Page 56 of July 27

She was going to get no answers out of Corbin. Her brother's friend had probably sampled whatever pills or drugs were in Steven's coat.

She walked into the kitchen, ignoring the two in the house. Looking around, she tried to find any sign that Shady would return soon. He hadn't taken his car. There was a bowl of soggy cereal on the counter, dirty dishes in the sink, and a fly buzzing around a half-eaten sandwich.

Turning away, she had to keep reminding herself that the house wasn't her problem any longer.

"Yo, Rach." Corbin lowered the recliner with a thunk. "Are you moving back?"

"No." She returned to the living room and looked through the pile of junk mail stacked on the arm of the couch. At least Shady was picking up the mail.

"Aw, that's too bad." Corbin stretched his arms out and yawned. "You always kept Shady walking the path."

She snorted. "He just got out of prison."

"You know what I mean." Corbin reached inside his jeans and scratched his balls. "He needs you."

Suspicious about Corbin talking to her about her brother when normally, he wouldn't give her any information about Shady, she crossed her arms. "Where is he? The truth?"

Corbin walked over to the window and peered out. "He was supposed to meet us here this morning. He never showed up."

"Did you call him?" she asked.

"Yeah but he never answered."

"Give me his number." She pulled her phone out of her back pocket. When Corbin hesitated, she raised her brows. "Now."

Corbin pulled out his cell. "Five-five-five-zero-one-three-zero."

She entered the number and connected the call. After the third ring, the recording came on that he still needed to set up his voicemail. It figured. Shady always bought pre-paid cell phones and got rid of them if his paranoia hit.

"Damn him." She put her cell back in her pocket. "I really need to talk to him."

"Do you want me to have him call you when he gets back?"

She shook her head. What she wanted to tell him needed to be done face to face.

"I gotta go." Steven zipped up his coat. "Once I have the money, I'll come back." He glanced at Rachel and then back to Corbin. "Tell Shady."

Corbin scratched his balls again. "If you don't come back. He'll be out for blood."

"Yeah-yeah-yeah." Steven walked out the door.

Rachel tucked her hair behind her ears. She hadn't planned on staying at the house, waiting for her brother. But she couldn't leave without talking to him.

Corbin walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge. "Want a sandwich?"

"No."

How quickly she became a visitor to a place that used to be her home. Though, even when she lived here, Shady's friends came and went, acting as if they lived there.

"When do you think he'll come?" she asked.

Corbin shrugged, keeping his back to her. "Don't know. He's already late."

"Where did he go?"

"Around."

She rolled her eyes. He wasn't going to give her a straight answer.

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