I can’t go with her into the library to watch her, either. It’s dangerous enough that she’s going at all.
“I’ll be careful.” She answers me in that confident voice of hers, and I relax. “I shouldn’t be but an hour. Wait here for me.”
I nod and she opens the door. She walks along the library sidewalk, and then I watch her ascend the stairs. I usually watch her ass whenever she’s in front of me, but today she’s wearing my baggy jeans, and I’m too nervous to think of anything else. She opens the door to the library and turns to look at the car. Her face is expressionless as she looks at the vehicle. I run my hand down my face and stare at the clock. She said an hour and I’m going to take her on her word.
ONE HOUR HAS passed. Two hours have passed. Three hours have passed. I’m now in my third hour and I don’t know whether to scream or cry. She ran. I knew she would, and I was a damn fool to think she would stay! I’m so angry with myself for being a lame ass. How could I not have seen this coming? I want to go inside and search for her, but I know that would be suicide. I have no disguise and I can’t be out in public. I hit the steering will for the one-hundredth time and scream in the car.
I hope no one can hear me, but my anger has been mounting for the past two hours. I can’t leave. What if she does return, and I’m not here? No, I’m stuck waiting on her at least until the library closes at five pm. Until then, I will wait…and hope…for her return. Please return.
In a flash, I see the baggy clothes and the baseball cap open the door. Relief washes over me. I want to run and hug her. I want to grab her in my arms and swing her around. She walks to the car and climbs inside. I turn towards her, shock, excitement, and bewilderment on my face.
She removes the cap and the wig and looks me full in the face. Her eyes are wild.
“That was three hours.” It’s all I can say. There is no anger in my voice, only relief. I want to touch her right now, but I refrain. I need to hold on to what little bit of dignity I still possess.
“Yeah, I got carried away.” Her voice is distant and she swallows a couple of times. I sense something is off, but she reaches into her pocket and brings out a scrap of paper. She hands it to me, and a smile moves across her face.
I look down at the paper and take it from her hands. My nerves are on end, and I suddenly feel nauseous. Could this be? I open the fold and there I see everything.
Mark and Luke Peoples.
There’s also a phone number and address. They live right here in Atlanta. The past ten years comes rushing back to me and I lay my head on the steering wheel. I can feel myself starting to shake. Then I become completely vulnerable to Claire and do something I haven’t done in years. I begin to cry, uncontrollable, ugly tears.
I’ve finally found my brothers.
Maybe the word is weep. I am weeping as I feel Claire wrap her arms around me. I don’t ask her how she was able to access this information. I hope it wasn’t anything that will ruin her changes of obtaining a law degree. I’m not sure how long I cry, but it’s somewhere between a couple of minutes and a few hours. Claire runs her fingers down my back in an attempt to sooth me as the sobs escape my body. I never thought this day would happen. Never. She whispers into my ear and her touch starts to bring me back to reality. I stare at the piece of paper again and wonder if I’m dreaming.
Mark and Luke Peoples.
This isn’t a dream. It’s real. For once in my life, reality dictates a positive outcome. I shake my head and try to fight back the tears. Without thinking, I pull Claire into a hug and cry some more into her hair. Her scent comforts me as her hair soaks up my tears. She continues to caress my back with her fingers. The feeling is amazing and peaceful, like coming home.
After some time, I compose myself. I wipe the tears from my eyes and look again at the paper. “Thank you.” My voice is soft and sounds distant. I look at Claire, and she has tears in her eyes as well.
“I told you I could find them.”
“I gave up hope.”
“I didn’t.”
“Claire, have you ever had to give up hope? Have you ever been so desperate you think all hope is lost?” I wait for her answer, because I’m pretty sure she has never endured what I’ve been through.
“Yes,” she whispers. “I’m living it in this moment. I’m starting to think I will never go home.” She breaks her eye contact with me and looks down at her lap.
