by Sarah Hegger
Her knees went iffy, and Blythe’s legs weakened.
Eric was there, his arm around her, holding her up, giving her support, being with her. “I take it that’s not good,” he said.
Nate’s jaw muscles bunched. “It’s not good.”
“I didn’t think Will did drugs.” Laura looked at Blythe “At least I’ve never heard that he does. I’ve seen him with some kids who do, but never seen or heard anything to suggest he uses.”
“He doesn’t.” At least he hadn’t up until this point. Blythe would swear to that. “But something else happened, and it might have affected him.”
All eyes turned her way, and Blythe took a deep breath. Sharing her family shame, telling her secrets terrified her. It was like stepping into a huge chasm filled with unknown threats.
“Will has been having a hard time lately. He’s doing all he can to get into college. Tutoring for his grades, working to save up the tuition, helping me out.” Had she put too much pressure on Will? She’d deal with that later. “He might have reached the end of his rope.”
All gazes stayed on her.
“Blake is missing as well.”
Liz cocked her head. “That’s the brother we saw at the church soup kitchen?”
“Yup.” She’d known right then Blake would be trouble, but she’d allowed Will’s eternal optimism to sway her. “He moved in a couple of weeks ago. He’s being doing fine as far as I could tell.”
“We saw him at the church a few times,” Daniel said. “He seemed to be working his program.”
“Yes, well that’s what I thought too.” If she wasn’t still panicked about the missing money, she might have managed a bitter laugh. But there was nothing funny about rent, especially when you were short. “He was helping around the house, taking care of Kim. He even contributed when he could.”
She found Eric’s gaze, needing the connection to get through the recitation of her new stupidity. Fool her once, shame on them, fool her every day for most of her life, and the shame came home to roost. “My card’s been maxed out. Blake is missing. I don’t believe in coincidence.”
Bella looked distressed. “Maybe he—”
“Babe.” Nate put his arm around her. “Given everything I know about Blake, and Blythe’s instincts on this, I think we need to consider strongly that she’s right.”
“How much did he take?” Eric’s jaw tightened.
No way would she give him numbers. “Not everything. He only had access to my credit limit, which I keep on the low side.” Still, Blake had taken enough to hurt.
Nate took out his phone. “How long has Blake been missing?”
“The last time I saw him was yesterday morning when I went to work,” Blythe said.
Kim pushed through the throng of adults and stopped at Blythe. “Are you talking about Blake?”
“Yes.” She touched her sister’s cheek. After all they had tried to do to shelter Kim from the worst of the Barrows, it was still reaching its sickly tentacles toward her. “We think he might have gone away.”
“He has.” Kim nodded. “He told me goodbye when he took me to school yesterday.”
Blythe hadn’t thought to ask Kim about any of this. “Did he say anything else?”
“He gave me a message. An important message.” Kim preened under the intense adult focus on her. “He said that you might be cross with him.” Kim took her hand. “But that I was to say he was sorry, and he would make it right.”
Surprising as it was, Blythe must have been holding some tiny slither of hope that she was wrong about Blake, because Kim’s words punched straight into her gut.
“That was a big message.” Matt held his hand out to Kim. “You did a great job remembering all that. Why don’t we find Jasmine something to drink?”
Kim took his hand and followed him. “I’m thirsty too.”
“Really?” Matt took Jasmine from Pippa. “What do you think we should do about that?”
Kim giggled. “We would get me some juice or some chocolate milk?”
“Hmm.” Matt disappeared into the kitchen. “Or a glass of water.”
“Blythe.” Eric stepped closer to her. “What do you want to do?”
“Will.” She was good at compartmentalizing, so she shoved Blake in the To Be Worried About Later pile. “I need to get him out of there.” The next bit might be tricky, and she looked at Eric and then Nate. “Will doesn’t have a criminal record. He’s the only one…”
“He still doesn’t have a criminal record.” Nate gave her a flat look. “And he won’t unless I happen to see him either taking or dealing drugs.” He shrugged. “For instance, if I was in the front with the cruiser, and somebody else got there five minutes before me and slipped somebody out the back, I wouldn’t see them.”
* * * *
For once, Blythe didn’t put up a fight about his help as Eric loaded her in Matt’s pickup and followed Laura’s car. The neighborhood they were going to, his Jag would scream its presence.
Pippa, Bella and Liz had stayed at the apartment with Matt. They still didn’t know Blake wouldn’t put in an appearance. Eric didn’t think it likely, but Matt would never leave Pippa and Jasmine alone in a situation he judged as even a little hazardous.
Eric wasn’t hella thrilled his lady was sitting in the truck beside him and driving to a crackhouse. But he didn’t even try and dissuade Blythe from going.
They drove through the center of town and past the church.
Laura’s Volvo station wagon couldn’t have been more out of place as she wound her way deeper and deeper into the underbelly of Ghost Falls. He was glad Daniel was with her, and made a mental note to ask someone if Laura made that drive often. She needed some protection if she did.
