Free Dangerous Games by Marie Ferrarella

much on the boy at one time.” Shrugging, he resumed dividing the sum total of his possessions amid the remaining boxes. “It’s better this way.”
    She sat on the corner of the bed. “Maybe for you, but I’m not too sure about Dad. He’s going to miss having another male around the place.” It had taken her a while, but she was finally beginning to appreciate life from her father’s side of the fence. “One by one, his birds are leaving the nest.” She looked at Clay. “Leaving him more time to pore over Mom’s file.”
    Their father’s preoccupation with what they felt was a hopeless quest had been a source of concern for all of them.
    Clay offered his suggestion tongue-in-cheek—for the most part. “Then maybe you and Teri can take turns not being out until all hours and keep him company.”
    She gave him a dirty look. Getting off his bed, she started emptying the small bookcase that held his tapes and books. “Here, let me give you a hand with all that. Maybe we can have you out before noon.”
    Laughing, Clay threw his treasured Angel cap at her. It’s been the one he’d worn the time the team had had the all-important rally in the seventh inning of the sixth World Series game. She caught it, then ran out of the room, challenging him to catch her.
    And missing him already.

    Cole couldn’t sit still, couldn’t just wait for Rayne to call him back. He had to do something. Every minute was precious. Every minute that wasn’t used was another that brought Eric closer to a verdict he didn’t deserve, one that would lock him away from a life he hadn’t mastered, sending him to a place akin to hell. Cole had no delusions about his brother. Eric was the type who had “victim” clearly printed on his forehead. Once in general lockup with hardened criminals, Eric wouldn’t last out the month. He wouldn’t be able to survive mixed in with those kinds of people.
    Making up his mind, Cole went back to jail. He went with the intent of getting as much information out of his brother as possible, starting with the names of some of the people who had been at the party he’d attended.
    Sitting opposite him, Eric made vague responses, not out of any sense of loyalty to the people who had been there, but because he really couldn’t remember.
    “I gave all those names to the police already,” he protested. “The ones I could remember. Most of it’s kind of hazy,” he’d confessed, then added, “I guess most of my life’s been kind of hazy lately. Ever since you left, really.” And then, looking afraid that he’d sent the wrong message, he quickly added, “Hey, man, I don’t mean to dump that on you. It’s not your fault. You got out. I’m glad for you. Me, I never had enough guts to try.” Eric sighed like a man who knew all of his limitations and was powerless to do anything about them. “I liked being close to the purse strings too much. Not that it matters anymore.” Those strings had been tightened and the money cut off less than a month ago. His reserve was almost gone.
    Eric’s expression was sheepish as he looked at him and asked for understanding. “I’m not like you, Cole. I never got a backbone.”
    Pity mingled with sympathy. Eric was such a tangled mess, he didn’t know where to begin to make it right. But making excuses wasn’t the way to resolve anything. “They’re standard issue at birth.”
    Eric laughed shortly, staring at the tips of his fingers as he rested his hands on the table in front of him. “My order got botched.” He raised his eyes to Cole’s face. “But that was why I loved Kathy. With her, I felt different, as if I could do things. She made everything clear, everything in focus.” His face fell as he struggled with a memory. “When she told me she didn’t want to see me anymore, it ripped my heart right out of my chest.
    “That’s why I kept at her, Cole. I was trying to win her back. I wouldn’t have hurt her. Kathy was the only thing that made