Chapter Sixteen

A manda pulled into a parking spot at the school. She’d returned this evening to meet Quinn and watch a play put on by the drama department. Not seeing Quinn or her car, she fished her phone out of her purse. No message from Kasey. Since he left for his trip, things between them had turned distant. They never really talked. They communicated like two junior high kids scared the other would break up with them at any moment.

It was dumb and frustrating, especially after how close they’d gotten at the beach cabin. She should never have told him she didn’t want to hear about his work. In protecting herself, she’d driven a wedge between them.

The lights in the parking lot jolted on with flashes, then stayed constant. She recognized Drake Trace and Billy Plough, two varsity basketball players in a car across the parking lot. Both were straight-A students and had signed with colleges to play basketball.

Billy drank from a water bottle and handed it to Drake. They laughed and talked while taking sips and passing the water bottle back and forth. She doubted water was in the bottle.

When they drained the last of the liquid, the boys put sticks of gum in their mouths and exited the Mustang.

She slipped out of her car and walked over to intercept them before they made it to the school doors. “Hi, Drake. Hi, Billy.”

“Hey, Ms. Crane. You come to see the play too?” Drake smiled. Because of the darkness and shadows, she couldn’t tell if his eyes were glassy. Had he been drinking while driving?

Anger, frustration, hurt, or maybe all three heated her face. “I did.”

“Genevive threatened to break up with me if I didn’t come tonight,” Billy said.

Quinn rushed up. “I never thought I’d get here. Traffic was nuts. Hi, guys.”

The boys politely nodded.

“You ready to go inside,” her friend asked.

“I was about to ask Drake and Billy to come to my office for a minute. Would you come too?”

“Of course.”

As they entered the school and walked through the halls, the boys and Quinn spoke about plans for summer break. Amanda focused on gathering her courage. When they made it inside her office, she closed the door. “Please sit.”

The boys sat in the chairs facing her desk, and Quinn behind it.

Let my words reach them. “I saw you boys while you sat in your car.”

They guiltily glanced at each other.

Billy sat forward. “We didn’t drink until we got to the school.”

“I wouldn’t have had a buzz when I drove home,” Drake defended.

“I didn’t ask. I don’t want to discuss what I saw. I’d merely like to tell you something personal about myself.” Although she considered Quinn her best friend in town, Amanda hadn’t shared the story about her parents with her. But telling Kasey about the accident freed something inside of her. Plus, she didn’t want something awful to happen to these two boys.

“When I was eighteen, my parents were in a head-on collision and instantly died. The driver of the other car was in a coma for two weeks.”

Stunned silence.

“The accident was my father’s fault. He’d been drinking.”

Quinn inhaled an audible breath.

Drake and Billy stared at Amanda.

She swallowed past the burning in her throat. “It didn’t need to happen. They could’ve called a cab or a friend.”

No one moved.

“You boys are just starting out in life. I’d hate for anything to derail your future. Please don’t let that happen.”

The only sound came from people talking in the hallway.

Drake stood. “I’ll call my brother to come get us after the play.”

“A smart decision.” She smiled. “Keep making smart decisions.”

The boys left in a somber mood.

She wanted to call Kasey and tell him what just happened, but since it was almost seven here, it’d be two in the morning in Italy. Next time they spoke she’d tell him.

Quinn stood and hugged her. A catch caught in her voice when she said, “Dearest, my heart aches for you.”

Her words blanketed Amanda in comfort.

~

“I hope you’re enjoying these episodes from the Dolomites.” Kasey smiled at the camera. The golden morning sun cast the mountains in light and shadow. A cold dense fog hung heavy in the air, almost thick enough to taste. His crew looked a bit disheveled since they’d been hiking while filming the last week.

At first, he’d worried about the clothing needed for this chilly climb. He shouldn’t have, his sponsor had taken care of everything. The thin thermals, stretchy jeans, sweater, socks, wind/water resistant jacket, and climbing shoes were easy to move in. Thank goodness for proper equipment. “It’s a crisp thirty-six degrees this morning. I’ll be rope-soloing today.”

