Standard disclaimers apply.
Second Chance
by Christine
To Gary the next few weeks had gone by in a blur. He isolated himself in his loft refusing to deal with the paper, leaving the duties to his parents.
His parents called Chuck and filled him in on what happened. He was on the first flight back to Chicago, though his presence didn't change the deep depression that Gary had fallen into.
This morning was no different than any other in the past few weeks. He just sat. Looking out the window, thinking about everything he had lost. Today was his birthday, his, and Casey's. He heard the cat meow and then the thump of the paper. He closed his eyes tightly trying to shut those sounds out of his head. The cat continued to meow. Gary grew irritated and headed for the door. When he opened it there sat the cat acting as if nothing had changed.
"Go away." Gary reached down and picked up the paper, crushing it in his hands. The cat walked in. "Find somebody else to take care of this 'cause I'm not doing it any more. You hear me. It's ruined my life."
He turned, slamming the door and then walking into his living room he threw it in the small garbage can next to his chair. He then resumed his spot at the window. A few moments later the cat jumped onto the chair and then onto the garbage can knocking it over spilling it's contents onto the floor.
Gary turned and in disgust walked over to reprimand the cat. "What are you doing? Get out of here and don't come back." He said. As he picked the cat up to, throw him out, he saw the picture of Casey staring back at him. He swallowed hard and dropped the cat to the floor. He reached down and picked up the paper. "Casey." He whispered.
Swallowing hard, he began to read. "Body of Missing Four Year Old Found. The bodies of missing four-year-old Cassandra Kelly and her father David Detillo were found yesterday in a room at the Crane Motel outside of Chicago. The cause of death is an apparent murder/suicide."
That was all he needed to read. He went across the room, grabbed the phone book, and quickly looked up the hotel. He then picked up the telephone and dialed.
"Detective Armstrong, please."
"He isn't in at the moment, may I take a message."
"Do you have some way to get in touch with him?" Gary asked.
"I could try. Give me your name and number please."
"Please tell him to call Gary Hobson at McGinty's, as soon as possible. Tell him it's about Cassandra Kelly." Gary hung up the telephone just as his parents and Chuck walked in. His parents saw life in his face for the first time in weeks.
"Mom, Dad I know where Casey is." He said. "He has her at the Crane Motel. I gotta get over there. He's gonna kill her." Gary said as he headed for the door.
"We're going with you Gary." Bernie said pulling Chuck by the sleeve.
"I don't think that is a good idea, Dad." Gary said.
"Come on Gar, if what you told me about this guy is true, you're gonna need all the help you can get." Chuck said.
"Yeah Gar. This guy ain't playing with a full deck." Bernie said.
"Okay. Mom you stay here and when Detective Armstrong calls you tell him to get over to the Crane Motel." Lois nodded her head in agreement.
"Gary did you call Kaitlyn?" Lois asked.
"No. Gary hesitated. "She…she can't help with this. This is something I have to handle without her." Gary said. They headed for the door.
"Be careful!" She yelled after them.
Gary, Bernie, and Chuck took the van and headed for the motel. "What's the plan." Bernie asked.
"I don't know." Gary looked at his father the fear evident on his face.
"Can I look at the paper." Chuck asked from the back seat. Gary looked at him in the rearview mirror. Chuck knew the look well. It was a look, which meant no way.
"Come on Gar, there might be something you missed." Chuck pleaded. Gary handed him the paper, trying to keep his eyes on the road.
"This guys is definitely certifiable. Bernie your right we're gonna have to have some kind of plan. He is capable of anything." Gary glanced over at his father and then looked back at the road.
"Hopefully Armstrong can help us out." Gary sighed.
Lois paced the loft frantically. She ran to answer the telephone when it rang. "Hello."
"Yeah this Paul Armstrong, Chicago PD. I'm returning a call to Hobson."
"Detective, yes I'm Gary's mother. He knows where Cassandra Kelly is. She is at the Crane Motel. He wants you to meet him there." Lois said.
"How does he know where she is?" Armstrong asked.
"He just knows. Please, please get over there and help him." Lois pleaded.