Cassidy Jones and the Luminous (Cassidy Jones Adventures Book 4) (23 page)

“You’ll have to endure the initial tongue-lashing alone,” Emery said, killing the engine. “I have to talk to my parents.”

“They’ll understand, Cass,” Jared assured.

“We are talking about my mom and dad, right?” But even as I said this, I knew I was being unfair. My parents did nothing but understand.

~~~

“Did Nate tell you what happened?” I called out from the foyer. I couldn’t see my parents yet, but I could feel their anger radiating from the living room.

Bring it on
. I geared up for a fight as I shut the door.

A few more steps revealed the frowns I’d anticipated. My parents were so angry that they hadn’t even bothered to get up from the sofa to chew me out, opting for stony silence instead. All this stress couldn’t be good for people their age.

“Yes,” Dad finally answered austerely. “I’ve made Gavin and Serena aware of your latest stunt. They weren’t surprised. Wish I could share the feeling.” He gestured for us to sit, which Jared and I promptly did. We exchanged looks; his guilty, mine indignant.

“We understand why you didn’t tell us,” Mom said, playing her wounded card. But there was no way I would feel guilty. And why should I? We were trying to get answers—answers that could help her.

“Nevertheless, it hurts,” she said, dropping her long-suffering gaze.

“Look,” I said. “You can’t take this personally—”

“Cassidy, I have no patience for mincing words right now,” Dad warned. “You didn’t tell us because you didn’t want us to stop you.”

“Yeah, I didn’t want you to stop me! Do you have any idea what is going on here? We’re not stupid kids sneaking out to a party or something.
Lives
are at stake! Correction:
humankind
is at stake! We’re trying to get answers, and I’m best equipped to get them. Not you, because you can die.
I.
Can’t.
Die
. As it is, Emery almost did!”

Shock raced across their faces. I could almost hear Jared inwardly groan. He had sensibly not told Nate about Emery’s near brush with death. But I was too mad to parse information. My parents had to get a grip!

Silence saturated the room after my revelation. You could almost hear a pin drop. My temper cooled.

Dad leaned forward on his knees and folded his hands thoughtfully, considering his words. It was something I could admit, especially in that moment, that I needed to learn to do.

His solemn eyes met mine. They looked so weary.

“This isn’t easy for me,” he confessed, making me feel even worse. “I’m doing my best. The need to protect you supersedes, regardless of your abilities. It’s difficult to stop being a father—”

“I don’t want you to, Dad.”

He smiled. “I won’t—not ever. However, I will give you room to be what you have always been: a hero. If for nothing else, so you’ll allow me into your world. I realize I can’t fully comprehend what you have experienced, and
are
experiencing, with these changes, but please let me in—let
us
in. Your mother and I could surprise you.”

“Of course I will.” I couldn’t believe Dad had called me a hero.

“Thank you.” His loving gaze held mine. “I also realize you are well aware of how tragically this evening could have ended, and almost did. Despite Emery’s confidence, he is flesh and bone, and fallible. And Jared, in case it has escaped your notice, so are you.”

“Yes, sir,” Jared said quietly.

“I know, too, Dad,” I admitted. “Trust me, I’m angry with myself. I shouldn’t have let them come with me.”
How could I have been so foolish?

“I didn’t give you a choice, Cass,” Jared reminded. I opened my mouth to object, but he dove right into an apology. “I’m sorry I put you in a bad position.” He looked my parents in the eyes. “I’m sorry I put all of you in a bad position.”

“Thank you, Jared,” Dad said. “And don’t think I don’t understand your need to get answers. Your father is involved with this, to some degree.”

Surprised by Dad’s bluntness, I peeked sidelong at Jared to gauge his reaction. He took the truth like a man, just as my dad had given him opportunity to do.

“I know he is,” Jared agreed. “Thank you for understanding, Mr. Jones.”

“Drake,” Dad corrected him. “If you ever need to talk, I’m here for you.”

“I appreciate that, Drake,” Jared said, regarding my dad with respect. I couldn’t help but think about all his father was missing out on.

Dad smiled at him and then looked back at me. His mouth flattened into a stern line.

“Regarding your previous statement, my dear daughter: No, you shouldn’t have gone along with Emery’s plan. Don’t challenge me on this,” he warned, as I began to open my mouth. “I know Emery, and this undertaking has his name written all over it. He is brilliant, yes. But he is also a fifteen-year-old boy who takes tremendous pride in exerting his independence, which at times has blinded him to the foolishness of his actions. At the very least, he should have told Gavin. That would have been the responsible thing to do.”

“You’re right.” I could make no bones about it. We had to stop being stupid kids.

“Let’s make a pact. You don’t hide anything from us, and we will discuss the situations that arise like adults.” Dad glanced at Mom.

She nodded her approval.

My gaze lingered on her, as a whispering fear that had been chipping away at my brain piped up:
This parasite is in her. Will she be the next missing person
?

If she disappears, I’ll know where to look for her
, I comforted myself. The poor families of the missing people came to mind. How relieved would they be to know their loved ones were safe and sound at the bottom of Lake Washington?

I considered this.
Maybe relieved isn’t the right word
.

“Deal, Cass?” Dad asked.

“Deal,” I agreed, and then proceeded to make good on my word, sharing all that had transpired since the night before last.

There were moments during the account when I suspected my parents regretted the bargain they’d made with me.

When I finished the play-by-play, Dad released a long breath that whistled between his pursed lips. His golden-blond hair stuck out every which way from repeatedly running his hands through it as I had talked. It looked like he’d styled it with a fork. He’d wanted the uncensored truth. He got it.

“The reporter in me wants to pick up the phone and call our news team,” he confessed. “The public should be alerted, regardless of liability. But that is emotion speaking. Where is the solid evidence?” Dad stood up and paced the room, deliberating out loud. “Missing locals alive in Lake Washington. Ludicrous, to say the least, and three teens are the only eyewitnesses—my daughter being one. What could the repercussions be, if Cassidy’s name slipped out to the media? Or for running the story prematurely?”

“Is it cool if I answer that, Drake?” Jared asked.

“Please.”

“Guilty parties would be tipped off, evidence destroyed, and maybe this would ruin the chance for a cure,” Jared projected. “And if Cassidy
or
Emery are linked to any of this, the wrong people might put two-and-two together. Plus, you didn’t see what happened down there. Cassidy didn’t hold back.”

I eyed Jared, wondering how I had appeared during the attack. Clearly not very human.

“My thoughts exactly,” Dad said, pointing at Jared. “Nothing can be done, not yet. I have to talk to Gavin. Emery is probably on the phone with him now.” He swung around to the foyer and suggested, as he made haste for the Phillips’s house, “Why don’t you three try to get some sleep?”

“Like that’s going to happen,” I called after him.

