Page 38 of Cade

“Obsessed how?” asked Cade.

“Just always wanting to know what it would be like to be dead. He doesn’t have a death wish or anything, but he reads all this shit on the internet about people dying and coming back to life. What they saw, what they experienced, that kind of shit.”

“Alright, I’ll go in first,” said Cade. “You keep Cass behind you, understand?”

“Yes, sir.” Brent nodded, stepping out of the truck. Cass jumped down, and he pushed her behind him. Stepping onto the front porch, Cade knocked, the door opening slightly as he did.

“Tolin?” he called. “Tolin?” He took a step and heard an eerily familiar sound. Turning, he looked at Brent, who heard the same sound.

“Fuck,” he muttered.

“What? What is it?” asked Cass.

“Tolin? My name is Cade Norgenson. I’m a friend of Franco’s. I’ve got Brent with me.” He heard the sound again, chills creeping up his back. The sound of the gun being cocked and then uncocked was not something he would forget. Stepping into the entryway, he looked left into a dining room and then right to see a wide open-spaced living area. A young man was seated in a big easy chair, his forty-five lying on his knee. His thumb cocked the trigger, then gently released it, cocking it again.

“Tolin? Brother, put the weapon down,” said Cade.

“I can’t make it stop,” he whispered.

“Can’t make what stop?” asked Brent, standing in the entry. Tolin looked at the man, his familiar face resonating with him. He started to grin, then frowned. “What can’t you make stop, Tolin?”

“The pain. There’s this piercing pain in my head. It won’t go away. I called the VA, and they can’t get me in until next week. Some other doctor called and said I could come out to his farm, but my truck broke down.”

“Does he know where you are?” asked Cade.

“Who?” frowned the man, looking confused.

“The man who asked you to go to his farm,” said Cade. “Does he know where you live?”

“I’m not sure,” he said, shaking his head. “Who are you people?”

Cass stepped around Brent, smiling at the other man. He looked at her, his features softening a bit.

“Hello,” she said sweetly. “My name is Cassidy Pechkin, and these are my friends. That’s Cade Norgenson and Brent Hodges. We’re friends of Franco Miretti’s. You serve with him and Brent. Do you remember that?”

“Serve?” he asked, confusion filling his features. “Serve. Right, right, I’m a Marine.”

“That’s right,” smiled Cass. “You’re a strong, brave Marine, and we’re here to help you. We’re here to make the pain stop. But first, I need for you to let Cade have your weapon. Will you do that for me?” She took another step toward him, and Brent thought about reaching for her, but Tolin had a protective look on his face.

“Are they going to hurt you?” he asked.

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “They would never hurt me, and they would never hurt you. Will you give me your weapon?”

“You promise to make it stop?” he asked.

“I give you my word,” she said, reaching out with a flat palm. He lay the cold steel in her hand, and she nodded. “Thank you.”

“I’m going to take a look at your head and neck, brother,” said Cade. “I think they put something inside you.”

Brent kneeled in front of his friend.

“I had it too, Tolin. It’s this weird fucking piece of metal that was making my head hurt. Once he takes it out, you’ll be okay.” Tolin closed his eyes, hearing the ticking of the metal detector around his head.

“I’ve found it,” said Cade. “I think they put it close to his spine.”

“Fuck,” muttered Brent.

“Please,” pleaded the other man, “please just fix it.” He pitched forward, planting himself face-first into the carpet. Cade reached down and felt for a pulse. It was weak, but it was there.

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