Her Guardians Lost(8)

I laughed. “Yes, luckily for me it’s my left shoulder that got hit. At least I can still type, although it will be awkward for a while.”

“It will take time, Cassie. You can’t rush these things. You got shot, for Pete’s sake!”

Despite the seriousness of the situation, I had to laugh. It just sounded funny hearing it out loud.

Just as I was about to ask Simon about his sister, we were interrupted by Michael, followed swiftly by Paul and Callum.

“Hey, guys!”

“Hey, Cassie,” they said.

“Your uncle and Chris are on their way.” Michael sat down and took my hand again.

“Thanks, Michael.” Looking at Paul and Callum, I said, “I take it you two are here on business rather than just to see me?” Of the two, Paul looked more tired.

“A bit of both, actually. We wanted to see you, and someone has to ask your version of events. I thought you would prefer to give it to someone you knew and were comfortable with. At least, I hope you’re comfortable with us?” Paul smiled as he took his hat off.

“Yes, of course. Thank you. It is very much appreciated.”

“Would you like me to leave, Cassie?” Simon’s tender voice made me smile.

“No, of course not. Stay. I will only tell you later, so you may as well know the whole story now.”

Paul and Callum grabbed a chair and sat close to my bed. “So,” Callum began. “First of all, how are you feeling?”

“I’m okay, considering.” I smiled, despite my pain. It made me think about the poem Mark Richards quoted. Right now, I was wearing a mask to hide my agony.

“Are you okay to talk about it?” Paul was poised, pen and pad in hand.

“Yes. Let’s get this over with.”

“So, what can you tell us?”

I began telling them the story about my visit to my uncle’s place, then my shock once I returned home and found my friend lying on the ground.

“Do you know why she was there?” Paul interjected.

“No. I can only assume Lisa-Marie interrupted her plans…whatever they were.”

“So you believe her intention was to kill you because she was obsessed with Stephen?”

“Yes, I believe so. She did like him from the start. I thought she had gotten over the fact Stephen liked me instead, but I was obviously wrong. She hid that pretty well.”

“You’re telling me!” Callum snorted, then apologised for his outburst.

“How long have you known Kali?” Paul looked up after jotting something down.

“About eighteen, nineteen years. We’ve been friends since we were little.”

“And she never once showed any signs of being troubled in any way?”

That hit me more than it should have. I knew Paul didn’t mean anything by it, but it still hurt to think I had been friends with her for so long, yet knew nothing about her. “No. She loved guns and practised shooting every Saturday that she could. I assumed it was a hobby, but maybe it was some sort of release. I don’t know.”

Paul smiled reassuringly. It made me wonder if he was naturally like this with all his victims and witnesses. “That’s fine, Cassie. She did what she did and, unfortunately, we’ll never know why. Her family is just as shocked as everyone else. However, they did say she was always somewhat detached from the family, but they put that down to the fact she was adopted.”

I nodded, remembering her little confession about how boring we all were to her, even her adopted family that took her in and cared for her.

“What happens now?” Looking into Paul’s eyes, I searched for an answer.

“There will be an investigation, but she was killed in self-defence. Michael’s version of events pan out, so there shouldn’t be any problems there.”

“I still can’t believe it. I thought she was my best friend.”

Their sympathetic stares said it all. I had to look away in the end in case I lost it.

“Do you think you have enough?” Simon looked at Paul and Callum. I think he was trying to save me.

“Yes, sir. I think we have everything we need.” Paul motioned to Callum and they quickly rose from their chairs. “Here’s my number,” Paul said, handing me a piece of paper. “If you need anything, let me know.”

Smiling up at him, I realised that he really wasn’t the bullish man I always thought him to be. Despite his extra-curricular activities in the bedroom, he was like a teddy bear.

“Thank you, Paul. I appreciate it.”

I watched as they got up to leave, but then something made me remember a question I needed to ask. “Callum?” I called after him.

“Yes?”