Page 23 of Brick
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“He’s intense.Tellme again why you didn’t want to find him after Fargo?”Ellie sometimes had no filter.
Natalie pressed her back to the seat and stared out the window at the hot September day.Puffy white clouds blotted out the crystalline blue sky.It’d be the perfect day to go swimming, but knowing Keetan, he wouldn’t allow them to leave today.If he even let her stay.
He probably wouldn’t shoot her.Guns made too much noise.He might hit her again, though not in front of Ellie.He wouldn’t want a witness.
It was getting close to lunchtime.Had Keetan even given Bray breakfast?Her own stomach churned but not with hunger.She hadn’t eaten since she and Bray shared a meal the previous night.
“Because I’m stupid,” she finally responded, with a wry smile.“I didn’t know him,” she continued, before Ellie could cut in.She had to tread carefully because even Ellie didn’t know the depths of her ties to Keetan.
Many times she’d wanted to tell her.To share the truth with someone.But doing so would only put Ellie in danger.“It all happened so quickly,” she said wistfully.“By the time I realized I was pregnant, Brick was a distant memory.”
Ellie remained quiet.Probably minding her tongue more than usual because of the current circumstances.“Well, I hope he’s here to stay.”
“He was very clear about wanting a relationship with Bray.If I get out of this mess with Keetan, we’ll talk about what that will look like.”
“You still haven’t told me about the allegations.How could he possibly have an APB out for your arrest?I don’t understand.I know he’s a cop, but he’s not that powerful.He’d need evidence...”
Words jumbled on her tongue, but she forced them down.Ellie couldn’t know.She had to keep her in the dark, at least for now.“Keetan is resourceful.There’s a very real chance he could send me to jail on bogus charges.”
Ellie scoffed.“Just know nothing can stick if it’s not true.I’ll be ready to call a lawyer if things go awry.”
“Just get Bray out.”
“You know I’ll protect him with my life.”Promise clung to Ellie’s words.
“I know.”That’s what I’m afraid of.
Ten minutes later, they approached the only home her son had ever known.Well-kept two-story homes lined the street, and large trees and flowerpots filled the yards.Keetan’s cruiser sat in the driveway.
Butterflies beat against her belly, and not the good ones.Their little wings created a violent storm of nausea as her sister parked on the side of the road out front.Part of her wanted to fling herself from the vehicle and run inside to gather up her son.The other part was stricken with fear at what she might find.If Keetan had hurt Bray, she’d kill him.
She glanced over her shoulder to see Brick’s car roll to a stop thirty feet behind them.Keetan wouldn’t be able to see him from the house.
Ellie turned in her seat.“I hope you realize how hard it’s going to be for me to not punch him in the face.”
Natalie grimaced.“You and me both, but we can’t.”
“Why not?We beat the shit out of Sheldon Plank in eighth grade when he called you metal mouth and tried to take a picture up your skirt with a Polaroid.”
Despite the situation, Natalie fought a smirk.Leave it to her sister to bring up one of their most outrageous memories at a time like this.“I’d love nothing more than to gang up on Keetan, but this is real.He has a gun.Probably more than one.”
Ellie sighed.“Next time.You ready to go in?”
“Yeah.I just want my son back.”
“I know.Don’t worry, we’re not leaving without him.”Ellie removed her phone from her purse and tapped Brick’s contact icon.Brick had insisted Ellie be the one to keep a phone live in her pocket, just in case Keetan searched Natalie.It was hard to say what he’d do, but Natalie sure as hell didn’t want to tip him off that they had backup.
Brick clicked on.“Here,” he said, the single word an unwavering lifeline of strength.
“We’re going in,” Ellie told him.“Put your phone on mute.”
Natalie climbed out of the passenger seat and stalked down the sidewalk.Ellie fell into step beside her, and they reached the walkway leading to the house.
The trees and bushes in the front yard brought up memories of Bray.He’d grown up here.She’d hated living with Keetan, but for Bray, she’d done everything she could to make their prison a home.That had included keeping face with their warden.
With every step her anxiety heightened.She climbed the cement stairs ahead of Ellie and rapped on the front door.Her chest thundered with the hammering of her heart.The muscles in her legs shook, but she locked her knees to stay upright.
