Double Play XL
By Cruise
Chapter 46
Cassidy looked up in the doorway and smiled when she saw her sandy haired, handsome father look at her.
“Are you almost done?” He asked with a slight smile.
“No daddy I still have more to do.” Cassidy crinkled her nose, smiling sweetly.
He moved away from the door jam he was leaning against and walked in front of his large desk. “I need to pick up your sister. How much more could you possibly have to do? Our town is not that big.” He grinned slyly.
Cassidy chuckled. “I know, but I am really close and I need to look over the blueprints one more time.”
“Okay, get that wrapped up so you can get home at a decent hour. I’ll tell Jack that you are in here. He’ll check in on you during his security sweep and I’ll have him walk you out to your car.”
“Great, thanks.” Cassidy smiled and looked back at the computer, seeing her father out of the corner of her eye as he exited the office. She heard the old door down the hall squeak when it opened, and then close with a thud. She lifted her cell phone to her ear, waiting for her sister to pick up. “Hey, dad just left, you’ve got fifteen minutes.”
“You’re the best.” Cassandra retorted with a chuckle.
“Where are you anyway?”
“You don’t want to know.” Her sister chuckled and giggled.
Cassidy heard laughter in the background. “You’re right. Just get to the library before dad gets there or you will be in deep shit.”
“I’m always in deep shit, but thanks for the heads up. Later.” Cassandra laughed and clicked off the phone.
Cassidy shook her head in disbelief and stared at the computer screen. After looking over the blueprints for twenty minutes she sat back and sighed, tired. She glanced towards the door when she heard a man talking loudly. “Dad?” She walked to the doorway, hearing two voices in a heated conversation. She moved down the hall towards the Mayor’s office where the voices were coming from. Her heart raced as the voices grew louder. She glanced inside his office and froze when she saw a tall man holding a gun at the Mayor. The loud gunshot resonated in the quiet building and her body froze in fear. She stood motionless, staring at the Mayor who jolted back in the chair from the force of the gunshot and watched as his limp body felt to the floor. Cassidy moved away from the door, breathing heavily, reliving the shooting in her mind. Fear consumed her and she gasped loudly at the horror she had just witnessed.
The man turned and raised his gun as he moved towards the door. “Who’s there?”
The sound of the shooter’s voice snapped her out of her daze and she ran down the hall. She ran faster when she heard the man’s footsteps and glanced back, seeing the evil in his brown eyes when they looked at her.
“Come here little girl!”
‘Who the hell...’ Cassidy ran faster, towards the door at the end of the hall that seemed to get farther and farther away from her with each step. ‘He’s going to kill me. RUN FASTER, please legs, MOVE!’ She burst through the door to the outside world and ran as fast as she could, her heart pounding in her chest. She glanced over her shoulder, seeing that the shooter was not behind her, she knew it wouldn’t be long until he was, her adrenaline took over and she ran faster.
“Fuck.” The man turned back inside and hurried down the hall making a call on his cell phone. “Hey, I’ve got trouble. There was a girl in here.”
“Who is she?”
“I don’t know who the fuck she is. Hold on.” He walked into the only lighted office and glanced down at the desk seeing the nameplate that read Cameron Storms, Town Manager. He moved around the desk and looked down at the papers before him. Flipping through them, he smiled when he saw the name on the paper. “Cassidy Storms. Get in here, we need to find her.” He walked out of the office and headed down the hall clicking off the phone when he saw the man he was talking to heading towards him.
“Hey boss.” The overweight, bald man greeted. “What are you going to do about the girl?”
“Obviously Jimmy, I’m going to take her out. If you would have done your damn job right, I wouldn’t be here. I’m not going to let some little red head take me down. Let’s go!” He shouted and walked away.
***
Cassidy gasped for air as she hurriedly explained to the policeman after flagging him down. “I...just...” Cassidy inhaled deeply, “the mayor is dead. He’s been shot. Please help me, I’m being followed.”
“What?” The officer got out of the car and leaned down as Cassidy was hunched over gasping for air. He grasped her shoulders and lifted her upright. “Say that again.”
“Please just get me out of here. He saw me.” Cassidy shouted.
“Who saw you and what happened?”
