Intersection (9 page)

Alex gave her brother a hug. “What do I owe you?”

Nick shook his head and looked at Cassidy. “Nothing, sis… just kiss the girl already.”

Alex laughed. “Thanks.”

“Alex,” Cassidy began as she listened to the agent humming away to a song on the radio. “What do I owe you for dinner…I was so caught up in…”

“Nothing.”

“Ummm…no… Alex… really…you can’t ….”

Alex glanced over and laughed. “You can’t owe me anything because I didn’t pay anything.”

“What?” Cassidy was confused.

“Ahhh… that’s just Nicky,” Alex glanced over again. She could see that the woman’s eyelids were getting heavy and smiled.

“I’m sorry,” Cassidy offered, catching herself beginning to nod off. “I don’t know why I am so tired.”

“Good wine, good food and the ocean…always relaxes me,” Alex said.

Cassidy looked over at the agent who was gripping the wheel with one hand and running the other through her hair. “Good company,” the woman gently added fighting the sleep that was overtaking her. Alex glanced back and saw Cassidy’s eyes had finally closed. She was pleased. The stress seemed to have temporarily left the small woman next to her. Alex turned the radio down slightly and continued the hour plus trek back to New York. Nick’s words were still ringing in her ears. He knew her as well as anyone; he should. Their childhood had been strict and at times difficult. Their father could be unbending and their mother followed along. Neither Nick nor Alex followed the path that their parents had wanted; both left home for school after high school and both made their own lives from there. Alex had not felt comfortable around her parents for years. Nick was her true family, the one she felt comfortable with. They hid nothing from one another. He saw immediately what she could feel but could not comprehend.

Every so often Alex would catch a glimpse of Cassidy shifting in her sleep in the seat next to her. She tried to keep her breathing steady. She felt a mixture of confusion, excitement and fear just being near the woman. ‘Three days,’ she kept telling herself. ‘She’s in your care,’ she would remind herself. ‘Christ, Toles …she’s straight’, she would scream in her head. Then she’d glance over and see the woman sleeping and the
fight would begin all over again. What felt like the deafening sound of
Brick House
began to blare through the car, breaking one of Alex’s many mental arguments with herself. Cassidy jumped and Alex realized it was the teacher’s cell phone. The woman fumbled a bit, still groggy, and answered it while Alex attempted to suppress her laughter. She wasn’t sure what amused her more, Cassidy’s antics or her choice of ringtone. ‘Does she know what that song is about?’ Alex mused to herself, allowing a very hushed giggle to slip across her lips.

“Hello?” Cassidy answered still groggy. “Chris? What the hell time is it? Is Dylan…”

The voice on the other end of the phone cut her off, “Dylan is fine…I guess you were sleeping.”

“Yeah…I guess I dozed off….Chris what is going on?”

“Ummm…. I got called back to DC, Cassie….I have to leave first thing in the morning.”

“Oookay,” Cassidy answered. “So you’re going to drop Dylan off early then?”

There was a brief pause before the voice answered as the congressman prepared for his ex-wife’s reaction. “Actually, Cassie, my flight is at 4:45 am out of JFK…..I would have to get Dylan up at 2:00 to make it in time…..I was kind of hoping…”

“You’re serious right now?” Cassidy was now wide awake and simmering. “Isn’t he asleep?”

“Yes….. You can always just stay here at the apart….”

Cassidy let out a disgusted chuckle. “No…Chris, I can’t. Why can’t you get a later flight?” Alex tried to concentrate on the road but she could feel the steam pouring off Cassidy.

“I have a 9:00 am meeting at the White House.”

“Of course you do,” she said sarcastically.

“It’s not my choice, Cassie…it’s my job.”

“Yeah…well you have a six year old too…in case you hadn’t noticed… that is SLEEPING right now… that you see for exactly a day and a half every week.”

“Well, whose fault is that?” He answered in frustration.

“Yes… Chris…it’s my fault,” Cassidy stopped herself and took a deep breath. She looked over at Alex quickly and sighed. “I don’t want to argue.”

“Me either,” he said feeling suddenly guilty about everything. “Why don’t I just bring him over now?”

Cassidy looked at Alex. “Where are we?”

“What?” He asked uncertain of her question.

“I’m not talking to you,” she said simply as Alex began her answer.

“About 20 minutes from home,” Alex answered.

“Where are you?” He asked.

Cassidy ignored his question and continued her conversation with the agent. “Do you mind if we stop and get…”

Alex had already surmised the situation. “Just tell me where to go.”

“Cassidy!” He raised his voice slightly, “Who is there?”

She shook her head and replied with a tone of disgust. “Not that it is ANY of your business, Christopher…but I was talking to Alex…Agent Toles.”

He sighed. “Oh….I can bring him…”

“No, I’m not home…..we’ll be there in about 25 minutes. Just have his things ready,” she hung up before he could answer. Alex could tell she was irritated. “Unbelievable,” Cassidy muttered. “I’m sorry, Alex.”

“For what?”

“Oh… subjecting you to that. Making you take me to pick up my son at …what is it? 11:30 at night.”

“It’s fine…really.”

Cassidy was silent the rest of the drive to the congressman’s apartment except for giving basic directions. Alex pulled in front of the building and put her car in park. “I’ll be right back,” Cassidy said.