He held out his arms. “As you can see, I’m wearing climbing gear.” He pointed to his helmet (which included a camera, microphone, and earpiece), harness, gloves, and backpack as he spoke. He explained how the ropes, runners, quickdraws, carabiners, a silent partner, and other equipment he’d need were clipped to him and in the backpack. “Safety devices, including an auto belay and rope grabs, will protect me if I fall. Here at Hunter Kase, we put safety first. Be sure to do the same in your ascents.

“This is Cima Grande di Lavaredo. Since this is a popular location, I’ll be using previously installed anchors, pitons, bolts, pegs, and other equipment for the climb. I plan to mirror a route made famous by Emilio Comici. Known as the Angel of the Dolomites , Comici made numerous climbs in the Alps in the 1930s and 40s. I can’t imagine what climbing was like back then. We have significantly better equipment now. In fact, Comici died in an accidental fall caused by a frayed rope, not on this mountain, though.”

“Cut.” Beau stepped in front of him. “I wish you’d wait a few days to make this climb. I didn’t have time to test the already installed equipment on the mountain.”

“I’m sure it’s fine. People climb Cima Grande often.”

“Still, I’d feel better if I go up today and test them. Plus, it rained yesterday. It’s going to be slippery. Some people wait for days after it rains to attempt this climb.”

The staff shuffled around, getting ready. Harper stepped next to Beau, her nose rosy red.

“Do you want to wait until tomorrow, Kasey?” She peered upward. “I don’t like how the sky looks.”

“What are you talking about? It’s a beautiful morning.”

“If we’ve learned anything this week, it’s that weather changes quickly here,” she insisted. “We might get showers.”

“You guys worry too much.” Kasey adjusted the harness.

“You don’t worry enough,” Beau responded. “Remember, you don’t have to secure your rope to every peg or bolt, but don’t skip more than one in a row.”

“Beau, I’ve free-climbed before. Hell, I’ve bouldered on the show.” He turned to Harper. “I’m going up today.”

He didn’t want to tell them he needed the distraction. Since their weekend together, he couldn’t get Amanda out of his head. Making love to her had ruined other women for him. He’d never felt more connected to a person.

Then she’d asked him not to tell her about his work. He understood she didn’t want to hear the dangers, but every time they spoke on the phone since he left, their conversations were strained. It was almost as if a wall had been erected between them. He wanted to share everything with her, not being able to irked him.

He and Beau ran a rope through the bolts closest to the ground and tied them to his harness.

“The cameramen and drone will capture what they can,” Harper explained. “But remember the camera on your head. We want an immersive experience for the viewers.”

“I will.”

“Ready?” she asked.

He nodded.

Simpson turned the camera on him. “Rolling.”

“Our route today is a seventh-grade climb with sixteen pitches and extended vertical stretches...” Kasey continued explaining other particulars only avid climbers would understand.

~

T wo hours later, Kasey’s arms and legs shook and his stomach growled. The rock was wet, slimy, icy in spots, and slippery. Not to mention the tediousness of rope-soloing. He always experienced discomfort while performing a challenge. It was part of it. Part of the adrenaline, the excitement.

Except, he didn’t feel adrenaline.

Or excitement.

No rush.

The danger, the overcoming of a bold feat, had always been important to him. And for the first time in his life, he couldn’t understand why.

He carefully moved his burning fingers to the next crack, searching for a peg he’d spotted. Once he found it, he attached a quickdraw and ran the rope through it. He’d skipped securing the last one he’d seen.

The simple task drained him. Could the altitude be bothering him?

He took a breath and tried to drum up some enthusiasm. He’d been stoked to come to the Dolomites. But now the task aggravated him. It wasn’t the mountain’s fault, the climb was challenging and beautiful, exactly what he loved. He also couldn’t blame it on Harper’s betrayal. At first, her refusal shed a shadow on the show, but not now.

This was different.

He could only blame his uninspired attitude on how much he missed Amanda.

“Kasey?” Beau’s voice came over the headset. “You okay, man?”

Realizing he hadn’t moved in a couple of minutes, he said, “Needed a break.” Spying the next crevice, he reached out to grab it with the fingers on his left hand then brought over his right. He slid his left foot upward until he felt an indention in the rock.

He looked up, then down. Seeing he was more than two-thirds of the way up gave him renewed vigor. He glided his right foot upward. Feeling a gap, he jammed his toes into it and straightened his burning legs.

His foot slipped.

