HOLD (8 page)

“I told them you were on your way,” Gaps said.  “Con looked relieved but Stone just crossed his arms and shrugged.  Hey, when was the last time you saw them?  I know you guys don’t make it down here too often.” 

“It’s been a while,” I admitted slowly, feeling suddenly strange over the concept of coming face to face with cousins I hadn’t given a thought to in years. 

Gaps squinted, punched in a code and waited for the click.   

“Well,” he said, beckoning that we ought to follow him as he flashed a crooked grin. “You ready to meet some Gentrys?”

CREED

They were exactly what I expected. 

Young but filled with all kinds of cocky arrogance, strutting around with a bravado that probably never really touched their hearts.  Something kind of struck me when I first set eyes on Conway and Stone Gentry after the better part of a decade.  I glanced over at Cord and Chase to see if it was hitting them the same way.  Cord raised his eyebrows.  Chase smirked. 

The brothers kidded around and slapped Gaps on the back as they were released from the bleak cell they’d been sitting in since early this morning.  I could tell they were so relieved they wanted to kiss the fucking floor but they’d be damned if they’d show it. 

They were just like us. 

Well, just like what we’d once been. 

Stone was slightly taller and there was something vaguely sharp about the way his light blue eyes appraised us.  I would have guessed him to be the tougher of the two, the one who probably had the idea to steal an expensive vehicle and race it down the main drag where they were almost certain to get caught. 

The other one, Conway, had a loose, careless look about him; ripped jeans, laughter in his expression. He pushed the shaggy dark blonde hair out of his eyes and offered us a wide smile. 

“Shit, it’s the famous triplets,” he said, closing in to shake hands while Stone hung back and coolly watched. “How the hell are ya?”

“Famous?  Hey guys, did you know we were famous?” Cord asked in a shocked voice but I could tell he was amused. 

Conway nodded eagerly and poked his brother in the side.  Stone frowned at him and tipped his head with what was probably supposed to be a silent warning.  Conway just shrugged.   

“It’s true,” Conway insisted.  “You’re legends in the stuffy halls of Emblem High, even after all these years.” 

Chase snorted with laughter.  “All these years.  Such ancient history.  Predates electricity.” 

Conway paused and stared at him, probably trying to decide if he was kidding or not.  “Yeah,” he finally said. 

I snapped my fingers to get everyone jarred out of this sweet family reunion.  “Let’s move out.  Don’t want to spend the night at the back door of a jail.”  I motioned to Gaps.  “We all squared away here?”

Gaps glanced at the envelope of cash.  I wondered if any of it was destined for his pocket, but I figured if that was the case he must have cleared the arrangement with Deck a long time ago.  I didn’t begrudge him a share in any event.  He’d done okay by our family tonight. 

“Don’t do this shit again,” he said to the boys in his best cop voice, which he’d perfected after years of service.  

Conway widened his eyes and adopted a contrite look.  “Of course not, Officer.  We’re sorry.  I don’t know what we were thinking.  Stone, do you know what we were thinking?”

“Sure,” said Stone.  “I was thinking about how much hot ass I was gonna get out of this.”

Conway bit his lip and shot his brother a look.  “He didn’t mean that.”

Stone wasn’t finished though.  “Yeah I meant it. When girls get close to trouble they just can’t seem to keep their tits contained.  Hell of an incentive.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Conway whispered under his breath but Gaps was trying to hold his laughter in. 

“Gentrys,” he said to himself with a bemused headshake.  He swept one arm wide.  “They’re all yours.” 

“All right,” I said, roughly grabbing Conway by the back of the neck because he was closest and I wanted to get the hell out of there. 

“Just remember,” called Gaps as we filed out the door, “you guys are still heading for a court date and while I’ve come by some news that this little incident will probably just net you some community service, next time it’s the big house.” 

Chase and Cord were already outside.  I released Conway from my grip and bumped him out the door, turning back to make sure Stone was following closely. 

But my young cousin flashed me a rascally smile and then doubled back. 

“Hey, Gaps, “ Stone shouted.  “You know, Ma was just saying the other day how she wished you’d start coming around again, just like you used to.” 

Gaps raised his eyebrows and a hopeful grin lit up his face.  “Really?”