“Do you need help?” Alex asked.

Cassidy looked at the agent and smiled for the first time since the phone call. She sat still for a moment, just looking at
Alex. There was something about the way Alex looked at her; it just made her heart sing. “It’s okay,” she finally said. “I’m used to it.” She hopped out of the car and headed into the building. Cassidy had barely left when Alex saw her grabbing the backpack from the congressman with Dylan wrapped around her tightly, his legs hugging her waist and his arms draped around her neck. The sight filled Alex in a way she had never experienced. She jumped out of the car and opened the back door. “Oh shit,” Cassidy remarked as Alex took the backpack and put it on the driver’s side backseat.

“What?” Alex asked.

“I need his booster seat.” Alex looked at the small woman that stood before her. The agent instinctively put out her hands and Cassidy did not even have a passing thought as Alex gently pried the sleeping boy from his mother and shifted him onto her. He mumbled something and then just wrapped himself around the agent. He settled his small head on her broad shoulders as his mother made her way to the front door again to get the seat. Alex felt the boy nestle against her. He sighed a little and mumbled again in his sleep and she couldn’t help but think how adorable he was. Cassidy emerged in another moment looking at the ground with a miffed expression. As she hit the bottom stair she looked up and saw the sight before her. Alex didn’t realize it, but she was swaying instinctively with him and humming softly every time he seemed restless. The teacher stopped dead in her tracks. The sight of Alex holding Dylan so tenderly melted her. She caught her breath and headed to the car.

Cassidy leaned past Alex to put the seat in the car and brushed up against her slightly. Her mouth went dry momentarily from the contact. It did not go unnoticed by the agent either. Just the sensation of Cassidy brushing up against her accidentally made the agent’s knees grow weak. Alex bent over and sat Dylan in the seat. He opened his eyes slightly and saw clear blue ones looking at him. “Sorry, Speed Racer,” she said
softly as she buckled him in. His drowsy eyes gave the hint of a smile to the agent but almost immediately closed again. Cassidy gave the agent a curious look. “What?” Alex asked.

“You’re a natural.”

Alex laughed and opened Cassidy’s door. “Eight year old nephew,” she said.

“Hmmmm,” Cassidy climbed into the car. ‘Some things can’t be taught’, she thought to herself. With each moment that passed she found herself more and more drawn to the agent.

lex pulled in the driveway and turned off the car. She sat incredibly still, squinting and looking toward the front door as if to try and bring something into focus. Cassidy saw her expression. “Alex….what is it?” Alex continued to focus for a moment. She silently reached across Cassidy into the glove box and retrieved the pistol. Cassidy felt her heart sink. “Alex?”

Alex kept her focus forward. “Stay here with Dylan,” she instructed, “and lock the doors.”

Cassidy suddenly felt an unbelievable rush of fear. She did exactly as Alex told her and looked behind her to see that Dylan was completely unaware that the car had even stopped. She watched as Alex held the pistol with both hands at her side, walking almost sideways toward the front door with a cautious confidence. Suddenly, her fear turned from an anxiety for Dylan and herself to an overwhelming fear for Alex’s safety. Her stomach lodged in her throat as Alex reached the porch, then she saw it. Something was taped to the front door.

Alex turned the handle to the front door. It was locked. The agent’s stance relaxed slightly and she studied the item on the door. Cassidy couldn’t completely make out her expression but she sensed that the agent was concerned. Alex studied the photo. It was a picture of her and Cassidy in the kitchen. In black marker the words, “I SEE YOU,” were scrawled under Alex’s face. She took a deep breath and grasped the pistol at her side tighter. Someone was watching them. The question now was who and how. She looked back at the car and held a
finger up to Cassidy. “Oh God, Alex,” Cassidy said aloud as the agent resumed her stance and began circling the house. Within a moment Alex was out of sight. The agent circled house, carefully looking to each side and in front of her. She continued slowly and methodically until she appeared on the other side. Cassidy was struggling to take a full breath. She looked back at Dylan again and closed her eyes tightly, trying to keep herself calm. Finally seeing Alex headed back toward the car, she felt her breath release.

“Give me the keys to the house,” the agent instructed.

“Alex…” The panic on the teacher’s face was evident.

Alex needed to stay focused. She looked at the woman she knew she was falling in love with and calmly continued in a professional tone. “Cassidy, I need to check the house. Get in the driver’s seat and lock the car until I come back. Keep the keys in the ignition. If you see anyone BUT me coming, you drive back to the congressman’s apartment and get Fallon. Do you understand me?”

Cassidy swallowed hard and nodded, getting out of the car and moving next to Alex before getting into the driver’s seat. Alex started to turn when Cassidy grabbed her arm. The look on the teacher’sface was unmistakable to the agent and she had to fight her own emotion. “Alex...please,” Cassidy felt her heart dropping in her chest. Alex flashed a reassuring smile and turned back repeating her earlier stance and motion. Cassidy shut the car door and locked it. She watched paralyzed as Alex unlocked the front door and pushed it open, gun drawn. She knew Alex was moving through the house slowly as lights methodically came on room by room. It seemed like an eternity before the agent emerged again holstering her weapon and walking toward the car.