Saving Cassie (Fairfield Corners) Read Free

book.  After an hour I hear the stairs creak, as if
someone is walking up the stairs and doesn’t know which ones to avoid, sounds
like the third step from the bottom.  I grab my flashlight and put my feet into
my slippers.  Why didn’t I leave the hall light on? There’s another creak,
sounds like the fourth step from the top now; where’s my cell phone?  Why
didn’t I get the landline hooked up today?  I grip my flashlight tighter and
head to the bedroom door. About two steps from the door, the door handle turns
and the door begins to open.  Maybe if I scream loud enough James will hear me
next door!  The door swings open and standing in the doorway is Matt, dressed
as he was that night six months ago: jeans, biker boots, black t-shirt, and
leather jacket. He is holding out a butcher knife in his left hand, letting the
sleeve of his jacket ride up enough to see the tattoo on his forearm.  “Cassie,
please don’t leave me, I love you!”
    I back up towards the bed,
this can’t be happening again!  Matt is supposed to be in jail in New York City
and getting treatment for his drug and alcohol addiction.  He moves toward me
and I begin to scream.  Suddenly, he is behind me, holding the knife to my
throat, I plead with him, “Don’t hurt me again!  If you leave now, I won’t tell
anyone you were here.  I swear!”
    “Nobody will know I was
here, other than finding your body.  Don’t forget, I’m a cop so I know how to
stage a crime scene.”  He pushes me forward toward the rocking chair.  “Sit
down and shut up, why do you have to scream like that?  Trying to wake up the
whole town?”
    I turn around to sit in
the chair and decide that I am not going to just let him kill me.  I rush him
and he stabs me with the knife.  The burning pain causes my legs buckle and I
find myself lying on the floor.  “No, no, no, please don’t hurt me again.  I
swear I’ll be quiet,” I whisper, the pain making it hard to breathe.
    Matt reaches for my arm to
pull me up and somehow I scream again.  Suddenly, I am on my bed with my book
in my lap, screaming like a banshee.  I realize it’s just a nightmare.  I
haven’t had a nightmare about that night for a couple of weeks.  Weird, that it
took place here and not back in New York; that’s a new twist.  Matt stabbing me
is also new, wonder what brought that on?  I sit there with my arms wrapped
around myself, willing myself to calm down.  My hands are shaking as I get up to
check all the doors and windows.  All locked up, thank goodness.  I go to the
bathroom and get my sleeping pills out of the medicine cabinet and take two.  I
notice that there are only six more pills and make a mental note to call my
doctor in New York and get a refill.  I can’t be having those nightmares again,
walking through each day like a zombie from lack of sleep.  James will notice
and he won’t leave it alone until I tell him everything.
    I get back in bed and wait
for the sleeping pills to kick in.  I have to start going through Gram’s things
tomorrow and I want to start to review the accounts for the store.  I have some
ideas I want to try and I need to see if there is enough cash flow right now to
implement them.
    My eyelids begin to droop. 
The sleeping pills are finally working, I think as I settle in and get
comfortable.  Sure hope I don’t have another nightmare tonight!

Chapter 4
    I wake up the next morning
to the sun in my face; looks like it’s going to be another beautiful day.  Sure
hope this warm weather sticks around for a while.  September weather can be
really volatile in Indiana.  I head downstairs and thank God that the “Church
Ladies” stocked the kitchen for me.  Fresh coffee will sure hit the spot.  I
shuffle into the kitchen and get the coffee maker going.  Soon, the smell of fresh
brewed coffee fills the room.  As I turn to get a mug out of the cupboard I
hear someone knocking on the back door.  I look out the window and see