Sudden Hope (11 page)

“Where are we going?” They both just laugh. “What the hell.” I laugh too. “Come on which car are we going in?

“We got you a surprise, Chickie.” Jenny is smiling a full on cheesy smile.

“Hmm, I don’t like the sound of this.” I am only kidding but I am a little afraid at the same time. These girls are sneaky to the fullest and I love them but I also know their devious side.

“Where are we going, guys, like really?” I really don't care I am happy just being with them.

Lea looks at Jenny and they both turn to me.

“We’re going to the mall, prom dress shopping.” I can't help but smile.

“Yep I knew it, dress shopping
, guys, really?” I love shopping and they know it. “Thank you.” I didn't have to say it, but I meant it.

We walk into Cashmere’s ready to go. There are hundreds of dresses everywhere you turn. Everywhere you turn you see immaculate dresses in all different styles. The place is amazing. The walls are lined with full-length oval mirrors that are adorned with gold leaf frames. Violet plush couches that I can only assume are for waiting bridal parties or mothers waiting to see how their little girls looked, who just weren’t so little anymore. The shop is so elegant and beautiful
. The Queen of England herself could shop there.

“How the heck am I picking a dress from here
, guys? You know I don't have the money?” Jenny looks amused as she holds up her credit card.

“Mom told me to buy your dress as kind of a get well present.”

“Are you kidding me? I can't accept that!” I really can’t that is just way too much.

“I’m getting the shoes and accessories.” Lea hollers as she runs to a rack of long flowing gowns.

“Really guys, are you sure?”

“Yep!”
they say in unison. I run over and hug them both as tight as I can. They are the most unbelievable friends a girl could ever ask for.

“Thank you so much
, guys. I love you so much.”

“Do not thank us
, Chickie. Go shop!” Jenny is so excited and so am I.

I must have tried on every dress in the store. Days like this were amazing. We laughed and giggled and were just normal teenage girls. After we finished shopping we went to lunch at The East End Diner. We walked through the door and were greeted by the bubbliest hostess I think I had ever met.

“Hey girls, oh my God! Come right this way.” We follow behind her wide eyed as she bounces down the row of tables to lead us to a booth in the back. “This good with you girls?”

“Yep.”
I reply as I take a seat. I sit on one side and Jenny and Lea take a seat on the other. We all order Pepsi and ask her to give us time to look at the menus.

“So are we all still going together?” I am hoping the answer is yes but you never know.

“Yea, like we could walk in there and not be together!” Jenny is right we can't show up at prom and not be together, it would just be too weird.

“You just need to figure out what is going on with Chris and Danny, quick girl.” The group has to get back on track or nothing will be right.

“I’ll go talk to Chris tonight. I can’t lead him on anymore. I feel bad every time I think about the whole situation.”

“I bet you do. That's
gotta suck.” It does suck.

“So Lea, I have to ask, how is Matt by the way?” I don't love him anymore but I do care. Danny beat the hell out of him and out of respect for Lea I feel like I should ask.

“Yea, he’s fine, been staying down here for a while and James has been here with him.” She shrugs her shoulders. Jenny blushes with just the sound of his name.

“Well Jenny, is James joining us at the prom?” I throw a piece of paper at her as I ask.

“Nope, he asked me if I was going to ask him but I told him sorry I couldn't. We've had plans to go together forever. I'm not changing them for anyone.” I can’t wait for prom, the six of us looking our best and Danny in a tux, that alone will be the cherry on top.

We finish our food and Jenny
takes me back to the school so I can get my car. I have her take my dress back to her house. I would be getting ready there anyway. I climb into my car and as soon as I reach to turn on the radio I saw it, sitting on the passenger seat a little teal box with a purple bow. There was a tiny card attached to it. I was almost afraid to touch it. Closing my eyes I take a breath as I feel the warmth of my tears starting to form. It was something I had felt so many times before and something I didn’t want to happen today. Reaching over I slowly grabbed the box, feeling foolish. I was acting like it was a box dipped in poison. There was an excitement knowing the only person who could get into my car was Danny. A soft smile forms on my lips as I reached for the package. Twisting the bow in my fingers I flipped the card over. That's when the tears start flowing there is no controlling them I can’t do anything but drop the box. It wasn't from Danny.

Chapter Thirteen

Coming to a screeching halt in front of the police station, I must look like a raving lunatic as I jump from the car and charge through the glass doors. The young female police officer at the desk snaps to attention. “What’s wrong, sweetie? Are you alright?” I have tears flowing from my eyes and have the tiny unopened box pressed up against my chest.

“No, I need to see Det
ective Abernathy now!” I am stuttering and probably seem crazy but it is not a request, I need to see him right now.

“Hold on
, honey. I'll page him. Who can I say is looking for him?” She lifts the black receiver to the phone off the base as she starts pressing buttons.

“Celeste. My name is Celeste Ramsey.”

“Okay honey, have a seat I'll get him.”

I sit down on the long wooden bench and wait. It seems like an eternity, but I know only a few minutes have passed.
Just when I start to think I can't handle it any more, the wooden door flies open and Det. Abernathy steps through. I spring from my seat and right into his arms.

“Calm down
, Celeste. What is going on?” I step back and wipe my face. I don't say anything I just shove the box towards him. He looks at me perplexed until I point to the card.

He flips it over and his eyes grow wide. “Come with me now
, Celeste.” I follow him quickly through the long corridor that leads to his office. There are people and offices everywhere. It is more chaotic then I really thought it would be but nothing seems to faze me anymore. I have been in this building more than any teenage girl should be.