“Haven’t you been listening? The Mayor has been shot by Johnny Constantino.”
The officer stared at her seriously. “Are you sure?”
“Positive, I’ve seen enough of him on TV and in the newspapers to know who he is. Could we please get out of here before he kills both of us?” Cassidy jiggled the door handle and stepped back when the officer opened it for her. She hurriedly climbed in and ducked down in the seat. ‘FUCK!’ She began to shake uncontrollably and cried harder hearing the officer speak into the radio urgently.
He climbed into the patrol car and slowly drove towards city hall.
“NO! Please, get me out of here. He’s going to kill me too!”
“It’s going to be okay, back up is just around the corner. What’s your name?” He asked looking into the rear view mirror.
“Cassidy Storms.”
“I am Officer Gregory. Don’t worry, everything will be okay.”
Cassidy nodded her head and looked down, crying harder as the muffled sound of sirens grew louder. She leaned her head back against the seat, shaking and crying. The voice of the Officer and the chatter that came through the radio became more distant as she shut herself off to the world. She didn’t remember walking into the police station until Officer Gregory touched her on the shoulder.
“Miss Storms, this is Agent Spencer of the FBI. He has some questions for you.”
“Hello Miss Storms.” The short, dark haired young agent greeted with a smile as he sat in the chair before her. “Is there anything I can get you? Water, a soda?”
“I don’t need something to drink what I need is to get the vision of the Mayor’s head being blown off out of my mind. Can you do that for me?” She asked in a raised tone staring him in the eye.
He inhaled deeply and exhaled. “No, I’m sorry I wish I could, but I can’t. I can promise to help and protect you at all cost.”
Cassidy stared into his brown eyes, feeling more at ease from the sincerity she saw in them. “I’m sorry, I aah...” She began to cry and shook her head.
“I understand. I want to try and find out as much information from you as I can while it’s fresh in your mind. I know it’s difficult, but you can help us tremendously. I would really appreciate it if you could bear with me for just a little while longer. We have a counselor outside who will speak with you when we are done.”
“I saw Johnny Constantino shoot the Mayor in the head.”
“Are you sure it was him?”
“Positive, I’ve seen him all over the papers and TV; it’s hard to mistake him.”
“Can you explain everything to me what you witnessed.”
Cassidy inhaled deeply, and wiped the tears from her eyes. “I was doing a class project in my father’s office.”
“Does your father work there?”
“Yes, he’s the town manager.” She looked down at her watch and wiped the sweat from her forehead. “I need to call my father; he’s going to be worried.”
“We have sent an agent to your house to bring your parents down here.”
“That’s fast.”
“We have been trying to nail Constantino for a very long time. We are dispatched immediately when something pertaining to him happens. Can you tell me what happened next?”
Cassidy inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. “I heard some voices that sounded like an argument and I thought it was my father so I walked down the hall to see what was going on.” Her tears fell more rapidly and her hands trembled as she remembered the tragic event. “I looked into the Mayor’s office and saw that asshole...” She looked up, shocked by her choice of words. “Sorry.”
The agent chuckled. “Don’t be, he is.” He patted her on the hand.
“Well, Johnny Constantino was pointing a gun at the Mayor and then shot him in the head.”
“Could you hear anything they were talking about?”
Cassidy shook her head side to side. “I couldn’t understand what they were saying as I walked down the hall.”
“What happened next?”
“I couldn’t breathe and then I gasped. He heard me and chased me through the building, but I ran as fast as I could to get away from him. I saw a police officer driving down the street and flagged him down. That’s all I can tell you.”
“You did great. Because of you, we will finally be able to nail this asshole.”
“How can you be so sure of that? He’s going to come after me and my family.” Cassidy grew more anxious, thinking about how many times witnesses to Johnny Constantino’s crimes turned up dead.
“We will protect you and your family.”
“How?”
“We will have round the clock surveillance on you and your family.”
Cassidy stood up and paced the room. “Great, my entire family has to live in fear because of this.”
“It’s not because of you Miss Storms it’s because of Constantino.”
Cassidy looked up and cried harder when she saw her parents through the glass. She stood up and hurried towards the door, instantly hugging her father when he entered.
“Are you okay?” He hugged her tightly and kissed her on the top of her head.
