My Brother’s Keeper - 28

“Damn, damn, damn.” Tad swore vehemently as he took out his cell and flipped it open.

“That about covers it,” Roy growled, trying to cover the fear in his voice as he looked out the window.

Three punks leaned against Tad’s car while a fourth, Daws, stood in front of them. He held a baseball bat loosely in one hand as he searched the back of the apartment building with the apparent hope that Tad or Roy would look out to see what had set off the car alarm.

Roy pulled back quickly. When he realized Tad had called 911 he shook his head. “You know they’ll be gone before the cops arrive.”

Tad nodded sharply as he told the 991 operator what was happening. A moment later he snapped the phone shut. “They’re on their way.”

Jerry raced into that kitchen at that moment, fear scribed across his face. “Daws is out there!”

“We know and the police are on their way,” Tad replied as he leaned across the sink to peek through the curtain. “Damn it all to hell!”

Roy didn’t need to look to know what was happening. The sound of bats and pipes hitting the car told him all he needed to know. The wail of an approaching siren sounded in the distance and seconds later a voice called out, “This will be you next time.”

“Over my dead body,” Tad barked out even though he knew Daws wouldn’t hear him. He opened the curtains and sighed deeply as he watched the retreating backs of the punks. “A day late…” he muttered as a patrol car pulled into the lot.

Jerry looked at Roy. Then he grabbed his hand to try to tug him out of the kitchen. “We can’t let the cops know we’re here,” he cried out in fear.

Tad caught on immediately. “Hurry and get dressed,” he ordered, already placing a call. As soon as he heard her voice he explained to Denise what he needed. Apparently she was willing to hide Roy and Jerry, because he told Roy to get his brother and stash their packs in the closet. Not that he expected the police to search for any reason but he wasn’t willing to take the chance.

It seemed only a minute later when there was a knock on the apartment door. Tad panicked and then quickly realized that the police would have had to buzz him to be let inside the building. Or at least he hoped that was the case. He opened the door to find Denise standing there.

“Roy, Jerry, move it,” Tad called out. They came racing into the living room and from there followed Denise down to her place.