Behind the Tears (Behind the Lives)

by Hansen, Marita A.

  “My brother lost his medication, he needs more,” Ash answered.

  “I didn’t lose it, someone stole it,” Dante said.

  The doctor sat down behind the desk and focused on the computer screen. “Sorry, I’m not his regular doctor, so give me a second or two to check what he’s on. Oh, okay, here it is, looks like he’s due for a visit next week anyway, so I’ll do a check-up first, then the prescription. Dante, can you please hop up onto the bed.”

  Dante kicked off his boots and did as instructed. After the doctor had finished doing the check-up, Dante slumped back into his chair, looking embarrassed. “Can we get my prescription now?” he asked.

  “Yes, just give me a moment.” The doctor typed away on his computer, then retrieved the prescription from the printer and held it out to Dante. “You should also report the person who stole your medication to the police.”

  Shaking his head, Dante took the prescription. “I don’t like the police, they’re pricks. They’ll pro’bly arrest me just for looking at them funny.”

  The doctor smiled. “That’s your condition talking.”

  “No, he really does hate the police,” Ash said. “The Claydon station is like a second home for him, cos he’s always gettin’ drunk and causing trouble.”

  “Alcohol and medication don’t go well together,” the doctor said.

  Dante shrugged. “Booze relaxes me.”

  “Still, it’s not recommended.”

  “Whatever, I’ll do what I like.” Dante got to his feet and headed out the door.

  Ash followed Dante, his brother’s words pissing him off. Juliet jumped up and ran after them as they exited the building. Ash swiped the prescription out of Dante’s hand and entered the pharmacy, sick of Dante’s attitude.

  “Oi!” Dante grabbed his arm. “Gimme my prescription.”

  Ash spun around in the middle of the store and jabbed a finger at Dante. “I’ll do what I like,” he said, mimicking Dante’s words. “That’s your fuckin’ motto isn’t it? You see Carly, stuff the fact she’s married, bang, you do her, then you decide you wanna do Beth. Who’s next? Tiana?”

  “Fuck off! She’s like a sister to me.”

  “When you’re drunk you don’t know who you fuck.”

  “I wuzn’t drunk with Beth.”

  Ash clenched his right hand, feeling like planting it in Dante’s face.

  Juliet stepped between them. “Dante, let Ash get the prescription while we look at sunglasses.”

  Dante eyeballed Ash for a moment, then spun around and headed for the sunglasses’ stand with Juliet. Ash watched his brother’s back, wondering whether he would ever trust him again. He sighed, then went to get the prescription.

  A forty-something shop assistant with huge breasts watched him as he neared the counter. He ignored her smile and passed over the prescription. She scanned it, then handed it onto the pharmacist, quickly returning to Ash.

  “You two Rata men look so much alike,” she said.

  Yeah, like he hadn’t hurt that before. “He’s dumber looking.”

  She giggled. “Are you Ash or Dante?”

  “Ash.”

  She angled her head to look at Dante, then returned her gaze to Ash, her expression puzzled. “But I thought the text was off Dante, not you.”

  Ash rolled his eyes, realising she was talking about Dante’s nude photo. He was sick of explaining to chicks that it wasn’t him. “It is of him.”

  “But the guy in the pic didn’t have a face tattoo.”

  “Or a neck tattoo,” Ash said, pointing to his. “Dante got the face tat a few months after the photo wuz taken.”

  “Oh, that’s why.” She smiled. “Still, the photo looks just like you.” Her gaze ran down Ash’s body. “You free tonight?”

  “Sorry, I’m taken.”

  She glanced at his left hand. “No ring; can’t be that taken.”

  “Just got back with my son’s mother.”

  She pouted. “Lucky woman.”

  “Nah, I’m the lucky one.”

  “Is he taken?” she asked, looking over at Dante.

  “No, cos he’s nuts,” Ash said, feeling bad the second the words came out of his mouth. Maybe Dante was right not to tell him.

  She grinned wide. “I like nuts.”

  A smile broke through Ash’s foul mood. “Not his kind.”

