Brotherhood of District 23 Complete Series

by Amy Briggs

  When I pulled into the driveway at my mom’s house, Brian’s truck was already there, so I pulled in behind him and checked my phone real quick before getting out. Isabel still hadn’t texted me back, and it was definitely the end of a typical workday, so I was feeling a little put off by it. As I reminded myself she wasn’t technically mine and didn’t owe me a text or a reply per se, I put my phone back in my pocket and headed into the old house I grew up in.

  “There you are, Matthew!” My mom came over to squeeze me. She seriously gave the best hugs on earth.

  “Hi mama. Sorry I’m late. I’m sure Brian and Jo told you what a day we had yesterday. I’ve just been in slow motion today.”

  “Yes, they did. I worry about you three so much. Come in here and have a drink. It’s a whiskey day,” she winked at me. My mom was a straight up whiskey drinker. Sometimes in her tea, sometimes on the rocks, but she got her whiskey either way. She was Irish through and through.

  “Well, that sounds perfect.” I followed her into the kitchen, where Brian and Jo were having their drinks at the table. They raised their glasses to me.

  “Hey bro, get any rest today?” Brian asked me.

  “Yea, I was pretty much in a coma most of the day. I’m still exhausted though.” I took the drink my mom just made me and sat down at the table with them.

  “What a crazy day,” Jo said. “I heard the detectives were going to all of the scenes today to really get into their investigation. Isabel is investigating with her partner, Kevin I think his name is.”

  “Yes, I heard that too. Has anyone heard any word on progress or anything?” I asked.

  “No, not yet. I’m going to go down to the police station tomorrow to see Cruise and her partner and see where they’re at. It’s only been a day, but the Fire Marshal was out at the scenes today too, so hopefully we’ve at least got some idea of what the causes were, besides the obvious,” Brian told us.

  “Ok, who’s ready for pot roast and veggies tonight? You all look like you could use a good, hot meal, and you know how much I love having us all together here,” Mom said.

  In unison, we all replied, “Yes please,” and I got up to get dishes for all of us as my mom pulled out serving stuff. Once all the food was out, it got pretty quiet while we ate like we hadn’t eaten in days, which was exactly what it felt like. My mom started to laugh at us about it too.

  “You kids. I haven’t seen you all eat like this since you were teenagers.” She took a sip of her whiskey on the rocks and relaxed in her chair. “So, how is everyone doing otherwise? I know yesterday was hell on wheels, but what’s going on in my children’s lives, since none of you stop by enough for my liking?”

  Jo spoke up first, while Brian and I continued to shovel food into our faces. “Well, I think my house is going to be done soon, and then I can move back in if I want to.”

  We all looked over at Brian to see his reaction, which was one of shock and disappointment. “Is that what you want to do? Move back there?” he asked her in front of all of us. It was getting awkward, especially since my mom and I both knew Brian was planning to propose soon.

  “I don’t know… Don’t get mad about it, babe. I’m just saying my house will be all fixed up from the fire, and if I want to, I can move back in. I didn’t say I was going to. We can talk about what we’re gonna do later.”

  I started to snicker at the awkward moment, and my mom smacked my arm pretty hard. “Matthew, that’s enough.”

  “Sorry, mama.” I went back to eating and enjoying the show. As I would have predicted, my mom interjected her opinion on the situation.

  “Brian, Josephine grew up in that house. It belonged to her father. I’m sure she would like to spend some time there, deciding what she would like to do with it next. Whether that be move back in or make some other use of it. Jack was special to all of us, and that was his home as well. Don’t be pushy.”

  “I’m not being pushy. I was just asking what she wanted to do, mama,” he pleaded with her.

  “Ok, ok, hold on everyone,” Jo finally spoke up. “I don’t know what I want to do with the house. I know half my stuff is still there, and I need to sort through the rest of my dad’s stuff, and then I’ll figure it out.” She turned to Brian. “You need to calm down. I have been living with you in your house, but it’s your house, not mine, not ours. So give me a break. I didn’t say I was going anywhere. It’s only three miles from your house anyway.” She rolled her eyes at him.

