The Hidden Truth

Chapter Thirty-Three: Confessions

Not long after I got Sara back to sleep between myself and the back side of the couch there's a loud knock at the back door. I slowly get up trying my hardest to not disturb her. Lucky for me she just curled back up under her fuzzy blanket and continues to sleep as if I didn’t even go anywhere. As soon as I open the door, Justice comes waltzing into the kitchen while yelling at me for making him wait so long. At the same time as I gesture for him to sit at the table, I warn him to keep his voice down not once mentioning why. I peek into the living room one last time to check to see if she woke up but she’s still sleeping with her head almost buried in the backside of the couch so I join him at the table. 

The second I sit down he starts, “Here’s the list you needed but I took it a step further and narrowed down all the ones that are close to the right caliber so you called it.” I take the list and as I’m looking it over he adds, “Michael, for someone who doesn't believe in myths you seem to be looking awfully hard for something that doesn’t exist.”

“Can’t a person change what they believe in?”

“You...never. Unless you found proof, did you?”

“No. But what does it matter? I’m just the middle man.”

“Middle man? Seriously!? Have you lost your mind, Michael?”

“That’s what I told you before...why should it matter to you anyway?”

 “Well for one you’re being watched and second you shouldn’t be doing other people's dirty work. I’m surprised you haven’t figured that out by now.”

“What do you mean I’m being watched?” I place the paper in front of me as I look him dead in his eyes.

“Are you kidding me… Michael, explain to me why it is you wanted to do this the hard way in the first place?”

“Why does that matter anymore, I got what I need can’t you just let it be?”

This time he stands up hovering over the table while leaning on it for support as he raises his voice and says, “Tell me now!”

I remain mute while he squints his eyes as if we were playing a tug of war game. After several long minutes he finally pushed himself off the table and began pacing the kitchen. Pausing only when his sight passes the living room. Immediately he turns to me and asks, “What is she doing here?”

As much as I tried to hide my sister from him everytime he came over, there was no denying that it was her, curled up on the couch sleeping. I swallowed hard just before I spoke, “How long did you think you could hide her from me?”

“Michael, I wasn’t concealing her from you!”

“If not me then who?”

He then sits back down in his chair as he asks, “How did you get her out of Saint Anns?”

“With a little luck and persuasion.”

“Bull shit!”

I stare hard in his direction more or less giving him the indication that I shouldn’t have to warn him a second time about his language in my home. Unfortunately he isn't taking the hint as he repeatedly insists on cursing in my house. “Justice, I’ve told you already to watch your tongue and if you refuse, I’ll do it for you!” making sure that he gets the point, I start plucking string after string not caring which ones I'm strumming.

Eventually he runs his fingers through his hair grabbing the roots of it and pulling downwards towards his face. Time after time he continues to pull his hair until finally he shouts, “Stop! I get it.”

At that moment I look away from him as he says, “I can't stand it when you do that to me especially when I ask a simple question.”

“A question that I already answered.” I reply.