  The woman turned to the pharmacist as he approached her, the old fella giving her a dirty look as well as Dante’s medication. Taking the box, she slipped it into a paper bag then wrote on the outside. “If you ever wanna pose for a sex-text make sure you send it to this,” she said, passing the bag over. “Or give it to your brother if you’re not interested.”

  Grinning, Ash glanced down at the name Nina and her phone number. “I’ll definitely pass it onto him.”

  Her face lit up. “Really? Cool, thanks, Ash. And if you ever come in here again ask for me.”

  Ash nodded, then headed over to Dante. “Oi, shithead.” He held out the medicine, making sure that Dante’s noticed Nina’s handwriting.

  Dante took the package. “Why’s there a name and number on here?”

  Ash gestured at the shop assistant, who appeared to be getting a strip torn off her by the irate pharmacist. “She’s placed an order for a nude picture of you. Make sure you text it to her phone,” he said, then walked out the door, smirking at Dante’s shout of “You bastard!”

  Ash headed for Corey’s car, half expecting to get smacked from behind, but not caring. He made it to the car without any injury, turning to find a highly aggravated Dante glaring at him. Juliet unlocked the car and forcibly steered Dante towards the door. Dante flicked Ash the finger, then got into the backseat, kicking Ash’s seat when he got in. Ash’s smirk stayed in place. He knew he shouldn’t be trying to antagonise Dante after his brother’s flip-out, but fucked if he could bring himself to care after their argument.

  His phone started ringing. His smirk changed into a smile when he saw Tiana’s number. “Kia ora,” he answered.

  “Ash...” Tiana said, crying. “You have to come over now.”

  Ash’s smile dropped. “What’s wrong? Is Angelo alright?”

  Her crying picked up, the line going silent for a few seconds, then she answered, pushing Ash’s heart back down his throat. “He’s okay, but you have to come over right away.”

  “I can be there in thirty minutes tops. What’s happened?”

  “You’re—” The phone-line went dead.

  Ash swore, his mind now racing, trying to figure out what could’ve happened.

  “Is everything alright?” Juliet asked, attempting to get the car started. The engine whined and complained, needing a good kick up the rear like its absent owner. Juliet revved it again, getting it started this time.

  “Tiana wuz crying, and hung up mid-word.”

  “You want me to drive you there?”

  “No, drop me home so I can take Dante’s car. This one’s too slow.”

  “Sure.” Juliet headed out of the car park and onto Tiri Road.

  Ash’s phone went off again. He pulled it out, surprised that it was Sledge. “What do ya want?” he said, the discomfort he always felt with his baby brother creeping back in. His conversation with Dante came to mind, and regardless of whether he thought Sledge deserved what he got, he still felt awkward and guilty. He wondered whether his father felt the same way with him.

  “Where are you?” Sledge asked.

  “On the way home with Juliet and Dante.”

  “Don’t go there. The place is swarming with pigs.”

  Ash frowned. “Why?”

  “Len Jones wuz found stuffed inside Angelo’s old playhouse with his throat slit.”

  “Stop the car!” Ash hollered as Juliet went to turn onto Pleasant Parade.”

  She stomped on the brake, causing everyone to jerk forward. “What’s wrong?”

  Ash ignored her. “Are there any cops near you right now?” he asked Sledge.

 
“No, I’m out the back of Mr Murphy’s place, but there’s one inside with the old dude.”

  “What do ya know ’bout the murder?”

  “Someone called the pigs, saying they saw Dante enter the property after Len, then shouting and banging started up.”

  Ash’s stomach dropped, now knowing why Dante had lost his head. He turned around and hollered at Dante in the backseat, “Why the fuck didja kill Len Jones for?!”

  Dante’s eyes widened. “I didn’t kill him.”

  “Bullshit! That’s why you flipped out, you lying sonofabastard.”

  “But I didn’t, I haven’t seen him in months.”

  “The cops found him in Angelo’s playhouse with his throat slit. They got a call saying that you were seen entering the property after him.”

  “They’re lying! Someone’s setting me up.”

  Ash pointed the phone at Dante. “Or you’re lying.”

  “I didn’t do it! And if I wanted to top Len I wouldn’t bloody hide him on our property, and I definitely wouldn’t have used a knife after what happened to Mum. You should know that.”

