I’m on the phone with dispatch before I get in mytruck, explaining the situation and confirming they’re keeping Kaylee on another line.
I make the six-minute drive to Anna’s in four after running a red light and nearly hitting Flora Buchanan’s ancient Datsun, which is parked nearly in the middle of the road outside her house. The whole way, my mind’s racing almost as fast as my truck. Guilt and shame and fear and disbelief.
I make it to Anna’s before Holden and his guys do, screeching to a halt in front of the gray house with its white trim and cute slanted roof. Anna’s car is parked in the driveway, but I don’t see anyone.
Then I open my door and step out and hear voices yelling from the backyard.
“—not asking for much, for fuck’s sake! I just want the car keys, Anna! What’s so goddamn hard to understand? I paid for that car with my child support, and you know it! I should get to fucking borrow it! Don’t make me come in and get the keys!”
I round the corner, and there’s my brother standing on Anna’s back deck, screaming at the—closed, thank fuck—glass door and pounding it with his fist.
My first thought when I see him isstrung out. I don’t know if he’s drunk or high, but he’s swaying on his feet and slurring his words just a little. I don’t immediately see a gun, but his hand’s stuck in the pocket of his jacket, and it’s bulging ominously.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
I force myself to think through the de-escalation training I’ve done with Holden’s department.Keep your voice calm, hands visible. Don’t make sudden movements. Build rapport. Keep him talking.
Never in a million years did I think I’d need that training for dealing with my own brother.
“Mike.” I keep my voice calm and my hands up. “Hey! Mike!”
It takes a second for Mike to process my voice, and then he spins toward me. His face lights up.
“Robbie! Hey! What’re you doing here?”
He’s acting like this is a social call.
Good. He’s happy to see me. Use that.
“Kaylee called me. She said you were scaring her.”
Mike frowns. “Nuh-uh. Listen, tell Anna to give me the keys tomyfucking car, wouldja? She’ll listen to you.”
“It’s not your car, bro.” I step closer, just a little, but try to keep my voice light and nonthreatening. “I think you’re confused.”
“Fucking not! I don’t have a car because my car broke. Why should Anna have a car when I don’t? Can’t keep a job ‘causeshe’staking all my money and turning my kids against me.” He blinks, stumbles a little, and sniffs hard. When he pulls his hand out of his pocket to swipe his wrist across his nose, sure enough, he’s holding a gun.
My whole body locks, and cold sweat breaks out across my back—something that never happens on calls.
Focus on training, for fuck’s sake. Don’t react to the weapon. Don’t acknowledge it. Keep him focused on you, not the threat he’s holding.
“Tell her, Rob! Tell her I just need it for a few days, okay? Just until I get out of here.”
“Sure. I’ll tell her,” I agree. I take another slow step forward, forcing a smile on my face and keeping an eye on his hand. “But you seem really stressed, Mike. What’s going on? Talk to me.”
He shakes his head, eyes darting around wildly. “Anna doesn’tget it, Rob. I messed up. Holden knows. I can’t go to jail. I gotta get out of town.”
I hear sirens moving in this direction. I can’t tell if Mike’s registering the noise yet, but I’m worried that when he does, he’ll be desperate enough to do something stupid.
Morestupid.
So I take another step closer to the slider door, hoping to keep his attention, moving in an arc to keep distance between us. When I move, Mike unconsciously counter-moves, and eventually, I manage to angle myself so I’m between him and the door.
“Nobody in this fucking town gives ashit.” Mike’s voice cracks, and his eyes are filled with tears. “I can’t get a job when everyone’s talking about what a fuckup I am. I’m losing my family, and it’s all Anna’s fault?—”
“Mike…”
“I giveeverythingfor my family.” He’s shouting now. “But nothing’s ever good enough?—”