~~~

After two very sleepless hours passed, my dad returned home. I considered heading him off on his way to his room for an update, but dismissed the idea. He was exhausted, and needed what little sleep he could get for the Patrick Grimm interview, looming late morning. He definitely had to be on top of his game.

However, after I’d eavesdropped on my parents’ whispers for several minutes, I changed my mind.

I shrugged into a robe as I made my way to their room and rapped my knuckles lightly on their door.

Dad answered it. “You’re up?”

“How could I sleep?”

“I’m with you,” Mom agreed, shuffling up. She had dark circles under her eyes, and her face was scrunched in pain. I wondered if she was still experiencing Luminous withdrawals.

“You okay, Mom?”

She smiled faintly. “Just a headache. Let’s talk in the kitchen. Coffee will help.”

“Coffee sounds like a plan,” Dad agreed.

In the kitchen, while filling the coffeemaker with water, he explained. “Apparently, the CDC’s microbiologists are dumbfounded by this parasite. According to Serena, there is no classification for the species. She says the parasite is elusive. They haven’t been able to find it in infected mice. They suspect the parasite attaches to brain tissue and the brain cavity—”

Mom scraped at a scratch in the cherry wood with her fingernail. Her thoughts appeared to be elsewhere.

“My unscientific interpretation of what Serena has shared is that the parasite can cloak itself, like it does in water. It’ll be interesting to see how she’ll introduce your experience into their research without revealing the actual occurrence.” Dad joined us at the table, studying Mom with concern. “Lizzy, why don’t you try to get more sleep?”

