Chapter 3: The Call
1318 Words
"Will... d-don't tease..." Cassie mewled, knuckles white from gripping the headboard. The things Will could do with his tongue were criminal.
"Oh, but honey, you're so cute when you beg." William popped his head out from beneath the sheet, grinning. "I love those noises you make."
Far too impressed with himself, he crawled up beside her, wrapping his arms around her slender frame and pulling her back to his chest. His hands wandered, feeling the quivering anticipation in her taut muscles—every breath a shuddering plea for the satisfaction only he could give.
"But if you insist," he all but purred against her ear as he pushed inside, agonizingly slow.
"Oh! My... ah, Will!" Cassie cried, grabbing his muscular arm as his hand found her throat and waist.
This was nearly a daily occurrence in their apartment. Their shared libido often gave the neighbors more than they bargained for.
Cassie frequently got dirty looks from Victoria at work, and thumbs-up from Anthony, who lived next door. Occasionally, she’d get a blush or awkward nod from Felicia, who sometimes stayed at her sister’s place or came to feed the cats.
Still, Cassie wouldn’t trade it for the world. In a way, she was proud. It was a testament to Will’s prowess.
The headboard slammed against the wall. If they ever moved, they’d need to replaster and repaint where it had gouged the drywall.
"Say my name!" William groaned, gripping the backs of her knees as he drove her into the mattress.
Cassie’s eyes rolled back. She was drooling. Let it never be said Will lied about his... endowments. Exaggerated? Yes. But not a total lie. “Ahh—Will! William!”
A few blissful minutes later...
"Ugh. I'm gross. I need a shower," Cassie groaned, staring at the ceiling. Will, naked and proud, had just returned from a beer run. "Aww... look at my little Twinkie!"
"What? How am I a Twinkie?" she glanced at him, suspicious.
"Because you're golden and cream-filled," he grinned wolfishly.
"Oh god, Will. Really? That's disgusting." She laughed anyway. “Whatever. I'm taking a shower—you should too. You're all sweaty and stinky.”
"What! I'm wounded! This is not stink—this is manly musk. The scent of my claim!" he declared dramatically, sprawling across the bed.
As she walked away, he reached out and pressed the cold beer bottle against her bare bottom.
"Ahh! That’s cold!" Cassie yelped, scowling as his laughter followed her to the bathroom.
When she emerged, towel-drying her hair, she found Will frowning at his phone, scrolling with a furrowed brow.
“What’s wrong? Don’t tell me you tweeted that we had s*x again. I told you it’s embarrassing!”
“No,” he said. “Victoria called. They need you to come in. Friday night rush.”
Will hated when she had to work so late, even knowing she could handle herself. But Cassie could see the worry behind his eyes.
“Okay. I’d better get dressed.” She moved quickly to the wardrobe.
“Babe, don’t go. Can’t you call in sick?” Will pouted. It didn’t suit him.
“Honey, you know I have to. They wouldn’t call unless they were desperate. Friday nights are hell.” She kissed him on the lips. “I’ll be back before you know it. And I’m off tomorrow, so you’ll have me all to yourself.”
Cassie left without thinking her promise would be a lie.
---
At the hospital, the ER was already chaos. Cassie steeled herself, signed the whiteboard, and grabbed a few charts. Adjusting her silver wireframes, she looked up just in time to see Felicia stepping out of the elevator.
“Hey, Felicia. Headed home?” she asked, already jealous.
“Oh, no. I’m crashing at Victoria’s. I’m covering Taylor’s early shift—his dog’s sick.”
Cassie smiled at her coworker’s generosity. “You’re too nice. Enjoy your rest.”
Felicia waved and disappeared. Cassie pulled her hair into a ponytail with an elastic from her wrist.
“All right... let’s do this.”
---
By 3 a.m., Cassie finally got a break. Friday nights meant bar fights, car wrecks, and teenagers doing dumb things to kick off their weekend. It was exhausting and exhilarating—a chaos she both loved and hated.
A few cases were easier. A girl with a Lego up her nose, a sweet old man who cut himself on a can opener. Cassie excelled at bedside care. She could calm almost anyone down.
She never imagined she’d need the same comfort.
Leaning against the wall, sipping soda, she felt her phone buzz. The caller ID read “Nurse Barbie”—Will had renamed her contacts again. Rolling her eyes, she answered.
“Hhello, Felicia?”
“Ca—Cassie! Thank God!” Felicia’s voice trembled. She sounded panicked.
“What’s wrong? Are the cats sick again?”
“No... I heard something in your apartment. It sounded like a fight—then a loud bang. I called Will, but he didn’t answer. I got scared and called Luke. He said to call the police. There are cops everywhere. I don’t know what’s going on.”
Cassie’s stomach dropped.
“I’m coming.”
She hung up and bolted past the nurses’ station. Victoria shouted after her, but Cassie didn’t stop. Something was wrong.
In the car, she called Will’s phone—voicemail.
“Damn it! Pick up!” she screamed, pounding the steering wheel.
Two more tries. Nothing.
Cassie tossed the phone aside and sped the few blocks home.
When she arrived, the flashing lights didn’t scare her. The ambulance pulling up after her did.
Cassie jumped out and ran up the stairs, following the EMTs.
“Will!” she cried, reaching her floor. A police officer stopped her, holding her back.
“I live here! Let me go! My boyfriend’s in there!”
The officer, an older man with graying hair, looked at her gently. “Ma’am, let’s sit down. I need to talk to you. Do you have a friend nearby?”
“Cassie!” Felicia called from Victoria’s apartment, eyes wide with fear.
“You know her?” the officer asked.
“Yes, sir. We’re friends. We work together,” Felicia confirmed.
The officer led Cassie into the apartment. Her heart was pounding out of control.
“I’m sorry,” he began. “There was a break-in. It looks like the suspect didn’t realize your boyfriend was home.”
Cassie gripped Felicia’s hand. Time slowed.
“He was shot. I’m very sorry. Mr. Baker... was already gone when we arrived.”
Cassie’s eyes darted to the open door across the hall.
“No. No... we just talked. This can’t be happening—this doesn’t happen here.” Her knees gave out as the EMT wheeled a stretcher down the hall. A black body bag.
Cassie screamed—a guttural, broken sound—and ran.
“Cassie, don’t!” Felicia cried, catching her and holding her as she collapsed.
“Please, Felicia, I can’t let them take him. Please!”
“We’ll go—we’ll follow them,” Felicia choked out.
---
The ride was silent.
Felicia tried to keep it together long enough to call Luke. She couldn’t say it aloud, couldn’t say the words. She just told him something happened, that he needed to come to the hospital. When he asked if it was about what she heard—if Will was hurt—Felicia just cried.
Cassie sat empty-eyed in the passenger seat, saying nothing.
They arrived at the back entrance of the hospital. The morgue.
Oliver was already waiting. He’d seen the report. The address.
When he saw Cassie’s face, he didn’t say a word. He just walked forward and wrapped his arms around her.
Cassie didn’t respond. She just stood there, frozen.
One call.
One moment.
Everything had changed.
- Writer