Although her voice sounds like honey, her words are like a punch in the gut. My moment of happiness has suddenly turned sour, and I’m reminded that I’m a horrible human being.
“I promise I’ll return you, Claire. I promise.” I look down at my hands. I’m not sure if I’m lying, but I can promise her this much. I’ll do everything in my power to think of a better option than the two I have, the first being to keep her and the second being to turn her over to Richard for disposal.
I’ll think of something else. I’m officially indebted to Claire Peters for the rest of my life.
“Brandon,” her voice is a whisper, and with the air vents blowing through her hair, she looks even more like an angel. “What’s your greatest fear?”
I exhale and run my hand down my face. I’ve never told anyone my greatest fear. This is going to make me even more vulnerable to Claire. I pause and press my lips together. “Going to jail, Claire. Once I’m caught, I’m going for life. Prison sounds like a death sentence. I think I fear that more than the possibility of never seeing my brothers again.”
I can’t look in her eyes, so I stare out the window. We are silent for a while, deep in thought. I decide to change the subject.
“I wish we could enjoy a celebratory dinner,” I smirk, knowing that we can’t be in public. She gives a halfhearted smile and for the first time, I realize she’s rattled and her eyes still wild.
“What happened in there, Claire?” I have yet to turn the ignition, and I give her my full attention. “Tell me. You looked spooked.” I take her hand and place it in mine. She looks like she might cry, and I hold her jaw with my other hand. “Tell me,” I murmur.
She looks into my eyes and the tears start to fall. She puts her hands to her face, removing the soft grip I have on her.
I pick her up and place her on my lap. She continues to cry as she molds her body into mine, resting her head into the crook of my neck. I rub her back and run my hands through her hair. This must be bad. Maybe she had to sell her soul to the devil to obtain this information. I’m probably about to feel like even more horseshit in a few minutes.
“Shhh, Claire. It will all be okay. Please tell me what happened.”
Her crying lessens and through sniffles and hiccups, she manages to speak. “While I was in there, I saw Jonathan.”
I freeze at her words. Not only did she see her boyfriend, but she didn’t run into his arms. She returned to me. Instead of feeling like horseshit, I feel like the master of the universe. In a small, crazy way, Claire picked me over him. Of course, I would never mention this to her. Instead I hug her tightly, letting her know that I care, but deep down inside, I’m ecstatic.
“Did he see you?”
“He kept glancing my way, like he thought he might know me, but he didn’t come speak. I don’t think he knew it was me. It reminded me I have another life to return to.”
Okay, now I feel like horseshit. I kiss the top of her head because there’s nothing else I can say or do. I have found the files I wanted from Birch and this whole kidnapping thing is now officially above my head. I will make it my mission to figure out some third option for Claire and Sarah.
I need to do something productive and positive in my life, and now seems like a good time to start.
I NOW HAVE a new obsession: finding my brothers. Now I’m the one with the computer, Googling their names and information. I have found the Peoples’ residence and I’m constantly talking with Claire about how I should reach out.
“I think you should call the house between three and five. We know your brothers shou
ld be home from school then, and if the parents work, they won’t be home till five.”
I think about her words, and they make sense. “But what do I do if the father answers the phone and I think it’s one of the twins?”
“Just ask who’s speaking. Oh, and call from a blocked number.”
“But the big question is, what do I say if one of the twins does answer?” I look at her with uncertainty in my eyes. I have already been beyond vulnerable with Claire, and I know she won’t judge me. “I haven’t spoken to them in ten years. What if they’ve forgotten all about me?” I hang my head at the last sentence.
“Tell them who you are and the situation you’re in. Make them promise to meet you alone…and let’s hope they’re good for their word.”
“That’s the best idea you’ve got?” I ask, jabbing her playfully with my elbow. Thank goodness I have lifted the mood in our conversation.
She smiles back. “That’s the best I’ve got, boss.”
Laugher erupts through my system at her calling me boss. “And where do I meet them?” I ask, shaking my head at the way she makes me feel.
