Chapter Twenty-Eight

 

 

“YOU SURE you don’t want me to drop you off, then come back to pick you up?”

Forrester shook his head. “Absolutely not. I need you here with me today.”

“Okay, whatever you need.” Kyle parked behind Dino and Amanda’s minivan.

Just great, he’s already here.

It had been a week since he’d been outed. Dino went from texting five times a day to total radio silence, not even responding to the group text Forrester had sent. After Forrester replaced his phone, Joey carried on with his normal texting of random questions or funny memes, because apparently to his little brother, Forrester was and always would be “Frankie.” Tony had not texted him, naturally. Joey told him Tony was pissed Forrester hadn’t come to his Fourth of July party.

Should’ve thought of that before you made a bet on me.

“I still can’t believe you didn’t tell me Nonna knew,” Forrester said once more.

Kyle chuckled and threw up his hands. “She gave me the evil eye. What was I supposed to do?”

“She really asked you how long you were my boyfriend?”

“In perfect English. And she wanted to make sure you were treating me good.”

“And am I?”

“The best.”

Having Kyle with him for Ma’s little cancer party made this easier, but still, Forrester’s insides trembled. He hadn’t been able to eat breakfast, and it was making his stomach upset. As he reached for the door handle, his hands shook. Morbidly he wondered if she’d have cupcakes like she’d ordered for Amanda’s gender-reveal party. Maybe a cake with the buttercream announcement: “Surprise, I have cancer!”

Nonna hadn’t told them how she’d figured out about Ma, but Forrester assumed Ma must’ve been as discreet as Forrester had always assumed he was.

“Babe,” Kyle said. “It’s going to be okay.”

Forrester nodded and gave him a tight-lipped smile. Kyle had been thrilled at how Ma took his coming out, assuring him that the worst part was over and things were on their way to being healed. He wanted to believe that, but his insides vibrated with apprehension.

Kyle had a bouquet of flowers for Ma that he’d picked this morning—daisies in three different colors and several big dahlias tied together with a fluffy pink ribbon. They made their way to the back porch. After opening the door, Forrester led them inside. “Ma, we’re here.”

Even his vocal cords shook.

“In here,” Amanda’s pleasant voice called.

He let out a sigh of relief. At least Amanda was there.

They kicked off their shoes and rounded the corner to the kitchen. The savory aroma of marinara and the sound of pasta bubbling on the stove and dishes being laid out filled the house. Familiar, warm, and welcoming. Since Ma was cooking upstairs, only immediate family would be there, which he supposed was a relief. But he still itched with nervousness. Ma and Amanda were setting the table, and Dino sat at the island bar, beer in hand.

Dino gave Forrester a curt nod before standing and walking into the dining area. “You need any help, babe?” he asked his wife, rubbing her back.

First he laughs, and now he can’t even talk to me….

Forrester wanted to yell, he wanted to cry, he wanted to go back to Gilead, where he was safe and accepted.

A warm supportive hand rested on the center of his back, and he glanced down at Kyle.

“It’s going to be okay,” Kyle promised again.

Once more, Forrester nodded.

“Frankie, I’m glad you’re here,” Ma said, doing a piss-poor job of looking perky. She’d put on makeup today, but it didn’t hide the pallor in her cheeks or her sunken eyes.

He bent down and gave her a careful hug, kissing each of her cheeks. He’d stayed with her the first night after chemo, but she didn’t start getting sick until the next morning. They’d told Joey she had food poisoning again. Forrester hated lying, but Ma wanted to have all the boys together to make an official announcement. And in classic Italian style, she’d cooked an absurd amount of food to soften the blow.

“Come ti senti?” he asked, caressing her good arm.

“Terrible,” she admitted. “But I’m not dead yet.”

“Ma, that’s morbid,” he scolded. “Where’s Nonna?”

“Getting dressed.” She patted his cheek, then turned toward Kyle.

“For you.” Kyle held out the bouquet.

“Grazie.” She hesitated for the briefest of moments before she hugged him too.

“Oh, um, you’re welcome, Mrs. Giordano.” Kyle seemed taken aback by the embrace but returned it, his face melting with relief. He’d been just as nervous coming here today.

A swell of happiness filled Forrester, watching his mother hug Kyle, with her knowing full well who he was and what he meant to Forrester. It was exactly how Ma had treated Amanda and Missy when they joined the family.

Ma’s hug had some kind of power over them both, and he could see Kyle’s tension easing. Then in surreal disbelief, Forrester watched Ma step back and pat his boyfriend’s cheek just like she’d done to him.

