Eddie: Grime Doesn't Pay (The Brothers Grime Book 2) by Z.A. Maxfield

Author:Z.A. Maxfield [Maxfield, Z.A.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Maxfield Books
Published: 2019-08-18T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

On Saturday morning, Eddie found Andrew’s compact parked in front of a typical suburban fake Tudor two-story. For the first time since they’d agreed to meet there, Eddie acknowledged he was apprehensive. Andrew stood on the sidewalk, hands in his pockets, looking up at the house. He was dressed in a pair of paint-spattered jeans and a UCI hoodie.

Andrew looked like he was bracing himself for something unpleasant.

Something about the situation felt…funny to Eddie. It felt not right. The atmosphere reminded Eddie of his job—of arriving at the scene of an unexpected death. It reminded him of aftermath.

He got his travel mug of coffee and picked up his backpack from the passenger seat. He’d packed himself a change of clothing because he’d believed Andrew was inviting him on an impromptu camping trip or…something else. Something not this.

Up and down the street, people peered at them from behind window blinds. That’s what clinched his sense of unease. People seemed to be watching. Waiting.

“What’s up?” Eddie asked.

“I—” Andrew turned as if he hadn’t heard him drive up. He tilted his head to peer at the house next door and called out, “Hey. Nosy much?”

When Eddie followed Andrew’s gaze, the neighbor’s curtains twitched closed. “Can you tell me what we’re doing here?”

Andrew toed the ground. “I’m waiting for someone.”

“Someone who’s not me?”

“Someone besides you. I’m supposed to meet her here. She called and said she’d be a few minutes late.”

“She?”

“A doctor.” Andrew pushed his mop of hair away from his face. “A psychiatrist.”

“Okay.” Eddie leaned against the fender of Andrew’s car. “But isn’t it little early for couples therapy?”

He’d meant that as a lighthearted joke, but it was plain Andrew didn’t take it that way. “Actually, after you get a load of this, you might think we’re beyond help.”

Eddie’s chest tightened at his words. “It’s time you told me what this is all about.”

“I’m getting to that.” Andrew took his hand from his pocket to steal Eddie’s travel mug. He took a deep swallow of coffee and sputtered, probably because it was still extremely hot. “This isn’t easy for me.”

Eddie nodded. He waited.

“This is my father’s house.”

Ah. “I see.”

“He—” Andrew swallowed. “He’s got problems with the neighbors because he has trouble letting things go, and now the city is involved. I was here this week for a few days, trying to help him organize, but it was a total washout. Today I’m bringing in reinforcements.”

“I’m sorry. That must be tough.” Eddie was ashamed by a brief flash of relief. Andrew wasn’t mad at him or—

“It is.” Andrew gripped the cup with both hands. “I can’t seem to get through to him. His house is at stake. They’re coming back with a warrant to search the place if he doesn’t clean the yard. They’ll red tag it if they see the inside.”

“Your father has an immediate problem,” Eddie summed it up. “And you’re trying to help him. What does he say about that?”

“He doesn’t want my help. He’s adamant that he doesn’t have a problem.

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