“Hell no,” said Stone and jumped back, closing the door behind him. 

“That was fucked up,” complained Conway. 

Stone grabbed him in a rough headlock.  “Did I hear you tell me to shut up in there, you little puke?”

Conway grunted and propelled the two of them into the side of the building where Stone’s back crashed against the concrete surface. 

“Fucker,” Stone cursed, trying to regain the upper hand. 

“Dick breath,” Conway responded, head butting his brother’s chest again. 

“Jesus,” I muttered, hoping the evening wouldn’t go any further off the rails then it already had.  I grabbed Stone by his collar while Cord stepped in and dragged Conway off. 

“Guess what,” said Chase, glancing around.  “Doesn’t look like there’s anyone waiting in line to pick these two devils up.”

Stone shook himself free.  “We’re fine to walk home.” 

“We’re fine,” Conway agreed, joining his brother.  The two of them looked at each other and cracked up.  Yeah, they were just like us all right.  Wrestling like bear cubs one minute and filled with fraternal camaraderie the next. 

Stone waved as the two of them started heading toward the sidewalk.  “Thanks for bailing us out though.  Much appreciated.” 

“Wait a minute,” Cord objected.  “I’m not going to risk getting called back here in an hour because you two decided to cap off the night with another grand theft auto.” 

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Conway deadpanned.  “We are way too tired to go out driving tonight.”  He yawned and stretched his arms.  “Besides, we’ve definitely learned our lesson.”

“That’s right,” Stone agreed.  “Our lawless days are over.  You won’t catch me so much as jaywalking for the rest of my life.” 

I decided I was finished mentoring the next generation of Gentrys.  “Are you getting in the truck so we can drive you home or are we going to have to carry you there?” 

The two of them stared at me, stared at each other.  Then they put their heads together and pretended to have a whispered consultation. 

“Carry us,” they said in unison before proceeding to sink down to the curb and sprawl there lifelessly. 

I would have.  I would have hauled their pubescent carcasses over each shoulder and dragged them to the truck bed for the drive to their mother’s house. 

Chase, however, had a different tactic in mind.  He held up one finger that said ‘Give me a minute’ and sat down casually on the curb beside our limp cousins.  I looked at Cord.  He shrugged. 

“So,” said Chase, drumming his fingers on one knee.  “Tell me, boys. Food in there any better than it used to be?”

Conway opened an eye.  “You’ve been in jail?”

“Once did a six hour stretch for defacing the water tower with an artistic rendering of a set of six foot hairy testicles.  They had to let us go when old man Albertson turned up at the bus station with can of black spray paint, trying to duplicate his artwork.  Someone said he was suffering from dementia so they let him off.  I’ll have to remember to use that handy excuse myself in forty or fifty years.” 

Chase looked over at me and Cord.  “You guys remember that?”

“Cardboard fish sticks and rubber tortillas,” said Cord with a laugh.  “That’s what I remember.  Better than going hungry though.” 

“Barely,” grunted Stone but he’d propped himself up on one elbow and was listening. 

“I’ll tell you what,” Chase continued.   “You guys hop into that truck to give some of us old timers a little peace of mind and we’ll take you out for some food.” 

“Chase,” I argued, “I’m not waiting around and there’s no fucking fast food in Emblem.” 

“Not true.  I can see the lights of Dino Gas from here.” 

“Hell yes,” Conway cheered, scrambling to his feet, “they’ve got the best cheeseburger hot dogs.  They keep those things rolling on the heater twenty four hours a day.” 

“Cheeseburger hot dogs?” I repeated.  I tried to imagine the taste then decided I didn’t really want to. 

Conway kicked lightly at his brother.  “Come on dude, let’s go.  I’m so hungry I could eat a cat.” 

Stone rolled off the curb and then sprang upright with a playful grin.  “Well I’m so hungry I could eat a wet, juicy-“

“Don’t want to know,” I interrupted. 

“Steak,” the kid finished innocently.  “That’s all I was gonna say.” 

“Let’s go,” Chase said with brisk authority, as if he was in charge and we were all required to listen. 

