Turn on a Dime - Blane's Turn (21 page)

“I’ll see you tonight,” he said. She just nodded, her lips wet and swollen.

And if he didn’t leave now, he wouldn’t leave at all.

The chill in the air was a stark contrast to the heat in his blood as Blane jogged down the stairs to his car. He was on the phone with Kade before he’d even left the parking lot.

Seventeen Years Ago

The first real snag they ran into after Kade came back was when Blane wanted to take Kade to the doctor for a physical before school began.

“I’m not going,” Kade declared, plopping down on the couch in the den and flipping on the television.

“You have to go,” Blane said. “It’s required for school that you have a physical.”

“I’m fine,” Kade said. “I don’t need a physical.”

Blane knew better than to attempt to physically force Kade to the doctor. He hadn’t touched Kade since that first time outside of the orphanage.

Bribery had worked before. Maybe it’d work again.

“I need to hit the electronics store,” Blane said. “Want to come with?”

Kade cocked an eyebrow at him. “What are you going there for?”

“I could use a new computer,” Blane said. “Or, maybe you could.” Blane had caught Kade a few times messing with his computer. He’d said he didn’t do anything to it and Blane believe him, but might as well get him one of his own.

“Really?” Kade asked.

Blane nodded. “Sure. We could stop by . . . after we go to the doctor.”

Kade heaved a sigh. “Bribing me for my cooperation? That’s not what the parenting books say to do.”

“Lucky for you I’m your brother, not your dad,” Blane tossed back. “Do we have a deal?”

And that was how Blane got Kade to go to the doctor. He’d had the foresight to call ahead and inform them of Kade’s . . . unique circumstances. So there were no surprises when they arrived.

The doctor was a nice man who was friendly despite Kade’s sullen demeanor. He didn’t say a word about the scars on Kade’s back as he listened to his lungs. Blane didn’t turn away this time, making himself once again view the scars.

Kade’s eyes met his, but neither spoke as the doctor finished his exam.

“Clean bill of health,” the doctor said with a smile. “I’ll send the nurse in with the necessary vaccines, then you should be good to go.”

Blane thanked the man as he left, leaving him and Kade alone. Kade quickly threw on his shirt.

“Chicken pox scars,” he said curtly.

Blane nodded as if he believed him. “And the one on your chest?”

Kade shrugged and glanced away. “Got in a fight.”

Blane let it slide, knowing he’d get nothing further out of him. Mona had been trying to convince Blane it hadn’t been his fault, what Kade had gone through. There was nothing he could’ve done. But it didn’t ease the guilt that gnawed constantly at his gut. At times like this, it became a sharp stab.

“I don’t want the vaccines,” Kade said abruptly. “I got the clean bill of health. Let’s go.”

“You have to get the vaccines,” Blane explained. “They won’t let you in school otherwise.”

“I don’t give a shit. I don’t do needles.” He headed for the door but Blane blocked his path.

“Kade, I understand if you don’t like needles, but you have to get the vaccines. It’s not optional.”

The nurse came in then and Kade’s face went stark white when he saw the needles in the tray she carried. Beads of sweat broke out on his forehead and Blane realized Kade hadn’t been exaggerating when he said he disliked needles. He looked terrified and inches from passing out.

“Ah, listen,” Blane said to the nurse, who seemed utterly oblivious to Kade’s anxiety as she readied her supplies, “can we just take a minute? He doesn’t really care for needles.”

The nurse looked up in surprise, finally realizing the state Kade was in. “Oh! Of course,” she said quickly, stepping back to give Kade some space.

Blane stepped in front of Kade, blocking his view of the needles. “Look at me,” he said quietly. Kade didn’t move, didn’t even blink from where his gaze had been fixed. “Look at me,” Blane repeated more urgently.

Kade’s eyes finally lifted to meet Blane’s. His breathing was fast and shallow, every muscle in his body tight and stiff.

“It’s going to be fine,” Blane said. “Just keep your eyes on mine, okay? Don’t think about it. Just breathe.”

