The Bed You've Made: Part One

My life is over; Geo Logan thought after he read what was in the envelope left on the windshield of his car. He wanted to cry, but his four year old son Kaden sat in the chair next to him, watching “Ed, Edd, and Eddy” reruns without a care in the world. How much Geo wished he could go back to a place so simple.

One month after his divorce had been finalized; Geo had hoped the turmoil with his now ex-wife Sheri would be over and done with. That had been until the threatening notes started showing up on his doorstep, at the office of Kaden’s school, clasped under the windshield wipers of Geo’s car. Anywhere they could be left, that’s where Geo would find them.

THIS ISN’T OVER.

YOU KNOW BETER THAN TO RUN AWAY.

HE ISN’T SAFE.

I WILL END YOU AND TAKE EVERYTHING YOU LOVE.

All typed, without a signature, but all without a doubt coming from Sheri. Anyone who wasn’t emotionally broken enough to fall for her skills of manipulation could see she had been the author of these notes and letters.

They had troubled Geo, but none had scared him the way this last one did.

A knock came at the door, causing Geo to jump.

With shaking hands, Geo opened the door and sighed at the sight of his lawyer Cassie Holland. Geo guided Cassie into the dining room where Geo still had a clear view of Kaden from where he sat in front of the TV.

Geo handed the letter to Cassie, who then read the letter carefully, aloud in a hushed voice so Kaden didn’t hear.

“IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT YOU KNOW BY NOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LEAVE, OR THINK YOU CAN LEAVE ME. APPARENTLY, I STILL NEED TO REMIND YOU.

THIS HAS GONE BEYOND LEAVING LITTLE LOVE NOTES AROUND, FAR BEYOND THAT. YOU KNOW ME BETTER THAN YOU KNOW YOURSELF, SO YOU KNOW WELL THAT I DON’T LIE…WELL, I DON’T LIE ABOUT THINGS LIKE THIS. ONCE I’VE STARTED WHAT I’VE HAD IN MIND, YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO STOP IT. THIS IS THE BED YOU’VE MADE; NOW YOU WILL SLEEP IN IT, YOU SELFISH SACK OF SHIT.”

Cassie placed the typed letter on the table, and then folded her hands together.

“Well?” Geo asked, his voice shaking. “Can she be arrested for this?”

Cassie sighed. “We can maybe have her jailed for violating the restraining order.”

“ ‘Maybe’ violating it?” Geo asked, stunned, picking up the letter from the table. “She threatened me for leaving her.”

“And she can easily say she didn’t write this, or any of the other things sent to you. They’re all typed. Unless Sheri’s fingerprints are on each piece of paper, or the ink cartridges she used to print these can be traced, there’s not much you can really do against her in the long run.” Cassie said, her voice all legal business though her eyes were filled with sympathy for Geo in his difficult predicament.

Geo looked away from his attorney and stared down at the table in front of him.

Sheri had worked everything out to her benefit, and Geo knew she knew it.

“What do I do then?” Geo asked. “How do I protect Kaden and myself from her when she’s this unstable when she has the law on her side?”

Cassie sighed, her eyes back on the typed letter on the table as her mind raced to find a solution.

“Her visits with Kaden are supervised, and on your terms; terms you can decide to change at any time. You’re not even tide down to live in the same city as Sheri. The best I can recommend is you taking Kaden somewhere Sheri won’t expect you to go. Given her track record of domestic offenses towards you and possible neglect and abuse towards Kaden, her lawyers can’t argue kidnapping. Once you both are somewhere safe, we can file a motion to have the restraining order modified, and have Sheri be charged with the violation, as well as intimidation of a witness. That’s probably your safest bet if you think she’s really serious about doing you harm.”

“I don’t think it Cassie,” Geo said. “I know she’s serious.”

Cassie nodded. “Then you’d better start packing.”

With his head spinning, Geo ran through everything in his mind he knew he needed before going anywhere. How much cash would he need to take to keep from creating a paper trail for Sheri to follow. Geo also thought of how he couldn’t go to his mother’s or any of his close friends, knowing they were the first places Sheri would go to look for Geo and Kaden.

One thing at a time, Geo thought. He stood up from his chair at the dining room table.

“Come on Kaden!” He called. “Let’s get your suitcase, buddy. We’re going on a trip.”

“My parents have a summer house upstate.” Cassie said. “It’s secluded with a gate and cameras inside and outside the house.”

“That’s not a bad idea, assuming Sheri hasn’t caught onto anything.” Geo said with a slight smile.

Cassie blushed then laughed a little. “I know I’ve been discreet.”

The two were silent for a moment that seemed to go on forever. Both of them scared and excited for the deep bond that had formed between them. However, both knew without saying a word this wasn’t the time or the place.

“Come on Kaden, we can bring your show on the IPad for the drive.” Geo called out again, only this time, the silence he got in return felt more definite and unnerving. Something wasn’t right.

“Kaden?” Geo called again, walking toward the living room with Cassie close behind him. Once in the living room, a cold feeling of terror gripped Geo around his heart. The TV continued you on, but his son no longer sat on the couch watching it.

“Oh my God.” Geo said in a low, scared voice.

Geo and Cassie looked everywhere in the house for Kaden, hoping he had decided to play hide and go seek under Geo’s bed or in one of the closets. Kaden was nowhere in the house, and the sinking feeling in Geo’s stomach grew deeper and deeper, with no sign of ending.

Geo opened the front door, Cassie still at his side, thinking maybe Kaden might be playing in the front yard. No luck there either. Both Geo and Cassie noticed what looked like a shoe box wrapped in brown paper in the middle of the porch at their feet. On top was a typed note.

Geo leaned down closer to read it.

“I TOLD YOU, GEO. I DON’T LIE ABOUT THE THINGS THAT ACTUALLY MATTER.”

Geo just reached the end of the note when he and Cassie heard a small chime coming from the brown paper wrapped box.

“CASSIE GET IN…” was all Geo had time to say before the brown paper covered box exploded; sending fire, pieces of the brown paper, and other debris in all directions. In the few seconds Geo had to warn Cassie, he had been able to turn his body and use himself as a blockade between Cassie and the bomb, leaving the skin on the back of Geo’s head, his neck, and his back burned.

Geo had hardly felt any of it.

Cassie was alright, shaken, but unharmed.

Geo pulsed with adrenaline and along with a primal fury as he looked at the remains of his porch, still flaming at the edges.

Sheri had taken Geo’s son and had tried to kill Geo and Cassie. This was no longer a messy divorce and custody battle.

This was a declaration of war.

End of Part One