He’d been so angry with Laura for so many years, and it took too much effort now. The spoiled, selfish girl, desperate for the attention her younger sister garnered so effortlessly was long gone. This new Laura he didn’t know at all, but she looked like a much more interesting woman than the girl had been.
She’d recently gotten divorced, and rumor had it her ex had won the majority of custody of their children. He couldn’t be glad about that happening to anyone.
Blythe stared out the window, tension radiating from her. As they wound their way through the oldest part of town, he knew he had to come clean. She wasn’t going to be happy about what he had to say.
“I called Brett,” he said.
She sucked in a breath and threw him a look loaded with reproach. “What the hell, Eric?”
“I know how you feel about him, sweet thing.”
“Don’t call me that. Especially when you’re about to twist the knife in my back.”
Shit! But there was no going back now. “He’s worried about you and Kim. He wanted me to tell him if you two ever needed everything.”
“And you couldn’t wait to spill, could you?” She closed her eyes and put her head back on the rest. “I really don’t get this little bromance you have going with my brother.”
“Bromance?” He almost chuckled but she looked bone weary, and he wanted to hold her and tell her to trust him, and that everything would be all right. But Blythe had learned the hard way, over and over again, that trusting people ended in her getting flayed alive. “I really think he’s changed, sweet…Blythe. So do Daniel and Reverend Michael. He only wants five minutes to speak to you.”
“You have no idea what Brett can do in five minutes.” But it lacked her normal heat.
Laura slowed and edged her car into a space behind a bright purple pimpmobile with under-lighting and lightning bolts splashed down the side.
“I think we’re here.” He touched her hand.
Blythe moved her hand away and leaned forward to peer through the windshield. “Dammit, Will,” she whispered to the derelict building. “Once I get your ass out of the
re, I’m going to kick it.”
“I’ll help you do that.” The building’s windows had been boarded up. Vegetation pushed through cracked concrete at the foundation. Someone called Monsta566 had tagged all over the front.
Laura climbed out her car. Daniel hit the sidewalk a split second behind her and got between her and the building’s disintegrating walk way.
Folding her arms, Laura stuck her chin out in a way he recognized as Laura digging her heels in. In this case, Eric couldn’t agree with Daniel more, and he climbed out the truck.
“Laura.” He approached the arguing pair. “Don’t even think about going in there.”
She rolled her eyes at him and looked past him.
“You can’t stop us.” Blythe had joined him and wore an identical expression to Laura.
Daniel stared at both women. “No. Not a fucking chance.”
“I’ll make sure they stay in the truck.” Brett materialized from behind a large scrub oak in the garden.
Blythe tensed and shrunk closer to him in a move Eric was fairly sure she didn’t even know she’d made.
“I can’t go in there.” Brett jerked his head at the building. “I’m not breaking my parole for that little idiot.”
“He’s not an idiot.”
Eric could have scripted Blythe’s response. “I’ll go,” he said.
“No offence, Suit Boy.” Brett looked him up and down. “But you’ll stick out like a set of dog balls in there.”
No offence taken, Eric had no desire to blend in this particular environment.
“Which is why I’m going with him.” Daniel stepped up beside him.
Concern flickered over Laura’s face. “Aren’t you on parole as well?”
“Yeah.” Daniel winked at her. “But the sheriff likes me, and I know shit about him.”
Laura snorted but a small smile played around her mouth.
Daniel and Nate went way, way back, to a time Nate didn’t like to talk about much.
“Let’s do this.” Eric checked his watch. “Nate gave us five minutes, and we’re already three minutes down.”
Daniel looked up at the building and took a deep breath. “This is going to suck so hard.”
“True that.” Eric joined him. Before he turned to go, he glanced at Brett. “Make sure she stays put.”
“Don’t tell me how to look after my sister.” Brett folded his arms and scowled at him. “You haven’t earned that right until she tells me you have.”
* * * *
Blythe stared at Brett, not sure she’d heard right.
He looked back at her and raised his eyebrow. “How are we gonna play this, Blythe?” He glanced at Laura to include her in the conversation. “I swore to myself I’d never put my hands on you again, but you gotta get into that truck and stay there.”
“This is bullshit.” Laura tried to get past him. “I work with these kids every day. I’m not going to stand out here while you all indulge in some outdated form of chivalry.”
“Ma’am.” Brett stepped in front of her. Big as barn, he barred her way. “Same thing I said to Blythe. You’re getting into that truck and staying put. The only choice you have is how you get there.”
Brett’s expression was impassive as stone, and Blythe knew that expression. She touched Laura’s elbow. “He means it.”
With a nod, Brett walked forward and herded them toward the truck. “Smart girl, Blythe.”
The words sent fear snaking down her spine. Words Brett used as a warning not to test his explosive temper. She turned and climbed into the truck cab.
Laura joined her and they sat for a moment and stared at the building. “So.” Laura huffed. “Interesting brothers you have.”
A chuckle snorted out of Blythe. She couldn’t help it. The stress of the situation got to her and she laughed. “You have no idea.”
Brett looked at the two of them and rolled his eyes. He leaned his back against the truck hood near Blythe’s door and watched the building.
“How did you turn out so well?” Laura shook her head.
