gave the agent a gentle nod. “I have to go back to my house just for a little bit, Speed Racer. Remember when you were there?” He nodded. “I have a couple of things I need to take care of, but Dylan,” he slowly began to look up into her blue eyes. “I am not leaving you or your mom, not for very long.” Cassidy heard the conviction in her lover’s voice and she felt her own tears begin to surface.

  “When will you be back?” He asked. Alex sighed. She really wasn’t certain exactly when.

  Cassidy took over. “Dylan, Alex and I… We have a lot of things we need to talk about…Grown up things.”

  “Like you and Dad,” he mumbled.

  Cassidy nodded, “some, but not because Alex is leaving… Alex is not Daddy.” He looked at his mother.

  “I don’t want you to leave,” he said trying not to cry again.

  Alex felt her heart breaking for him. She looked at Cassidy and smiled. Then she turned to the small form on her lap. “I love you Dylan,” the agent said assuredly. The words took Cassidy off guard as Alex seamlessly continued. “And, I love your mom. I would never leave you…unless you wanted me to.” He threw himself back into the agent and Cassidy saw the tears roll down her lover’s cheek.

  “Promise?” He asked seeking reassurance.

  “I promise,” Alex answered hugging him and looking at Cassidy. “Why do you think I brought you and your mom here?” He sat back and shrugged. “Because this is my family.”

  “You’re lucky to have a brother,” he said.

  “MMM…. Yes. I am,” Alex said. “And now you will have an uncle to teach you pool tricks while I am away, and a cool cousin to play with.” Cassidy felt her eyes widen. “While I am away, you and your mom can always call me and whenever I have to be away; you can always come here.” Cassidy could not contain her tears as Alex looked into her eyes. “You are my family too now,” Alex said.

  Nick had reached the doorway after hearing his son’s explanation of the events that led up to Dylan’s upset. He listened carefully to his sister’s discussion with the boy and understood fully what he was witnessing. Cassidy was engaging, beautiful and compassionate and Dylan was a cute and lovable little boy. His sister had finally found something solid and he could see in Alex’s eyes how much these two people meant to her. Alex was not one to share her emotions unless she really felt them deeply, and Nick knew this was the real thing for his sister. He’d seen it that night in the restaurant. The last thing he wanted to do was intrude, but Alex’s last statement seemed like the perfect opportunity to enter the emotional conversation gracefully. “Ahhhemm,” he cleared his throat. “You know, Dylan… two things about this family…” The small boy looked at the handsome man approaching. “Everyone learns how to help in the kitchen and everyone is expected to eat more than they can handle,” he winked. Cassidy snickered. “And, any nephew of mine needs to know his way around a pool table. So whatya’ say?” Dylan let out a slight smile as Nick offered one hand to the boy and pointed to Alex with the other. “We’ve tried getting her in the kitchen,” he shook his head. “She does the AFTER parts, otherwise no one would be able to eat more than they can handle. She can’t cook,” he leaned over and whispered into the boy’s ear just loud enough that his sister could hear.

  Dylan grinned but offered the agent an innocent six year old defense. “Alex makes the best cereal.”

  Nick and Cassidy both laughed. “You tell him, Dylan,” Alex folded her arms in mock disapproval of her brother’s criticisms.

  “Geez.. holdin’ out on me, eh, sis?...Come on Dylan. Come help your Uncle Nick with a couple of things. Then you and I will teach Alex and Cat a thing or two about billiards.”

  Dylan started to follow and then stopped. He turned back and kissed his mother on the cheek and then looked at the agent for a moment. “Go on with Uncle Nick,” Alex said.

  Dylan whispered to her. “Can I really call him Uncle Nick?”

  “That’s what the man said,” Alex smiled. Dylan hugged the agent. “I love you, Alex,” he said with some exuberance and trotted back off to take the hand of the man waiting.

  Cassidy watched the pair leave the room and marveled at the lightness in her son’s steps. She turned to the agent and looked at her lovingly. “We have a lot to talk about, don’t we?” Alex nodded. “Alex, I hope you know…”

  “Cassidy…I meant everything I said and so did Nick. Let’s stick to the plan. We can talk tomorrow. After you sit through a dinner with us you might want to reconsider all of this anyway,” Alex winked.

  “Hummm,” Cassidy pretended to be considering something.

  “What?” Alex asked.

  “Just wondering.”

  “What?” The agent repeated.

  “How an English butler managed to get by without any culinary skills,” the teacher shrugged.

  “Funny.”

  “I know.”

  “I love you, Cass.”

  “I love you too Alfred,” Cassidy laughed.

  ***

  Detective Pete Ferro entered the apartment building and lifted the line of yellow tape that cordoned off the second floor hallway. He slowed his pace to don a pair of latex gloves as he entered the small room. “What do we have?” He asked.

  “Looks like a suicide,” a young officer answered.

