“You really want to depress yourself, listen to Pet Sounds. You know, by The Beach Boys? Most depressing goddamn album ever put to vinyl. I bum out every time I hear that thing.”

The employment opportunity was forgotten as Brian began riffing on music, chronicling his likes and dislikes over the past twenty years. Just as well. He wasn’t a bad guy, but he was a flake and a half, and he only brought up these so-called “job opportunities” to lord over Daniel the fact that he was working and Daniel wasn’t. Brian was six years older than Margot, five years older than Daniel, and though he’d always been loving and supportive in his way, he’d also been slightly resentful that they both had better paying, more respectable jobs than he did, and ever since Daniel had been out of work, he’d been in hog heaven.

It was after eleven before Brian finally left, grabbing his sister around the waist and spinning her once around the kitchen floor. They stood in the doorway, waving, as he woke up half the neighborhood with his car and drove off.

Daniel closed the door, locked it, and Margot kissed him. “Thanks.”

Daniel smiled wryly. “Hey, he’s family.”

“You went above and beyond. Ready for your reward?”

“I’ve been ready all night.”

“Let me go check on Tony.”

Margot went down the hall to Tony’s room, and Daniel double-checked the doors to make sure they were locked before turning off the lights and heading back to their bedroom. Margot was already standing before the dresser, loosening her hair, and he closed and locked the door behind him as he stepped into the room. He glanced toward the narrow bathroom doorway, saw darkness, shadow. There was a vague feeling of unease, a sense once again that something was wrong, and he walked quickly over to the bathroom and turned on the light, gratified to see that there was nothing out of the ordinary.