“Such a nice man,” Raj echoed. He frowned suddenly as he looked me over. “How’s your arm?”
“Yes, how are you doing?” Rami asked.
I lifted my hand and flexed beneath my jacket to show it was working just fine. “I’m good.” I smiled at them. “I think I have you two to thank since you were the ones who told him where to find me.”
“We were worried about you,” Rami said.
“And we know how stubborn you are,” Raj added. “We weren’t sure you’d go to the hospital to be treated.”
I grinned, looking at my feet as I shook my head. When I looked up, I was still smiling. “You’re right. I am stubborn. Thank goodness you told him where to find me. When he did, he knew I wasn’t doing very well, so he insisted I see a doctor. I’m so grateful to you both.”
“You’re our friend, Wes,” Raj said.
I broke eye contact and glanced around. “I’ve missed this place.”
“I think you’ve missed our coffee,” Rami said. “Let me get you one.”
I was embarrassed to take it from them but since I wasn’t working, and I needed to save my pathetic savings where I could, I accepted it. “I tell you what,” I said, nodding at the box of wine. “I’ll take the coffee but only if you’ll let me work for it. Do you have more stocking to do?”
“Oh, no, Wes, that’s not necessary,” Rami said, pouring a big cup and handing it to me.
“Yes, we got a big shipment of wine, beer, and liquor yesterday morning, and we also are in the middle of inventory,” Raj contradicted. “I can’t pay you much, Wes, but we could use the help. Normally, our father comes down, but he’s off on some holiday.” He waved a hand. “You know we get the truck once a week. It takes us an entire day to unbox it and stock the shelves or sort it in the back to keep in stacks while the other one helps customers in the front of the store. And you can help me by checking things off on the clipboard. It will save me lots of time. I started yesterday but haven’t finished yet.”
“Raj!” Rami said, rattling off something that sounded like scolding in Punjabi. To his credit, Raj shot right back. I’d never seen this dynamic between the brothers. Finally, Rami turned back to me. “It’s okay, Wes. You are welcome to help if you want.”
I grinned and held out a hand. “Thank you, Rami.” We shook, and I looked at Raj. “You too, my friend.” He patted me on my good shoulder. “Come to the back and I’ll show you what I need done.”
“Great.” I took off my jacket as I followed Raj.
Three hours later, I was hot and sweaty and a little sore despite only writing down numbers, occasionally emptying boxes one-armed, and breaking them down to stack, but the storeroom and back office were once again organized. I leanedthe broom and dustpan against the wall and admired my work, happy that I’d been of some help to the brothers. I’d just finished washing my hands as Raj came back into the storeroom.
“Wow, Wes, you did a great job.” He wore a huge smile as he handed me a cold bottle of water. “Please come up front to the register so we can give you some money for all the hard work.”
“Oh, that’s not necessary, Raj. I told you.”
“Nonsense. We insist. Come on.” He waved at me, so I picked up my jacket, knowing it was useless to argue with him. When we walked out to the front of the store, I stopped.
A tall man with his back to me was talking to Rami as he rang up his purchases. The man wore a navy sweatshirt, jeans, and running shoes, and from my vantage point, I could see he was balding like me. A shiver ran through me for some reason, and I slowed my steps, keeping my eyes on him as I got closer and closer. Something in his mannerisms seemed off even though I couldn’t hear what they were saying. I watched Rami hand him his change, keeping my eyes on the man as he exited the store without turning around.
Raj and I walked up to the counter. “Oh, hey, Wes! Are you finished?” Rami asked.
I nodded then dragged my gaze back to the man’s retreating form, watching as he stopped at the curb. When he turned to check for oncoming traffic, I noticed the goatee he wore. It was trimmed differently than mine, but he looked… I stood in place, not comprehending what I was seeing at first but then heard Rami calling my name and turned back to him.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“Do you know that man, Wes?”
I shook my head and then turned to look at the man again. He was jogging across the street. “No,” I absently replied.
“He asked if I’d seen a man who looked like him,” Rami said. “He showed me a picture of—oh, wow!”
I stared at him in surprise. “What?”
“Oh!” Rami said, pointing to me. “Youlook like him…like the picture he showed me, Wes. Who—”
I didn’t hear the rest as I turned and bolted straight out the door. The man was getting into the back seat of the car, and I immediately recognized the two men in the front. They were the two men I’d seen beating up Father Gilmartin. “Hey!” I shouted as the car started and began to pull away from the curb. Three pairs of eyes turned to look at me as the driver suddenly stepped on the brake. The mask of rage on the balding man’s face stunned me for a split second…right before I saw him hold up a gun.
I swallowed hard and reversed course, turning and charging as fast as I could down the crowded block. I didn’t stop to look back when I heard horns honking and the squeal of tires because I was positive they were following me. I ran across the street, ignoring a red light, making a driver come to a screeching halt when they almost hit me. The near miss was followed by another horn and someone leaning out of the window and cursing to the high heavens.