Kade’s blue gaze didn’t waver and he didn’t blink as he stared into Blane’s eyes. Blane motioned with his hand and the nurse moved quickly and efficiently. When she wiped Kade’s arm with the alcohol swab, he flinched. Instinctively, Blane reached for Kade’s hand. To his surprise, Kade let him touch him, gripping his hand tightly in return. His palm was cold and clammy with sweat.

It was the first time Kade had shown any fear to Blane, and the first time he’d let Blane touch him, help him. They stood there, eyes and hands locked, while the nurse injected the vaccines. She was quick and Kade didn’t so much as twitch again as she gave him the shots, though Blane knew they stung.

Finally, it was over and the nurse left without another word.

Kade blew out a breath, his body sagging, and Blane guided him to a chair, giving him a little push so he sat. Blane crouched down in front of him.

He forgot sometimes, that Kade was only ten, just a child. He acted so much older, spoke with the wit and cynicism of a person twice his age. Kade hadn’t yet let go of Blane’s hand and neither did Blane.

“When my mom died,” Kade said, his voice a hoarse rasp, “they sent me to this place with other orphans. But they didn’t separate us by age, so the young kids were mixed in with the teenagers. A lot of the older guys were into drugs, turned tricks to score a hit. One night a group of them, three or four, were high. They wanted me to try it and I wouldn’t. So they tied me down, stuck a needle in me, and shot me full of meth.”

Kade was staring over Blane’s shoulder at nothing. Blane listened in horror as his brother described the effects of crystal meth, how he’d nearly died by the time they found him the next morning, how even with just the one dose, he’d had to go through detox. Finally, he stopped speaking. His eyes refocused on Blane.

“And that’s why I don’t like needles.”

It seemed he just then realized he still held Blane’s hand and abruptly let go, getting to his feet and moving past where Blane still crouched, unable to move. His mind reeled, trying to cope with what had just happened. What to do? What to say? Not only did Blane feel woefully inadequate to know how best to help Kade, the guilt was crippling.

Kade was waiting, so Blane forced himself to stand. His gaze fell on Kade, who seemed to read what was inside his head.

“I don’t want your pity,” Kade said, his face darkening. “It is what it is. I just thought you deserved an explanation for my freak out.”

“I don’t deserve anything,” Blane said baldly. “But I’m glad you told me. I’m sorry I made you get the shots. I won’t do that to you again.”

Kade nodded stiffly.

They left the doctor’s office in silence and Blane drove to the electronics store. He could understand now, the compulsion divorced parents had to try to assuage the hurts of their children with material goods. He would have bought the whole damn store if it could’ve taken away even an instant of the pain Kade had suffered.

The computer Kade chose wasn’t the high-end one Blane would have thought he’d pick, but just your average PC. They took it home and Blane helped him set it up in his room. After firing it up, Kade sat down in front of it, looking utterly captivated. Considering the tests for school had put Kade at two grade levels above where he should be, Blane hoped the computer would grab his interest and challenge him.

Blane had no idea that his “bribe” would forever alter Kade’s life.

CHAPTER SEVEN

“This is early, even for you,” Kade answered the phone and indeed it sounded like Blane had woke him.

“I’ve got some bad news,” Blane replied, grabbing his sunglasses and sliding them on while he drove. “James is running for D.A.”

“Just a sec,” Kade said.

Blane heard the rustle of cloth and the sound of a feminine voice. Finally, Kade came back. “Okay, sorry about that. What were you saying?”

“Where are you?”

“Leaving. So what’s this about James?”

“He’s running for District Attorney,” Blane repeated. “It’s in today’s paper.”

“Well, that’ll certainly come in handy if he wins. No one will prosecute TecSol if he’s in on it.”

“That’s what I was thinking.”

“Have to be some pretty deep pockets behind him, though, to enter the race this late in the game.”

“We need to know where the money’s coming from,” Blane said.

“I got a lead on that,” Kade said, and Blane heard the slam of a car door. “That escort service takes in some pretty serious cash.”

“You think they’re funneling it to TecSol?”

“They’d have to launder it first, but yeah. We need to find out more about the escort service.”

“Then we’re in luck,” Blane said. “Frank Santini invited me to some party tomorrow night. I think it’s for the service. He sent me directions, a code name, password, and get this—you have to wear a mask.”

