The Nature of Things

Chapter 44

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Casey sat in the dark alley waiting for the police car down the street to leave. He'd been on the run for less than twenty-four hours and nothing was going according to plan. He'd stopped by

Craig's to try to get more money but that hadn't worked out either.

Now he was alone on the street and he wasn't sure that anyone would take him in for a night or two. His mother was out of the question as was his aunt. Both would turn him in to the authorities before morning.

So he continued to sit in the cold dark alley.

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Adam rang the bell and waited to hear footsteps. This was the first time that he'd been to see Molly at home and he worried that she wouldn't be happy about the visit.

He was more than a little shocked to have the tall handsome man open the door. Brian gave him a quizzical look and didn't wait for him to ask for Molly.

"Sorry Father, we don't believe in your cause and just so you know, I rather like fire and brimstone. Though I could give you my mother's address, she'd love to hear about how her faggot son is going straight to Hell."

"I'm sorry; you must have me confused with those ministers who teach hate. I'm Adam; I'm here to see Molly."

"Oh, sorry. I'm just not used to having the religious sector grace my door."

Justin joined Brian after hearing Adam's name. He moved Brian out of the way and let him in.

"I'm Justin, Molly's brother. She's told me how helpful you've been to her. Thank you."

"It's been my pleasure. Molly is a joy to spend time with."

"I'll let her know you're here. Brian, can you get Adam something to drink?" Justin left Brian staring at Adam and took the stairs two at a time to find Molly.

"Coffee would be great, if you have any." Adam watched Brian walk away silently and sank quietly into a chair to wait for Molly.

After a few minutes he was beginning to wonder if they'd forgotten he was there when Molly came in carrying a tray of coffee and cookies.

"Adam, what a surprise," she said sitting the tray down on the ottoman and handing him a cup.

"I was worried about you after our last conversation. How are you doing?"

"I'm fine. I'm sorry about that. Sometimes things get a little too much for me to handle and I just snap."

"I understand. It must be hard to cope with everything you've been through this year. Are you still attending the support groups?"

"Every now and then I catch a meeting. For the most part I'm trying to decide if I want to go to college in New York next semester or if I want to go to a local community college for awhile. I'd really like to take some time off and get a little work experience or maybe travel a bit before being tied down to school."

"I think that would be good for you. You could use time away from here and all the memories. I have some family in Ireland; maybe I could join you at some point."

"I'd like that. Would you like to stay for dinner?"

"Maybe I could take you out for dinner."

"I'll get my jacket."

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Casey was still hiding when he saw the one person he never thought he'd run into. Slinking back further behind the dumpster, he tried to avoid detection.

He waited until the threat had passed and quickly ran to the corner and nearly fell over when he saw the headlines.

'Local Businessman Found Murdered In His Own Home'

Next to the headline was a photo of Craig Taylor. Digging for some change he'd panhandled, he bought a copy and hurried to the park to read the story.

Casey had been sure that it was Craig who had sent him Ronnie. Ronnie had approached him just days before in the common area and offered him some useful information. Ronnie had told Casey that he'd been hired to help him bust out.

They'd planned for Casey to hide in a laundry bin the next day when Ronnie carried it out to the van to be transported to the women's prison. Everything went according to plan and Casey was free.

Now he was faced with Craig's death and the police looking for him. He read the entire article twice before realizing that they thought he'd murdered Craig.

"Someone fucking set me up."

"Looks that way," the killer teased just behind Casey before grabbing him and pulling him to the woods. Casey could feel the cold metal of the gun pressed to his temple and resisted the urge to

fight.

Once released from the killer's grasp, Casey turned to stare the killer in the eye and got the shock of his life.

"You? You killed Craig?"

"And now your turn."

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