Read Online My Brother's Keeper by Keith Gilman - Free Book Online Page B

You’d think God would get sick of wasting so many miracles on one person.’
    â€˜If it’s so bad why don’t you get out?’
    â€˜And do what? Start working on husband number three? Are you applying for the job? It’s not exactly steady work.’
    Lou smiled but there was little sympathy in it, just a row of well-capped white teeth to go with a hesitant nod.
    Franny got up to leave, pushing the strand of hair she’d been playing with behind one ear. Her purse was locked around her left arm. Her heels clicked furiously on the floor as she stepped off the faded rug and moved toward the door. She stood for a second, her hand on the knob and the smooth muscular line of her calves flexing beneath the dark stockings. She turned and faced him as if she had something more to say, a last word.
    â€˜Can I drop you somewhere, Franny? I can take you home. It’s no problem.’
    â€˜No, thanks. But there is maybe something you can do for me.’
    â€˜Name it.’
    â€˜First of all, you have to promise to leave Jimmy out of it. You know what he’s like, Lou. He thinks he’s invincible but he’s not.’
    â€˜I can’t make a promise like that. Tell me what you want and I’ll tell you what I’m willing to do.’
    â€˜Brian’s taken some things from me and he won’t give them back. He won’t even let me back in the house. He’s selfish in the same way his mother is. They both figure if they bought it, I don’t deserve to have it. If nothing else, maybe you can get some of my stuff back?’
    â€˜What kind of stuff?’
    â€˜Clothes, mostly. Some furniture. And jewelry. He’s given me a lot of valuable jewelry in the short time we’ve been together. It’s my wedding ring I really want back. I think I deserve at least that.’
    â€˜Does Brian have it?’
    â€˜He must. He took it back as if it had always belonged to him and I was only borrowing it for a while.’ Lou saw the tear that had been hanging around run down her cheek. Her eyes had grown bloodshot and swollen. He wondered if an infinite supply of salt water flowed through the veins of all women, dredging it up on demand from some bottomless sea, an endless desert of shifting sand along with it, replenishing the hour glass they forever turned in their hands. ‘I rarely took it off. Almost never. It disappeared from the bureau in my room. I know he’s got it, Lou.’
    Lou rubbed the knuckles on his left hand, his fingers clenched into a loose fist. The hair on his neck bristled as he listened to her become suddenly plaintive, realizing now that maybe he was being used. What the hell, he thought, being taken advantage of went with the territory. And who better to be taken advantage of than by Franny Patterson? He reached into his breast pocket and passed her a business card with his number on it.
    â€˜I’ll see what I can do. Call me if there’s trouble.’
    â€˜If you plan on looking for him, you might not find him at the house. He spends most of his time down at the Arramingo Club. It’s on Oregon Avenue. He owns it.’

SIX
    L ou followed her down the stairs and out onto the sidewalk. Traffic was building on Lancaster Avenue. Cars were backed up all the way to Penn Street where a gray Mercedes sedan sat with its blinker on, waiting to make the left turn. It was a difficult maneuver at any time of day. Now, it was nearly impossible. It sat there with its orange blinker throbbing, waiting for traffic to clear or for some kind soul to slow down and wave him on. A long line of cars had filed in closely behind. A few drivers punched angrily at their horns, their faces hard and tight in the midday sun. The right lane was barely squeezing by and Lou couldn’t help but smile, seeing this drama play itself out at that intersection every day. Franny must have thought he was laughing at her.
    He walked her to her car, keeping a