When we reached the truck the two jokers climbed into the backseat of the cab beside Chase instead of hopping into the rear bed like I expected them to.  While I piloted the pickup the short mile over to Dino Gas with Cord sitting quietly in the seat beside me, Chase and the kids were gabbing in the backseat like they were best buddies.  I was amazed.  When did my brother get such a magic touch with pain in the ass teenagers? 

In a very short period of time I learned the boys were both going to be seniors at Emblem High.  They lived with their mother and her revolving door of boyfriends.  And they didn’t seem to have a worry or a care for what they were going to do after they graduated next year. 

When we stopped at Dino Gas I took the opportunity to top off the tank while Cord searched for a restroom and Chase escorted the boys inside to acquire some of the infamous cheeseburger hot dogs. 

After swiping my card I watched the gas pump numbers start to roll and then looked around, relieved that I didn’t recognize anyone in sight.  I wasn’t really up for an Emblem reunion tonight.   Or ever. 

Chase and the boys emerged, each of them laughing while clutching sodas and things that looked like bun-wrapped dog shit. 

I’d barely noticed the squad of teenagers gathered at the far end of the lot until they started hooting and howling.

“Hey, it’s the Jailbird Gentrys!” 

“How was that
hard
time, boys?”

“Looks like they’re having some trouble walking.” 

Stone stuck his hot dog in his mouth and used his newly free hand to flip them off.  I could tell it was all in fun though.  These were friends of theirs. 

A petite brunette detached from the group and went running to Conway. He pushed his food into Stone’s arms and grabbed her up as she shrieked and wrapped her legs around him. 

“I missed you so much,” she gushed like he’d been locked up for six years. 

“I missed you too, baby,” he assured her and then they started obnoxiously sucking face the way teenagers do, like they were trying to inhale the other person.

Meanwhile, Stone nodded a cool farewell to the group and joined me at the pump.  He jerked his head in his brother’s direction. 

“Misleading,” he said and then took a thoughtful drink from his straw. 

“What?” 

Stone Gentry smiled.  “They haven’t even fucked yet.   He’s all in love and all that sensitive bullshit.  But I keep telling the boy he needs to just pop the damn cherry before someone else gets to it first.” 

I shoved the nozzle back into place.  “What the - shit,
why
are you telling me that?  I don’t want to know that.” 

Stone was having fun.  “We’re all adults here, Cord.  What, you never fucked in your day?”

“First, I’m not Cord.  Second, you’re
not
an adult.  And third I’ve been fucking since before you discovered your own dick.” 

As soon as I stopped talking I realized how loud my voice was.  The group of teenagers were all agape, staring at me moon-faced and shocked.  Cord, who was on his way back from the restroom, stopped and let out a snort of laughter.  Chase took a bite of a cheeseburger hot dog, clearly enjoying every minute. 

“Get in the truck,” I demanded.

Stone just stood there, sucking on his straw and acting like he didn’t have to listen to me any more than he would listen to a squirrel. 

Cord had joined us by now.  “Hey,” he said to Stone, “you still live over in The Hills?”

There were no hills in The Hills.  Some of the tidy block houses had graded landscaping that gave the appearance of depth.  That’s all.  It was one of the nicer neighborhoods in Emblem, populated by the families who lived slightly better than paycheck to paycheck.  The only Gentry I ever knew of who’d made it up to The Hills was Elijah. 

Stone sucked away on his straw, watching calmly while ten yards away his brother kept kissing that girl like he might eat her. 

Chase appeared.  He tossed a candy bar to me and another one to Cord.  His way of saying thanks for having some patience with the kids. 

He had a serious look on his face when he cleared his throat and spoke to Stone.  “I haven’t said it yet, but I’m damn sorry about your father.” 

Stone stiffened.  “Yeah,” he muttered, kicking at some loose chunks of concrete.  “My father.” 

I wasn’t sure exactly when Elijah Gentry had died.  He’d been well on his way for years, the victim of some terrible degenerative disease that took a long time to deliver its final sentence.  Everything I knew of him indicated he was a mild-mannered man.  And kind, or at least not violent.  Somewhere in the hazy annals of history I seemed to recall that I’d seen Elijah with his young sons and been jealous of the tender way he rested one hand on each of their thin shoulders.