Cassidy looked up at him through tear filled eyes, nodding no and grasped her mother who had moved past her father.
“I’m Cameron Storms. Could someone please tell me what in the hell has happened and why is my daughter being detained?” He looked at his daughter who cried harder as his wife held her tightly. He gently rubbed her back and looked at the agent.
“I’m Agent Spencer from the F.B.I. Your daughter witnessed the mayor being murdered by Johnny Constantino.”
“Oh, my god!” Cameron exclaimed frightened and began to nervously pace in a circle.
“No, not him!” Elle Storms cried, hugging her daughter tighter.
“I assure you both, we will have 24 hour surveillance on your entire family until he is apprehended and brought to justice.”
Cameron rolled his eyes and sighed exasperated. “I hope it will be better than the protection you afforded the other witnesses of his crimes.”
“Mr. Storms, I understand your concern and I will do whatever in my power to protect your family from this monster.”
“You better.” Cameron sternly said and glared at him.
“I want to go home.” Cassidy looked at her mother.
“Of course, sweetheart.” Her mother wrapped her arm around her daughter and walked towards the door.
“I’m sorry Cassidy, but we would really like for you to speak with a counselor before you leave.”
Cassidy looked at her mother, then her father and agreed when they both nodded yes. “Okay.”
Cameron opened the door.
“Mr. Storms, if you could stay for a few more minutes, I have a few questions for you. I understand you are the town manager?”
“That’s right.” Cameron looked over his shoulder at the agent.
“I would really appreciate it.”
Cameron looked at his wife and daughter. “Go ahead I’ll be out shortly.”
Cassidy looked back at Agent Spencer. “Will you be one of the agents protecting me?”
He turned to her and smiled reassuringly. “When I was assigned this case, you became my responsibility and I will see it all the way through to the end.” He looked up surprised when Cassandra approached her sister and watched as the trio walked down the hall. “Hey, Jack!” Agent Spencer waved over the other agent and leaned close to him. “Let the team know that we have twins.”
“As if this case isn’t tough enough already.”
“I know, I’ll get more information on the two of them so we’ll know how to tell them apart. Thanks.” He walked back inside the room and stood across the table from Cameron Storms.
***
The pair had moved into the car as Cassidy explained the events of that fateful night.
Dakota listened in silence while Cassidy stared blankly out the window with tears streaming down her cheeks unchecked. She reached over to hold Cassidy’s hand when she saw her shaking.
Dakota’s touch brought Cassidy back to the present. She swallowed hard and looked down at Dakota’s hand. “So, that’s the beginning of how my life changed drastically.” She reached up and wiped away the tears.
“Come here.” Dakota said softly, pulling her into her arms. She held Cassidy tightly, kissing the top of her head to comfort her as she shook uncontrollably crying. Dakota forced the large lump in her throat down and sniffled back her own tears. Her heart hurt for the pain she felt and saw in Cassidy’s eyes. Her respect and admiration for the woman grew stronger as she listened to what had happened to her. Anger, sadness, and hopelessness flowed within her; she wanted to take her pain away. She wished wholeheartedly that she could travel back in time and spare Cassidy the pain she had experienced. “It’s okay.” She said comfortingly, holding her tightly. Her tears streaked her face when Cassidy clung to her tightly. She sighed when Cassidy sat up, ending the embrace.
“There’s a lot more.” Cassidy looked at Dakota solemnly as tears fell off her chin
onto her lap. “I aah...well, the three weeks after the murder were agonizing, terrifying... add any adjective you want and you’ll get the picture. I couldn’t sleep, barely ate, I jumped at the sight of my own shadow. I spent many nights keeping watch out of my bedroom window, worrying whether the agents outside were asleep or if someone else was there. I constantly held my softball bat at night and clutched it tighter at the sound of the wind blowing. I spoke with a grief counselor daily and with Agent Spencer, but it didn’t help ease my pain and suffering. Oh, aah Agent Spencer is the guy you saw in the mall.” She glanced over at Dakota, and then looked back out the window. “I have never been so frightened and alone. Cass and my parents tried to help, but nothing helped. I tried to go back to some semblance of living a normal life, but it was very difficult and Cass didn’t help because she went back to her wild ways about a week after the murders.”