  The seasoned detective approached the body that lay slumped in the chair. He stood about two feet from the man and took his time surveying the scene at a slight distance. Carefully, he studied the blood stain on the carpet and the pat
terns that were evident on the man, the wall and the floor. Slowly, he circled the scene keeping the same distance. Then he moved a step closer and repeated the action; each time searching the fine details of what lay in front of him until finally he reached the feet of the man in the chair. With his forefinger he gently probed the side of the man’s head. Without moving anything he looked at the shotgun, where it fell, how it fell. He picked up the man’s hand and studied the very smooth finger tips. About six feet behind the chair a large wall was lined with newspaper clippings and photographs. The detective walked deliberately toward the shrine, gradually making his way inch by inch past the collection. He took a deep breath and shook his head. “There’s no ID,” a younger man directed his statement to the senior officer.

  “No, I don’t imagine there is,” Ferro answered.

  “What does that mean? This guy…”

  Ferro ran his finger across several of the photos. “It means this guy doesn’t really exist.” He twisted his mouth and considered the scene a final time. “I need to make a call.”

  Nick had Dylan sitting on the side of the pool table with Cat on a tall stool. He demonstrated the finer points of ‘trick’ shots with great animation as the rest of the family looked on. Alex’s brother was a character. He made faces and spun his cue in all kinds of patterns. He set the balls up on the table in what seemed to be impossible patterns and then one by one sunk the balls into different pockets. “That’s awesome!” Dylan practically squealed.

  “Show off,” Alex muttered. Cassidy laughed at the agent who actually appeared to be moderately pouting.

  “Get used to it,” Barb whispered to the teacher. “Wait ‘til summer when we open the pool. Then it will be Mr. Peacock over there sulking in a lounge chair,” she nodded toward her husband. Cassidy looked at the woman curiously. “Oh yeah,” Barb explained, “Alex is quite the master of the diving board, even with her back. Those two are impossible,” she laughed.

  Alex was shaking her head on and off as her brother continued with his antics to the boys’ delight. Cassidy found the agent’s reactions endearing. “Oh honey, I’m sure you’ll get him back,” the teacher kissed her lover on the cheek.

  “Yeah, I will,” Alex said just as she felt her pocket vibrate. She looked at the number displayed on the phone and stood. “I’m sorry. I need to take this,” she said returning a kiss to Cassidy’s cheek and excusing herself from the room.

  Barb took the agent’s absence as an opportunity to start a private conversation. “Dylan is so sweet,” she complimented.

  “He is,” Cassidy beamed. “I’ve really never seen him happier.” The teacher stopped and sighed. “He has taken to Alex. It’s so funny, really. He seems to know where she is at every moment.”

  Barb watched Cassidy’s expressions as she spoke. She was struck by the effortless nature of the school teacher. Conversation flowed easily with the woman. And, she could understand exactly what Alex saw in the pretty blonde. Not only was Cassidy attractive; she was down to earth, friendly and clearly head over heels for Alex. “Well, I am happy for Alex,” Barb said. “Nick came home after she brought you to the restaurant and said ‘I think Alex is in love’.” She smiled.

  “Really?”

  “Mmhmm. Yeah, he did. Those two can read each other like a book. It’s always been that way.” The woman turned to the teacher. “And… as usual he was right.”

  “It’s crazy in a way.”

  “Why is that?”4

  “Oh,” Cassidy laughed as she watched Dylan attempt to put his pool cue behind his back. “We have so much still that we need to talk about. It just… well…It’s just happened so fast.”

  Barb nodded. “Well, I don’t know, I still remember the first time I saw Nicky. He walked into my dorm. I think I knew the moment I saw him. He wasn’t doing anything special. I just knew.”

  Cassidy smiled. “I guess if I were to admit it…I felt something when I answered the door that day….but it’s so…”

  “What?” Cassidy looked at the woman next to her. Barb smiled, “I understand,” the woman said patting the teacher’s knee.

  “I just don’t want her to leave, not even for a day,” Cassidy admitted. “Pathetic, huh?”

  “No. I have a feeling she feels the same way,” Barb observed.

  “What’s going on Detective?” Alex asked.

  “Agent Toles…I think we found your man?”

  “Fisher? Really? Where?”

  “In Harlem just as you suggested he would be,” the detective answered.

  “Did you take him into custody?” Alex asked sensing that this was not simply a call to give her a location.

  “In a manner of speaking, yes,” he said.

  “What manner is that?” The agent inquired.

  “Well…agent…he’s dead.”

  “He’s dead?”

  “Yep. Dead. Looks like he blew his head off with a sawed off shot gun; really ain’t much left.”

  Alex pinched the bridge of her nose. “Why do you think it’s him?”

  “Uh… You know the usual ‘spooky’ things, lack of prints… and uh, well…some other things.”

  “What other things?” Alex pushed.

  “Son of a bitch has a shrine in that apartment…you know…. To the pretty lady I suspect is with you.”

