Jason’s groggy voice came through the cell.
“Hey Jace, how was the party?”
“It was fantastic!” h e said excitedly. “It's too bad you didn't make it, though. Are you sure you are doing all right?”
“Yeah, I'm fine, ” I replied casually. “I'm glad you had a good time. I just wanted to apologize for missing out on the fun.”
“It's all right. Maybe you'll be there next time,” h e sounded hopeful. “I will come by again this afternoon to clean up.”
“It's still a mess?”
“Just a little,” h e laughed lightly. “Don't worry about it; it'll be taken care of. Where were you, anyway?”
I quickly thought up an answer, “I was out driving, and I guess I lost track of time. There's just been so much on my mind lately.”
“Oh. I understand,” h e paused, “Well, I'm just glad you're okay.”
There was that phrase again – I u nderstand . I knew they didn’t, they couldn’t. I wished I could tell Karen and him everything. “I’ll be fine. Hey listen, I need to run a few errands , but I’ll have to talk to you later, okay?”
“Okay, h ave fun!”
I put the phone down and stared across the table at Salem. His mind seemed to be elsewhere at the moment and I frowned. “Salem...” I said it quietly, part of me not wanting to disturb him. He blinked and looked at me.
“Yes?”
“I'm beyond late for school, ” I said as I looked down at my watch. It was after noon. Jason must have skipped school, too.
“Problem solved,” h e smiled, although looking somewhat ashamed. “I called in for you. You are sick with the flu, if you weren't aware.”
“Oh, I am, huh?” I laughed and shook my head.
“Yes, and you are strictly on bed rest.”
“I’m no t entirely opposed to that idea, ” I replied , reflecting on how comfortable the bed upstairs was.
“I have this nagging feeling that you are corr ect about the attacks in Denver,” h e said suddenly, extracting me from my comforting thoughts.
“ But what can we do about it ?”
“Some thing I would much rather avoid,” h e scowled, staring blankly at the dining room table. “You need to request that Paul takes you to see Janet...he will know whether Mark is the cause.”
My eyes widened. “You want me to go to Denver?”
“Either that or try to convince Paul to go on his own.”
“I'll try, ” I stared at my half -empty plate. “ Where can I throw away the rest of this ?”
“ Don’t worry about it. I will take care of it,” h e said, grabbed the plate and dumped it and the remains in a trash bin that was concealed behind one of the mahogany cabinets.
“When should I try to talk to Paul?”
“Anytime - t he sooner the better.”
I nodded. “ I guess I’ll drive over to the shop.”
I left Salem's house reluctantly, but promised I would return as soon as possible. The drive along the winding road was becoming more familiar and less scary. The thought of going to Denver both thrilled and terrified me. It was a sudden decision, but Salem was right – it had to be done, before it was too late.
Paul was at work today, fortunately. I could see his figure moving around behind the glass windows. He was talking animatedly to a female customer. I left the Alero in the parking lot and discreetly entered the store, aiming straight for the air freshener aisle. I listened patiently to him and the customer as I waited. Once their conversation ended, I turned around the end of the aisle and nearly bumped into my father.
“Alex!” h e shouted in shock. “What a nice surprise.”
“Hey,” I greeted him casually, “c ould we talk...in private?”
“Of course.”
The back room was identical to how it was two days prior . It felt like it had been so much longer ago. I leaned back in the familiar chair as he took his seat behind the desk again . I fidgeted anxiously as I tried to decide what to say to him.
“ Is everything all right ?” He asked in a caring voice.
“Yeah, I'm fine...I just need to
“Hey Jace, how was the party?”
“It was fantastic!” h e said excitedly. “It's too bad you didn't make it, though. Are you sure you are doing all right?”
“Yeah, I'm fine, ” I replied casually. “I'm glad you had a good time. I just wanted to apologize for missing out on the fun.”
“It's all right. Maybe you'll be there next time,” h e sounded hopeful. “I will come by again this afternoon to clean up.”
“It's still a mess?”
“Just a little,” h e laughed lightly. “Don't worry about it; it'll be taken care of. Where were you, anyway?”
I quickly thought up an answer, “I was out driving, and I guess I lost track of time. There's just been so much on my mind lately.”
“Oh. I understand,” h e paused, “Well, I'm just glad you're okay.”
There was that phrase again – I u nderstand . I knew they didn’t, they couldn’t. I wished I could tell Karen and him everything. “I’ll be fine. Hey listen, I need to run a few errands , but I’ll have to talk to you later, okay?”
“Okay, h ave fun!”
I put the phone down and stared across the table at Salem. His mind seemed to be elsewhere at the moment and I frowned. “Salem...” I said it quietly, part of me not wanting to disturb him. He blinked and looked at me.
“Yes?”
“I'm beyond late for school, ” I said as I looked down at my watch. It was after noon. Jason must have skipped school, too.
“Problem solved,” h e smiled, although looking somewhat ashamed. “I called in for you. You are sick with the flu, if you weren't aware.”
“Oh, I am, huh?” I laughed and shook my head.
“Yes, and you are strictly on bed rest.”
“I’m no t entirely opposed to that idea, ” I replied , reflecting on how comfortable the bed upstairs was.
“I have this nagging feeling that you are corr ect about the attacks in Denver,” h e said suddenly, extracting me from my comforting thoughts.
“ But what can we do about it ?”
“Some thing I would much rather avoid,” h e scowled, staring blankly at the dining room table. “You need to request that Paul takes you to see Janet...he will know whether Mark is the cause.”
My eyes widened. “You want me to go to Denver?”
“Either that or try to convince Paul to go on his own.”
“I'll try, ” I stared at my half -empty plate. “ Where can I throw away the rest of this ?”
“ Don’t worry about it. I will take care of it,” h e said, grabbed the plate and dumped it and the remains in a trash bin that was concealed behind one of the mahogany cabinets.
“When should I try to talk to Paul?”
“Anytime - t he sooner the better.”
I nodded. “ I guess I’ll drive over to the shop.”
I left Salem's house reluctantly, but promised I would return as soon as possible. The drive along the winding road was becoming more familiar and less scary. The thought of going to Denver both thrilled and terrified me. It was a sudden decision, but Salem was right – it had to be done, before it was too late.
Paul was at work today, fortunately. I could see his figure moving around behind the glass windows. He was talking animatedly to a female customer. I left the Alero in the parking lot and discreetly entered the store, aiming straight for the air freshener aisle. I listened patiently to him and the customer as I waited. Once their conversation ended, I turned around the end of the aisle and nearly bumped into my father.
“Alex!” h e shouted in shock. “What a nice surprise.”
“Hey,” I greeted him casually, “c ould we talk...in private?”
“Of course.”
The back room was identical to how it was two days prior . It felt like it had been so much longer ago. I leaned back in the familiar chair as he took his seat behind the desk again . I fidgeted anxiously as I tried to decide what to say to him.
“ Is everything all right ?” He asked in a caring voice.
“Yeah, I'm fine...I just need to
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