Page 111 of The Rat

“Leo’s barely spoken, he’sfinally coming out of his shell. He doesn’t want to seeOliver.”

“Has he saidthat?”

“No, he doesn’t speak about him.”

“Ollie needs support inthere.”

Ashershook his head. “He murdered his dad,my brother.”

“That man was abusive.” Rorymurmured.

Asher lowered his gaze. “I knowhe could be hot-headed, he had a temper, and he used his fists morethan heshould’ve.”

“He hit them. He hurt them. Hemade their lives miserable. All Ollie wanted was for Leo to besafe. I don’t agree with murder, but he was trapped, and scared,and he didn’t know what else to do.”

“When Leo’s eighteen, he candecide for himself.”

“At least let him write. Hewatches that mail cart pass by every day, always waiting. Why don’tyou reply?”

“He’s got to accept whathe’s done, and he hasn’t. He showed no remorse, no guilt, and untilhe does, I don’t want to see him.”

“So you’re punishing him?” Roryturned his attention to Maggie. “He’s eighteen, he’s a kid, and heneeds you.”

“What are you shoutingabout?”

Rory took a step back at the sound ofthe voice, so similar to Ollie’s, only slightly croakier, as if hisvoice was breaking.

“Police officer Matterson was justleaving.”

“Policeofficer?”

Asher was shoved aside, and Rorytook another step backwhen he saw Leo. He had the same blond messy hair,and huge brown eyes, and the dimple in his chin. He looked likeOllie, but before puberty had matured him.

“My brother, is heokay?”

“No,” Rory blurted, struck byLeo’s similar expressions. “He misses you like crazy.”

Leo’s eyes filled with tears. “I miss him,too.”

“You’ve barely mentionedhim.” Asher grumbled.

“I feel like I can’t talkabouthim, orwhat happened.”

“Exactly Ollie will tip youover the edge.”

“That’s not what I meant. When Italk about him you shut me down, you change the subject,you have thishateful expression on your face, but I want to talk about him, Iwant to see him.”

“When you’re eighteen.”

Leo turned back to Rory. “How comehe’s not writing to me? He said he would when he got taken down, hepromised.”

Rory gawped, then looked atAsher.

“What aren’t you tellingme?”Leosnapped. “Has he written to me?”

“He may havewritten aletter or two.” Asher mumbled.

Rory shook his head. “He’s written toyou every week for the past nine months.”

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