“Did you grow these?” Ma asked, touching the delicate blossoms with a finger. “Frankie says you like to garden.”

Kyle shot Forrester a look, then answered her. “Yes, I grew them. Just picked them this morning.”

Ma patted his cheek again. “They’re bellissimo. Grazie.”

“You’re welcome.” Kyle cleared his throat and Forrester let out a sigh of relief.

Maybe things will be okay.

“I hope you boys are hungry,” Ma said. “I made lasagna, and Amanda’s making garlic bread and a big salad.”

“Not really that hungry.” Forrester glanced across the room, catching his brother watching them only to quickly turn away.

And now he can’t look at me?

“Nonsense,” Nonna said from the doorway. “You’ll eat.”

“Ciao, Nonna.” A bright, happy feeling filled Forrester’s chest when he saw her weathered face. He hugged her and kissed each cheek. “You remember Kyle?”

Nonna smiled at Kyle and patted his cheek too. “Yes, the boyfriend who knows how to keep his mouth shut,” she said in English.

Kyle chuckled. “Yes, I do. How are you?”

She tossed up a hand and made a “meh” sound, then headed over to the stove to check the sauce. Forrester smiled, watching the little woman, though his smile faded when he caught Dino watching him again.

“What?” Forrester growled. “Ain’t you got a hello, Dino? Maybe something for a laugh?”

“Forrester,” Kyle warned.

Dino made an irritable face. “Hi.”

Amanda entered the kitchen and gripped Forrester’s arm and dragged him over to the cupboard. “Don’t start, Frankie,” she whispered, then pointed up. “Can you get another plate down? I can’t reach.”

Forrester retrieved the plate and set it on the counter. Ignoring Dino, he pulled his sister-in-law into a hug and kissed her on the top of her head. He tried to sound light and playful. “Hey, Preggo.”

“Will you talk to him?” she whispered.

Forrester stiffened and stepped away. “Nope. He couldn’t even say hello just now.”

The sympathy in her sad smile was like another kick in the gut. Dammit, if it weren’t for Ma, he wouldn’t even be here. Like he’d told Amanda, everything was just too raw.

Amanda offered a smile to Kyle. “How are you?”

“I’m well, thanks.” Kyle’s smile didn’t wrinkle his eyes like it usually did, and his hands were bunched in the small of his back. Ma’s hug and Nonna’s no-nonsense welcome helped, but he was still nervous. “And you?”

“Fat and pregnant.” She gestured to her stomach.

Could it possibly be bigger than a week ago?

“Where’s Joey?” Forrester asked.

Amanda and Ma exchanged eye rolls and both said, “He had errands to run,” in a skeptical tone.

“Errands?” Forrester questioned. “What kind of errands?”

“How are we supposed to know?” Amanda said. “He was being all secretive. Probably just some floozy.”

“No, I think he’s getting some money from Alfie,” Dino said.

“Alfie?” Forrester burst out with. “Is that what he said?”

“What’s he still talking to that loser for?” Amanda wanted to know.

“Alfie owes him money,” Dino told his wife, not looking at Forrester. “He’s meeting him at his club to get it.”

“He better be back in time to eat.” Ma glanced at the wall clock as she placed the flowers in her favorite vase. When she noticed Nonna salting the sauce, she hurried over. Looked like there would be spaghetti too. “Mama, the sauce is fine!”

Forrester and Kyle exchanged looks. Joey said it was none of Forrester’s business what he was discussing with Alfie at Smitty’s the other night. Maybe it was just money, but Joey needed to come forward about the bootleg out-of-state booze and make a statement to cover his own ass before Alfie dragged him back into trouble.

He pulled out his phone and texted Joey: Alfie owes you money? Why? What for?

The sound of the door opening on the back porch drew his attention.

“Whose car is out front?” Tony’s voice rumbled as he stepped inside. He braced his hand on the wall and kicked off his shoes. He wore his uniform, obviously just having left the precinct. He caught a glimpse of Kyle and nodded in his direction. “That your car?”

“Yep, that’s mine.”

“Nice,” Tony said, entering the kitchen in sock-clad feet. “Frankie show you the Shelby?”

Kyle cleared his throat and glanced at Dino. “Actually, he and Joey and I took it out for a spin. That car is awesome.”

