Chapter 24: Falling to Pieces

Debbie was practically hyperventilating when she hung up the phone. Her heart was pounding, and she felt the room spinning.

What am I going to do? What could the detective want? Why did he think I could be of help? I have to call JJ.

She dialed JJ's house and Caroline answered.

"Hey Caroline. Can I speak to JJ? It's Debbie."

"Hi Debbie. He isn't here."

"How could he not be there? It's barely 10 am. Has he gone out already?" Debbie's voice was a pitcher higher, and she knew it. Caroline would certainly think something was wrong if Debbie didn't calm herself down.

"I don't know where he is. All I know is my mom is mad at him because he didn't come home again last night."

"What do you mean again? He's done this before?"

"Everyone once in a while. When he gets a new girlfriend or something. But I'll tell him you called."

Debbie's body began to shake. Her mouth went dry, and she struggled to speak. She wanted to get off the phone as quickly as possible.

"Okay," Debbie managed and hung up the phone without saying good-bye.

Her legs felt like jelly, and she collapsed onto the floor. Tears poured down her cheeks soaking the front of her t-shirt. Was Caroline right about JJ? Did he have another girl?

The knock at her door jolted her back to consciousness. She wiped her face and hoped back into bed.

"Hey Deb. It's dad. Can I come in?"

Debbie pulled the blankets over her head.

"Sure dad," she mumbled.

Debbie's father entered her room and sat down at the end of her bed.

"Hey kiddo. We got a call from a detective from the Mohegan Lake PD. Says he needs your help. He wants us to come to the station today at about 2:00."

Debbie slowly pulled the blanket down, exposing only her eyes and nose.

"My help? How could I possibly help? I have been sick in bed for days."

"Not sure really. But he seemed to genuinely need to speak with you."

"Does it have to be today? I don't know if I feel up to going out of the house yet." Debbie had to try to stall, to put this meeting off until she at least spoke to JJ.

"You seem cool as a cucumber," he said after placing the palm of his hand gently on her forehead.

"Let's get mom in here and see what she thinks. Paula! Paula! Can you come up to Debbie's room, please!"

Debbie's mom arrived holding a mug of coffee in one hand and a cigarette in the other.

"Morning sweetie, feeling better?"

Before Debbie could answer, her father explained the call he received from Detective McCree to Debbie's mom. They both agreed she would be up to going down to the station to help the detective with his questions today as scheduled.

Debbie wanted to argue, to put up a big fuss about still being sick, but she was too scared that she might break down.

"I'll make you some waffles. Hop into the shower and come right down. You'll see how much better you'll feel after a nice hot shower and a bite," her mom proclaimed.

Her dad patted her on the leg and gave her a wink. Her parents left, closing the door behind them.

Debbie could hardly eat. She wasn't sick, but the knots in her stomach left no vacancy for food. She picked at a few pieces and moved the rest around the plate giving the allusion that she had eaten more than she had. She and her sister had used this trick many times when they were served meals they didn't like.

One time when Debbie was in the 4th grade, she was invited over to a new neighbor's house to play and was asked to stay for dinner. The Yardly's had a daughter named Stephanie who was a year younger than Debbie. She was horrified when Mrs. Yardly brought out a serving tray holding a huge tongue. Mr. Yardly sliced up the tongue and served it to everyone with a smile. The sight of Mr. Yardly carving an enormous tongue played like a scene from a horror film. He announced that cow's tongue was a delicacy and how lucky they all were that he was able to get it at such a reasonable price. Debbie moved her pieces around and only ate the peas and carrots. She never accepted a dinner invitation at the Yardly's house again.

When she went back up to her room, she laid on her bed staring up at the ceiling. Maybe she was overreacting? It had been almost two months since the detectives interviewed her and her friends. Maybe they just had some follow up questions? Maybe the detective was asking everyone to come in?

Debbie called Laurel first, then Franey. But, neither one of them had gotten a call from Detective McCree or anyone from the MLPD. She decided not to call the rest of her friends. It was bad enough that she would now have to explain her visit to the station to Laurel and Franey. She didn't want to be faced with having to answer questions from the guys too. The only one she desperately needed to talk to was JJ.

Then Debbie got a terrible feeling. A title wave of fear washed over her so quickly that she felt her face and neck heat up. Had JJ changed his mind about going to the police? Or was it much worse? Was the reason he wasn't at home this morning because the detectives had figured it out? Did they have JJ there in custody?

"My god. Oh my god," Debbie whispered. She began pacing back and forth, shaking her hands at the wrist. The back of her neck was sweating, in spite of the cool temperature in the room. Tears returned to Debbie's eyes. Did they know? Did they know what happened to Stacey and they needed to ask about JJ's alibi? What if he confessed and now, she was in trouble for lying for him? Oh god JJ Please call me and tell me I am being paranoid. Please call me and tell me there is nothing to worry about.

Debbie sat back down on her bed and stared at the phone, but it never rang.