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CHAPTER 29
KARINA
November
School is routinely kicking my ass. Even though I’ve just passed my three-month mark in the pregnancy, I’m not feeling much better than when I started, and I’m still getting sick on a regular basis. It doesn’t matter, though, the show must go on and I don’t want to take time that I don’t need yet. Because the due date is around the first week of May, I’ll more than likely be taking maternity leave at Spring Break, so I don’t want mess with any of the plans I already have.
It’s taking me longer to finish grading papers and make lesson plans. Pregnancy brain is really a thing, and I’m suffering from it, all the time. I’m finding more often than not, it’s easier for me to get things done at school, so I’m staying a little later than normal every night. The librarian keeps the library open since she does work too, and I’ve been finding going in there with her helps keep me on task. Grabbing my laptop and my water bottle, I close up my room and head to the front of the school.
“Hey Karina,” she greets me as I come through the double doors.
Trinity has been a godsend for me, keeping me on track and allowing me to hang out with her as I’ve been fighting the effects of this pregnancy. This is her first year, but I’ve found her to be a breath of fresh air.
“How’s it going, girlie?” I put my stuff down on one of the tables, spreading out everything I need to look at.
“Busy freaking day, and I’ve got a lot of stuff to shelve and catalogue. I don’t want you to think I’m ignoring you, but I gotta do it back here.” She scrunches up her nose as she points to the back room.
“You’re good; I’ll be okay out here by myself. I just have to get my brain wrapped around the fact I actually have to get this shit done.” I motion to the stuff I have spread out.
“I know exactly what you mean. I should be about thirty minutes.”
“Take your time, and when you’re ready to lock up, let me know.”
Just as I’m about to get down to business, I get a text from my husband.
M: Hey, I’m headed to the school. Where are you?
Immediately I smile, happy that I’ll get to see my husband before we get home.
K: Are you coming to see me? I’m in the library getting some work done with Trinity.
M: Our proof came through on Cartwright, Rina. We have a warrant. Be safe. I love you.
K: Love you, too. I’ll stay where I am.
M: Be sure that you do. As soon as I can, I’ll get you.
The proof came through. I wonder what proof it is, but I also know that’s probably something he can’t tell me. I knew when I found the moonshine in the girl’s locker room during our summer cleaning that Mr. Cartwright was responsible for it. All I had to do was wait until the MTF could prove it. God, I wish Mason were here right now.
Getting up from the table I’m at, I walk over to the window, gazing out over the teacher’s parking lot. Mr. Cartwright’s car is still there. I’ve often wondered how he could afford a Cadillac SUV, when the rest of the lot is littered with Toyotas and Kias, or cars that are at least ten years old. I noticed it, but I never questioned it. I wonder how much money he’s made off these children; I also wonder how he sleeps at night knowing some of these kids have developed a habit so bad they’ve had to go to rehab. In the end, that’s not for me to judge. He’ll get his day in court, and he’ll have to face his maker when he’s ready. Still doesn’t mean I’m not disappointed.
Moving my hand down my body, I cradle my stomach where the child Mason and I made out of love lies. I’m nervous as I wait for him to arrive. Only when he gets here will I feel safe. Until that moment, I’m worried, worried about what might happen, and how Mr. Cartwright will react once he knows he’s been backed into a corner that he possibly won’t make it out of.
Someone enters the library, and I’m hoping like hell it’s my husband, but when I turn, I see Mr. Cartwright staring at me.
“It was you,” he accuses, looking crazier than any person I’ve ever seen in my life. No actually, crazy isn’t the way to describe how he looks. It’s more desperation, and even I know desperate people do stupid things. “You’re the one who found the moonshine in the girls’ locker room; you’re the one who found the moonshine in the false bottom of the cabinet in my classroom.”
“No.” I shake my head. “I didn’t know anything about the false bottom on your cabinet.” There’s no place for me to go as he advances on me. I’m already against a wall, having gone here to look out the window. He stands between me and the door that would allow me to escape. “I did find the moonshine in the girls’ locker room. It amazes me that you would let people think you were a creep, instead of just admitting that’s where you hid most of your stash.”
The smile he throws at me isn’t pleasant, and my stomach turns at the look on his face. “It was easy to get it there, no cameras in the room or outside. When I’d run low in my classroom, I’d just go out there with my bag, put some in, and transport it. For the longest time no one asked any questions. Not until you and your husband started sniffing around.”
I’m mentally trying to figure out what I can do to get out of this situation, and unfortunately, I’m fully aware there isn’t much. “If you hurt me, he will kill you.”
My heart pounds as I see him withdraw a gun from his waistband. “If he tries to hurt me, I’ll kill you and that baby you’re so proud of. You’re my ticket out of here, Karina. Smile nicely for the cameras.”
I make a run for it, but he grabs me around the neck, hooking me with his arm, pointing the gun too close to my head for comfort. Fear like I’ve never known envelopes me, and for the first time I’m scared for my life. I’m scared that I won’t get to see my husband at the end of the day, that I’ll never see Caleb play another football game, and I won’t meet this child inside of me that is so loved. I throw up a prayer that it all works out, but there’s a dread closing my throat and I lose something I’ve always had. Hope.
“Walk slowly,” he instructs as we hear the sirens of police. “And if you do as I say, you might make it out of here today, but I wouldn’t count on it.”