  Alex blew out her breath with some force. “Are you sure it’s him?”

  “Well, look… you and me…We both know this might notta’ been a suicide, but it has spook all over it. Pretty sure.”

  “All right… Well, let me know if you get a positive I.D.”

  “Agent Toles?”

  “Yes, detective?”

  “I’ll run everything I can…If the spooks show, we’ll know. I think you can rest a little easier though, really.”

  “How long to process the scene? I’m over an hour and a half away.”

  “Nothing you can do here, Agent. Come down and check out the scene tomorrow. M.E. is already removing the body.”

  “Ferro?”

  “Yeah?

  “Thanks.”

  “Anytime, Agent. Take care of the lady,” he said affectionately. “She’s a keeper.”

  Alex smiled. She still had her reservations about the detective’s news. But, even if Fisher hadn’t killed himself it was possible that he had become a greater liability to someone else. At least that is what the agent hoped. It was in her nature to cross every possible ‘T’ and dot every ‘I’, but she also felt a slight sense of relief. And, she was flattered by the detective’s words. Cassidy melted a lot of hearts and if anyone could understand why, it was the agent. “She is,” Alex acknowledged. “No worries, Detective, though I think she might be the caretaker,” the agent admitted soliciting a chuckle on the other end of the phone.

  “I’ll talk to you tomorrow, Agent.”

  “That you will. Good night, Detective.”

  Alex seemed just a bit lighter as she said her goodbyes to her family. Cassidy was curious if that was the result of the visit with Nick and Barb, having gotten a weight off of her after telling Dylan about the separation, or if it might have something to do with the phone call. As Alex moved to hug her nephew, Nick pulled the school teacher aside. “Listen, Cassidy,” he paused as he led her slowly toward the car. “I want you to know that you and Dylan, you are always welcome here, anytime.”

  “That’s very sweet, Nick.”

  “No…Look, I know Alex is worried about something. She’s tight lipped about work. Actually she’s tight lipped about a lot,” he mused. “But not about you. She’s just….Can I be blunt?” Cassidy nodded. “I’ve never seen my sister…well, she really loves you, Cassidy.”

  Cassidy looked at the man that had spent much of the evening playing the role of class clown. She was certain she could see just the hint of an affectionate tear in his eye. Barb had told her at one point during an episode of play that he and Alex called the Duel of Champions Billiard Bonanza; for the boys’ sake of course; that Nick had al
ways worshipped his sister. Alex had never shared much about her parents and Barb filled in some of the reasons for Cassidy why that might be. She said that while Alex’s parents were always kind to her; they were always hard on their children. Alex got the worst of it and Nick had called her his protector when they were small. Now, the teacher could see the great love the man had for his sister. Gently, she grasped Nick’s arm, “I love her too, Nick.”

  “I know,” he said quietly. “Just please promise me, if you need anything, you or Dylan…I am a phone call or a car ride away. Barb too.” He took the teacher into a bear hug. “Thank you,” he said.

  “Thank me?” Cassidy was perplexed.

  “Yeah.” He confirmed the sentiment.

  Cassidy patted his arm. “Thank you, Nick,” she smiled as Alex came to the door and opened it for her.

  “Hey! Teach him how to do that, will ya’?” Barb mocked as she led her son back toward the house.

  “What?” Nick feigned his innocence.

  “Yeah, yeah,” she called to him. “Tell him Alex… chivalry is NOT dead.”

  Alex laughed and playfully slapped her brother on the back. “Still learnin’ huh?”

  “Yeah, you talk to me in 13 years… see if you’re still holding the door,” he quipped.

  Alex glanced in the window to see Cassidy trying to gently calm Dylan’s over excitement. “Umm, you don’t want to make that wager, bro.”

  Nick shook his head as he walked with his sister toward the back of the car. “You got it BAD,” he teased.

  Alex just shrugged as she opened her car door. “Nick?”

  “Yeah,” he turned back to his sister.

  “If I need a place…”

  “Anytime,” he smiled with understanding, receiving her nod of appreciation.

  It wasn’t very long before both Dylan and his mother were sound asleep in the car, Cassidy’s hand resting on the agent’s thigh. Alex was running possible scenarios through her mind about Carl Fisher. Suicide didn’t make sense, but she had to confess the idea that someone wanted him out of the picture seemed a viable possibility. The agent could tell Ferro had seen similar things in the past and he seemed fairly certain that Fisher was dead. That was the ultimate relief for the agent. If that was true, then she could start working on the congressman’s accident and his relationship to Krause. After everything that had happened, Alex Toles had no intention of walking away from her investigation into the congressman and his dealings. She could have let go the entire fact that he reported her relationship with Cassidy, but she could not let go the reality that his actions in so many instances hurt the woman she loved and Dylan; not to mention put them in harm’s way. “Selfish,” she whispered as she made the turn into the driveway. “Hey,” she gently took the hand from her thigh and kissed it. “Cass, we’re home.”