  Although Ash knew Dante’s words made sense, he still couldn’t shake the feeling that his brother wasn’t being completely honest. But regardless of whether Dante was innocent or not, Ash needed to protect him.

  “This is what’s gonna happen,” Ash said. “Juliet, you’re gonna drop me off at Tiana’s, then take Dante to Craven’s. I’ll phone Saul now, giving him a rundown on what’s goin’ on. Once I check Tiana’s fine, I’ll go to the cops—”

  “You still there?” Sledge yelled through the phone.

  Ash put it back to his ear. “Yeah, what?”

  “Stay clear of the pigs until I get some more info outta them.”

  “Okay, but call me as soon as you do.”

  “Most definitely, and Ash...”

  “Yeah?”

  “Stay safe. I... I love you.” Sledge hung up, leaving Ash clinging onto the phone, his brother’s words taking him by surprise.

  “You alright, Ash?” Juliet asked.

  “Um, yeah,” he said, hanging up. He looked back at Dante, who narrowed his eyes at him. “Don’t worry, bro,” Ash said. “I’ll sort this out.”

  Dante’s brows pulled together. “Really?”

  “Yeah, cos no matter how much you piss me off, I still love you, you fuckwit.”

  “Ash!” Juliet snapped, “Why do you always say nice things, then go and ruin it?”

  “Don’t worry, J,” Dante said, “Cos I love the fuckwit too. And I would kill if anyone threatened you guys; I just didn’t do it this time.”

  “This time?” Ash asked.

  Dante looked out the window. “At all.”

  Ash turned back around as Juliet started driving again, his mind returning to Len’s murder—and the guy’s cousin, someone who would also kill for their family. He closed his eyes, knowing the police were the least of his problems.

  24

  Sledge

  Sledge re-entered Mr Murphy’s house, heading through the kitchen and into the lounge. The place was covered with photos of the late Mrs Murphy along with other family snapshots, of which Sledge had been told about many times over. Running trophies as ancient as the man himself lined the mantelpiece above the fireplace, while brightly coloured furniture filled the room, giving the place a seventies feel.

  Mr Murphy and the policeman, who Sledge recognised from Tama’s investigation, focused on him as he approached the couch. The large scar under the officer’s chin looked like someone with a bad aim had attempted to slit the guy’s throat. Sledge grimaced, the thought reminding him of Len.

  “Have you managed to get a hold of your brothers yet?” the officer asked, remaining seated.

  “No, but I left messages on their phones.”

  “Good, because it’s essential they contact us straight away.” The officer indicated to Mr Murphy, the old guy smiling up at Sledge like he was having Christmas and his past eighty-odd birthdays all at once. “Mr Murphy has given me another account of what happened, one which conflicts with the emergency call. He’s stated that it was not Dante who followed the victim onto the property but a much older man, and that the unidentified man had been sitting in his van for a good hour, watching the place.”

  Mr Murphy cut in. “I went up to him and introduced myself, and asked who he was waiting for, because you can’t be too careful nowadays with these horrible people casing places to burgle.”

  “That wasn’t a wise thing to do, Mr Murphy,” the officer said.

  “But he was perfectly polite and was very happy to talk to me. He said Ash and Dante were his boys, which probably explains why you and Juliet don’t look like your brothers.”

  “No, we have the same parents,” Sledge said.

  “Really, but you look more Māori, like that fella who used to live with you. I thought he was your father.”

  Sledge knew the old guy was talking about his cousin, because they did have an uncanny resemblance. “What did the man look like?” he asked.

  “He had two teardrop tattoos and a whopper of a scar down his face.”

  Sledge brought a hand to his face. Chaz turning up at his brothers’ house wasn’t unexpected, but hearing he’d been there still made him want to throw up.

  “What’s wrong, son?” Mr Murphy asked.

  Sledge lowered his hand and focused on the officer. “That’s my stepfather. I assume you know what he did to my family?”

  “Yes, I’ll call it in,” the officer said, grabbing his radio.

  “I thought you were s’posed to have a patrol car watching my brothers’ place.”

  “Our resources don’t stretch far enough to have one there twenty-four/seven.”