Calmly, he put his weight on his left toes. Inching his right foot upward, he tried to put it back into place. His fingers struggled to keep hold. The arch of his left foot cramped. “Ah.”

He continued to try to find the opening with his foot. Frustration got the better of him. “Fuck!”

Not able to find purchase with his right foot, he balanced on his left. He let go of his hold on the rock with his right hand and groped for a quickdraw to attach it to a peg on his right. He gripped one and hooked it before adjusting the ropes with his cold, worn-out fingers.

When he reached out to return his right hand to the rock, his body jolted the slightest bit. Just enough to dislodge his left foot.

For an instant, he dangled from his left hand.

His right hand searched like a blind man reading braille, trying to find—

He plunged downward.

The motion caused a hitch in his heartbeat, even though he knew the auto belay would engage at any moment.

He yanked to a stop.

The top bolt attached to the rope flew out of the rock.

Kasey’s body plummeted toward the ground.

Frantic shouts came from the headset and the people on the ground.

Gaze focused above him, Kasey watched the rope yank on the next bolt. At first, it slowed his descent, then the bolt sprang from the rock.

He continued to fall.

Faster than before.

His shoulder collided with the mountain. “Ugh.”

His cheek hit next in a blinding punch. Suddenly, the holdup, so long ago, played in his mind. The gun pointed at Mike. How it gleamed as it was aimed at Kasey. The terror of being choked from behind. The deafening gun discharge. The agonizing bullet wound.

He’d cheated death that day.

Would he be so lucky today?

There was nothing he could do. No way to stop himself. His safety equipment had engaged. Now he was at the mercy of the bolts and pegs. Would the next one remain in place with him falling so fast? Would his weight dislodge that one too? And the next? And the next?

He closed his eyes in surrender.

Snapshots of the important people in his life scrolled through his mind. His parents, grandparents, brothers, cousins, Marisol, Dre, Zack, and finally Amanda. Her beautiful blue eyes stared into his.

His father’s words rushed at him, I think once you find something more important, you’ll stop or at least stop doing such high-risk feats .

He’d found that person.

He had only one regret. Not telling Amanda he loved her.

Abruptly, Kasey’s body jerked to a stop.

All movement ceased.

He held his breath, waiting to drop again.

Three drones buzzed around him. He was sure his camera team had gotten everything. Hanging like Tom Cruise when he descended from the ceiling in Mission Impossible , Kasey was getting lightheaded. He took the slightest inhale with as little movement as possible.

“It’s holding,” Beau announced.

Cheers came from below.

Thank you, God.

He’d cheated death again. He was the luckiest guy in the world.

Disaster averted, he relaxed. Pain shrieked from his waist, crotch, and neck from the harness and ropes. His shoulder and cheek were in no better shape.

If he hadn’t already decided, his body was telling him he didn’t need this extreme lifestyle anymore.

“Kasey.” Harper’s words were unusually quiet. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” he answered. “Fine.”

“I’m suiting up to come help you down,” Beau said.

“No.” He analyzed the wall in front of him. “I’m continuing up. I don’t want to repeat this climb tomorrow.”

“The climb isn’t important. You are,” Harper insisted.

“Kasey, we need to check your injuries.” Beau sounded concerned. “Your face is bleeding.”

“I’m fine.” He got a hold of the rock, found footholds, and started up again. He talked while he carefully ascended. “Harper, I’m leaving on the first flight out I can get.”

“No, we tape tomorrow.”

“You’ll have to do it without me. This is my last episode. Ever.”

“Kasey, you’re upset,” she insisted.

“I’m not upset. I’ve been closer to death before. My heart isn’t in it anymore.” The more energy he exerted, the quicker his breath came. “I want to thank you for giving me such an amazing job and life for four years. Doing the show has been incredible. You’ll have hundreds of people lining up to replace me.”

“No one can replace you.” She huffed. “No one has your drive, your humor, your likeability. You can’t quit. You’ll be in breach of your contract if you don’t finish the season.”

“If you want to hold me in breach, take it up with my lawyer. Be forewarned, though. He wanted me to sue you over the Star Breeze newsreel.”

When she didn’t respond, he said, “Let’s call it even.”

“The practice of peace and reconciliation is one of the most vital and artistic of human actions.”

~ Thich Nhat Hanh