Chapter Eight-Shame and Abuse
Derek pulled up on to his driveway at 9:45 that night.

Casey was sitting in the den, watching re-runs of The Hills with a tub of cookie dough ice cream and a spoon.

Derek leaned against the wall that was at the entrance of the den, "She's mine."

"Mhm," Casey said, shoving another spoonful of ice cream in her mouth.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Derek said, walking over to sit next to her on the couch.

"Because I didn't want to bother you and add another load of stress to your million-dollar life," Casey said, digging the spoon into the ice cream.

"Who said it would add stress to my life?" Derek said, taking the spoon out of Casey's hand, and shoving it in his mouth.

"Me," Casey said, pulling the spoon out of his mouth.

"And is 'Me' always right?"

"Yeah."

Silence filled the air.

"You would have liked Emma."

When Derek didn't say anything, Casey continued, "She was just like you. You and your attitude and your obsession over hockey."

Derek chewed the ice cream, Casey stared at his face: his lips were pressed into a tight line, and his forehead had lines.

"You're ashamed of her, aren't you?" Casey said suddenly.

"..."

"You regret that night, don't you?" Casey said, eyes blood-shot.

Derek didn't say anything swallowing the cold food in his mouth.

"You do regret that night," Casey said.

"I didn't say that."

"Not everything can be known through words, Derek," Casey snapped, "Expressions are useful too."

"Ca---"

"Don't 'Casey' me. You knew that there were risks to take with what we were doing," Casey said loudly.

"I didn't say I didn't know the risks we were taking," Derek argued, "Cuz you always made sure I knew that. Whether is just kissing or going to homerun. I couldn't have forgotten the risks even if I wanted too."

"Then why are you ashamed of her?" Casey said sweetly.

"I didn't say I was fuckin' ashamed of her!" Derek exploded.

"You know what, Derek? You are so full of shit."

Then Casey stormed upstairs.

Derek threw the empty tub of ice cream at the t.v.

That night, Derek crashed on his couch.

He arrived in his office at six thirty the next morning.

He sat at his desk with nothing to do.

The father of Emma wasn't the kidnapper.

Then Derek remembered that Emily had once mentioned that Casey had had a boyfriend after high school.

Derek called Emily.

"Hello?" Emily said tiredly.

"Hey, Emily. It's Derek. Sorry to wake you."

"It's okay. Did you find out who the father was?"

"Yeah. Anyway, you had told me that Casey had a boyfriend."

"Yeah? What about him?" Emily asked.

"Did Casey ever talk to you about him?"

"She didn't like to talk about him. And a lot of times, she had to leave suddenly, and left me with Emma. I met him once. He was pretty good looking, but Casey kept on trying to keep a distance between us. And once, it was really hot that day, and Casey was wearing a sweater. I really don't know why. But then she shoved her sleeves up to her elbow and I saw faint bruises. And then she pulled her sleeve back down."

"He abused her?"

"I'm not a hundred percent sure. But where else would those bruises come from? If let's say you fell down the stairs, you wouldn't hide. You would tell people you fell down the stairs, since that's the truth. But she wouldn't talk about her boyfriends. And to wear a sweater in such a hot weather isn't normal."

"Did she ever tell you his name?" Derek asked.

"Well she did once, the first time she met him. I think it was Michael Forbes or something like that."

"Thanks Emily."

"Anytime."

Derek searched Michael Forbes on his computer, and came up with one phone number.

Derek picked up the phone on his desk and dialed the number.

A recorded message told him that the number was not correct.

Derek dialed again, and got the same message.

Derek decided to drive past the house.

The neighbourhood that Michael Forbes lived in was crappy.

Windows were broken, there were no door, roofs looked like they were about to collaspe into the house.

Once he had left the neighbourhood, Derek called his parents' house, knowing Casey was there.

"Hello?"

"Get dressed, I'll be by the house in ten minutes. We're going out to eat. I have to ask you something."