Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 109903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
"Kevin," Andrew called from out of sight.
Kevin nearly knocked the chair over in his hurry to answer. Neil watched from the doorway as Andrew stopped almost right up against Kevin. Andrew pat Kevin down for imaginary injuries and Kevin stood motionless until he was done. Neil looked from them to Betsy, who came to a rest at the base of the stairs. Wymack was on the stairs with two strangers behind him, and Abby was out of sight. Neil guessed she didn't want to be a part of this anymore.
"Still in one piece," Andrew said with a satisfied nod. "For how much longer, I wonder? This is a bad idea, Bee. You know that as well as I do."
"What's wrong?" Kevin asked.
"Oh, but you haven't heard." Andrew motioned for Kevin to lean closer but didn't lower his voice. "Time's up, off we go. She's going to get rid of this for us." He dragged a thumb across his manic smile and laughed. "Someone should warn the doctors what they're in for! They'll lock the door and throw away the keys by the time I'm done with them."
"Get rid of that," Kevin echoed, but it only took him a moment to catch on. He fixed Betsy with a stunned look. "It's too early. What do you think you're doing?"
"The right thing," Betsy said.
Andrew spun back toward Betsy, delighted by Kevin's reaction. "Look at that face, Bee. He wants me sober more than almost anyone does, but only if the timing's right. I warned you, didn't I? Who will take care of Kevin if I'm gone? I can't trust him wandering around here by himself, and Coach can't be with him all the time. Kevin's kind of a full-time job."
"We'll take care of it," Wymack said.
"Oh, come on, Coach," Andrew said. "You've got to do better than that. Try again; I'll wait here while you think of something more convincing to say."
"I'll watch him," Neil said.
Kevin turned to stare at him, and Andrew pushed Kevin out of the way so he could see Neil better. Neil had startled the smile off Andrew's face with that, but it was back in a heartbeat.
"You?" Andrew asked. That was all he said, but that one word said enough.
Neil didn't respond, content to wait Andrew out. It didn't take long. Andrew took a couple quick steps his direction and shoved Neil as hard as he could. Neil knew it was coming and tried to brace for it, but he still stumbled back a couple steps. One of the strangers started to speak, likely trying to call Andrew to order. Neil saw Wymack move in the corner of his eye, maybe waving the intervention off as unnecessary, but he didn't dare take his eyes off Andrew to check. When Andrew pushed him again Neil caught hold of his arms and pulled Andrew with him.
"Oh, Neil," Andrew said, and switched into German. "You and I both know you have a dreadful sense of humor, so this can't be a joke. What do you think you're saying? What are you trying to do?"
"Take responsibility," Neil said in German.
"Usually such a good liar," Andrew said, "but this time you aren't fooling anyone. Am I to believe you'll hold your ground if Riko comes at you? Maybe I'll come back and you won't be here anymore."
"If I was going to leave I would have done so at the banquet when Riko called me by my name," Neil said. "I won't lie and say I didn't think about it, but I decided to stay. I trusted you more than I was scared of him. So trust me now if you can. I'm not going anywhere. I'll take care of Kevin until you return."
"Trust you." Andrew enunciated each word like he'd never heard them before. He laughed curled his fingers tight around Neil's chin. "You lie, and lie, and lie, and you think I'll trust you with his life?"
"Then don't trust 'Neil'," Neil said. "Trust me."
"Oh, but who are you? Do you have a name?"
"If you need one, call me Abram."
"Should I believe that?"
"I'm named after my father," Neil said. "Abram is my middle name; it's the name my mother used when she was trying to protect me from his work." It was the name he went by at his little league practices so the coach would actually let him play. It was strange hearing it aloud when no one had called Neil "Abram" in eight years. "Ask Kevin if you don't believe me. He would know."
"Maybe I will."
Neil waited, but Andrew didn't let go. With so many people watching them Neil couldn't lift his shirt. He did the next best thing and dragged one of Andrew's hands under the hem. He pressed Andrew's palm to the ugly scarring across his abdomen. Andrew's eyes dropped to Neil's shirt like he could see Neil's marred skin through the dark cotton.
"Do you understand?" Neil asked. "Nothing Riko does will make me leave him. We will both be here when you get back."
Andrew's fingers twitched against Neil's skin. "Someone lied to me. These ouches feel a little rough for a child on the run."
"The story I gave you was mostly true," Neil said. "I might have left out some critical details, but I know you're not really surprised by that. If we survive this year and you're still interested, you can ask me for them later. I think it's your turn in our secrets game, anyway."
Andrew pulled free and folded his arms over his chest. He drummed the fingers of one hand on his bicep as he thought. Finally he laughed and turned away. He went back to Kevin's side and grinned up at Kevin. Instead of asking about Neil's name, he said in English, "It'll have to do, won't it?"
Kevin looked like he'd swallowed a rock, but Andrew wasn't waiting for his answer. "Bee, I'll see if Nicky is still breathing. Then we can go, right? The sooner we start, the sooner we can get this mess over with."