Mom shook her head, wincing. She obviously had a headache. “What is Gavin going to do?”

“Yesterday, two CIA agents
illegally
posed as King County health inspectors. In other words, this isn’t a government-sanctioned investigation. Gavin pulled some strings, called in favors. They didn’t find anything incriminating at Luminous Water’s plant, however. Water samples they’d collected were sent to Serena. She hasn’t received them yet. Unfortunately, the burden of proof lies on her and her team. The CDC has to provide evidence that the parasite is harmful before an investigation will be launched.”

“That is so lame!” I blurted.

“Completely,” Mom agreed. “The parasite is in the water, one in each bottle, and when they’re put together they glow like Christmas lights! Isn’t that enough
evidence
for an arrest and a product recall?”

“I know, Lizzy. I’m frustrated, too.” Dad suddenly appeared almost a decade older than he had a minute beforehand. “We bear the weight of damning evidence that can’t be shared without putting our daughter’s life at risk.”

“Well, that makes me feel great,” I grumbled. “Maybe we should stop being so selfish and come clean. It’s only my life, compared to thousands, if not millions.”

“It’s more than your life, and you know it,” Dad replied.

He was right. Anyone who unlocked the magic combination and recreated my virus would rule the world.

An army of me—that’s a frightening thought. Almost as frightening as the army Arthur King is probably building
.

“Ignorance is bliss,” I said in reply to Dad. “Did Gavin tell you what’s next?”

“He’s flying home later today to brief the Seattle Police Department. Since there is no evidence of any crime at this time, local law enforcement will investigate. Gavin believes they’ll handle the case as a HAZMAT situation, a hazardous materials incident.”

Dad’s cell phone rang. He picked it up from the table and handed it to me. “My glasses are upstairs,” he explained.

I read the text. It was from Emery.

“Emery is on his way over,” I told my parents, rising from the table to let him in.

I opened the door. He looked exhausted, too. “Long time no see,” I greeted. “How are you feeling?”

“Good as new,” he whispered, entering the foyer. “Where’s Jared?”

“In bed. Why?”

Emery motioned for me to keep my voice down. He obviously didn’t want me to wake Jared.

“Your parents?” he asked.

“In the kitchen. What’s happened?”

Emery gestured with his iPad for me to follow him to the kitchen. “Did Jared call his dad about the men following him?”

“Yes. When you and Mickey were getting Cyrus. Why?”

Without answering me, he entered the kitchen.

“Good morning,” he greeted my parents. “I’m assuming you haven’t seen the breaking news yet?”

“What now?” Mom asked with alarm.

Emery swung a long leg over a chair and sat down. “Ariel Vilvary and his bodyguard were found dead.”

My insides curled. “What?”

“Where?” Dad asked, taking the iPad that Emery handed him.

“In Vilvary’s swimming pool. They were drowned.”

To get more details, Dad called the reporter at Channel Five News who was covering Vilvary’s death, while Mom and I watched the report again. The segment didn’t mention any gunshot wounds or fatal blows to the head, just that both men had apparently drowned.

“When Jared called his dad from Mickey’s car, his dad said he would take care of things,” I told Mom and Emery.

Mom released a slow, haggard breath, scrubbing her face with her palms. Emery stared at me, thinking. I had a good idea what was churning through his head. But was Owen Wells capable of murder?

Dad hung up with his colleague. “Drowning appears to be the cause of death,” he informed us. “From what Charity learned, there were no visible wounds or injuries that could have caused death.”

“Meaning both men were drowned while conscious and not disabled,” Emery clarified.

“Jared’s dad must be one of
them
,” I concluded, feeling sick. Maybe he hadn’t been among our attackers last night because he’d been busy killing his former client.

“From what we’ve witnessed, I’d say there’s a strong chance,” Emery agreed.

“
Shh
,” I cautioned, before anyone else could contribute. “I hear Jared. He’s coming.”

Full of dread, I dropped my forehead to the tabletop, shutting my eyes. How would Jared take the news? My ears followed him and Nate through the hallway and down the stairs, whispering so as not to wake anyone up, clueless about the coming shock.