  “Well, for the record, as far as I’m concerned, my house IS your house; it’s our house.” He actually looked hurt, which made me feel a little bad for laughing. I knew Jo loved him, but she did move in with him about five minutes after they declared their feelings for each other, and only because her house had been set on fire.

  She reached over and took his hand. “Brian, nothing is changing. We can talk about whose house is whose and where everyone is going to live later, ok? Nothing is changing anytime soon, so don’t be upset about this conversation. I love you, and you know that. We will figure it all out together, ok?” She seemed to soothe him. He reached over to touch her face and gave her a kiss.

  “Ok, baby, we’ll figure it out,” he said softly. We went back to eating peacefully after that. My brother really was a hothead, and I was too at certain times, but his fuse was way shorter than mine.

  I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket, and hoping it was Isabel, I hurried to finish my dinner. My mom had a strict no cellphone at the dinner table policy. She was pretty old school with family dinners and things like that, and we all respected it. As teenagers, it was pretty annoying, but as an adult, it was actually quite nice to have the break from technology and just talk as a family. Once we’d all finished eating and the dishes were cleaned up, we went out to the sitting room we used to not be allowed to sit in. I think everyone’s family has one of those rooms the kids aren’t allowed to sit and be comfortable in because everything is nice or white; and even though as adults we were allowed in there to socialize with my mom, it was still always a little awkward.

  My mom refreshed everyone’s drink, and we sat down to just relax as a family. “So, Matthew, when are you going to bring a nice girl over here for family dinner?” My mom always had to go there.

  “There’s no one special, mama. You’ll be the first to know, I promise,” I replied, rolling my eyes at this conversation.

  “Oh, I don’t know. I heard you didn’t come home the other night and that you were missing this morning after the fire before you went home to sleep,” Brian interjected.

  “What the fuck, dude?” I snapped.

  “Language!” my mom yelled. Jesus Christ, why he would even say that in front of our mother was beyond me, but what a dick move.

  “Sorry, mama,” I apologized. “Dude, that kind of thing isn’t discussion for family dinners, man. Seriously.” Meanwhile, Jo was giggling like a little girl, and Brian was snickering along with her. I looked over at my mom, and even she had a little grin on her face.

  “Matthew, I know how you boys can be, but if there’s someone special in your life, it would mean so much if you brought her around,” she said sweetly.

  “Oh my God, mama. There’s nothing special going on right now. Brian is being a word you won’t let me say in this house. There’s nothing going on. Why is everyone trying to marry me off all of a sudden? These two are living in sin over at whosever house. Let’s pick on them instead?” I pointed at Brian and Jo, giving them a fuck you guys look with a smirk like a five year old.

  “Living in sin? Really?” Brian said.

  “Alright, alright, that’s enough, boys. Brian and Jo have a special relationship, and I’m not so foolish and old that I don’t know what goes on.” Now mom was rolling her eyes at all of us. I couldn’t help but start laughing. I couldn’t believe we were even having this conversation about unmarried sex, me not coming home, and all of us finding love. My family was both ridiculous and awesome at the same time.

  Once I st
arted laughing, we all did and enjoyed the rest of the evening just shooting the breeze and having cocktails until Brian got a phone call.

  “Excuse me, I have to take this.” He got up and went out to the porch to take his call in private.

  “Hmm, that’s odd. Normally, he doesn’t take calls when we’re visiting,” Jo said with slight concern in her voice.

  “Well, maybe it’s about the fires from yesterday,” I suggested. After all, Brian was the chief now, and even on his technical day off, the district was still under his purview, so he needed to stay in the loop. Not gone very long, he came back in from the porch with a different demeanor, looking frustrated.

  “I have to go. There’s been another fire.”