“Her wild ways?”
“Yeah, she used to sneak out all the time. I pleaded with her to not to do it, but as usual she would so I would go after her.”
“Where would she go when she snuck out?” Dakota inhaled deeply, wondering why it meant so much for her to know and whether she really wanted the answer.
“Who knows, to meet a girl, or get into trouble? She was perpetually grounded and there was a huge battle between her and my parents. My parents were always furious and down right mean to her. She always used to drag me into her sneaking out plans.”
“How would she do that?”
“I felt bad for her because our parents favored me and never wasted a moment to tell her that she should be more like me. ‘The well behaved twin, the smart one, the one that never gave them trouble.’ She mockingly said. “So, I would go along with her silly schemes for getting out of the house.” Cassidy smiled slightly remembering her sister’s antics.
“How did your parents not figure it out? Couldn’t they tell you apart?”
“The small scar over my eyebrow was the only way you could tell us apart and our demeanor was completely different. So, up close it was obvious, but far away no.”
“Where’s the scar?” Dakota asked and move closer as Cassidy pointed to it. Dakota chuckled inwardly that she had never noticed it and lightly rubbed it with her thumb.
Cassidy reached up and took her hand, holding it. “Besides, she did a good impression of me on her way out the door. We used to trade softball jersey’s after games so she could run off with her friends, she would use my car while I went home and hibernated in her room studying with the door locked until she came home so our parents wouldn’t know. After the murders I stopped going along with her schemes because I didn’t want to take the chance that we were being watched. I never felt at ease even with the agents posted outside. I had this feeling deep down inside that we were being watched by him or his buddies.”
“Like the man in black who followed you on campus?”
Cassidy looked at Dakota and nodded her head yes. “Yeah, according to Agent Spencer that was one of Constantino’s goons sent to watch me. I feared it would only be a matter of time before he got to me.”
“Why wasn’t he put in jail?”
“He was, but was out in no time. He is a very powerful man and has been able to avoid all the charges that have ever been brought against him. He has a bunch of local judges and politicians in his pocket.”
“That is unbelievable.”
“Believe it; because I’ve lived...I’m living it, but they assure me they can finally nail him.” Cassidy looked back out the window. “Well, my sister was insistent that she sneak out one night and when I told her I would not help her she went any way. She put on my softball jacket that had my name and number emblazoned all over it. She took my car keys and left.”
Cassidy heard a car start and looked out the window, seeing Cassandra in her car. “NO!” She ran downstairs and rushed out the front door. “Stop!” She groaned loudly when Cassandra smiled and waved at her before heading down the road. She ran back inside and grabbed Cassandra’s keys and her cell phone before rushing out to her sister’s car. She sped out of the driveway in the same direction as her Cassandra, dialing the phone as she navigated the car at high speeds. “Agent Spencer, your guys are still sleeping at my house and my sister has just taken my car.”
“Okay, hang on where are you?”
“On Beaver Brook road heading south.”
“Do you have any idea as to where she’s going?”
“She might be going to the pit on Hollow Creek road there is a party there.”
“What is the cross road with Hollow Creek?” He asked as his partner sped the car down the road while he looked at his GPS.
“Barnaby. Hollow Creek road is about a mile from that road. It’s the first dirt road on your right.”
“We are five minutes away from Barnaby. Where are you?”
“I just passed Barnaby. Shit!”
“What happened?”
“A car just pulled in behind her!”
“How far away are you? Are you close enough to get a license plate number?”
“I’m almost there. Damn! Cass!” She grew closer and narrowed her eyes to see the license plate. “The plate says DVL 666...Fitting. They just rammed into the back of her! Hurry!”
Agent Spencer grew more concerned from the urgency he heard in Cassidy’s voice. “Move it Frank!”
Cassidy pushed the accelerator pedal to the floor. “Cass, why can’t you listen? Oh, god please keep her safe. NO!” Her heart raced as she watched her sister’s car fishtail with each bump from the other car. She drew closer to the other cars. “This is my fault! Cass!” She screamed in desperation when she saw her sister’s car get bumped again before it was stopped by a large tree. “No, Cass!” She cried hysterically, unable to breathe. She looked down briefly and when she glanced up she was partially off the road, she turned the wheel sharply to the left and slammed on the brakes which caused the back end to fishtail. She lost control of the car, which hit a wooden fence and flipped over.