“Sounds like my kind of party,” Kade joked.

“You can be my plus one,” Blane said.

“All right, but I’m not putting out. Not without dinner first.”

“By the way,” Blane said, “the thing of Mark’s? That the chick has? It’s a hard drive.”

“Perfect,” Kade said. “But how do you know?”

“Because the chick is a bartender at The Drop.”

“You know her?”

“You could say that,” Blane said evasively. He was pulling up to James’s house now. “I tried to get her to give it to me, but she said she was supposed to give it to you tonight. Let’s play good cop, bad cop and you get it from her.”

“Will do.”

“And don’t hurt her,” Blane forcefully added. “I gotta go. Call me when you know what’s on the drive.” He ended the call and got out of the car. He’d briefly considered telling Kade the whole story of Kathleen, but had stopped at the last second. Blane couldn’t explain his obsession with her to himself, how was he supposed to tell his brother? Who would no doubt laugh himself silly if Blane started waxing poetic about a woman.

Blane rang the doorbell, buttoning his shirt the rest of the way while he waited. He’d opted to leave his gun in the car. No sense testing his self-control.

To his irritation, no one answered the door. Knowing James, he was probably at his country club playing golf this morning. An expensive and very exclusive club, members had to be nominated for entry and the entry fee was upwards of twenty grand. If James was looking for some campaign cash, it was an excellent place to start.

Unfortunately for him, Blane had a membership there, too.

Blane went home to quickly shower and change. A short while later, he was pulling up to an elaborate two-story brick building situated on an expansive golf course. A teenager clad in white ran to greet him as Blane opened the car door.

“Good morning, sir,” the boy said, eyeing the Jag with excitement in his eyes. “Shall I park your car for you?”

“Sure, kid.” Blane said with a small smile as he handed him the keys and a tip before heading inside. “Go easy on her.”

As luck would have it, Blane spotted James right away. He was heading out the back with two other men who Blane recognized as business owners with deep pockets in the city. No doubt James was courting them for their money and the influence they wielded.

“James,” Blane said as he casually stepped into their path. “I didn’t know you were playing this morning.” Blane’s practiced smile fell easily into place as he eyed the younger man. “And with Andrew and Jake, too. Good to see you guys.”

“Kirk, it’s been a while,” Jake said with a smile as they shook hands. “How’ve you been?”

“Great, thanks for asking. Hey, how’s Alice doing?” Alice was Jake’s wife and they were expecting their second child. Blane memorized information like that for situations just like this.

“She’s doing well, only six weeks to go,” Jake said, obviously pleased.

“Don’t you owe me a Colts game?” Andrew said good-naturedly as Blane turned to shake his hand.

“I keep waiting for them to get to back into the playoffs,” Blane protested, noticing that James was looking increasingly irritated.

“You playing this morning, Kirk?” Jake asked.

Blane shook his head. “Too last minute to get a buddy to come with me,” he lied. “Thought I’d hit the driving range for a while.”

“We could use a fourth,” Andrew suggested.

“Yeah, get your clubs,” Jake added. “We’d love for you to join us.”

Blane pretended to hesitate. “You’re sure?” he asked. “I don’t want to intrude on your game.”

“You’re not intruding,” Andrew scoffed. “James won’t mind, right?” He looked expectantly at James, who wasn’t nearly as good as Blane in faking a smile.

“Yeah, sure. We’d love you to join us,” James said, his voice flat.

“See?” Jake said, slapping James on the back. “Get your clubs, Kirk. We’ll meet you out back.”

The next four hours were spent with Blane, Jake, and Andrew having a good time while James proceeded to sulk. Blane carefully kept the conversation light, steering it away from anything James brought up. A refreshment cart came by offering them beer. Though they all took one, Blane noticed that James kept getting more each time the cart came by.

“So, Kirk,” Andrew said as they pulled up to the tenth hole. “Rumor has it you might be throwing your hat in the ring for governor.”

It was a question even though it was framed as a statement.

Blane adjusted his sunglasses and flashed him a shit-eating grin. “If I do, you can bet your ass I’ll be calling you for a donation.” He grabbed his driver from his bag as Jack and Andrew both laughed.