Frank Klus - Azaleas Don't Bloom Here

“Dennis works for Jaydan Casimir. Jay found out that you and Dennis were best friends as kids. He likes Dennis; thinks he’s got potential. Now, Dennis gets a nice bonus for information about you. Dennis has a big mouth. He brags about his new assignment, and how he’s going to milk information out of you. If that information results in confirmation that you’re an enemy of the state, he gets an even bigger bonus.”

“I don’t believe you. Dennis wouldn’t do that. I met him and his wife just recently. We’ve talked on the phone. They came to the funeral. They’re wonderful people. I don’t know what problem you and Ray have with them, but I think I’m a pretty good judge of people and you are way off base. How do you know so much anyway?”

“Look, Mr. Businessman, put it together. Dennis works for Jay now. Jay told him about you and Catherine. Dennis talks. When he talks, I know.”

“But you told me you weren’t in the Lightning Squad anymore. How would you know who Dennis talks to or what he even talks about?”

“It’s true, I’m not with those bastards anymore, but we have spies in their headquarters. Anyway, they started this relationship several months ago. The word is that Jay saw your wife in some photos that the Squad took of her.”

“Photos?”

“They have a whole dossier on you. We covered the reasons why the last time.”

Gene said nothing, but indicated he cared to hear more.

“Anyway, he was attracted to her. He had you watched for a while. He got to know your schedule and he tracked you.”

“Tracked me? Like with Dennis?”

“He had a GPS tracker put on your car. He knows your whereabouts all the time. He knows every place you go. Anyway, one day Jay goes to your house and Catherine opens the door. He pretends to be a co-worker—someone you’ve mentioned. Mark, I believe.” She paused.

“Go on.”

“Anyway, once in, he then revealed himself and propositioned your wife.” She paused to check Gene’s reaction, and then she got a little more serious. “He asked her out for a drink. She refused, of course. Then Casimir told her if she didn’t go with him he’d have your father put under his custody. He assured her he knew every place he goes, and because the RAC has an agreement with the Squad, he could pick him up any time.”

“He had my father tracked too?”

“I don’t actually know, but he could have. Your wife protested and threatened to call the police. Casimir calmly informed her he was the police. He was out of his jurisdiction, of course, but the threat was real. He convinced Catherine he really could get your father, but if she would agree to go out with him he’d leave your father alone. So she agreed.”

“Why didn’t she just come to me?”

She just smiled. “What would you have done?”

“I don’t know.”

“Yeah, you do. You would have gone to the police. You’d have filed a report, but then your father would be in Squad hands. Furthermore, you’d be the one in trouble. You couldn’t do anything about it, Gene. Your wife knew that. She hoped that having a drink with the son of a bitch would be the end of it.” She paused. “But it wasn’t. He began asking for sexual favors. Catherine resisted.” She stopped and looked seriously at Eugene. “Then the Commandant began using you.”

Eugene’s face turned red and he looked like an eruption about to happen.

“Casimir was told to keep tabs on you, but Casimir saw an opportunity—get rid of you and take Catherine. He hoped you’d try and do something about it. Then he’d have a reason to arrest you, and he would still have Catherine with more leverage. She knew how powerful that man is. She knew you could get into serious difficulties if you knew.” Cassandra looked away, frowning. “So she agreed.” She turned toward Gene.

“So he raped her,” he said, more to himself. His eyes narrowed and his breathing quickened, but he fought back the urge to explode.

“Yes,” Cassandra said. They were both reticent at this point, and then Gene slammed the steering wheel with his hands, still fighting against the anger. Cassandra just looked at him and then continued. “By this time your wife was drinking heavily. It was her way of dealing with her inner turmoil. She was given a choice—cheat on you or watch you killed or imprisoned. It was no choice at all.”

Gene turned suddenly toward Cassandra. “You’re telling me this man, Casimir, saw a picture of my wife and fucked her; ruining both our lives. And you think I need protection?” Then, Eugene looked down for a second and then back at Cassandra, nonplussed.

“What?” Cassandra said.

“Is this what this is all about?”

“What?”

“Why you’re here. You knew I’d want him dead. You told me all this because you want money to kill him. Okay, fine. How much do you want?”

“I don’t want anything, Gene. That isn’t why I’m here. I told you, I’m here to protect you.”

“Since Catherine is dead, why would Casimir care about me now? I don’t see that I need your protection. Maybe it’s Casimir who needs protection. I won’t rest until that bastard is dead. No, not just dead. I want to see his gonads stuffed down his throat first.”

“Please, Gene. I know how you feel, but you could never get to Casimir. He’d have you killed before you even found out where he lives. No one can get to him. He’d be dead already if I could get to him. But you are in danger, Gene. You must believe me.”

“I’m not some revolutionary. I’m not going to sneak off to the New World and try to start a war. Why should I need any protection? One day I’ll find someone who can get to him. I tell you, he is the only one who needs protection. I have money, and soon I’ll have a lot more. I’ll pay that bastard back. In the meantime, all I have to do is mind my own business and everything will be fine.”

“Everything won’t be fine, Gene. It isn’t just about Casimir trying to steal your wife. Dennis wants a promotion, and his wife wants more money. If Dennis can turn you into some anti-American militant he gets a bigger bonus. That’s precisely what he’s going to try to do. I’ll know what he’s up to because—”

“I know. Dennis talks.”

“Exactly! You need me, Gene. I know how much you hate Jaydan Casimir, but planning something or looking for him only plays right into his hands. Be careful, and don’t talk to Dennis. You may let me out here.”

A few minutes after Gene drove off, Ray arrived and picked up his wife. “You hear everything?” she asked.

“Yeah. Cass, that detective wants to charge Gene with murder.”

“Will he?”

“I doubt he has enough evidence. A middle class guy, well respected, is not easy to convict. If he can’t, then he may try to use Dennis to stir Eugene up.”

“If Dennis finds out I’ve been talking to him…”

“That would be bad for Eugene. If Casimir gets wind of you meeting him he might start thinking he really is dangerous—first, the secret meetings with Zinney, and now secret meetings with you. He’s going to get even more suspicious.”

“What should we do?”

“Cass, I know you don’t like using Eugene, but we must. I don’t like it either, but we can take advantage of this situation. You need to keep Gene mad and angry. We need to bring the Squad back to its original purpose, destroy NOGOV, and merge with New America. They showed us the way. Zinney and Eugene can be the vanguard for the revolution. We’ll be the spark. Look at this world we live in. NOGOV has killed it off. NOGOV has got to go, and Eugene and Zinney are the keys to making that happen.”