Free Watchdog by Laurien Berenson Page B

right.”
    Of course I was right, but that didn’t necessarily mean that Frank would listen to me. My brother was an expert at evading responsibility. And right now I didn’t have any more time to spend trying to convince him to act like an adult.
    â€œLook, I’ve got to go. Davey’s bus will drop him off in ten minutes and I have to be there.” I leaned forward and gave my brother’s cheek a quick kiss. We’re not usually a demonstrative family, but he seemed to need the reassurance.
    â€œGo home, call and check on Andy, and then talk to Rattigan and get everything straightened out. And let me know what happens, okay?” Actually I wasn’t at all sure I wanted to know, but the threat that I might call to check up on him was probably the only thing that would make him follow through.
    â€œOkay,” said Frank. “And thanks.”
    When I left he was standing on the porch, locking the front door carefully behind him. Already I was late enough to have to speed all the way home. For once, luck was with me. I didn’t trip over any radar-traps, and Davey’s bus was late, too.
    As I turned onto our road, the school bus lumbered down the block just ahead of me. I waited behind the flashing red lights while Davey got out at our driveway, then pulled in behind him as he headed for the front door. Together we went in and liberated Faith from her day’s confinement.
    Frank didn’t call that evening to tell me how things had turned out, but then I didn’t really expect him to. In his case, no news was usually a good thing, so I was just as happy not to hear.
    The phone did ring the next morning just after I’d put Davey on the bus. As soon as I lifted the receiver, I heard screaming.
    â€œFrank?” I barely recognized my brother’s voice. It was high and edgy with panic. “What is it? What’s the matter?”
    â€œIt’s Marcus! I’m at the store. I don’t know what to do. Mel, he’s here on the floor, and there’s blood everywhere. He’s dead, Melanie. Marcus is dead.”

Seven
    Dead?
    â€œFrank, are you sure?”
    â€œHell, yes! And you would be, too, if you saw what this place looked like.”
    â€œYou’ve got to call the police.”
    â€œI did that first thing. Nine-one-one. They said someone’s on the way. Mel, you’ve got to get over here. You’ve got to help me.”
    Help him what? I wondered. But Frank was so rattled, there was no point in asking for any explanations over the phone.
    â€œI’ll be right there,” I said. “Don’t touch anything.”
    â€œTouch anything? Shit, I’m not crazy. Just hurry up, okay?”
    I took a minute to call Howard Academy and lie to Lily, the receptionist, telling her that I was sick. Lily promised to report the reason for my absence to the headmaster, see that my day’s appointments were rescheduled, and told me, ever so sweetly, that she hoped I’d be feeling better soon.
    So did I, though it was beginning to look doubtful.
    I grabbed my jacket and purse and loaded Faith into the car. She was so pleased to be included that she didn’t even question the break in routine. I made good time to the store, but the police and an ambulance had beaten me there.
    Faith stood up on the backseat and woofed softly at all the excitement. I pulled past the vehicles blocking the front of the store and parked around the side. Cracking all four windows for air, I left her to watch the show.
    Though the back of the ambulance was open, nobody seemed in any hurry to load a passenger. Two EMTs were standing near the front of the vehicle, talking. They watched as I strode up onto the porch.
    I pushed the door open and was stopped almost immediately by a uniformed officer, who blocked my path. “Sorry, ma’am, you can’t come in here.”
    He was big, six two, six three, minimum. My eyes were level with a name tag on