She thinks for a moment, and then her face lights up. “At our pond where you take me. I’ll be there, too. We’ll ask them to meet you there one Saturday or Sunday, and you can spend the entire day with them.”
The thought sounds like heaven, and part of me wants to call them right now. “You can’t go with me, though,” I say, and I watch her face fall.
“Why not?”
“Because if it’s a trap…” I stop, catching myself before I actually say the words. If it’s a trap, they’ll take her away from me. And I’m not ready for that. I know I said I was going to try to become a better person, but I need more time.
She has recognized my mistake, too, and she looks down at the table where we are sitting in the apartment kitchen. “Claire,” I say, and I release an exhale. I run my hand down my face and then hold her hand. “I promise I’ll take you back. I promise…but please, give me some more time.”
I can’t explain anything else to her. I can’t explain that she is my sunlight and my orbit. I can’t explain that when she leaves, I won’t be able to breathe. I can’t tell her this because I know it will freak her out. I start to speak, but then I stop. “I just need more time.” I repeat the last sentence, defeated, and I can’t look in her eyes. She doesn’t ask how much more time I need, and I decide the least I can do is give in to her request. “Okay, please come with me to meet my brothers.” Her face lights up, and I smile back, knowing I’m the reason for that smile. It’s the least I can do for being a total douchebag.
She pushes my cell phone towards me. “Go ahead. Call them.”
I gulp. I literally gulp as my hands start to sweat. What if they hate me? I’m sure they’ve seen my picture all over the news. I’m sure they know I run a car theft network and that my newest crime is kidnapping. They’ve probably been told how dangerous I am by their new and improved parents.
“I’m right here with you,” she whispers, and I realize she’s right. My peace and calmness sit beside me. I have done some seriously scary stuff in my life, but this tops all the charts. My hands shake as I pick up the phone. Claire calls out the numbers, and I type them into the keypad. I add the number to my contacts, and I remember to block the call.
I hit send and wait for the phone to ring. My world is silent as I hear one, two, three rings. When the voicemail picks up, I hear a woman’s voice telling me to leave a message. I assume this is Mrs. Peoples, and I hang up the phone.
“No one was there,” I say setting the phone down. Part of me is relieved and the other part is sad.
“Try again tomorrow. Try every day until you reach them.” Claire’s face is determined, and I nod back to her.
“Speaking of the pond,” I say, “how about you and I visit there this afternoon? Especially since I’m not working today.”
“I could use some fresh air,” she says as she gets up to walk into my room. She returns with a John Grisham book, The Rainmaker, and I laugh.
“I guess you’re back to your reading?”
“Yes, my mission here is completed,” she announces, putting the book under her arm. I motion her towards the door and we descend to the car. If Claire wanted me to buy her every damn book John Grisham ever wrote, I would. I would buy her an entire library.
WE SPEND THE rest of the afternoon at the pond. I have deemed this as “our pond.” I’ve only done this in my mind because I know Claire doesn’t want to hear anything romantic from me. But if were in two different people, in a different time, I would make love to her in this place. I would take her and make her never forget Brandon Wilson or this pond. She would forever remember this day, this time and this spot.
But instead, I watch her read and memorize her face. I know my time with her is coming to an end, and I need to remember what she looks like. I need to remember what she feels like; how soft her skin is and how her best qualities are honesty and dedication. When everyone around me is dishonest and only looking out for themselves, I’ll remember that the opposite does exist in the world. I’ll remember that good is out there, after all. I’ll see blonde hair and big blue eyes attached to a perfect face. I’ll remember a beautiful body and how it molded perfectly to mine, her silky hair, with her small widow’s peak and a scent that will linger in my mind forever.
Claire lies on her back reading, while I stare into the distance thinking. At some point, I place my head on her stomach and fall asleep. The wind and the music of the birds relaxes my body as I drift in and out of consciousness.
