Cassandra returns

Emily and Camille rode in silence, except when Emily said. “ Penny for your thoughts.” Which got no reply.

Once Emily pulled up to the curb in front of the house, Camille opened the door and started to get out. She stopped and looked at Emily, who was already running the car. “Aren’t you coming in?”

Emily looked at her thoughtfully. “Not right now. I’m thinking I need to stop by work for a while. You know, make sure everything is going well. They may be a group of lawyers, but they act like kids.”

Camille just stared at her.

Emily continued. “I promise, I won’t be long.”

“Mommy.” A young voice yelled.

Camille looked and saw her son standing just outside, next to Scarlett. “Hello sweetie.”

Junior started running towards her. She opened her arms to give him a hug, but he opted to hug her leg.

She looked down at him. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you woke up.”

Junior held onto her leg and looked up. “That’s okay.”

Camille tried hard to hold the tears in, but one escaped. She wiped it off her cheek. then she went down and stroked his hair. “You’re my tough little guy.”

He smiled and let go of her leg. “Guess what?” He stood up. “Scarlett made me mac and cheese.”

“Did she now. I hope you thanked her.”

He turned and ran for the door.

“He was a perfect gentleman. “Scarlet said. “He thanked me plenty of times. He even paid me with a hug.”

Her son stopped next to Scarlet and looked at Camille.

Camille walked towards them. “I want to thank you. I hope he wasn’t much trouble.”

“Not at all,” Scarlet replied. “I got some more mac left over if you’re hungry.”

“I’m starving. You guys go in. I’ll be there in a moment.”

After they were inside and the door closed, Camille called her gym to check on things. One of the fitness instructors, Keel Dennings, answered the phone and assured her that everything was fine.

She breathed a little sigh of relief and walked into Emily’s house.

She didn’t see her son, but Scarlet was next to a couch holding a sheet.

“Where Junior?”

Scarlet put the folded sheet on the couch. “He went to play in his room,” she walked to a table and sat down. “Have a seat.”

Camille slowly walked over and sat down.

Before she could say anything, Scarlet said. “Look, I know we haven’t gotten along, and you don’t like me, but_”

“What makes you think I don’t like you?”

Scarlet reached over and patted Camille’s hand on the table. “Please, don’t take me for a fool. O’m trying to be nice here.”

“Why?” Camille exclaimed while giving Scarlet a skeptical look.

“Because you look like you can use a friend right now.” She eyed Camille. “So what is going on. I saw police cars and a lot of commotion in front of your house yesterday. Then Emily calls me out of the blue to watch your son because you had important business”. She looked at Camille sympathetically, awaiting a response.

When Camille just stared at her silently, she continued. “I swear to you that I’m being sincere here.”

Camille glanced down, then stared at Scarlet a moment and deeply sighed. “Someone killed Mike last night.”

Scarlet looked like she had gotten the wind knocked out of her. “Oh my God. I’m so sorry.” She paused a moment. “Do they know who did it?”

Camille shook her head. “No. All they know is a neighbor across the street saw someone dressed in a Zorro costume walking away from here.”

Scarlet tilted her head but didn’t reply. She looked like she was in a trance, or thinking hard.

Camille continued. “And to top it off, my daughter is missing. “

“I don’t believe this,” Scarlet said. She went into a trance again like she was trying to concentrate.

“Are you okay?” Camille said.

Before scarlet could reply s knock on the door caused the ladies to jump.

“I’ll get it.” Scarlet walked over. When she opened the door, on the other side, Cassandra stood, her hair and clothes a mess. She was shaking like a leaf.

Camille jumped up, ran over, and hugged her tight. “Thank God.” She released her daughter and looked her over. “What the hell happened to you?” She gently stroked her hair. “Are you okay?”

Cassandra just stood there, staring at her mom, still shaking.