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Back Just Thieves Save as PDF
Chapters (42)
  1. Cover
  2. Other Titles
  3. Dedication
  4. Epigraph
  5. 1
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. 2
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. 26
  33. 3
  34. 27
  35. 28
  36. 29
  37. 30
  38. 31
  39. 32
  40. 33
  41. 34
  42. ACCOMPLICES AND EASY MARKS

“I know he was trying to be a good person,” Casey said. “I know he was trying. But he left a lot of hurt too. You know that.”

“He didn’t look back much,” I told her. “He talked about his past at the center sometimes, when it was helpful, but he didn’t dwell on it. I didn’t know that person.”

“You wouldn’t have liked him,” Casey said. “That’s the brother I knew the best, and I just need to vent about it for a minute.”

I let her vent.

“He stole a lot back then. Stole from my parents, stole from me, and it all went up his nose or in his arm. He’s high in most of my memories, birthdays, prom; he was a mess at my high school graduation. He and my father got into a huge fight. He told Frank not to go. I was crying, angry at the both of them. My father wouldn’t allow Frank in the car. They were yelling at each other in the driveway. More crying. So we left him at home, and of course he drove himself. I don’t know how he could drive and not wreck, but there he was, standing in the back. I saw him when I walked across the stage to get my diploma. And then he was gone. Gone for a few days. He’d taken some of my father’s things, golf clubs, tools, I don’t know what all. He even took some of my jewelry. He stole from me on my graduation. Took some of the gifts, envelopes of money, that sort of thing. Took it all and we didn’t see him for a week or so. My father threw him out of the house when he got back.”

“He never mentioned it,” I told her. “He never mentioned your parents to me, maybe one time. I’m sure he was ashamed of it. He tried to be better than he was, and he was, that’s all you can do.”

“I know,” Casey said. “I’m proud of him for that, believe me. I know that he was better with you, better with everyone. It doesn’t take away the hurt though. And the way he died, well, it brings it all back. I know he wasn’t that person anymore, but he’s not who they say he is now, either. Does that make sense?”

“Give me their names,” I said. “I’ll tell them to only to say bad things to you about Frank.” At least she laughed.

“That’s all I needed,” she said. “I knew you’d understand. I knew you’d be honest with me. I can’t talk to anyone else about it.”

“Neither can I,” I said. “I can’t hardly talk about it at all.”

20

THE END