The Walls Of The Universe Part 20

He was just nearly asleep when she spoke.

"So, we've only killed one of an infinite number of Ted Carsons," she said.

"Just the one," Prime said. "And he deserved it-"

"Don't do that," she said. "Don't justify it."

"Isn't that what you're doing?"

In the darkness, he felt her lift her arm to her face and rub at it. She was crying.

"It had to be done," she said. "Didn't it. If we hadn't, Abby would have had no father."

"He wasn't coming to talk," Prime said. "He was coming to attack. We just did what had to be done. It had to be done."

Casey sighed. She rolled over, hooking her legs around his.

"Why did you pick me, of all the Caseys?" she whispered.

"I always pick you," Prime said.

"Why me? Why this me?"

Prime shrugged. "You're... you. I mean, you're beautiful, and interesting, and really hot."

"Just because you think I'm s.e.xy?"

"No! We were meant to be!"

"Why me and not some other me? Maybe you were meant to be with her."

"This is where I ended up. It must have been fated."

"What about that other John? What if he and I were fated to be together and you ruined it?" Casey asked.

"He never even talked with you!"

"No, he never did. Not more than a dozen words," she said. "Even though I gave him a lot of chances."

"I talked to you the first day," Prime said.

"At the church dinner," Casey said. "You were suddenly different."

"I was."

"It was the first thing you did?"

"Pretty much."

"And then you got expelled."

"Yes."

"And you started your big Cube idea."

"Yes."

"But I was first," she said.

"Yes."

"What if you went to some other universe, and some other Casey was there, would you want her?"

"Casey, don't-"

She rolled over on top of him, and he felt how hot her s.e.x was near his.

"I deserve some answers! Would you date any Casey you came across?"

"No, some are... better than others."

"Better?"

"Sometimes you're not... you. You've dropped out of school, or gotten pregnant-"

"Like here?"

"-or you've run away from home. There you're not as beautiful, or as... interesting."

"How many Caseys have there been for you?"

Prime didn't answer.

"Tell me," she said, thrusting her hips against him. He groaned.

"Ten," he said.

"Ten? You f.u.c.ked ten of me?" She nipped at his neck. "What do they have that I haven't?"

"Nothing," Prime said, responding, "You're the best."

She bit him. "Now I know you're lying."

He yelped, and their lovemaking turned silent, angry, and desperate.

The next Monday, a group of workers combed the plant and a.s.sembly area. Prime couldn't help but hear the rumors: Missing boy. Hadn't been seen in thirty-six hours. Car missing.

Prime focused on his work, a.s.sembling his parts without regard for the person in front of him.

"Slow down, Rayburn!" Sid whispered. "You're making me look bad."

Prime glanced at the six partially a.s.sembled washing machines hanging on straps between him and Sid. There should have been one.

"Sorry."

"Hey! You hear about this Ted Carson kid?"

Prime shook his head, though he had.

"Missing for a week now." Prime bit on his tongue at the incorrect information. "They think he was crushed under a crane. Didn't have any of his safety quals, but his dad is some union muckety-muck and got him a floor job. Big mess."

A shop warden came by and asked if anyone wanted to help search the warehouse after shift. Prime grunted noncommittally.

"What, Rayburn? You too good to help look?"

"I've got plans after work."

"More of that Cube business?" the shop warden said with a laugh.

Prime should never have bragged about it. He shook his head.

"We searching on the clock?" Sid asked.

The warden laughed. Sid didn't volunteer either.

That evening, Casey and Prime almost acted like normal. He caught her glancing at him more than once, but he ignored it. It was easy to lose themselves in caring for Abby, in the mundanity of married life. Without the time he'd spent on the Cube, his evenings were more free than ever, and he had no interest in the novel anymore.

It was as if he had lost everything that he had held sacred up to a week ago, but when it was possible he might lose Casey and Abby what he really valued became clear.

The next day at work, a police officer was questioning the people who had worked with Ted Carson. They led each of Carson's posse of friends into a small office, one at a time. After fifteen or twenty minutes the next one was led in. Prime had a good view of the office from his position on the line, but they never called him.

He caught one of Ted's comrades staring at him twice during the day, but he looked away when Prime focused on him.

Was it his imagination?

In the locker room, he found himself standing next to Ted Carson's father. The room was suddenly empty.

Prime turned and faced him squarely.

"Yeah?"

"I hear there was something between you and my son."

"So what?"

"In case you haven't heard, he's gone missing. If you know something, you need to tell the police."

Prime barked down a laugh. "I have nothing to say."

"If you know something-"

"Nothing!"

Carson's face turned a blotchy purple. Prime wouldn't have survived a punch if he'd thrown one. The man was squat and muscular, twice the width of Prime.

"I'll remember that when you need someone to help you," Carson said. He turned and stalked off.

There was a police car out front of their apartment when Prime got home. For a second, he considered driving on, but he pulled the Trans Am into a street spot.

A uniformed officer and a plain-clothed detective stood in the kitchen. Casey, Abby in her arms, glanced up as Prime entered.

"John, these officers are here to ask about the guy that disappeared."

"Detective," the plain-clothed detective said. "Not officer. Detective Duderstadt." He didn't offer his hand.

"I'm sorry," Casey said.

"Ted Carson," Prime said. "You're here about Ted Carson."

"Yes, you know him?"

"Vaguely."

"Enough to have at least one fight with him," the detective said. The officer stood with arms on his hips, glaring at Prime. The detective was shorter, with a pencil-thin mustache.

"That was a long time ago," Prime said, and another John entirely.

"You were expelled because of it."

"I was expelled for not writing a letter to his mother. It was a matter of principle."

"Motive could be a matter of principle."

"Motive for what?" Prime asked. "Didn't he run off?"

"Could have," the detective said. "You two had words at the plant too, I hear."

"He said rude things about Casey," Prime said. "I didn't let him get away with it."

"I see."

"Carson is a punk. He's a bully. I learned last year he's not worth messing with," Prime said.

"Did he stop by on Thursday night?" the detective asked.