Page 75 of Jackass

“Coffee and the special,” Winchester ordered.

“Same,” Romeo and Mimic stated at the same time.

“You got it.”

“Hey, Sam, phone,” Julie called out.

“Be right there, Julie.” Before I could turn, Romeo took my hand.

“Come back and let us know who it was.”

“I know the drill.” I sighed.

I gave the order to Christopher Wilson, the cook. Chris was in his fifties and had grown up in Diamond Creek. He had been working at the diner since he was sixteen. Started out washing dishes and worked his way up to cook. I don’t think The Diner would be what it was without him. Joellen knew it too and let him get away with more than any of the rest of us.

Walking into the back, I grabbed the phone. “Hello?” I didn’t know who would call me here. Everyone I knew had my cell number.

“Sam?” the voice said.

“Carrie? Why are you calling here and not my cell phone?” I asked, confused.

“I didn’t know if your phone was being bugged.”

“Carrie, that’s ridiculous.”

Though, come to think of it, I guess it was possible.

“Sam, you don’t see what I see. Jack isn’t who you think he is. He is controlling you, just like Derek was.”

“Carrie, that isn’t true. Jack is nothing like Derek.”

“Then tell me why the Shadows have been in the diner all day? I wanted to come see you at work, talk to you alone. But Jack won’t let you be alone, will he?”

“He is worried about me and Charlie. With Derek sending that note, he could be anywhere,” I reminded her.

“Which is why we should leave,” Carrie urged.

“Carrie, I don’t want to run anymore. Matlock is sending divorce papers to Derek. I want my life back, and Jack is helping me do that. Plus, Charlie is his daughter. I can’t take her away from him. I can’t do that to Charlie either. She loves her father.”

“Dammit, Sam, you aren’t listening. Derek will not give you up. He won’t let someone else have you. I haven’t told you everything the notes said. I didn’t want you to know how truly evil he is.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Sam, you have tables waiting,” a voice called down the hall.

I placed my hand over the mouth of the phone. “Coming, Joellen.”

“Carrie, I have to get back to work.”

“I need to see you, Sam. You and Charlie. Meet me somewhere? But you can’t tell Jack.”

“Carrie, I can’t not tell him. Besides, I have someone with me everywhere I go.”

“You lost the tail before; you can do it again. Meet me in Scottsbluff. Thursday, you can leave work early and meet me at Luna Bean. I need to tell you everything so you understand you can’t stay there now that Derek knows where you are.”

I bit my lip and thought about what she said. If I didn’t know everything, maybe staying wasn’t the best idea.

“Ok, I’ll meet you Thursday.”