After some time, I feel Claire’s hands playing with my hair and I swear, this is heaven. Not only does it feel amazing, but it’s Claire’s fingers running along my scalp. I melt into her touch and memorize the feel of her fingers on my skin. The warm breeze swarms around us and I know this moment will be etched into my memory forever. I have found our spot and our favorite place. If I could meet my brothers out here, this place would be a piece of heaven on earth. Especially since before Claire, earth seemed to be a living hell.
I ATTEMPT TO call the house all week, and I always receive the voicemail. I’m getting frustrated. Where I use to be a ball of nerves, now I’m feeling anger. It’s Wednesday, and time to call again. “Let’s see if they answer their phone today,” I complain under my breath. Claire’s eyes look up from her book and she lightly places her hand on mine.
“They’ll answer when it’s the right time,” she says, and I’m instantly calmed. She’s right. I shouldn’t rush this. I push the send button on the phone and hear the first ring, then the second. I’m preparing myself for the voicemail, when I hear a male voice.
“Hello?”
I freeze. I stop breathing and I can’t speak. This is a younger voice, and I know it has to be Mark or Luke.
“Hello?” the voice asks again, but I can’t seem to find words to answer. I should end the call and try again next week, but when I look up, I see Claire’s blue eyes and gain the confidence that I need.
“Um….don’t hang up.” I don’t recognize my own voice. I’m glad Tommy and Marcus aren’t here to witness this weak moment. “Is this Mark…or Luke?”
The boy on the other line doesn’t say anything at first. Then: “Who wants to know?” Great. My own brothers are going to be hard asses.
“Listen,” I swallow and run my hand down my face. Damn, this is harder than I thought it would be. “It doesn’t matter which one you are. This is Brandon. I’m not supposed to be calling you, but I’ve been trying to find you for the past ten years. I’ve finally located you, and all I want to do is see you both. I promise I won’t do anything stupid. I just want to say hi and make sure you’re both okay. Is that too much to ask?” I wait for an answer, but I get nothing. “And you can’t tell your mom or dad about this because, like I mentioned earlier, this is slightly illegal. You still there?”
“Yeah.” His voice has become softer. I’m not sure if that’s good or ba
d. “I’m Luke, by the way.”
“Luke, do you remember me?” Silent tears are rolling down my cheeks.
“Yeah. Everyday.”
“Can I meet you and Mark somewhere? I promise I won’t hurt you. I’m not sure what you’ve heard about me, but I promise I would never do anything to hurt either of you. I love you both. I’ve been trying to find you for so long. I just want to talk to you both. That’s all.” I’ve told Luke that I love him, and I know it’s the truth. I would do anything for either of those boys.
“Where and when?” Luke’s voice is quieter now, and I’m not sure if his mother is home.
“This Sunday. At the pond Gramps used to take us to. Noon. Do you know where that is?”
“Yeah. We’ll both be there.”
“Luke.”
“Yeah.”
“Don’t tell anyone. They’ll come after me if you do.”
“I know.”
So he does know all about me.
“See you Sunday. I love hearing your voice.”
“You too. Love you, Brandon. Bye.”
His confession brings more tears to my eyes, and I sit on the sofa. I hit the end button and bring my hands to my face. Claire is instantly beside me, rubbing my back. She doesn’t say a word, but allows me to cry and process my thoughts. When did I start to cry and have this many feelings?
I haven’t felt during the past ten years. Anger and rage have taken over my soul this past decade, and now that I’ve experienced hope and love, I don’t know if I can return to who I’ve been.
I really don’t care if they bring the entire police department on Sunday. If this is how I go down, I’ll go down with a smile on my face.
WE RUN TWENTY cars through my warehouse alone on Saturday night. Simon is running fifteen through his. We will make a killing when the night is over, but I can barely concentrate on the job. I know in less than twenty-four hours, I will see the twins. Guys I haven’t laid eyes on in ten years. My body is a ball of nerves and excitement.
The Thief Redeemer Page 12