Chapter 4
Rating: PG-13
Not mine ~ they just use my head for a playground sometimes!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A couple of days later at Ocean Isle Beach, NC. . .
Jordan. . .
I could so get used to this life. The beach every day. Not having to deal with anything. No death. Aw hell, who are you kidding Jordan? A couple of months of this and I'd be bored stiff. I'm already feeling a little restless. But I can't go back yet. It's too soon. It'll hurt too bad.
"Jordan? You awake yet?" Laura's voice drifted up the stairs. I knew she'd give me the space to do what I needed to do, but she also kept a pretty close eye on me.
"Yeah. I'll be down in a sec."
"Ok."
Alright. Might as well get this over with. Mandatory call to Dad day. It is kind of interesting that he hasn't called here looking for me. Maybe he didn't think I'd remember Laura or something. Surely he's noticed I'm gone by now.
"Morning sweetie."
"It's still morning? Oh yeah ~ it's only 9:30."
"You sleep ok?"
"Fine, thanks." I went over to the fridge and grabbed a diet Coke. Laura started to make a comment about my lack of food, so I reached into the fruit basket and grabbed a banana. It seemed to make her happy.
"Jordan, I don't want to push you, but. . ."
"I know. I know. It's the deadline for me to call Dad."
"Here it is sweetie. You want me to stay in here with you?"
"Whatever you want to do. I guess I'll try the precinct first." Ok Jordan, you can do this. Just dial the phone. . .
"Police dispatch."
"Um, yes. May I speak with Detective Max Cavanaugh please?"
"One moment, I'll locate him for you. . . I'll connect you now."
"Thank you." OK, this can't be that bad. Surely he's not that mad at you. . .
"Detective Cavanaugh."
"Hi Dad!"
"Jordan? What. . . Where are you? Are you ok?"
"I'm fine Dad. I'm at Laura's house."
"In North Carolina?"
"Yeah. Dad, I'm sorry I didn't call you before I left. I just. . . Things were getting crazy and I just had to get out of there."
"Crazy how, Jordan? How bad could things be that you couldn't talk with me? Or with Garret? Or somebody?"
"Dad, I'm sorry. I just felt like things were closing in on me and I needed to get away for a little while."
"When are you coming back?"
"I don't know. A few days maybe? I. . ."
"Baby, if there's something wrong, talk to me. Whatever it is we can work through it."
"I'm doing better Dad. I just had to get out of Boston for a while."
"Ok. How did you get there anyway?"
"I took a bus."
"All that way?"
"Yeah. It wasn't too bad."
"I'll fly you home. No sense in you taking a bus all the way back up here. How many days do you need?"
"I don't know. Maybe five?"
"That would be about a week you'd be out. I think Garret can sell that as a bad case of the flu."
"What?"
"He got your letter. He's covering for you with personnel saying you're sick and he's gotten what he needs."
"Oh."
"He's a nice guy, Jordan. We had a long talk yesterday. He really thinks of you as a kid sister and wants to help you. I. . .well, I gave him a little insight on you to help him. . ."
"What did you tell him?"
"Things that he should know anyway Jordan. Things that will come out at some point. You do have to have a psychological evaluation for the job. I'm surprised they hadn't done one yet."
"I think it's within six months or something. Yeah, I guess mine will be coming up soon. You told him about Mom didn't you?"
"It's not like that's a big secret Jordan. Anyone who wanted to know about it could find whatever they wanted. Everything that we know is out there."
"Yeah. I guess so."
"So I'll get you a plane ticket for Monday and have it delivered there, ok?"
"Ok. Um, Dad?"
"Yeah?"
"Can I move home for a little while? There's been some stuff going on in my building and I'd just feel more comfortable being out of there."
"Really? I'll have to see if. . ."
"I don't think anything's been reported. And I can't say exactly what it is. I just don't feel comfortable there anymore."
"Alright, Jordan. It's ok. You know you've got a bed at home as long as you need it. I'll get your stuff boxed up and moved into the house and garage and take care of things with the landlord so it's all done when you get back."
"Thanks Dad. I love you."
"I love you too Jordan. I love you too. Take care of yourself, get some rest, and give Laura a hug for me."
"I will Dad. Bye."
"Bye baby."
Well, that's done. He's got a point about stuff coming out in the psych eval. . .I just wish there was a way it didn't have to. And it's not like that had any bearing on why I ran. Did it? No. I ran because I was screwing up an innocent person's life. That's all. And I'm a big chicken and couldn't face it. And now I'm going to hide at Dad's. At least I'll be with family.
"All done. He said to tell you hello."
"That's good."
"Yeah. He's sending me a plane ticket for next Monday. He about freaked when I told him I took the bus down here."
"I can imagine."
"Could I call someone else?"
"Of course."
"Thanks. I just feel like I need to call my boss."
Laura went onto the porch while I called Garret. He wasn't as mad as I thought he'd be. He confirmed what Dad said about him fixing things with personnel. He said Grace was having a hissy fit, but that was pretty normal. I told him my plans for getting back into Boston, and he said he'd see me on Tuesday.
The rest of the week flew by, and before I knew it, Dad was scooping me into a big bear hug at the gate in Logan.
"Hey there sweetheart! I missed you!"
"Thanks Dad. It's good to be home."
"Do you have another bag?"
"Nope ~ just this duffel and my guitar. I'm good to go."
"Alright then. Let's go home."
"Is everything ok with. . ."
"All cleared. I covered the penalty fee for you so you're all set."
"Oh Dad, I'm sorry about that. I'll pay you back as soon. . ."
"Don't even worry about it. I don't want you living some place where you're not comfortable. Here's the car. You want to get some dinner on the way home?"
"Sure, Dad. Thanks!"
So we stopped and got a burger on the way home. I went up to my room and found the boxes of things that had been lying around my apartment already sitting on the floor in my room. I'd deal with them later. Right now, I just wanted to get some sleep before I went back to work. Home might not be the safest place in the world to me, but it was comfortable and familiar. And strangely, so was the morgue.
. . .to be continued. . .