The Eligible Suspect(38)
“I told you! I saw him. He killed her!”
“Do you really believe that?”
“I know he did.”
Disappointment and the dagger-sharp hurt gripped him. Damen was lying. To him. How could he help him if he didn’t trust him?
Demarco leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “Why didn’t you call me?”
“Because I knew you’d try to talk me out of it. Isn’t that why you’re here? You want to stop me.”
“From doing what? Are you going to kill him?”
Damen shot to his feet and walked unsteadily to the bottle of booze on the kitchen counter. Demarco followed, watching his brother fill the glass.
“When did you start drinking like that?”
Damen didn’t answer, just faced him and took a drink.
“You’re dealing drugs and drinking too much and now you’re contemplating killing someone. What’s going on with you, Damen?”
“Maybe I’m tired of trying so hard to be like you.”
He was never like him, and Demarco wasn’t aware that he’d been trying to be. What he was saying was that the only way he knew was the illegal way. He thrived in that environment.
“Why don’t you come home with me? Forget this madness. You can stay with me and Cora until you figure out something to do. Just as long as you stop doing the drugs and drinking, and for God’s sake, don’t kill anyone...” He’d almost said, “anyone else.”
His brother stared at him for a long moment. For a second or two he thought he’d reached him.
“I give you permission to stop trying to help me, Demarco. You’ve been there for me my whole life, and I appreciate that. More than you know. But I have to make my own way, don’t you see?”
“Yes, but you can’t make your own way breaking the law.” He stepped forward and took the glass from him before he took another drink.
“That’s what I do, Demarco. I’ve been doing it for years. I’m good at it. For once, I’m good at something you aren’t.” He took the glass back and gulped the entire contents.
“You’re going to end up in prison.” Or worse. “You won’t get away with it much longer.”
“Why? Are you going to turn me in?”
Demarco just looked at him. He could turn him in. He could cast doubt on Korbin’s guilt.
“I can’t protect you if you keep going on the way you are.”
“I’m not asking you to. I never asked you to.” He slammed the glass down. “I think you should leave.”
“Damen, please. Listen to me. Don’t do anything stupid.”
That was the wrong thing to say. His brother’s face darkened with the insult as he perceived it.
“Just get out of here,” Damen said.
“Come with me.” They’d have to stay at that lodge he saw on the way here. The stormy roads were too bad.