Shallow Creek

“Yeah, there’s a lot of conferences to attend, and customer visits, and even a couple of tradeshows each year,” Grant explained.  “Keeps me busy.  I’m probably gone three or four days most weeks, but I try to fit in as much family time as possible.  Family’s got to come first.”

The intonation on that last phrase irked Brendan, but he still couldn’t tell if his brother was just messing with his head or not.

“In any case, I’m glad I caught you when I did, little brother.  I’m heading back out on the road again the day after tomorrow.  Got a big sale to make out in the country.”

City people usually considered places like Shallow Creek “the country”, but everything was relative.

“You know what, it’s getting late,” Grant announced, getting up from the table.  He called out to the bartender, “Hey, Jenny, I’ll cover his bill.  Just throw it on my running tab.”

“Sure thing, Grant,” Jenny hollered back as she ran a rag through some presumably clean pint glasses.

“You don’t need to do that,” Brendan said as he exited the booth.

“Don’t mention it.  How often do I get to buy my little brother a drink?  It’s an honor.”

Brendan followed Grant out through the door and watched him unlock a shiny new red Chevy pickup, sporting all the bells and whistles.  Brendan’s own truck wasn’t anything to sneeze at, but it still looked cheap by comparison.

“I’ll see you around,” Grant said as he climbed up into the cab.  “Don’t be a stranger.”

And with that, his brother drove off into the night.  Brendan got into his own truck and wondered why everyone kept saying that, and why neither brother had mentioned either of the eight-hundred-pound gorillas in the room.

Chapter 25

“Brendan, I really can’t talk right now.”

“You say that a lot.”

“I’m really, really busy,” Marcus insisted.  “Unlike you, I’ve got a real job to do.”

It was early on Monday morning, and in fairness, most regular people were working right now.

“You’ve been dodging me for days.  Come on, tell me what’s going on.”

Brendan sat on Grant’s old bed, phone tucked uncomfortably between his shoulder and cheek while he pulled on his socks and running shoes.  Right when Marcus started to talk, Brendan leaned too far forward and the phone slipped right out from its precarious perch.  He quickly gathered it up.

“What did you say, Marcus?”

“I said I’ll lose my job if the sheriff finds out I helped you the other night,” he whispered quickly.  “I’m already on thin ice with Sheriff Troy as it is.”

Brendan considered this for a moment.

“Does that mean you didn’t tell the DEA about my little side investigation?”

“Hell no, I didn’t.  Are you crazy?  That would be the end of my short-lived career here, man.”

“You know those same guys that kicked my ass in that warehouse jumped me and Michelle behind Trish’s?”

“First off, what the hell were you doing with Michelle behind Trish’s and—”

“How about we focus on the part where known drug dealers assaulted two innocent civilians?” Brendan snapped.  “Are you like this with all your victims?”

“Shut up, man.  Let me think.”

Brendan hunted for a clean shirt, but had to settle for an almost clean one.  It was definitely time to commandeer the laundry room.

“Okay,” Marcus said finally.  Trucks were roaring by in the background, so Marcus must’ve stepped out of his office.  “Are you sure it was the same guys?”

“Yeah, I’m sure.  And I’m sure they’ve got some interesting scars to prove they were properly introduced to my hand-to-hand skills.”

“So you took them out this time?”

“You know it.”

“And Michelle’s fine?”

“Yes, we’re both fine,” Brendan said, tiring of this back and forth.

“Okay, good.  Just let me handle this, alright?”

“What do you mean?”

“Just keep your nose out of this.  This is police business.”

“What are you going to do, man?”

“Trust me on this, and stay out of it.”

Before Brendan could argue further, Marcus ended the call.

Chapter 26

The shower felt good after his morning run at the same park he’d ran with Marcus at before.  The same two ladies had been there, but Brendan’s mind was way off in the clouds and he hadn’t engaged them, even when one tried to talk to him.  He’d had enough trouble with married women recently, and he definitely didn’t need more.

Despite it all, the storm had passed over without so much as a drop of rain.  Nobody knew anything, and nobody was saying anything.  The only negative consequence of the whole ordeal was that Michelle acted like she despised him.  Or at least, that’s how he interpreted her aggression after dinner last night.  Since she was the married one in the affair, that probably meant she took on the lion’s share of the guilt and remorse.  She had a family to protect after all.