Page 52 of Finding Basil
Herb nodded and wanted to cry, but he had to be strong for Basil and his family.
They sat on kitchen chairs, couches and stools while Michelle and Michael told the sheriff about Basil and Steve.
“He’s a sweet boy, really, but his disease, it causes a lot of problems. I don’t know if he took Basil, or what happened.”
Abuela sat with her husband, who didn’t say a word, letting his wife speak for the two of them. “I refuse to believe Basil left for this long on his own. He told me about what was happening, and that Steve was living in the attic of Herb’s house. He doesn’t want the boy to go to jail.”
Carla looked right at Herb and asked, “Did you know about this?”
“Of course not. I learned of it when I saw the attic. I saw Basil go into my house last night. I saw two people leaving, but…I had no idea who he was with or what was going on.”
“You saw?”
“Sorry. I should explain. I had a fire, and since then, I’ve been staying with Lila Dormer. I saw from her place.”
“I see.”
“The fire Steve started,” Sabrina added.
“We don’t know that.” Herb defended, though he didn’t know why.
“He’s still in love with my brother,” Sabrina told the sheriff. “If he saw them together, I’d lay money he started that fire on purpose.”
Herb caught Abuela staring at the ground, which was unlike her. “Mrs. Jimenez…do you know something?”
After huffing, she said, “Yes. Basil thought the same thing, and he knew he’d go to jail, and jail won’t do Steve a bit of good. I…I suggested it too, to take him to the hospital again. Jail…it’s not for someone sick, Clay! It’s not, and if you go heavy on him, I’ll tell everyone in town what a jackass you truly are and then good luck next election!”
After holding up two big hands, he said, “Whoa, whoa, I don’t even know all the facts. Besides, if he was in the middle of a breakdown, he’d likely go to a…hospital or wherever.”
Herb was relieved, if only so Basil wouldn’t hate him, but then he thought of it and asked, “If he kidnapped Basil, though, what would happen?”
“Again, depends on the circumstances. He won’t get off scot-free though.”
“Good! Maybe jail is what he needs,” Michael Jimenez said. “But if he hurt my boy, God help him! He’ll be lucky to make it to jail.”
As all of Basil’s brothers agreed with their father, and got rowdy, Clay West looked like he’d just lost the battle. Finally, he stood and held up his hands again, only this time, palm to palm in prayer hands as he pled, “Please, everyone, stop! Michael, you can’t threaten someone like that in front of me! If something happened to him, I’d have to suspect you, and then…”
“I’d send you up to heaven with my boot in your ass,” Abuela said with a hard nod, making her husband laugh a little.
Sitting down in defeat, Sheriff West said, “Everyone, I’m going to do my best to find Basil, and in the meantime, keep your phones charged and handy, in case Basil calls.”
“If you think we’re gonna sit here, you’re the one who needs a hospital,” Juan said.
“I didn’t suspect you would. I’d like it if someone stayed behind here, but if you go looking, just be careful and let me know if you find anything. I’m getting on the phone to the hospital, just in case Basil stayed there with Steve for some reason.”
After the sheriff left, Juan went to Herb and said, “We will go together. Sabrina’s staying behind, whether she likes it or not.”
“I agree. She doesn’t need this stress.”
“Come on. Let’s go.”
As they took off in Herb’s car, he was glad he wasn’t alone. The worry was already eating him alive, and he had things in thatpot that were boiling with the rest to make a stress stew that was choking him.
The thought of Steve hurting him was of course the worst. Then, the thought of something happening to the two of them. The one that he didn’t voice was the one that ate at his stomach like pure acid eating through concrete.
The thought that they’d run off together, like Steve described in his writings.
“I swear that fucker hasn’t brought my brother anything but trouble. If he hurt Basil, I’ll kill him.”
