Only Time Will Tell
Part 13
Cassy pulled into the driveway of Janet Cardinal's home, parking next to Tom's Mustang. She had already been to the hospital, hoping to catch Janet before Tom took her home. She needed to speak to the woman alone. She would not. . .could not. . . tell Tom of the mistakes she had made until she confronted Janet.
Dr. Allen had informed her that Tom and Janet had left a half-hour before Cassy's arrival. Cassy could only assume that Tom would take Janet back to her house. She had been right.
She now sat in her Boxter, not wanting to leave the emotional safety of the vehicle. Part of her knew she had no choice but to walk into that house and demand the truth from Janet, another part of her wanted to run, wanted to forget the revelations that Harry's talk had revealed. What could be gained by reopening these old wounds? 'Truth' was the only answer. If she was right, and she knew she was, Janet had betrayed Tom and used Cassy. And no one was allowed to do that.
"Okay, St. John, let's do it," she muttered to herself as she climbed out of the car and flung her purse over her shoulder.
She approached the front door and rang the doorbell.
*****************
Janet looked down at Tom, "I'm sorry, Tommy. It was never supposed to end up like this. I loved you. . .I always loved you," she whispered.
Tom slowly shook his head back and forth, trying desperately to keep his eyes open. He was losing track of time, his thoughts were becoming muddled, his vision becoming even blurrier.
"I promise that you won't feel anything when this is over." Her voice caught with a quiet sob, "I told you I don't want you to be in pain," the woman continued.
Janet reached onto the bed and grabbed the duct tape. She pulled the end loose and started to make her way past Tom's head and towards his feet. Before she could kneel down to secure his legs, the doorbell rang, startling her. The sound of the bell also seemed to bring Tom around. His eyes became clearer. He let out a loud grunt, but the tape covering his mouth muffled the sound.
Janet looked out the window and let out a moan of frustration. A blue Boxter was sitting in the driveway next to Tom's Mustang. She dropped the tape onto the bed, grabbed Tom's gun and left the bedroom, shutting the door behind her.
Tom willed his mind to stay alert, knowing that he was fighting a losing battle against the alcohol and sedatives. He tried desperately to push himself up into a sitting position. He was successful in making it halfway, but dizziness overwhelmed him and he collapsed back onto the floor.
***********************
Janet pulled her blouse loose from her pants and secured Tom's gun into the waistband, making sure it was hidden from view. She stood in the foyer and looked through the peephole. Anger welled up in her to a level far beyond any she had felt previously. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying desperately to bring her racing emotions under control.
The doorbell rang a second time and Janet reached for the handle. She turned the knob and pulled the door towards her. Cassy St. John was standing on the porch, her blue eyes cold.
"We need to talk," Cassy said, seeing no need for a polite greeting.
"There's nothing to talk about," Janet responded, her voice equally cold.
"Like Hell there's not." Cassy growled.
Janet started to push the door closed, but Cassy's foot planted against it firmly. Despite the other woman's larger size, Cassy was able to prevent the door from closing in her face.
"Fine. . .we'll talk." Janet released the door and turned to walk into the living room.
Cassy followed, her eyes searching the room. "Where's Tom."
"He's gone. Went to the store," the lie easily floated past Janet's lips, just like all the others she had told over the years.
"His car's here."
"He wanted to walk. Said he needed the fresh air." Janet walked across the room to stand next to the staircase.
Cassy's eyes focused on the large bloodstain next to the fireplace. "Is that where you killed your husband."
"It was self-defense, St. John. And if you're just here to badger me, then you can leave right now."
"I'm not here to talk about what you did to your husband. I'm here to talk about what you did to mine," Cassy's words were sharp and filled with ice.
Cassy saw a flicker of fear in Janet's eyes. "I know what you did." The fear remained. "You destroyed my marriage, Janet. I know that now."
The fear disappeared, replaced by what appeared to be a look of relief. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"You slipped up today, Janet, and you don't even know it. But I do." Janet said nothing, choosing to just stare at the detective. "All this time, I thought Tom had an affair with you. The evidence was so clear to me. But now I realize that you planted the evidence. That you were setting us up so that our marriage would fail and then you could step into the picture and take Tom away."
"You're delusional, St. John. You're just angry because you weren't woman enough to keep your husband."
Cassy shook her head, scoffing at the comment, "At one time, I would have fallen for that. . .I would have lost control of my temper, but no more. Never again."
