“Look at the book. To save the future.” Robbie said calmly.
After a nostril breath, hands on his hips, Frank nodded. “I think I can accept that.”
A quick look at Frank, and Hal stared at Robbie. “I’ll ask you again, little brother, and this time I beg you to be honest. We can make sure things don’t happen. We know now. So tell me. Where . . . is... our father?”
Robbie swallowed. “Well, Hal, being that we’re Catholic. I’m almost scared to say, after committing suicide he’s probably in purgatory or . . .”
Crack.
Hal’s hard right fist sailed into the side of Robbie’s face, and Hal followed suit. “You son of a bitch!” He dove on this brother, revving up, to hit him again. He did.
“You can’t face the truth, Hal!” Robbie argued back, defending himself both physically and verbally.
Hal, prepared for the third blow. Frank, with a blasting “Hey”, jumped into the mix up, reaching for the brothers trying to break them up.
Robbie swung at Hal. Hal swung at Robbie. Frank got hit. Flailing fists and shouting voices, furniture crashed about. It was mayhem until a short, high pitched whistle, brought an immediate halt and silence to the room.
It was followed by a slam of the side office door and a scolding, fatherly, “Enough!”
Quiet.
No movement.
Robbie lifted himself straight. Then hung his head low.
Hal and Frank were both facing Robbie. Neither moved.
The only sound was the clicking shoes against the hard floor.
Slowly Hal turned around.
His breath escaped him. “Oh, my God.”
Frank looked. “Fuck.”
Robbie shook his head. “Fuck is right.”
Joe approached the three of them. “Are you happy? Satisfied. Had enough goddamn it? Look at you three, killing each other. Over what?”
Frank fluttered out. “Actually, over you going to hell, I was just in the middle trying to break it up. This is really fucked up.”
Joe nodded. “Yeah, it is. So this is your reaction, Frank.”
Frank bit his lip. He looked to Robbie. “Do you see him?”
Robbie nodded.
To Hal, “Hal?” Frank asked. “Do you see him?”
Slowly, in shock Hal nodded. “Yes, Frank, I see him.”
“Fuck.” Frank turned to Joe. “Is it true?”
“Yes, Frank,” Joe answered. “It’s true.”
“Fuck. You know what this means don’t you?”
“Yes,” Joe said.
“Hal?” Frank asked. “You know what this mean, right?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Fuck.” Frank backed up. “It’s true.” He plopped down in defeat into his high back leather office chair. “Fuck.” He shook his head. “We have the brain flu.”
.
Joe (Beginnings Series Book 25) Page 35
