Family Ties

"I can't expect Dad to show up with some miracle at the last minute... I can't expect anybody to, y'know? The only person who can get me out of this thing is me."

“What are you going to do, Steve?”

“Don’t worry about it, sis. I just called to tell you I love you. Tell Mom & Dad I love them too. I’ll see ya later, Shell. And if I don’t, then I’ll see ya in the next life.”

“What are you talking about, Steve? Steve? Steve!” But the dial tone just buzzed in my ear. The short conversation with my brother yesterday scared me, because I couldn’t be sure what he meant.

Trouble followed my brother his whole life, or if truth be told, he chased after trouble. From the time he was a teenager, he found himself in mess after mess: getting caught by the cops smoking pot, shoplifting CD’s from the record store, knocking up the preacher’s daughter. Every time he got in a scrape, my Dad, “Mr. District Attorney” showed up and kept his ass out of jail or smoothed over ruffled feathers. After the last time though, Dad told Steve to grow up and don’t bother calling the next time he was in a jam.

Steve called me a few weeks back going on and on about his latest scheme to “make it large!” When I asked where he was getting the funding for this, he couldn't resist telling me who his partner was: Damon Correlli.

Corelli likes fast women, fast cars and fast cash. He also likes to make examples of people that cross him. Dad has tried, on more than one occasion, to convict him for his crimes, but it always seems witnesses recant, die or just disappear. Steve knew all of this, but didn’t care. I got the feeling this was a big F-U to Dad.

After he called yesterday, I immediately phoned Dad. When I filled him in on the conversation from a few weeks ago, it shook him.

“Correlli? Are you sure, Shell?”

“Yeah, Dad. I didn’t want to tell you, but now it sounds like he’s in real trouble. Big trouble.”

“I never told you this, but he threatened our family after the last trial. I didn’t take it seriously. Maybe I should have.” He promised to let me know if he heard anything.

The phone rang and it showed Steve’s number in the caller ID.

“Steve! Thank God!”

“No, Shelly. It’s Dad.”

“Dad? Where’s Steve?”

“He’s here. He’s been shot.”

“Oh my God!”

“He’s gonna be ok. The ambulance is on the way. But Shell, I need you to call your Uncle Charlie and tell him to meet me down at the police station.”

“Why Uncle Charlie?”

“Because I’m going to need a good criminal lawyer. I just murdered Damon Corelli. I love you Shell. Tell your Mom I love her too.”

“Dad? Dad!” But the dial tone just buzzed in my ear.





Word Count: 495