“You did, eh?” Tony gave a nod toward Forrester, and then, much to his shock, he pulled Forrester into a firm one-armed hug. Though it was so ordinary and natural, it took Forrester by surprise when he kissed his left cheek too. “Hey, Frankie.”

He hastily returned the hug, slapping his brother’s back. “Hey, Tony.”

Tony stepped away and stared at the food on the stove and the dishes on the dining room table. “What’s all this?”

“It’s dinner,” Ma said. “Don’t you have a kiss for your mother?”

Scowling, he hugged Ma and gave her two kisses on each cheek, and then he paused and studied her face. “You still sick? You look terrible.”

“Thanks a lot.” She turned her back on him to guard the sauce from Nonna.

“Joey told me you had food poisoning,” he said. “Where did you eat? I’ll call the health board.”

“Oh, I don’t really remember,” Ma said dismissively.

Tony hugged Nonna, whispering something in her ear. Forrester thought he heard him say the words parking tickets.

Was Nonna driving behind their backs?

Nothing would surprise Forrester at this point.

The little woman picked up a basket of garlic bread and said something to Dino in Italian. Dino quickly grabbed the other basket and followed her into the dining room.

“Hi, Tony,” Amanda said.

“How come you’re here?” he asked pointedly, and then he looked at Kyle. “And you too?”

Forrester shoved his phone in his pocket and glared. “What’s your problem with Kyle being here?”

“My problem is no one told me Missy should be here. You’re having some big family dinner, and everybody’s wives are here but mine.” He paused, shrugged at Kyle, and chuckled. “No offense.”

“Not cool,” Forrester said.

Ignoring him, Tony frowned again at the food. “What the hell is this all about?”

“Don’t make a big deal out of it,” Amanda chided. “Why didn’t you just bring Missy?”

Tony threw up his arm. “Because nobody told me it was a big family thing. Joey just said Ma wanted to talk to us four boys. Once again nobody bothered to make sure my wife’s here. You know she’s more a part of this family than Kyle. But for some reason, he’s here.”

“He’s here because I want him here,” Forrester growled.

“So?” Tony made a stupid face. “He’s new. She’s my wife. But no one asked her to come. Typical. You guys never make her feel like part of the family.”

“Perché io? Antonio, don’t make a big deal out of this,” Ma begged. “Nobody has a problem with Missy. We all like her.”

Tony frowned at Forrester and Kyle, then at Ma. “Is this some sort of bullshit intervention about Frankie being gay? Because that’s idiotic. I didn’t leave work early for more of that drama.”

“Fuck you, Tony,” Forrester spat, stepping forward, fists at his side. “You got a problem with me, say it to my face.”

“I don’t have a problem with you, Frankie, other than your shitty attitude. What? You gonna hit me or something? What’s the matter with you?”

“What’s the matter with me?” he demanded, then laughed. He waved an arm at Dino, and pointed at Tony. “How about what’s the matter with you two assholes?”

“Hey,” Dino interjected. “I didn’t do anything.”

“Guys,” Amanda began. “Now is not the time.”

Tony laughed, shaking his head. “You’re still sore about me betting on you. Build a bridge, Frankie.”

“So I’m just supposed to get over you jerks making fun of my life? Like it’s nothing but a joke?” Forrester demanded. He glared at Dino, feeling as though he was moments away from losing his shit again or possibly socking both his brothers in the jaw.

“For God’s sake,” Tony cried, throwing out his hands. “I wasn’t making fun of you, ya big baby. I just made a bet that you liked dudes. Get over it!”

“I won’t get over it!”

Nonna said something in Italian, but neither Tony nor Forrester was listening.

“Why not?” Tony demanded. “You wanna split my winnings? If I give you a hundred bucks, will you shut up about it? Jesus Mary and Joseph, you’re so damn oversensitive, I’m—”

“Enough!” Ma yelled. “Just stop it!”

They all froze at the shrill pitch of her demand. Slowly she turned and looked from one face to the next. “I don’t want you boys fighting. Not now.” She muttered a curse in Italian, then crossed herself.

“Sorry, Mama,” they all three muttered.

“And we’re not here to talk about Frankie,” she said, waving her good arm. “He’s been through enough with all the garbage your father used to say to him. I don’t want you boys making it worse. You all better straighten it out. I don’t have time to deal with all this fighting and cancer.”

“Cancer?” Dino cried.

“Did you just say cancer, Ma?” Tony demanded.

She leaned heavily on the counter and crossed her arms, not hiding the wince this time. “I have breast cancer.”