The searing pain in Cassidy’s head made it hard for her to focus when she opened her eyes. She breathed heavily as she looked around the car, trying to gather her senses. “Cass.” She mustered weakly. Turning her head to the left, she saw her sister’s car against a tree. Adrenaline filled her as she fumbled to unhook her seat belt. She was suspended upside down and fell with a thud, hitting her head again. “Fuck!” She held her head to ease the intense pain and slowly moved out of the crumpled car. She stood unsteadily and fell back down. She crawled around the side of the car and staggered to her feet, breathing heavily as she looked at her sister, slumped over the steering wheel. “CASS!” She inhaled deeply and took a step, feeling severe pain in her right ankle with each step. She scuffled her injured foot as she moved closer to her sister, crying harder with each labored step. She grasped the driver’s door handle and pulled hard, finally opening the door. “Cass! Wake up, please!” Her plea became more frantic when she saw the amount of blood covering the lifeless body. She gently leaned Cassandra back against the seat and gasped at the horror, her sister’s face was so badly damaged she was unrecognizable. “NO!” She cried harder as she felt her sister’s neck for a pulse. “Cass, I’m so sorry.” The reality she felt in her heart confirmed what her head refused to believe, her sister was dead. She sobbed hysterically as she looked at her hands that were stained with her sister’s blood. She stepped back on her injured ankle, which gave out and she fell backwards hitting her head. “Cass, please...forgive me.” She said softly before darkness befell her.
“Damn it Frank!” Agent Spencer shouted as the car came to a halt near the accident scene. He ran towards the car in a panic. “Get an ambulance here, now!” He shouted over the radio, squatting down next to Cassidy. “Cassidy, Cassidy.” He shouted as he reached down to check her pulse. “Come on, wake up.” He looked up at his partner who reached into the car. “How is Cassandra?”
“She’s gone.” Frank said nervously.
“Fuck!”
“How about her?”
“She’s got a head wound and her pulse is weak. Where are those damn paramedics?” He removed his shirt and pressed it against Cassidy’s head to stop the bleeding.
“What’s the wagon’s ETA?” Frank barked into the radio.
“Ten minutes. They are coming from across town.” The reply was terse.
“Call for a chopper. We need to get her out of here fast.”
“Are you sure that’s Cassidy? How can you tell them apart?”
“Cassidy told me Cassandra was driving her car and that’s it. Besides, I gave her this bracelet to wear.” He held her limp arm up to show the black yarn bracelet that was soaked with blood.
Frank nodded his head in acknowledgement and radioed for a helicopter as he squatted beside his partner. “That bastard is going to get away with another murder.”
“Not if I can help it. Come on Cassidy hang in there.” He felt her pulse again, and then looked around at the scene. He stared at the young dead woman in the car and felt a catch in his heart, then overwhelming anger. He looked at his partner. “I want to seal the crime scene. I want you to work the scene, no one else.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“To nail that bastard and not let him get away with what he has done to these two young ladies or all the other ones. I need you to move Cassandra to the other car. I’ll stay here and go with her to the hospital in case that asshole’s goons come snooping around.”
“You got it.” Frank smiled slightly and reached into the car, gently lifting Cass out.
***
“Hello, Cassandra you look a lot better.” Agent Spencer greeted with a smile when he entered her hospital room, moving to the side of the bed.
Cassidy looked at her aunt who sat on the opposite side of her. She read her niece’s eyes and smiled warmly. “I’ll head down for some coffee and be back shortly.” She patted Cassidy’s hand as she stood up and smiled slightly at the tall agent before exiting the room.
“So, how are you feeling?”
“How do you think I feel?” Cassidy bitingly answered, shifting in the bed. “I’ve been in this hospital for a week like a caged animal because of all the undercover agents around. For being undercover, they sure stick out like a sore thumb!” She huffed agitatedly and ran her fingers through her hair frustrated. “I can’t sleep because I’m scared shitless that he will send someone to kill me and because I keep seeing images of Cass’ face. My parents think I’m the reason why their daughter is dead. Any other reasons why I would feel like shit?” She glared at him. “Oh, yeah I’m pretending to be my dead sister.”
