Free Siren Rock by Laurie Keck Page B

there. She was in a small motorboat. It seems she may have hit her head on a rock. There were four teenagers who saw it and reported the mishap. The report is she reached for something, though the witnesses said it looked more as if something reached for her. I won’t even say what they thought they saw.”
    “What do they think they saw?”
    “You know the imagination of folks who come to these parts and with the town name of Siren Rock… Let’s just say these kids were inebriated.”
    Case sat on the step again and began tapping the envelope against his other hand.
    The officer reached his hand out. Case stood but felt unsteady on his feet.
    The officer shook his hand. “I’m sorry to have been the one to have to inform you. I’m sorry for your lost, for both you and your son. We’ll be in touch if there is anything else. Goodnight, sir.”
    The officer walked toward his car and then turned around. “One more thing, in your copy, the witnesses are referred to simply as that. The names are blackened out, as they are underage.”
    Case exhaled a deep breath. “Thank you.”
    The officer got in the cruiser, and Case stood frozen as they drove away. When the vehicle was no longer in sight, Case tilted his head toward the sky and then covered his eyes with his hands.
    I can’t believe this. What am I going to tell Timmy?
    He placed his palms against his temples and stared at the ground. He shook his head and then walked over to his truck and opened the back door to unfasten Timmy from his seat. Timmy was still asleep, and Case carried him to the house. As he opened the door, Bandit greeted them.
    Case whispered, “Hey, buddy, I’m sorry we’re so late.”
    Case carried Timmy upstairs to his room and placed him on his bed.
    “Daddy, why were police here?” he asked as he rubbed his eyes
    Case sat next to him.
    Tell him it’s a dream. Tell him it’s a dream.
    “ They had to tell us some really bad news.”
    Timmy rubbed his eyes again and propped himself up on his elbows.
    Case rubbed Timmy’s knee as he spoke. “Your mom had an accident. Not our kind of accidents, but a really bad one. She can’t be with us anymore. She loved you, and would want to be with you, but she can’t be. She died, Timmy. I’m so sorry.”
    Timmy’s eyes watered, and then he started to cry. Case held his head against his chest. After a few minutes, Timmy sat up and asked, “Do you mean like Sudsy? Mom said that was an accident.”
    An accident. I can’t believe how careless and irresponsible she was. I should have known that wasn’t right. I think she killed Sudsy.
    Case nodded. “Yes, just like Sudsy.”
    Only this time it was her.
    Case brushed his hand through Timmy’s hair. “It will be okay. We will live here together, and I will be with you until we are both very old men.”
    “Daddy?”
    “Yeah?”
    “Is Mom happy now? Will she be nicer now?”
    Case blinked his own tears away as he pressed his lips together.
    “Yes I believe so.”
    He patted Timmy’s knee again.
    “Do you need to go to the bathroom?”
    Timmy said, “Yeah.”
    Case took him to the bathroom and helped him to brush his teeth. When they returned to the room, Timmy got into his pajamas. Case helped him back in bed and started to pull the covers up.
    “Will you sleep here tonight?” Timmy asked
    Case kissed him on the forehead. “I was thinking the very same thing.”
    They shared a weak smile, and then Timmy got wide-eyed.
    “Daddy, can we ride Robust tomorrow?”
    “Sure we can do that if you want.”
    “But not like Mom did.”
    Case crinkled his forehead. “Oh?”
    “She rode too fast, bumpy. Made me sick, him too.”
    Case clamped his eyes shut, and then he started to remove his boots.
    He climbed into bed and turned out the light. He lay on his back as he placed a hand on his head and stared into darkness.

 
     
    Chapter 9
     
     
    Having tended to the animals on this early morning, Case now stood at his back door. Coffee in hand,