The Grim Reaper's Dance

that had taken place almost two years earlier? Casey hadn’t said anything about Reuben or Omar, or… “How did he know about it?”

Bailey blinked. “Um, you told us? It was in the paper? The trucker died.”

Casey closed her eyes, trying to catch her breath and come back to the present time, and this accident. “Right. I’m…I’m sorry…I…” She shook her head. “What I meant was, how did Martin get the reports?”

Bailey grinned. “I told you, the lady’s daughter’s hot for Martin.”

“But won’t the girl—”

“Pay for it? Probably, at least a little. You want me to tell Martin to forget it?”

Casey clenched her teeth. “No.”

“Fine, then. Let me write back.”

“How ’bout you just tell me what to say?”

Bailey shrugged. “Whatever. Just tell him that’s great. And thanks.”

Casey keyed in the message and sent it off, and took the opportunity, while Bailey thought she was still texting, to delete the records of her call to Davey and his call back to her, getting his number off Bailey’s phone. By the time she’d finished, Martin had sent a reply.

Hi KC hope u r ok c u 2nite

Casey sighed. “He knew it was me.”

“Of course. You probably spelled everything wrong.”

Casey laughed, and Bailey smiled, her teeth brilliant white between her dark lips. Casey stared at her, at her black-lined eyes, dark fingernails, and dyed hair. So different from the earlier family pictures on her father’s office table. In fact, Casey didn’t think she’d even recognize her if she took off all of her artificial coloring.

Bailey glanced at her. “What?”

“I think I do have something you can help me with. Any chance you’d lend me a few bucks?”

Chapter Ten

It took Bailey longer in the Family Dollar than Casey had foreseen. They’d driven to the next town, Bailey conscious of the fact that she was supposed to be in school and the clerk at the local pharmacy would be sure to tell somebody they’d seen her there. Bailey assured Casey that no one in this neighboring store would have the slightest idea who she was. Casey, having to take the girl’s word for it, scrounged around in the back seat to find another ball cap, and pulled it low over her face as she sank down in her seat, keeping her eyes averted whenever she heard or saw movement outside the car. Casey had instructed Bailey to park in the far corner of the lot, hoping no one would come close enough they would get noticed.

Bailey finally exited the store. A man going toward the store did a double take, and Casey sucked in a breath. She unlocked the driver’s door and Bailey slid in, thrusting the bag at Casey. “See what you think.”

“You see that man?” He was just disappearing into the store.

“Yeah, I guess.”

“You know him?”

“Don’t think so. Why?”

“He sure noticed you.”

“I’m telling you, Casey, no one in this town knows me. Maybe he just thought I was pretty.”

Casey couldn’t tell if this was a challenge or a plea for affirmation. “Of course he did.” Or he wasn’t used to seeing Gothish girls at their small town store. “I was just worried about you being recognized.”

Bailey pulled the car out of the parking lot. “So, how did I do?”

Casey peered into the bag. “I don’t think I had this many things on the list.”

“Of course you didn’t. But you obviously don’t know the first thing about make-up.”

She had, at one point. She could actually clean up pretty well. Reuben had always liked those nights when she would put on something other than her dobak or the yoga pants that were so comfortable for playing on the floor with Omar. Not that Omar could play much, at his age. He was at the point, though, that Casey spent a lot of time on the carpet, trying to convince him it was time to roll from his tummy to his back. But every once in a while the comfy clothes would come off, the dress and heels would go on, and Omar would have an overnight with Grandma. Casey could still see Reuben’s eyes as he took her in, him looking handsome in his suit, his Mexican heritage showing in his dark skin and glossy black hair. He would take her in his arms, telling her they only had to play nice with his colleagues for a few hours and then they could come back home, and he would be happy to take her back out of that dress and heels…

Casey looked out the passenger window at the passing buildings, not wanting Bailey to see whatever was showing in her face. Those days with Reuben were long, long gone.

“Sorry,” Bailey said. “I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m sure you look pretty when you try.”

Casey gave a little laugh. “Thanks. I think.”

Bailey whapped herself on the forehead. “I’ll shut up now.”

Casey let herself be brought back to the car, and to the bag of make-up on her lap. She pulled out the hair color. “So, you think I can do this myself?”

Bailey wrinkled her nose. “I guess. It won’t look professional.”

“Good enough to fool a man?”

“Probably. But a woman would notice in a second.”

“I guess I’ll just have to chance it.” Casey pulled out the other things, one by one. Lipstick, foundation… “Reading glasses?”

“Yeah, you didn’t mention those, but they’ll add years to your looks. You’ll look ancient.”

“Great. So when you see the transformation you’ll run screaming.”

“You know it.”

Casey found the receipt in the bag and blanched at the total. Bailey had really outdone herself. “I’ll pay you back.”

“Oh, I’m not worried. This is the most exciting thing that’s happened since Terry’s dad discovered a recipe for chocolate bagels.”

“Chocolate… But, Bailey, two sets of scrubs?”

“I couldn’t decide, since you won’t tell me what you’re doing.” She looked at Casey accusingly. “So I had to think…cats, or plain blue. On the one hand, the cats are cute, but maybe not the look you’re going for, if you’re not going to be around kids. On the other hand, the plain blue might make you look like some sort of surgical assistant, and I wasn’t sure you wanted that. So, you know, if you’d give me more information, I wouldn’t have had to buy more than one. So I’m sorry.”

“No, I’m sorry. I’m asking a lot of you.”

Bailey sulked for a few more seconds before breaking into a grin. “Like I really care, one way or the other. I’m having fun. Usually that just happens at night with the other kids. They’re going to totally want to hear all about this.”

“Yeah, Bailey, about tonight…”

“And really, don’t worry about Sheryl. She’s okay, normally.”

“I hope so. Otherwise I don’t know how you deal with her.”

“She’s had a hard time lately. Her dad lost his job a month ago, because he has Parkinson’s and the company was afraid it would affect his work.”

“Can they do that?”

“They did. And Sheryl’s family doesn’t have the money to hire a lawyer.”

“So they’re stressed.”