  “Do you need us to go in?” Jo asked. I didn’t want to go in on my day off, but I would too if needed.

  “No, the C shift has it, but I need to go meet the detectives there, and I’m going to need to talk to the press too.” He sighed. Brian really loved his job, but he did not like talking to the press. They rubbed him the wrong way. I knew as well as he did they were going to start asking questions about the number of fires.

  “No worries. I can take Jo home,” I said.

  “That would be awesome. Is that ok with you, baby?” he asked her.

  “Of course, it is. I’ll wait up for you at home, so keep me posted, ok?”

  “I will. Hopefully, it won’t be an all-nighter. Matt, can you move your truck so I can get out?”

  “Yea, of course. I’ll be right back, ladies. Then you can continue giving me a hard time about my love life if you want,” I winked at the girls and walked outside. Brian went over to kiss Mom and Jo goodbye and met me outside.

  “Thanks for taking her home, man.”

  “Of course. She’s my friend. And soon-to-be sister-in-law,” I joked.

  “Yea, once we get through all this shit with the fires and investigation, I still want your help planning something fun and cool as a proposal, I think. What do you think all that about the house was?” he asked me.

  “Honestly? I think she misses her dad, man. That was his house. All of his stuff is still there. It’s not the thing to go all caveman over. Bring out your sensitive side for that conversation. She isn’t going anywhere, I can promise you that. Don’t turn it into something it’s not.”

  “Yea, you’re probably right. Sorry about bringing up your shenanigans in front of mama.”

  “Yea, fuck you very much for that, by the way. I am entitled to keep some things personal, fucker. So when I’m ready to bring someone around, I’ll bring someone around. I don’t need my shit broadcasted, and Jax is gonna get his ass kicked at home for bringing it up to begin with,” I sneered. That really did piss me off; Jax could be so strange sometimes. Why would he even mention it, was all I could think.

  “I get it. Sorry again, bro. Alright, now move your truck. I’ve got to go. Ugh.” He groaned and rolled his eyes. He seemed tired still too, and we were having a nice relaxing night with Mom and Jo, so it was definitely annoying he had to leave.

  “Be careful. This whole thing really bothers me. There’s something fucked up going on. I don’t like it.” I really did have a sinking feeling things were going to get worse before they got better, and it had me on edge.

  “I’m always careful. And me too. I’ll catch you later.” I moved my truck out of his way and after he left, went back inside. After hanging out with my mom for a while longer and having her send us both home with leftovers for Brian and Jax, I took Jo home. I figured I’d find out what the house conversation was all about on the ride, because while I did think Brian was kind of a dick in how he responded to things like that, I knew where his heart was, and I certainly knew where hers was too.

  “So, what are you going to do about the house, Jo? You know Brian doesn’t want you to move out of his house. Is that what you want to do?” I asked.

  “Well, no, not exactly,” she replied.

  “Ok, what do you want?”

  “What I want is to have a conversation about what our game plan is.”

  “Game plan?” I questioned.

  “Yes, game plan. He’s it for me. He’s the guy. And I’m pretty sure he feels the same way about me, so I want a conversation about where we want to live, not an assumption I’ll just want to stay at his house. I like it there, and he makes me feel like it’s mine, but it’s not mine. It’s his. All of my stuff is at my dad’s house. My pictures, my decorations, my stuff; its all there. I want to be someplace that is ours. So maybe neither house, to be honest. Maybe a new house we pick out together. But I don’t like being put on the spot like that, so we’ll be having words at some point about it, honestly,” she admitted.

  “I think that’s fair. And if you want my honest opinion, first of all, you’re his person. You soothe him, and you definitely complete him.” She blushed and smiled. She was so smitten with him; it was awfully cute to see, truthfully. “Also, I know Brian well enough to know if you wanted to move to the moon, he’d be calling NASA to find a real estate agent for you. So whatever it is you really want in your heart, he’s going to give you.” Wow, that was mushy as fuck. Who have I become? I waited for her commentary on that one.