She walked towards Janet, so that only only a few feet separated the two. "You planted a note in Tom's pocket to make me think that he was having an affair with you. When did you do it? I figure it was at some point when Tom invited you over. . .as a friend. . .for a talk."
Janet was silent. Cassy continued, "And all those times you called for him at the house, you knew he wasn't there. . .you had no intention of talking to him. You just wanted to rattle my cage."
Janet shrugged, "You can believe what you want to believe. It's in the past and over. You don't have Tom any more. . .he's mine now. You gain nothing by dredging all this back up now."
Cassy laughed, the sound cruel, "You know, I thought the very same thing until I realized what else you had done to hurt me. . .to turn Tom against me."
Janet turned away and walked towards the wall, leaning against it casually. "Janet, how did you know that the Mustang had been vandalized?"
Janet was silent for a moment, then she answered. "Tom told me."
"Nope. . .no way," Cassy said triumphantly.
"What do you mean? He told me yesterday."
"You lose, Janet. Tom never knew about the car, because I never told him."
"You must have," Janet retorted. "How else would I know?"
"Because you did it," Cassy respond factually.
"Did what?" the woman huffed.
"Slit the seats. I left the car parked outside with the top down one evening. When I went out to put the top up, the seats had been slashed. I figured it was some of the neighborhood kids. I know now it was you."
Janet shook her head in denial, "Why in the Hell would I do that."
"Because I took the car from Tom; because I took Tom from you. You knew how much the car meant to Tom. . .you knew that he had entrusted it to me. . .and you made damn sure that I failed in keeping his trust." Cassy's eyes narrowed, her anger starting to rise, "But the plan backfired on you, because I didn't tell him what happened. I figured that since the car was mine, it was none of his business. Frankly, I didn't want to deal with his accusations about my carelessness. So I hid the damage from him. I didn't even file a police report. I bought seat covers until I could afford to fix the damage."
Janet let out a small sound, something between a groan and a laugh, "Nice story, St. John, but you're fantasizing about my involvement."
"Too late to change what you said earlier, Janet. You already admitted that you knew what had happened. Since I didn't tell you. . .and I didn't tell Tom, the only way you could have known was if you were involved." Cassy approached the woman, "You know what else? I don't think you stopped with the car."
"What else has your overactive imagination come up with?"
"How about the dog, Janet. Were you responsible for that too?"
"What?"
"Tom's dog. He entrusted the dog to me, and within a couple of weeks after the divorce, the dog was dead. Escaped from the backyard. I thought he dug under the fence. Did you let him out?"
Janet shook her head, a dumbfounded look crossing over her features, "Damn, you are paranoid, aren't you?"
"Maybe. . .but you have me wondering now," Cassy growled. "I think Tom is going to be very interested when he hears what you have had your hand in."
Janet laughed. "Like I said before, do you honestly think any of that matters anymore?" She pushed herself upright, away from the wall. "You are such a fool, St. John. You never appreciated what you had. I did. Tom was willing to give you everything and you pushed him away. He fell apart and I was there to pick up the pieces." The woman took a step towards Cassy. "He was such a fool. I was willing to give him everything I had to give. . .but he didn't want me. . .he wanted you."
"You want to know the pathetic part? After everything you did to him, he forgives you." Janet reached behind her back casually. Before Cassy could move, the woman had a gun pointing at Cassy's chest. "But I don't. I never will," the woman said, rage filling her voice.
Cassy couldn't help the quick inhale of breath as she realized the woman was carrying a police-issued weapon. . .Tom's gun. Her fear for her partner's safety froze her in place. "Where's Tom?"
"Sleeping," Janet muttered.
"If you've hurt him. . ." Cassy started to threaten, but Janet cut her off.
"You'll be in no position to stop me from doing anything, St. John. You'll be dead long before he is."
The woman slid her hand across the top of the automatic, advancing the next bullet into the chamber. Cassy, knowing that this was her only opportunity to save herself, prepared to launch herself at the woman.
Both women were startled by a muffled shout of "No" from above. Tom stumbled around the corner of the second floor hallway. He tried to stop his momentum at the top of the stairs, but the drug-induced haze, which had control of his mind, gave him no control over his reflexes. He lurched forward, trying to catch himself on the top step, but with his arms held firm behind him, his foot missed and his body tumbled helplessly down the stairs.
End Part 13
To Part 14