The only sound in the room was the hiss and bubble of the boiling pot of pasta. Nonna joined Ma and placed an arm around her. Forrester nearly started crying when Ma rested her head on Nonna’s shoulder, looking like a little girl, so fragile and small.

Sniffing and rubbing his nose, Forrester took Kyle’s hand and pressed it to his thigh, his gaze on two of the most important women in his life, as the weight of Ma’s confession took its toll on everyone in the room. Even now, after he’d sat with her through her first chemo, those words were like a knife in the heart, a threat, a cloud of doom hanging over their family.

Nothing would ever be the same.

“How come Dino and I are the only two that look surprised?” Tony asked seriously.

“Yeah.” Dino glared at his wife.

Forrester cleared his throat. “Two weeks ago Ma called me to drive her home after she had a lumpectomy. Kyle was with me, and she swore us to secrecy.”

“Why was Kyle there?” Tony asked.

“What’s it matter?” Forrester snapped. “He got her an earlier appointment with a really good oncologist.”

“Oh.” Tony nodded at Kyle. “Thanks for that.”

“No problem.” He squeezed Forrester’s hand in reassurance.

“And you?” Dino asked his wife.

She pointed at her belly. “I can’t be around Ma when she gets radiation, so Frankie told me.”

“But you didn’t tell Missy,” Tony muttered. “What about Baby Anthony being around Ma?”

“Ma hasn’t even started radiation. Get over it,” Forrester snapped. He hadn’t known radiation and chemo didn’t happen at the same time when he called Amanda, so Tony’s attitude was moot. Not that his brother would probably believe him.

“How long have you known?” Dino asked.

Shaking her head, Ma frowned. “Stop staring at me,” she grumbled, turning her back on all of them to stir the sauce. Nonna stayed close.

“You didn’t have food poisoning. You’re going through chemo already, aren’t you?” Tony surmised.

“Ten points for Detective Giordano,” Ma said sarcastically.

“He always was the smart one,” Nonna said in Italian, beaming at Tony.

Tony gave her a faint smile, his gaze still on Ma.

“Should you even be standing?” Dino asked. “Maybe you should sit and let Amanda do that.”

“I’m fine,” she insisted.

“Let me finish dinner, Ma,” Amanda offered.

Irritably Tony shook his head and stalked off.

Forrester looked at Kyle. “What’s his problem?” he whispered.

Kyle shrugged.

Annoyed, Forrester followed Tony onto the back porch. He drew up short when he heard him on the phone.

“I need you to come over to Ma’s right now.” He paused, and Forrester assumed he was talking to Missy. “Everyone’s here but you. I need you to be here…. Yes, yes, I don’t care, just bring the baby…. I don’t like it how you’re always left out. It’s not fair…. No, I’m not okay…. I’ll tell you when you get here. Yeah, I love you too. Bye.”

When he hung up, he saw Forrester staring at him from the doorway. He rubbed at his face, schooling his features. Knowing how much he needed Kyle today, Forrester felt bad Missy wasn’t there for his brother.

He shut the door and joined him on the porch. “Is Missy coming, then?”

Tony frowned. “She should’ve been here anyways, but nobody told me spouses were coming.”

Forrester noticed he’d switched wives to spouses and wondered if it was intentional or not. “I would’ve told you, but no one is speaking to me except Joey. And Lord knows, he can never get a message right.”

Tony sniffed a laugh. “No, he can’t. But I’m sick of nobody thinking Missy is a part of this family too. And she’s a nurse. Why didn’t any of you think it was important for her to be here for… this?”

Forrester shook his head in confusion. He’d never seen Tony being so hypersensitive about his wife. “Why are you making such a big deal about it?”

“Because none of you guys think she’s part of this family.”

“You’re nuts.”

“No,” Tony said. “I see how you guys treat her.”

“How do we treat her? I’m always nice. I try to talk to her, but she never says much.”

“Exactly.”

“Meaning?”

“Just because she’s quiet she’s not one of us?” Tony went on. “Maybe I like going home to a quiet house, not a bunch of yahoos screaming at each other. Ever think of that?”

Forrester chuckled. “All the time, actually.”

Missy was rather quiet and was just sort of there. Amanda had a presence and made herself known in the room, making it easy to be comfortable with her. He couldn’t imagine it was easy to come into the Giordano clan. Had he been as welcoming to Missy as he should’ve been? Then again, her husband had a way of getting under Forrester’s skin, which made him want to avoid them altogether.