  “You lot are as useful as tits on a bull.” Sledge pulled out his phone and dialled Ash’s number, getting more agitated when his brother didn’t pick up. Swearing, he hung up then dialled Juliet’s number.

  She answered on the third ring, “What’s happening?”

  “Chaz killed Len.”

  She gasped, while the officer said “It’s only a possibility.”

  Sledge ignored him. “Who are you with?”

  “Ash and Dante.”

  “Good, pass on the message.”

  “Will do.”

  Hanging up, Sledge turned back to the officer and Mr Murphy, who were both watching him intently. “That wuz my sister, she’s gonna keep trying my brothers while I ring my other relatives. I’ll go outside to do it.”

  The officer nodded then turned back to Mr Murphy, who instantly started jabbering about Beth having broken up with Ash, and all the shouting that had been coming from the place of late, though how the hell the old man knew about the first one was beyond Sledge. For the briefest of seconds, he felt sorry for the policeman, the old fella knowing how to chew the ear off corn.

  He headed out the back again, going around the side of the garden shed so he didn’t get any nosy old men or cops sneaking up on him. He dialled his grandfather first, relaying what had happened and to pass on the message to everyone up north. His grandfather started cursing in Croatian, then stated he was coming down to Auckland, which Sledge nipped in the bud, using the policeman as an excuse to keep him away, the old fella not in the best of health.

  Next he rang his father in Taranaki, who went silent for a moment, then said he would be there in six hours, something that Sledge didn’t discourage, because he knew Dante would need him. Once he’d finished contacting the rest of his relatives, he phoned Naf, giving him the rundown on the situation.

  “Are you talking ’bout Kirstin’s dad?” Naf asked.

  “Yeah, though shit knows how Chaz stuffed the fat bastard into that small playhouse.”

  “Man, that’s horrible. Poor Kirstin and Tyler, they must be gutted.”

  “Fuck Tyler!”

  “Woah, man, take it easy, it wuz his uncle. Gotta feel sorry for the dude.”

  “Not after what he did to Corey.”
/>
  “He did nuthin’ to Corey.”

  “He fucked him.”

  “Dude, too much info.”

  Sledge went quiet. He’d fumed and swore continuously on the car ride over, but as soon as he’d seen the cops swarming his brothers’ place like flies on shit he’d pushed Corey out of his mind. But now, the little bastard started creeping back in, making him feel guilty as hell. He hadn’t meant those words he’d said to Corey. He didn’t want to never see him again, far from it, but Corey choosing Tyler over him hurt, because for that one moment when Corey had admitted to loving him, needing him, he’d almost cracked and given in. And if Tyler hadn’t shown, he might have made love... Made love? Christ, what the hell was wrong with him?

  “Sledge,” Naf said, “You still there?”

  “Yeah,” Sledge answered, trying to control his voice. How could he have gone from wanting Corey as a best friend to wanting to do him? It was warped. No! He was warped, and totally fucked in the head. Sick, sick, fucking sick, he couldn’t do that shit, shit literally. God, what he needed was for someone to hit him over the head so that his brain rattled about and clicked back to focusing on chicks, and not dicks, because the only dick that should be in the picture was his, and preferably inserted up some hot piece of arse, NO, he meant pussy. Dammit!

  “Sledge?”

  “Sorry, arse, no, I mean shit... No, no, I didn’t call you an arse or a shit, I meant to say bad stuff seems to be piling up at my door, and the only reason I know ’bout Tyler’s uncle is cos he told me. I went to his place, and found Corey sleeping in the guy’s bloody bed. I tried to get him to come home, but he wouldn’t.”

  “Well, if he wants to stay with Tyler, leave him be.”

  “No, Tyler is a Jones. They’re dangerous.”

  “Not all of them. Kirstin wuz alright and Tyler’s harmless. He totally went to pieces under you, even Corey could take him on and win and that’s saying sumpthin’. So, if my bro’s fine with him, don’t worry ’bout it.”

  “He’s not fine! And he should come home where I can look after him.”

  “Well, you’re doin a pretty shit job of that, he got hurt cos of you.”

  “He did not! He got hurt cos you took him to that party and let Tyler fuck him. This is yours and Tyler’s fault, not mine.”