“Miserable I’m sure. I’m sorry, you know if I could do this any other way I would, but it’s the only way I could think of to keep you safe.” He sighed, feeling sorrow for the sadness and anger he saw in Cassidy’s eyes.
“You better nail that bastard and soon!”
“I will die trying, that is a promise.” He said honestly, staring intently into her eyes.
Cassidy inhaled deeply, feeling slightly relieved. “Just a promise is all I need, no more dying. Deal?” She held her hand out for him.
He smiled slightly and shook her hand. “Deal.”
“How many people know what is going on?”
“Just you, Frank and I. I didn’t want anyone else to know. Constantino has too many insiders.”
“Can you trust Frank?”
“With my life.”
“And mine? Because both of our lives are on the line.”
“Absolutely.”
***
Cassidy inhaled deeply, realizing she was back in the present moment and looked at Dakota. Her lover’s face looked ashen and frightened. “So, that’s the horrible story of my life and the torment of that man seems like it will never end.”
Dakota swallowed hard. “When will he pay for what he did to you and Cass?”
“According to Agent Spencer, his antics and tricks for delaying the trial have run out. He thinks the trial next month is a mere formality. He thought he put the witness six feet under, little does he know that I’m going to nail his sorry ass with my testimony. So, you’re smart Dakota, you should go back home to your life and forget I ever entered it. You don’t want this kind of trouble in your life.” Cassidy exited the car and walked back over to her sister’s grave. She zipped her coat all the way up and stuffed her hands into her pockets. She turned to her left when she heard footsteps. “How did you know?”
Dakota looked back at the grave, reading the name ‘Cassidy Elise Storms,’ inhaling deeply she turned to face Cassidy. “I guess I always knew deep down inside that you weren’t who you said you were, but overlooked the ton of signs you gave me.”
“Like what?”
Dakota thought as she looked at the tombstone, and then looked at Cassidy. “You’re a vegetarian, no matter how much you insist you are not a second baseman, you’re an outfielder, you’re a switch hitter and no, not beginner’s luck.” Dakota smiled slyly. “Beyond those signs, you’re just...different.”
Cassidy furrowed her brow as she stared at her as if she were trying to read her mind. “How would you know the correct answer to those things?”
Dakota inhaled deeply and blushed embarrassed knowing what she was about to say would not please Cassidy. “I had a relationship with Cass.”
“You what?” The shock in her tone matched the look on her face.
“We knew each other at softball camp and...” she stopped when Cassidy threw up her hands and ran her fingers through her hair, holding her bangs back.
“Of course...softball camp. I tried to remember ever being at softball camp with you and couldn’t. You drove me nuts with the softball camp thing and now it makes sense. You were with my sister.” She turned with a shocked expression. “You slept with HER?” Her voice raised an octave.
Dakota looked down, and then back up meeting her tear filled green eyes.
“You’ve got to be kidding me?” Cassidy paced around in a circle nervously and looked at Dakota when she faced her.
“I’m not kidding. We were roommates at camp and we aah...got together.”
“Was it a one night thing?”
“No, we were together for the entire length of the camp. I wanted to see her during the school year until she got to UF, but she said she couldn’t see me because of her, well your parents. I aah, tried to call and email her, but the information she gave me was wrong. So, I wrote her letters after finding your parent’s address on the Internet and finally stopped when I received them back unopened, saying return to sender.” Dakota’s expression turned solemn remembering the unhappiness of those years.
Cassidy saw the sadness in her blue eyes. “You should go home and get on with your life with someone whose life is not as messed up as mine.” She walked away to her aunt’s car. She could barely see to insert the key into the door through her tears and felt an instant feeling of warmth when Dakota’s hand touched her shoulder. She inhaled deeply and turned to her. “Why did you come here? You had a perfect out to go back to your one night stand lifestyle. You have no reason to stay now.”
Dakota stared at Cassidy unable to speak. The knot in her throat constricted tighter. She inhaled deeply and swallowed hard. “You.” She said meekly and cleared her throat. “You’re the reason.”
“Me? Why me?”
Dakota moved closer to Cassidy. “Because I love you.”
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