Page 24 of Mr. B

“I’ve got a few more hours ahead of me before I get to go home.”

“Right.” She headed for the door. “Have a good night, boss.”

As Cassandra closed the door, Wes stared at the plant. “I should let you die just to spite her.” It was leaning toward the window, and he turned the pot ninety degrees. “Don’t worry, it’s not your fault you were a gift from her.”

Wes worked the next hour without interruption, and it seemed he’d get out of the office on time today. He’d stop by Rocco’s on the way home to talk to Gentry and Abe about holding a fundraiser there. He was pretty confident they’d be behind the idea.

At the sound of raised voices coming through the wall his office shared with Cassandra’s, he stopped what he was doing to listen. The sound certainly wasn’t joyful. He stood and left his office. Cassandra’s door was closed, and he opened it without knocking.

Dennis McFee was standing much too close to Cassandra, who was backed up against the desk. Dennis looked over his shoulder at Wes, but didn’t back up.

“What’s going on here, Dennis?”

“Nothing.” He took a step back, and Cassandra stepped past him and went behind her desk.

“I need you to back away from the desk and have a seat.”

“Don’t want to sit.” Dennis picked up the one frog Cassandra had kept. It was cut-glass made to look like crystal. Solid and heavy. He turned to Wes, then threw it at him before trying to rush the door.

Wes dodged the frog, which hit the wall, leaving a hole in the drywall before dropping to the floor. He grabbed Dennis’ arm and stopped him before he got to the door. Dennis looked at him for a moment, then dropped his eyes to the floor, while making a weak attempt at freeing his arm from Wes’ grip.

“Are you ready to sit now?”

Dennis nodded, and Wes dropped him into the chair, then looked at Cassandra. “Are you okay?”

She nodded, then brushed some hair from her face with a trembling hand.

Polly appeared at the door. “Mr. Buchanan?”

“Polly, will you lock the front door and put a sign on it? We’ll be back… et cetera.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then call Mrs. McFee and Sheriff Buchanan.”

“Right away.”

Dennis looked at him. “You’re calling the sheriff on me? And my mom?”

“Dennis, you’ve been suspended three times now, which is one over the limit. This will make four. This time it’s permanent expulsion.”

Dennis looked at Cassandra, who was still standing next to her chair. “I’m sorry, Dr. Jordan.”

She glanced at Wes, then sat in the chair.

Wes put a hand on Dennis’ shoulder. “That’s not going to save you.” He looked at the glass frog. “You could’ve killed me with that thing.”

“I wasn’t trying to hit you.”

“Well, you have terrible aim, then. If I hadn’t dodged it, I’d be lying on the floor next to the damn frog.”

Dennis suddenly started crying. “My mom is going to kill me.”

Wes looked at Cassandra. “How did this escalate?”

“He’s missed four days since school started. When he does show up, he’s late to class. I just asked him what was going on, and he…” Her hands were still trembling, and she clasped them on the desk.

“I’m going to sit here with Dennis until Justin shows up. You can go sit in my office, or go home if you want.”