Chapter 28
Brice splashed another handful of cold water onto his face, trying to stay awake. He was exhausted having been in Bozeman until the late hours before coming home and sleeping for about three hours. The night at the hotel was long, and after what he did, maybe his dad would finally be proud of him. Taking a look in the mirror, the bags under his eyes were heavy. But it was not just from last night, it had been the culmination of stress and worry over the last month.
But tonight it was going to end as long as he stuck with Harry's plan. A sharp knock came to the bathroom door, followed by Harry's voice.
“Unless you’re pulling your pecker, hurry your ass up.”
“On my way, boss,” Brice said, then reached over and flushed the toilet for dramatic effect. Taking one more look in the mirror, he smiled, adjusting the blue flower lapel pin on his coat, and then headed out. He could hear Harry's voice in his office, and going towards it, heard Carol’s as well.
“I don't know about that, Harry. Shouldn't a promotion be based on skill?”
“Sure, I just need to see what kind of skills you have outside of work,” Harry said, then let out a laugh. Counting to five, Brice knocked on the door once and stepped inside. Carol would be heading home for the evening, and with a quick smile at Brice, she walked past him and out the door.
“Alright, son, you ready?”
Brice nodded, his nerves nearly betraying him. His heart was racing, and he cringed as he thought about the pain that would be inflicted upon Logan and his sister tonight. But it needed doing. Brice would go through with it no matter what.
“Good. Remember, it’s really simple. Once we get there, I’ll pull the three of them to the side while you inspect.” Harry took a brown paper bag from his desk, walked over, and handed it to Brice.
Brice took it and peered in before dumping the contents on the desk. “I remember your plan in detail.” And he did, for Harry had gone over it a dozen times even today. Only a buffoon would screw it up.
“What did you do that for?” Harry asked, his voice disapproving as he looked at the contents Brice had spilled out on the desk.
“I don't know drugs, Harry. I can’t sit there and accuse them of having them if I don't know what they are.”
Harry mumbled as he walked over. “That there is cocaine,” he said, pointing at a small vial. “Surely you know that.”
“Yes, I do know that one.”
“That is heroin, those are Ecstasy tablets, and a few joints. Now, here’s the kicker. I bagged them all in portions that are for distribution.”
“And that means?” Brice asked, looking at Harry.
“It means that boy is going to have so many felonies after tonight, a twenty-year plea deal is going to sound good.”
Brice nodded. “Are you sure this won’t backfire?”
Harry laughed, his hand coming down on Brice's shoulder. “Listen to me. I run this town and keep it how I see fit. Ain't nothing going to go wrong. Shit, you sound like my ex-wife.”
Brice nodded, then put the drugs back into the bag. Then he unzipped his coat and slipped the bag inside it.
“Alright, son, ready to get rid of the trash in Broken Hollow?”
Turning to Harry, a smile crept across Brice's face.
“You know, I actually am.”
***
“Damn, son, you’re shaking worse than a whore at church,” Harry said.
Brice glanced over. “Sorry, boss, I think it’s because it’s my first time.”
Harry laughed. “Don't worry. There’s going to be plenty more times we do this to others. You’ll get used to it.”
Brice made a turn onto a side road. It was around seven in the evening, and the sun had already set. Though it was cold out, thankfully there was another warm front coming in, so the temperatures was near fifty. Soon it would be Halloween, then Thanksgiving. Time was flying by quickly, and making the last turn towards Logan’s house, Brice let out a big sigh.
He missed him dearly, his touch, his hug, and most importantly his heart. Because below that tough exterior was a kind and caring man. A man that life had dealt a bad hand to, but he still managed not to let it ruin him. Through their talks, he had helped Brice become a better man, realizing that no matter what his parents thought nor how bad it hurt, Brice was who he was.
Even his ex, Mark, who had used him and then mocked him during their breakup, no longer had his hold over Brice's life. He had let that go. And it was all because of Logan, the man he was about to set up, who had done it for him.
Pulling into the driveway, the crunching of the gravel came to Brice's ears and he could see the lights on in the house. He smiled, wondering what they were doing and hoping their night was full of love and laughter.
“Well, are you going to turn the car off?” Harry asked, breaking Brice from his thoughts.
Brice nodded, then turning off the car, he opened the door and stepped outside. Taking a look around, he saw no one. Harry walked around the front of the car, and Brice joined him as they headed up the steps.
With a quick two knocks on the screen door, Brice stepped back, his heart racing. A moment later, the door opened and Brice felt his heart ache. Before him stood Logan, wearing a dark sweater, matching not only his hair, but the five o'clock shadow. His dark blue eyes were clouded with hurt, and Brice wanted to ease that pain.
“Logan…” Brice started to say.
Harry cut him off. “Logan, time for a surprise inspection,” he said, a laugh to his voice.
“Really? You want to come inside?”
“Up to you, but if you refuse us, then of course your parole officer here will have to arrest you, won’t you, Brice?”
Looking into Logan's eyes, Brice nodded. Then seeing the pain cross over Logan's face, Brice felt sick.
“Well, let us in, dip shit,” Harry said.
Logan stepped back, and Brice and Harry walked through and into the living room. The fireplace was roaring, and a Monopoly board was on the coffee table, the game pieces and fake money already laid out. On the couch sat Bree and Maddy, both of them wearing their pink fluffy robes and looking worried.
“Well, hello, Ms. Bree. You look very nice,” Harry said.
She cinched her robe tighter, a scowl on her face. Maddy moved in closer to her, a true friend ready to protect.
“Harry, what do you want…?” Logan asked, his voice irritated.
“Now, there is no reason for that, is there?” Harry drawled. “Get your hands on the wall, convict.”
Logan shot Brice a look of anger and disgust. With a shake of his head, Logan went to the wall and put his hands on it, taking the stance he, by now, had to be well accustomed to.
“He’s leaving tomorrow to go to a halfway house,” Maddy spat. “Congratulations, you sick bastard, you broke up our family once again.”
“You watch your tongue, you little whore. It’s not my fault your brother killed Tommy.”
“Yeah, but it was you that covered up what happened to Maddy, you sick fuck,” Bree spat, her face red. Brice watched as Harry walked towards her, and she shrunk back. He prayed Harry would not do anything to hurt her.
“Your friend there is a slut,” Harry hissed. “She fucked Tommy and then went and said she didn't like it. And from what I heard, you liked what Tommy gave you, didn't you?”
Maddy began to sob, and Brice turned his head and locked eyes with Logan. If looks could have killed, the daggers Logan shot would have killed Brice. But they were not striking his body, they were striking his heart. The worst pain of all.
Bree stood, her eyes narrowed to slits. “You sick bastard,” she said. Her hand came back and the slap that landed on Harry’s cheek resounded through the room.
“That’s it, you little bitch. You’re under arrest,” Harry said, taking out his cuffs. Turning Bree around, he placed the cuffs on her wrists, then pushed her back onto the couch. “If anyone else wants to assault an officer, which is felony by the way, you go right ahead.” Harry stepped back near the fire, and when he turned around, a smile crept across his face.
“Well, now that’s taken care of, it’s time for an inspection. Let’s see…Brice, what do you say? Should we start with the cars?”
“Sounds good, Harry,” Brice said.
“You two girls, up,” Harry demanded, and both women stood. Putting his hands on their arms, he led them to the door, and Brice grabbed Logan's arm.
As they walked to the front door, Logan turned his head. “You disgust me.”
With a tear in his eye, Brice nodded, and they headed out into the darkness.