Lost Cause (Tyler Carter)

Chapter 15

By the time I got home from the track meet, it was late and I was tired. Mom and dad were already in bed, so I took a shower and got in to bed.

I was laying in bed trying to go to sleep when I heard a knock on my window. It scared the living shit out of me before I saw Josh looking into the window.

I unlocked the window and slid it open.

"God damnet, Josh, you scared me." I said.

"Sorry, man."

"What are you doing here? It's passed eleven."

"I need you to go somewhere for me." He said.

"Josh, no, I'm not getting involved with your shit." I said. "And it's passed curfew."

"Come on, I didn't ask. Get shoes on and get your ass out here."

I groaned and started putting shoes on.

"Go all the way down the alley until you get to the parking garage at the apartments." He explained as I tied my shoes. "Go behind the garage and a little farther down Second Street, between the Oak Christian Church and a gas station, there's an alley that leads straight to a blue garage. A guy named Parker will be outside. Tell him you're there to see Curtis. When you get to Curtis tell him you have a pick up for me. If he asks, tell him I couldn't make it because I'm busy."

"Okay."

I hopped out the window and started making my way through the backyard.

"I'll be here waiting." He said.

I started jogging and I built up my speed as I ran.

I ran down the alley for about five minutes before I finally reached the parking garage. I quickly made my way behind the building and I ran down until I found the alley Josh told me to go through. I ran into the alley and came upon the blue garage.

The Parker guy stood up and became alert of my presence.

"Here to see Curtis." I said.

He turned around and opened the garage. I followed him to wherever Curtis was.

"Some kid here looking for you." Parker said when we reached Curtis.

He was tall and had many tattoos that I didn't understand. Gang signs if I had to guess, though. His hair was dark and greasy. He looked like the average drug dealer.

He was wrapping cooked pieces of meat that they probably make and sell to cover up the truth as to why they own this garage.

"Josh sent me here." I told Curtis.

"Why did he send you? Too much of a little bitch to come himself?"

I shook my head.

"Parker, get Josh's shit."

"It isn't like that. He's busy."

"It's not like that? He's just too busy with all the work that he does?" He chuckled. "Okay."

I nodded.

"I think we both know why he's not coming around here." He whispered.

Parker threw a red duffel bag to me and I caught it.

"You make sure to tell that brother of yours we want to see him here." Curtis said. "Tell him he knows what to expect if he doesn't show."

I threw the bag over my shoulder and started to walk away.

Curtis grabbed the collar of my shirt.

"Don't walk away from me like that, kid. Good way to get yourself killed." He held the back of a knife against my collar bone, slightly poking my neck with it. Don't be surprised. That's just how they scare people.

I yanked my shirt out of his grip and walked out of the garage.

"This ain't over for you!" Curtis yelled. "Or your brother!"

It took me about ten minutes to run home. When I got there, Josh was standing in the backyard next to my window.

The back door started to open and Josh took off in a dead sprint. I did the same and I followed him to the side of the house.

"That was fast." He said.

"Shut up." I said.

Dad was talking on the phone.

"I told you, babe, you can't call at night. I'm at home with my wife and son."

That's when my world collapsed.

"I have to go." He said and went back inside.

I sat on the ground and covered my mouth with my hand.

"Dude," Josh said.

"Why don't you like him?" I asked. "Or am I able to answer that for myself?"

"You're able to answer that for yourself." He said.

"I fucking knew it." I said. "Fucking 'business trip', 'had to work late'. It was all a bunch of fucking bullshit."

"She was 19." He said. "When I threatened to tell, he threatened to kill me."

"You didn't tell mom?" I asked.

"God, no."

"Why?"

"Because, imagine how hurt she would be." He said. "It would destroy her."

"Josh, she knows." I said. "There's nothing proving it, but she just knows. She's not stupid."

"Then, why hasn't she done something?"

"I don't know." I said. "She got shitfaced one night he was gone on his 'business trip' and smashed pictures of her and dad together."

"Shit." He said.

"Maybe she's scared." I said.

"Yeah." He said. "Hey, I got to go."

"I'm going to tell her, Josh." I said.

"Okay," He said. "but be careful."

"I will."

He left in his car and I just sat in the backyard for a while.

I didn't want to believe that he was cheating, but there was no excuse for what I just heard. He's a piece of shit.