Fade

She knows what he’s looking at.

When she rounds the corner, she glances over her shoulder at him.

He’s standing there, watching her, arms folded across his chest. She waves and disappears.

And now she doesn’t want to tell Cabel.

He’s going to be upset.

She drives home and looks up Captain’s number. Calls her cell phone.

Tells her about her hunch.

“Good job, Janie. You’re a natural,” she says. “You okay?”

“I think so.”

“Can you keep it going for a while?”

“I—I’m pretty sure I can, yes.”

“I know you can. Now I want you to research. Isn’t there a chemistry fair or something? A high-school statewide competition that Fieldridge sends a team to? Something like that?”

“I don’t know. Yeah, I think so. There must be. There’s one for math, anyway.”

“Check into it. If there is one, and this Durbin goes to it, I want you to sign up. We’ll pay for it, don’t worry about that. I’ve been racking my brain, and I can’t think of any other way you’re going to land in his or some of the other students’ dreams. Can you?”

“No, sir. I mean, okay, I’ll sign up.” Janie sighs, remembering the bus trip to Stratford.

“Have you taken a look at Martha’s reports yet?”

“Some,” Janie says.

“Any questions?”

Janie hesitates, thinking about what Miss Stubin said in the dream.

“Nope. Not yet.”

“Good. Oh, and Janie?”

“Yes, sir?”

“You’re calling from home. Haven’t I given you a goddamned cell phone yet?”

“No, sir.”

“Well, I don’t want you to go anywhere without one from now on.

You hear me? I’ll have one for you tomorrow. Stop by after school.

And you need to tell Cabel about this guy if you haven’t already. I don’t want you in this project alone. It already makes me ill, knowing that creep is hitting on other high-school girls, much less you.”

“Yes, sir.”

“One more thing,” Captain says.

“Yes?”

There’s a pause.

“Happy birthday. There’s a gift on my desk for you. The cell phone will be next to it by tomorrow after school, if you come while I’m not here.”

Janie can’t speak.

She swallows.

“Is that clear?” Captain says.

Janie blinks her tears away. “Sir, yes, sir.”

“Good.” There’s a smile in her voice.

It’s well after six before Janie makes it to Cabel’s house. She jiggles her keys, trying to find the right one, and he opens the door. She looks up at him. Smiles. “Hi.”

“Where’ve you been?”

“Sorry. Stuff happened.” She enters the house. Takes off her coat and boots.

“What stuff?”

She sniffs the air. “What are you cooking?”

“Chicken. What stuff?”

“Oh, you know. Got to school late, and everything fell apart after that.

You ever have one of those days?”

He goes to the stove and flips the chicken. “Yeah. Practically every day last semester, when you wouldn’t talk to me. So what happened?” She sighs. “My beaker exploded. Third hour. Durbin. I had to go in after school to redo the experiment.”

He looks at her, tongs in hand. “The guy with the groceries?” She nods.

“And?”

“And…I think he’s the guy we’re after. I called Captain.” He sets the tongs down loudly on the counter. “What makes you think that?”

“He touched me. It was…weird.” She says it quickly, and then turns and goes into the bathroom.

But he’s right behind her, and she can’t get the door closed because his foot is in the way. “Where?” he shouts.

She cringes. Squeaks. She takes a breath, gathers her nerve, and gives him a furious look. “Stop it, Cabe! If you can’t handle this without getting in my face about it, I’m not going to tell you anything.” He hears her.

His eyes grow wide.

“Oh baby,” he whispers. Steps back. Out of the doorway. His face is ashen. He walks slowly back to the kitchen. Leans over the counter.

Puts his head in his hands. His hair falls over his fingers.

The bathroom door clicks shut.

She stays in there for a long time.

He’s pulling his hair out.

Finally, frustrated, he calls Captain. “What’s going on, sir?” There is a pause, and then he says, “She said he touched her. That’s all I’ve gotten out of her so far.”

He nods.

Yanks his hair.

“Yes, sir.”

He listens intently.

His face changes.

“It’s what?”

Then.

“Bloody fucking fuck,” he mutters. “You’re kidding.” He closes his eyes. “Shoot me now. I didn’t know.”

He turns off the phone.

Sets it on the table.

Walks to the bathroom door.

Leans his forehead against the molding.

“Janie,” he says. “I’m sorry I yelled. I can’t stand the thought of that creep touching you. I’ll get a handle on it. I promise.” He waits. Listens.

“Janie,” he says again.