  “Wow, Matty, you believe in love all of a sudden? Be honest, are you seeing someone?” she pleaded.

  “I’m not seeing anyone seriously, Jo. You really would be the first person I would tell. I’ve been hanging around with one girl in particular more than I typically do, yes. But that’s all you’re getting. I’m not anywhere near ready to talk about my feelings, or lack thereof, or where anything is going, so don’t even ask.” I stated the latter firmly as if to end the conversation, forgetting I was talking to a woman.

  “Come on, Matt,” she pleaded more. “Who is she??”

  “Jo. I’m serious. I really need you to just mind your own business right now.” I thanked the Lord silently we had pulled into Brian’s driveway and I was dropping her nosy butt off. I loved her, she was my best friend, but I was so uncomfortable with how I had been feeling about Isabel in the last twenty-four hours, there was no way I could verbalize it even if I wanted to. And I most certainly did not want to.

  Huffing and hopping out of the car, she said, “Fine. But when you are ready, I better be the first to know, or I’ll kick your ass.”

  “I do believe you would.” I laughed at her. She was like five foot four and always threatening to kick my ass; I believed she might too.

  “Alright, I’ll see ya later. Thanks for the ride.”

  “Anytime. Text you later,” I said. I waited for her to get inside the house before I pulled out of the driveway and pulled my phone out for the first time in hours, forgetting it had gone off in my pocket earlier.

  Seeing it was, in fact, a text from Isabel brought a ridiculously big smile to my face and gave me a half hard-on, just thinking of her. When I opened it, I was even happier.

  If you’re off tomorrow, meet me for lunch at my house. I won’t be serving food. ;)

  I slammed my head back on the seat of my truck. Sonofabitch. Full hard-on commenced.

  No real surprise, we found a pile of butts at the apartment fire scene, which looked much different than the night before, of course. After we had explored the scene with the sun still up, we were able to walk around where bystanders had been the night before, and it looked like in this case, the smoking watcher had just been standing with the rest of the crowd behind the caution tape, watching things unfold.

  Kevin and I were on our way back to the station so we could drop off all the cigarette butts at the crime lab in the hopes there would be some DNA on them, when I finally pulled my phone back out to reply to Matt’s text. I invited him over for lunch tomorrow if he was off, and I’d be serving me for lunch. While it was technically my day off, the investigation was well underway, so I knew I’d probably have to go back in at some point. However, with the late night last night and the likely long night ahead of us, I definitely hadn’t planned on going i
n until the afternoon at the very earliest.

  “Ok, so let’s discuss where we stand,” Kevin said, tearing me away from my thoughts.

  “Alright, we have three piles of matching cigarette butts, essentially indicating we have a chain smoker who likes to watch fires. The Fire Marshal is going to solidify each of these were arson, but we definitely already knew that from the evidence at each of the scenes. Gasoline seems to be the accelerant of choice. We have no witnesses though, and there doesn’t seem to be anything related to any of the fires other than the fact they all happened on the same day. So far, no new fires today, so no new leads yet. That about covers it, unfortunately,” I replied, going through my recollection of everything we’d done and seen to that point. “I think once we can at the very least confirm with the lab all the butts were from the same smoker, we can start looking for witnesses who might lead us to who the guy is, whether we find a match in the system or not.”

  “I think you’re right. Even if the guy isn’t in the system, if we can find a local or resident who can identify a man clearly chain-smoking and standing in one place, we can at least get a description, and maybe a composite or sketch, and start looking for this guy.”

  “Ok, so we drop this stuff off at the station and then go through the fire report to see if anyone gave any descriptions of how the fire started when they called so we can start finding people to interview. I think that’s our best bet, to use the names on the chief’s report before we start knocking on all the doors in the neighborhood or get a sweep going. Agreed?” I really didn’t want to knock on doors all damn day, and if we had a handful of people who were already witnesses for Brian, we could call on them to be witnesses for us as a start.