Chapter 14

Cass pulled her car up and drove slowly off the main road, stopping on the side drive to the old Clements homestead.

She took a deep breath, questioning why she had come. She looked through her windscreen, not seeing any movement or activity. It was now nearly 11:30am and she only had a few minutes left of her break.

Slowly Cass turned off the engine, and opened the door, her brown hair blowing in the gentle breeze, the day was cool and crisp but clear, and the snow was only a light sprinkle, nowhere near the fall that had come through the previous night.

She took a deep breath and trudged through the snow laden ground cover towards the abandoned homestead.

As she approached she noticed fresh tire tracks that lead to the rear of the structure, Cass flowed them around towards the barn that was semi hidden from view from the road by the main house.

"you came" A familiar voice greeted her

"well, now I'm thinking I have made a mistake again and should have dropped your arse like you did mine" Her snarkyness taking Jeremy a little by surprise.

"come on Cass, don't be like that" he wined, smiling at her slightly.

"so. why am I out here in the middle of winter, in the middle of nowhere?" She continued.

"I needed to see you, "he lied" I missed you, and should never have broken up with you"

Cass signed heavily, "really? do you think I'm that stupid, you come on strong, suck me in with your charms then dump me once things get, how did you say? Complicated" Cass had never been one to hold her words or say the politically correct thing. Her patience was wearing thin with Jeremy and his antics.

"hang on, hang on, "He soothed, walking over to her and gently placing his hands on her forearms. "I was stressed after losing Buckingham, I just over reacted, that's all. But I'm all good now, "

She looked into his eyes, trying to see the truth, but Tys words where ringing in her head,

"he's dangerous Cass, please be careful"

"Tell me the truth Jeremy" she finally said, "did you give Buckingham that shot" Cass stepped back from him, away from his hold.

Jeremy rolled his eyes slightly and looked away, contemplating his next words carefully.

"It wasn't Ty, was it?" she pushed, "you. You used me, you used me to gain entry to the clinic. And I fell for it!"

She shook her head in angered disbelief that she had been conned so easily. Cass had fallen for a good-looking guy and left her better judgement behind. She smiled crookedly at herself, how could she have been so stupid.

"Cass, He caused all this" he said coldly," he was the one who kept pushing me about the de-nerving procedure" His expression was now cold and angry. "if he and his annoying little girlfriend had just stayed out of it and let me jump phoenix, then nothing would have happened, I wouldn't have been forced into this situation or forced to make difficult choices"

"you are unbelievable" Cass said quietly backing away the way she had come, she was so mad at him for fooling her, and for setting up Ty but also at herself for falling for it.

"I'm calling Scott, this is over, "She pulled her phone from her pocket and pressed the screen" Ty doesn't deserve this, he did nothing wrong"

"If you make that call, it won't really matter what Ty deserves, "Jeremy said coolly, his black eyes sparkling slightly in the morning sun.

Cass looked at him confused.

"Have you heard from Ty recently?" he asked, a smile playing on his lips.

Cass looked confused, "what have you done?"

"nothing, I've just given us some time," he smiled, "time for us to disappear, "

Cass looked even more confused, she was having trouble following where this conversation was going.

"If we leave now, we will be well clear of this dreadful town by the time it all comes to light" he said pleadingly, "I left them a breadcrumb trail, they will be so focused on Ty that they will not bother us. "

Cass raised her eye brow, "Jeremy, I'm not going with you?"

"come on Cass, I have the money, we can disappear, "he continued, stepping forward," I did this for us, so we could be together"

"whoa," Cass put up her hands" hang on Jeremy, what did you do?"

He stopped, looking annoyed and then a cold calm look crossed his features again.

"The insurance money, I had to do it, it was the only way out, I know Buck paid the price, but We can be free now, "he paused still seeing her confusion," And I would have got away with it cleanly if Ty hadn't started snooping around where he shouldn't have been, "

"you set him up! he was trying to clear his name, you tried to destroy him,"

Jeremy breathed out harshly" well that cost him didn't it, as his meddling only made it worse for him, he forced my hand when he stole my laptop, so I had no choice but to take him out of the game."

He stopped realizing he may have said to much.

"where is Ty Jeremy what did you do to him?" Cass had concern now across her face, she was slowly stepping backwards. Away from Jeremy.

"You're not listening to me!" he yelled, "He is out of the way for a while, I left a trail for them to follow, I just needed some time to get away, to find you and give us a chance to get free "

Cass shook her head, and pressed dial on her phone,

"Scott, Scott, …. "she started,

"NO!" Jeremy bellowed and ran towards her, but Cas had turned tail and run full sprint back to her car, she pulled the door open and jumped inside locking the doors behind her as Jeremy banged angrily at her window

"Cass!" he yelled, "it doesn't have to be like this, open the door!"

She started the engine and reversed her car back out onto the road, Jeremy watching her in annoyance,

"fine! you're not worth it anyway!" he scorned and stalked back towards his truck that was parked inside the old barn.

Cass drove her car at high speed down the road, trying to get as far away from Jeremy as she could. Her heart was beating out of her chest.

Slowly as her panic resided, she could hear a faint voice, calling her name quiet frantically, then realized that she was still connected to Scott on her phone.

"Scott, she said quickly, where are you?" she breathed,

"I'm at the clinic, are you ok, I heard you talking to someone and shouting what's going on?"

"no, I'm not ok" she said shakily, "Wait for me, I think something terrible has happened"

Cass rounded the corner and her car came to a sudden stop in front of the Hudson Vet clinic,

She turned off the engine and unlocked the car door, quickly running into the safety of the clinic.

Scott was waiting for her in the main consulting room, concern on his face.

"hey, what is wrong?" he said taking hold of Cass as she barreled into the room at full speed.

"Oh Scott, Jeremy has completely lost it!" She said, trying to catch her breath, "I don't know what to do"

Scott tried to calm her, "tell me what's going on Cass, start from the beginning"

Cass dropped her gaze to the floor, she knew she was going to have to tell Scott the complete truth now, there was no hiding it any more.

"I let Jeremy in to the clinic the night Buckingham died, he said he wanted to be with me, "she paused noticing Scotts look of disappointment" we wanted to get some food, so I ordered some from Maggie's, I was only gone for a few minutes, and when I got back he was all weird and wanted to leave. I Didn't think much of it, I just thought he decided I wasn't worth it,"

"why didn't you tell me this before?" Scott asked, knowing now that he had been wrong in not believing Ty.

"I didn't want to get fired, I knew you would be mad," she stopped and looked directly into Scotts eyes," I got a call from Jeremy today, he asked me to meet him, so I did, and he said all these weird things about insurance money and Ty being in the way and that he had dealt with him somehow, "panic was in Cass's voice, "he said TY was not a problem anymore that he had done something to him."

Scott slowly rubbed her arms and looked at Cass seriously" I really wish you had come forward earlier Cass, but we can discuss that later, for now I think we need to call the police, Ty hasn't been answering my calls and I thought it was because he was mad at me for firing him, but now, after what you just told me, I'm thinking that may not be the case. "

Cass nodded, "I'm going to call Amy and warn her, maybe she can warn Ty "

"good idea, "Scott continued "I'll call the police, and you call Amy."

TO BE CONTINUED