My Brother's Keeper

what next

Car 48 backed out of the dead-end alley. T.J. stood there shaking his head, then let his fingers ruffle his hair. He let out a long slow breath. "So that's Nick's boy? A cop go-figure. How'd that happen?"

"As I live and breathe, that's him. I'm not sure how the boy ended up behind a star. I guess it's like a preacher's kid going bad only in reverse." Ed beamed with pride as he talked about his nephew.

"You are the luckiest s-o-b I know."

"That is a fact, come on, let's get out of here."

T.J. lifted an eye brawl. "Where first?"

"I'm guessing the crematorium." Ed brushed off his suit, creased his hat as he centered on his head. "Nick's, business comes in mighty handy, and it looks like my nephew has made a career change."

 The two walked past the street light just a block over stood the police station. Both men paused then looked in that direction. It's better to be lucky than good, both men thought. A single step secured them in the shadows, and they faded into the dark. Four blocks over Nick stood at the back door of the crematorium finishing off a cup of coffee and a cig. The chimney billowed black waves of smoke. The two men rounded the corner to the alley. Nick's set chin told Ed all he needed to know. The boy had already made his deposit. He drew in a deep breath then softly whispered a fast - hail-Mary full of grace- for good luck. 

"Hello, Brother," Ed spoke in a calm voice, then prepared himself for the fireworks.

"Damn-it Ed, you know how hard Martha and I tried to keep Pete from this way of life. The extra steps we took to lead him to a different path! Now, look at what he had to do! My only son just left my back door - a criminal after the fact- but a criminal no less. He had your indiscretion in tow. Slung over his shoulder like last week's laundry." He crushed the paper coffee cup in his fist. "Daddy told me you were no good that night he kicked you out of the house. Pete watched the whole thing go down from his vehicle. I thought you had eyes in the back of your head. Hell, I thought you were the smart one. Tell me, Ed, how did you miss a squad car?"

Ed slowly closed his eyes, "you're right. I'm no good." He shrugged his shoulders in a halfhearted gesture but said nothing for a moment as he considered his words. "I didn't ask the boy to help me; he was just in the right place at the wrong time. No one knows what happened, but the four of us, and Tony, and dead men tell no tales."

"And the girl!" Nick hissed.

Ed sheepishly looked up at his older brother, whom he loved more than himself. 

"Yes, he told me all the details, so let's not forget about her!" Nick took a breath to try and calm down, but more details sprung to mind. "Oh yeah, Einstein, I almost forgot and the old bum Benny, what would you like to say to that, hum!" 

Ed's eye flickered for a quick moment. He didn't know about Benny. Quickly he composed his expression to a more neutral state. "Don't worry." Ed flashed his smile out of habit, his hot head had led him astray before, and he wanted to tread lightly with Nick. Slowly his smile waned.

 

"Don't worry! Really? That's what you are going to say to me! To me, of all people. I know your s**t all too well." Nick nodded his head still with his chin posted with jaws tight. "By daybreak, your problem will be buried in the pet cemetery alongside Murphy's dog Chuckwagon. Just in case the fact ever comes up, and you need to know. May the Saints in Heaven protect you if Pete gets burned." Nick, flicked the butt of his cigarette at Ed. "Because you and I are no longer family if that happens."

"I won't let that happen… I promise… Hey, can I take the car?" Ed gestured to the Buick. "We'll bring it right back." 

"Keys are in the ashtray." Then Nick returned inside. The tumbling lock told them the conversation was over. 

"Well that went well," T.J. mocked

"Shut the hell up and get in the car, won't you." Ed pulled the keys from the ashtray and drove back to the park. A quick swap of vehicles then they drove straight back to the park to look for Benny.

T.J. pulled the picking rake from his leather coat. If criminals received merit badges, he'd be an eagle scout for sure. With ease, he picked the lock to the barbershop, then returned the tool to his inside pocket. His spine popped straight his arm made a large sweeping motion allowing Ed to enter first. "Okay, we're inside, now what?"

 T.J. took to many liberties with Ed, and he knew it, but he couldn't help himself. The two men had been friends since junior high. The truth was, no matter what kind of trash T.J. spilled. He would follow Ed to Hell and gone. Which is where he figured their trail would end. 

"So help me if you ask me that one more time tonight, and the answer to that is we wait. We wait to see if Benny comes back this way tonight. Then we find out what he knows and or what he is willing to forget. Now, will you please shut-up, if you don't mind, while I work this out in my head."

Reviews

[Einstein Noodle]

thugs of a feather well............ something like that ;) i especially like dichotomy of the criminal mind .. Ed says a quick "Hail Mary" .. and Nick's admonishment "May the Saints in Heaven protect you" ... makes me think of the Italian Mafioso ...and i like how the "team" is forming ... wondering how that will work out and end up ... poor Benny the bum ... i feel scared on his behalf ... reading on my friend .. i know this is rough draft and you will be editing but this screamed at me so must point it out ;))))) "..T.J. lifted an eye brawl." :)))))))) mighty fine new avatar pic ma'am! peace and love and joy
E.

[Cherrie Palmer]

I'm not done with Benny :) and thank you, glad you like the old school glasses :)

[Einstein Noodle]

:) .................. your stylin' ma'am! :)

[Shep]

Loved it. See I came back to see what everyone is talking about. Love the dialog love the detail in the story and glad you finally came back to it. Moving on to the next chapter. Please be kind and return the love.

[Cherrie Palmer]

You I always knew I wanted this to be a full length story but I but it on simmer for a bit, but I think I'm ready to finish it off.

[barleygirl]

This is the most delightfully peppery dialogue I've read in a long time. You've perfectly straddled the line of blunt honesty softened somewhat with an affectionate delivery. This sounds exactly like people who are long-familiar (family), bantering to vent, almost to the point of arguing, but staying away from the point of no return. Very realistic & believable conversation! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Cherrie Palmer]

Thank you, I changed the dialog a time or two. I wanted the reader to feel a life long friendship.

[emmajoy]

You have the uncanny knack of carrying a reader into another world.. think perhaps your dialogue is so natural, real, explanatory.. you keep the pace going, make the characters into real live thinking and feeling people. I amazes me how you manage to enact the part of men, their attitudes, their wording, their bravado! Must read more of this work and in proper order.. my time's erratic.. but the gift you have really backons. What next, indeed!

[Cherrie Palmer]

I've had fun with this story. Thank you Emma for giving it a read, and I'm thrilled you enjoyed it.

[emmajoy]

Will read/review back and forward as much as i can, when I can, promise.