Free Intersection by Nancy Ann Healy

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 afinger 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.
    “It’s safe.” Alex said, finally beginning to relax a bit herself. Alex opened the back door and Cassidy moved in to unbuckle Dylan but her hands were shaking so hard she couldn’t keep a grasp on the buckle. She felt a strong hand cover hers,lingering for a moment and then unclipping the buckle. She stood back up straight and looked at Alex. She couldn’t even cry. “I’ll get him,” the agent said. Cassidy didn’t argue. Alex handed her the backpack and pulled Dylan up into her arms. Cassidy shut the car door and Alex followed her to the porch. The smaller woman froze as she started to enter and saw the photo. “Cassidy,” the agent gently called from right behind her. “Don’t. Let’s just get Dylan upstairs.” Cassidy took a deep breath and kept moving. Alex followed and carried the boy up to his room, lying him in his bed so that Cassidy could get him settled. “I’ll be right back,” Alex said.
    The agent went to her room and retrieved a pair of gloves and an evidence bag from her things. She went back to