The Long Way Home by Z.A. Maxfield

Author:Z.A. Maxfield [Maxfield, Z.A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Maxfield Publishing
Published: 2012-08-13T12:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

KEVIN PUT HIS arm around his dad’s waist to hold him up as he walked him into his childhood home. He could count on his left hand the number of times he’d seen Himself worse for drink.

“Chief, one more step, Buddy. Have you got the keys?”

“Here.”

Kevin knew the code to the alarm system; they’d never changed it in all those years. Once in, with the whistling alarm noise stopped, he helped his father toward the living room sofa. “I’ll go make coffee.”

“No, you come back here and read my mind or something. I gotta wrap my head around this shit.” His father flailed on the couch—sort of turtle-on-his-back.

“Pop, you’re drunk.”

“You are psychic.” His pop laughed at his own joke. “Just sit there and let me look at you, son. Your eye is kind of creepy, did you know that?”

“Yeah.” Kevin turned on the light and sat in the armchair opposite the couch. “It looks all blown, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah. I’ve seen eyes like that in car wrecks.” His pop sounded like he was starting to sober up. Kevin hoped he wouldn’t start crying and shit.

Kevin hated to admit it, but it was good to be home. He’d watched a thousand games in this room. Big screen screaming, cops everywhere, the Notre Dame players in their gold helmets flying over green turf like wasps. “I missed you, Pop. I missed this.”

“Me too, you little maggot.” His pop sat up a little. “You’re coming on Sunday right? You’re cooking. You said, right?”

“You bet, Pop. I can’t wait. It’s going to be nothing but pork fat and cheese and stuff that’s fried in lard.” He thought he’d better take a look at the kitchen to see if he needed anything in the way of appliances or cookware. “Unless you have dietary considerations?”

“On New Year’s Day? Oh hell, no.” The two men stared at each other in the silence. “Maybe coffee might be nice. Why don’t you call Connor’s cell and see if that weasel Jameson has let him out yet? If he has, tell him to come over here. We can grab dinner together.”

“Pop, we just had lunch.” He dialed Connor’s number.

“Just planning ahead.” The Chief rolled unsteadily to his feet. “I’ve got to pee.”

On the third ring, Connor picked up. “Dougal.”

“Good. Are you sprung?” Kevin smiled stupidly, just enjoying the sound of Connor’s voice.

“In what way?”

A pause. “Are you free yet?”

“Free? No, but I’m cheap.”

“Connor.”

“Yes. A Schilling cousin busted me out. He’s driving me home right now.”

“I’m at Pop’s, want to come and play pool? Maybe go grab some dinner, watch a game?”

“You sound cheerful. I guess you didn’t get grilled by the feds this morning and outed to your parents.”

“Oh shit. I didn’t think. I’m sorry, Connor. Anything I can do to help?”

“It’s okay, I’m going to go over to the folk’s house now to talk to them. I’ll call later, all right?”

Connor sounded a little sour, but who could blame him? “Sure, whatever you need, we’ll be here.”

Kevin wasn’t going anywhere anyway; he didn’t have wheels.

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