“Tony, just because she’s quiet doesn’t mean we don’t like her. Where did you come up with that nonsense?”

“It’s not nonsense. You didn’t even remember she was vegetarian. And you hug Amanda and kiss her, but you only give Missy a little half-assed hug.”

He rolled his eyes. “Do you want me to start kissing your wife? Is that what you’re saying?”

“Yeah, maybe,” Tony said, looking defensive. “Yes. You should definitely kiss her.”

He didn’t know if he should laugh or be annoyed.

“Frankie, I know Missy doesn’t fit in. I see it on all your faces. You forget I make a living reading people. Watching what people do, how they act, what they really mean. How do you think I knew about you?”

Irritated, he crossed his arms. “What’s that mean?”

Tony shook his head, frowning. “Don’t be all crossing your arms and puffing up your chest, ya idiot. I’m not fighting about this with you anymore. I’ve known you were gay for years. Although Holly kept throwing me for a loop. I couldn’t decide who you were really dating, Lucas or Holly.”

“Guess you’re not so good at reading people, because I never dated either of them.” He’d leave his and Holly’s misguided teenage sexual exploits to another day—like never.

“Well, it was a little easier when I could search your browser history.”

“What?” he blustered. “When did you do that?”

“All the time,” Tony said unapologetically. “You googled a lot of stupid stuff, but when I saw the how to you know what with a guy….” He gestured a finger going into a hole. “It wasn’t exactly difficult to figure out. You really should’ve cleared your browser.”

His face flamed. “You kidding me?”

“No, I wanted to know what was going on.” Tony’s humor faded. “You and me, we used to have all kinds of fun. Boy Scouts, camping. Cruising on our bikes all over. Leaving that bag of shit on Mr. Rowley’s porch. We’d play video games, go to the movies. Then you went to high school and you became a moody asshole.”

“I did not.”

“Did too, and don’t deny it. You’re still a moody asshole. Then you left for OSU, and you basically disappeared from our lives. Even now, you had to move away.”

“I didn’t move away,” he argued. “I still live here.”

Tony shook his head. “You’re never around. You’re always way out in Gilead. But back then I didn’t understand why you changed, so I went snooping through your stuff. I thought you might be on drugs.”

“Why, you nosy little….” He pounded his fist in his hand.

Tony raised his hands in truce, laughing. “Yes, I’m nosy. A, I’m your little brother, and B, I’m a cop. Nosy is literally in our job description.” His tone softened. “I just wanted to know why you changed. Why you hated me all of a sudden.”

A flush of shame went through Forrester, because he hadn’t been very nice to Tony when they were younger. He used to lock him out of their bedroom on a daily basis. He’d even tossed his school books into the sewer once, just to get him into trouble with Dad. Being a Giordano, Tony naturally fought back. Over the years arguing had become what they did. But why had Forrester done all that to him? Jealousy that Dad loved him more? Or had he merely been taking out his frustrations on the nearest target?

“I never hated you,” Forrester assured him. “It was just….” Sighing, he moved toward the door and stared out at the garage.

The side door suddenly opened, and Dad walked out, greasy rag in hand and a big smile on his face, his thick black hair streaked with silver. He waved at them. “Hey, Tony, Frankie, quit fighting! I gotta show you boys something.”

For a flash, Forrester was sixteen again, and he almost responded, but then he blinked and the yard was empty, the side door closed.

The image had been so real, so vivid that a visceral reaction went through Forrester, and he let out a small gasp. Sweat broke out on his scalp, making him shiver.

Did I just see Dad?

He shuddered, thinking maybe Ma hadn’t been off in her suggestion that Forrester should visit him. Maybe Dad had unfinished business with him too.

Collecting himself, he wiped a shaky hand over his face and glanced at Tony. His brother was staring at the garage, and Forrester almost asked if he’d seen Dad too, but he didn’t.

Maybe Dad came to tell him to make peace with Tony?

Or maybe I’m losing my mind.

He studied Tony, the hard, thick jaw, so much like Dad’s, but there was a sadness in his eyes too. Was it his misguided feeling that his family didn’t like Missy or the fear of losing Ma that caused it?

“Tony?”

“Yeah?”

“I never hated you. I was a moody asshole.”

“Are,” he corrected.

“Whatever. I’m sorry I changed, but think about it. You’re worried about Missy not being a part of the family, but how do you think I felt growing up with Dad?” He whispered the last word, fearing his ghost might hear.

“Scared,” Tony said seriously.

