The Camel's Curse by Eli Dahle

Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

Brooklyn Heights, NY

April 8, 5:50 p.m. EST

“That idiot,” Katrina said.  A look of disgust swept across her friendly, open face as she glanced at her husband, pushing back her long, wavy black hair with her hand.  “He can’t be too far away for me.”

“Tell me about it,” Tim said. “You didn’t have to grow up with him.”

Katrina shook her head, whether in agreement or negation it wasn’t clear.  “I made the mistake of dating him; that was bad enough.”

“Kat, you’re right, I shouldn’t go.”  Tim picked up the phone.

“I didn’t say that,” Kat said.  Tim watched from behind as she walked into the long, narrow kitchen of their brownstone to stir a pot of simmering tomato sauce on the antiquated white porcelain stove.  His mind wasn’t on the stove, however, as he followed, taking off his jacket while he stared at her ass.  Kat turned toward him and smiled when she saw where his eyes were focused.

“Smells delicious,” he said. 

“What, me or the spaghetti?”

“Both, of course.”  Tim sat at the kitchen table and pulled a knife and cutting board toward him, aggressively hacking at a thick-crusted loaf of olive bread he had bought at the Italian bakery on the way home.  “Kat, do you really think I should go?  Who’s going to stare at your ass while I’m away?”

“Well, Birdie,” she said, using her pet nickname for Tim that made him cringe, “you haven’t exactly been overwhelmed with work lately.  And I can see that it’s wearing on you, making you edgy.  You’re the only person I know who needs a crisis to relax.  My ass just aint’ gonna do it.”

“That’s not true. You relax me, other than when you call me Birdie. And you’re not a crisis.”  Tim laughed. 

Kat reached out a hand and massaged his neck.  “He is your brother after all.  I never thought I’d live to see the day when your older brother is saying he needs you, practically begging for help.  It doesn’t sound like the Doug that I know.”

Tim pulled away.  “That’s what makes me suspicious; probably just wants to rub in how rich and successful he is.”

“But what if it’s the truth?  And then something happens?  I know you; you would be consumed with guilt.  Who knows? Maybe it will be interesting.  After Moscow, you’ll be dragging me every weekend to London and Paris.”

Tim smiled and shook his head.  “Ah, the ulterior motive.  I just don’t get it though.  Why call now after all these years?  It’s not like we have a family bond or enjoy each other’s company.”

“I’m sure it’s like he says, he just wants someone he knows, someone he can trust.  And he said it would be just a couple of days.  You won’t even be there long enough to get jet lagged.”

Katrina bent down to kiss his cheek, smoothing a brown wisp of hair that stuck at an angle from the side of his head.  “I’ll miss you but I’ll try my best to survive.”

“I’ll miss you too,” he said, as he slowly dialed Doug’s number.  “And your ass.”