He pulls a box of rubber gloves from his desk and slips a pair on, as he picks up the phone and calls someone. “Can you please meet me in my office? We may have a break in the Ramsey Murder.”

I close my eyes and fall into the soft plush chair that I have sat in so many times before. Only this time there is a sudden rush of hope for the first time in my life.

A large dark man in a gray suit comes through the door. “Sir
, what do we have?” He makes me feel a little nervous but I guess it is his size. He is a very large man. You can tell he works out a lot, if not every day. I would not have thought he was a cop except we are in a police station. If I had seen him in the street, I would definitely have bet he was a football player or maybe a construction worker.

He looks at me and holds his hand out. “Hi, I'm Det
ective Sawyer, you must be Celeste.”

“Yes I am,” I sa
y with a nod as we shake hands.

“Okay Sawyer, Celeste gave me this a minute ago. Celeste?” He said looking at me now as he grabs a pen and flips a page on the yellow notebook that is in the middle of his desk.

“How did you get this?” I explain my whole day, shopping at the mall and everything else, and how it was just sitting on my seat when I got back to my car.

“Was your car locked when you got back to the school?” He is writing everything I say down.

“Yes, and before you ask no one has a key. Well Jenny has a key but I was with her.” I’m not calming down, with every question I am getting antsier. I can't sit any longer. I get up and start pacing the room.

“Did anyone else touch this box, besides you?”

“No one even knows it was there. I came straight here. I didn't know what else to do.” I fling my arms in the air and sit back down.

Det. Sawyer looks at me with almost pride in his eyes. “You did the right thing
, Celeste.”

“Thank you
,” I answer.

“What does the card say
, Abernathy?” He looks at me then back at Sawyer.

“It says
, Little CC. Here's your ring.”

“Did you open the box
, Celeste?” Sawyer is leaning up against the desk with his arms folded in front of him. His baldhead is beginning to glisten from sweat.

“No. I'm too afraid too.” A tear falls from my eye. I look back at Det. Abernathy. “What if it is in there? What if my ring is in that box?” Another tear falls and Det. Sawyer hands me a tissue.

“We will open it together if you want or we can do it without you?”

“No
,” I answer instantly. “I want to see if it is in there. I just couldn’t do it alone.”

“Alright,” Det. Sawyer sa
ys. “I just need to grab a camera and take photo documentation as we open it.” Det. Sawyer leaves the room and comes back with a sophisticated looking camera. He snaps a few photos of the box and the card then looks at me. “Are you ready?”

“As ready as I'll ever be
,” I reply.

Det. Abernathy takes the small ribbon in between his fingers and pulls it open. The silence in the room is deafening. The only thing I can hear is the sound of my heart beating. The box opens and to everyone's disbelief. It is empty.

“What the hell?” I said it first but I know by the look in everyone’s eyes we are all thinking the same thing.

“Someone is playing games with you
, Celeste.” Det. Sawyer blurts out.

“Well it's not funny
,” I shoot back. “Who the hell would do something like this?” This is truly cruel. Grabbing my head, I sit back down once again.

“I don’t know
, Celeste, but we will test the box for fingerprints and add it to the file.” Det. Abernathy speaks almost too calmly, but I know it is for my well-being. “You know, CC. This may have nothing to do with the murder of your father. This could be about the assault on you and Chris, or even someone just trying to play a prank. A sick prank I know, but still a prank none the less.”

I shake my head and stand up. “I'm going home
. Please tell me if you find anything.” I slowly walk out of the room and down the hall, this is insane. Why can’t I have one normal day?

I got back into my car and blasted the music. It was the only thing that ever made me feel better.

My iPod was usually set to play anything but to hear Motley Crue’s ‘Without You’ come on was not something I was expecting at all. That was the song Matt always sang to me while we were dating. Things were getting weirder by the minute.

I drove straight to Jenny's house and ran up to the door. Perfect! Lea was still here. I walk in without knocking and every one’s head turns towards me. “I'm sorry I barged in like that! Come on guys we need to talk.” I race for Jenny’s room as she and Lea follow right behind me.

“Whoa, slow down, girl. What the hell happened to you after we took you to your car?” Lea, I think, thought something good happened because she was all excited and bubbly. I fall back on Jenny's bed, “You won’t believe it,” I tell them about the box and talking to the detectives.

“Holy shit, are you serious?” Lea is sitting on the floor Indian style. She is looking at me in awe like she is watching a captivating movie.

“Yea, I'm serious,” I snap looking back at her with a tilt of my head.

“Well how did someone get in your car?”

“I have no idea. Wait Jenny do you have my spare set of keys still?”

“Yea, of course
,” she answers. “They’re in my glove box where they always are. I haven't moved them.”

“Cool. Hey I'm starving can we eat, would your mom mind?”

“Ah, she lives to feed, you girl! Let’s go downstairs.”

We walk into the kitchen of my dreams. The one thing you can say about Mrs. Brown is that she has an incredible taste in décor. There are wall-to-wall solid vanilla maple cabinets that have glass doors to make it seem like the walls are bigger than they actually are. Not that you need to make it seem bigger, the kitchen itself is large enough to fit a small apartment in it. The cabinets are topped by tan granite. The island in the middle though is really my favorite part of the whole kitchen. There is a sub-zero fridge in the corner but the island has a drawer fridge on one side to keep drinks and such in. There is a hanging pot and pan holder and if that isn't enough, one side of the counter wraps around to form a breakfast nook, where she has four bar stools to fill up the empty space. It is absolutely divine.

“What do you want to eat?” Jenny is digging through the fridge.

“I do not care
, girl. I'm starving though.” I place my hand on my stomach just as it growls.