Forrester let out a bitter chuckle. “Yeah.”

“I never liked the backward stuff he said. Especially after I learned about you.”

“But you all said it,” he reminded him. “Queer, homo, fag. It wasn’t just Dad.”

“Nope,” Tony insisted. “I might’ve when we were younger, but never after I knew. Not once. Never.”

Forrester stared at his brother, surprised he’d never noticed. “You didn’t?”

“Nope. You can’t talk like that at work or you’ll get written up.”

“Oh, yeah, gotta be PC,” he said wryly.

“Yeah, but mostly I didn’t want to hurt my stupid brother’s feelings.”

“Oh,” he said, feeling stupid. “Well, thanks, I guess.”

“So can we move on?” Tony said after a moment. “Get over this gay thing already? No one really cares.”

“Dino laughed at me and told me liking dudes was”—he did air quotes—“messed-up.”

“What?”

Forrester swallowed the lump in his throat, then told him what Dino had said at Smitty’s. He left out the details of his own colorful outburst.

“The big jerk, what’s his problem?” Tony ground a fist into his palm. “Maybe I’ll have to give big brother a little come-to-Jesus talking to.”

He sniffed with amusement. “Don’t do that. Ma will just get upset.”

Tony looked at him for a long uncomfortable moment, then back out to the small lawn, where they’d played Power Rangers as kids, roasted marshmallows in a small fire pit, then fought for real as teens. As men, did they finally have some sort of truce? Maybe a do-over? Forrester couldn’t be sure, but it felt like they did.

“Ma’s probably thrilled you got a sugar daddy,” Tony said, surprising him.

“Kyle’s not a sugar daddy.”

Tony scoffed. “He’s not hurting. I ran a background check on him, and—”

“You what?”

“What part of nosy didn’t you get?” Tony laughed. “No criminal activity, if you wanna know. He got a good deal on that fancy house in Gilead, plus he owns some property in Indiana. He sharecrops it. No student loans, even for law school, which is no doubt how he’s wearing three-hundred-dollar shoes. And that car? Do you know the sticker on those? Yeah, Kyle’s a sugar daddy.”

Forrester actually laughed. “You’re unbelievable. I can’t believe you ran a background check on him.”

“What? I can’t have my brother moving in with a serial killer.”

“He is not a serial killer.” He studied Tony, feeling like he’d just met him for the first time in a long time. “And how did you know I’m moving in with him?”

“You’re never here, which means you’re either sleeping at your store or at his place. My money’s on his place.”

“No more bets, please.”

Tony laughed. “I’m not making any promises.”

After a moment, Forrester said, “Thanks, Tony.”

“For what?”

He gave him a wobbly smile. “For being okay with this.”

Tony smiled and tossed a beefy arm over his shoulders, pulling him into a headlock. “You’re my brother, ya dummy. What did you think I would do?”

Forrester play-punched him before Tony gave him one of his vicious noogies, and then he squirmed away. “Get off!”

Tony released him and stared like he was trying to read him. “Did you seriously think we’d, like, kick you out of the family or something?”

Smoothing his hair, he shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged.

A big hand reached out and whacked him on the side of the head, hard.

“Ow! Dammit, that hurt!”

“I never took you for stupid, Frankie,” his brother told him harshly. “Yeah, Dad would’ve been a tough sell, but the rest of us? What the hell? You really thought that?”

He threw out his hands. “I didn’t know what to think. I wanted to tell you guys, but I was afraid. You just don’t understand.”

Scowling, he shook his head. “Unbelievable.”

A cell phone chimed.

Feeling more comfortable with Tony being a grouch than being all supportive, he checked his phone to see if Joey had returned his text.

“It’s me,” Tony said, swiping through his phone. “Work, I gotta take this.” Phone to his ear, he pointed at Forrester. “You’re the one who should be apologizing to me, pal. That’s real shitty, thinking that kind of stuff.”

“Like hell I owe you an apology.”

Waving him off, he turned away and spoke into his phone. “Hey, Christie, what’s up? … No shit? Really?” He laughed, then frowned. “The DEA, huh? … Bastards. We’re off the case, then, now? … No, I kinda have something personal going on… yeah. Okay, keep me posted. Bye.” Hand on his hips, he frowned. “The DEA is busting some dealer from Detroit with a big shipment of heroin at the Stein. As we speak. They stole the SPD’s case right out from under our noses.”

Forrester’s stomach dropped. “Right now?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Um, I think Joey might be in trouble.”