Nobody ever said that to her, and that it came from a woman she’d resented for so many years made it even stranger. “I’m not sure I did.”
“You turned out great,” Brett said and stared at her through the windshield. “But you got some hairy trust issues there.”
Blythe snapped her mouth shut. “What the hell would you know?”
“A lot.” Brett snorted. “I’m the one who gave most of them to you.”
Laura stared at her and mouthed, “Wow.”
Not knowing what to do with Brett’s statement, Blythe sat there and stared at the building. If Will was in there, Eric would find him.
Then she thought of what Brett had said to Eric earlier, and the images flipping through her brain made her smile. “At least he didn’t go in there wearing Armani.”
With a quick glance, Laura threw back her head and laughed. “Him being in there does stretch the imagination.”
Brett’s deep bass chuckle underscored their laughter. “Suit Boy in a crackhouse.”
“He really must love you,” Laura said as she chuckled.
God, wouldn’t the world be a nicer place if her hairy trust issues allowed her to believe that for a second.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Blythe stared at Will. He swayed between Eric and Daniel, blinking her into focus. She wanted to check him for damage and hug him because she’d been so worried about him. At the same time, she wanted to smack him for being so stupid and messing with drugs.
All that he’d done to escape that fate, and now it had caught up with him anyway. And Will had stood still and let it corner him.
How could she not have seen it coming? The pressure he’d been under. She should have known.
“He okay?” Brett took over.
She never would have thought she’d be grateful to Brett for taking charge, but she felt numb and powerless.
Daniel shrugged. “He’s pretty out of it, but as far as I can tell, he’ll be okay when he dries out.”
“Hey, kid.” Brett cupped Will’s nape and made him look at him.
Blythe stepped forward to protect Will.
Brett glanced at her but turned his attention back to Will. “We’re going to get you straightened out. Hear me?”
Will blinked at him, his eyes unfocussed. His gaze lurched to her, and he winced. “Blythe.”
“Will.” She had so much she wanted to say to him, but it was all pointless while he was this out of it. Focusing on the practical seemed easier, and she looked at Daniel. “What do I do with him?”
Laura stepped up beside Will. “Let me take him. I know a place where we can get him seeing straight again.” She looked at Daniel. “Crack?”
Daniel shook his head. “Meth.”
“It’s going to take a while.” Laura sighed. “We need to make sure he’s not going to go right back there.”
“Do it.” Brett nodded, and then looked at Blythe. “Okay with you?”
“Yup.” She might resent his manner, but Brett was doing exactly what she would have done. “When can I speak to him?”
“I’ll call you,” Laura said. “You say he’s not an habitual user, but we need to make sure. We won’t know anything until we can get him clean again.”
Blythe managed a tight nod. Addicts lied.
Will looked so young in the glare of the streetlights. A police cruiser rounded the corner and Daniel looked at her. “Time to get him out of here.”
“I know.” She hugged Will. “I love you. Don’t you forget it.”
“Blythe?” He looked confused.
Eric put his arm around her shoulders. “Let me get you home. Daniel and Laura will take good care of him.”
“I know.” She allowed Eric to turn her to the car.
“Blythe?” Brett stopped her. “It’s going to be all right, Grub. You’re not doing this alone.”
She didn’t know what to do with Brett. His behavior had her thoroughly confused but she couldn’t think about that right now. Her head was too full of Will. She managed some sort of nod in Brett’s direction.
Eric shut the car door behind her and got in the other side.
Brett stood on the sidewalk as they drove away, a large, sinister shape that blended with the seedy neighborhood.
As they passed the cruiser, Nate waved to her. In the side mirror she saw Nate get out and talk to Brett for a bit before moving into the house with a couple of deputies flanking him.
She stared out the window, but she still had to ask. “How bad was it?”
“Not good,” Eric said. He kept his grim stare on the road. “But he hadn’t been there long, and we’ll get him the best help.”
“We?” Blythe wanted to laugh until she cried. “There is no we in this scenario, Eric. Only me and my sister, and my now junkie brother.”
“That’s not true, sweet thing.” Despite the endearment, Eric’s voice carried an edge to it. “Tonight must have showed you that.”
“Maybe.” Her head hurt, her heart hurt worse and she wanted to crawl into bed and stay there until they stopped.
Eric glanced away from the road at her. “Come on, Blythe. I understand you’re upset about Will, but we were all there for you. Nate, Bella, Pippa, Matt, Liz, Noel, Daniel, even Laura and Brett. These people showed up for you. They showed up because they care about you.”
“You’re right, you don’t really understand.” She was so grateful to all those people, even Brett in this moment, but tonight wasn’t about that for her. “Your family wasn’t perfect. Nobody’s is. But there’s not perfect and there’s being a Barrows.” The throb in her chest intensified. “He was my hope. As bad as the others got, I could always look at Will and know there was a way out.”
“Blythe.” Eric took her hand.
She moved it away from him. “He did everything right.” She wanted to beat against the unfairness of life. “Since he turned thirteen, he’s been working at this and that, putting away money. Planning to go to college. That was Will. He was my fucking hope.”
