The Concern

The Concern

”How was everyone’s day today?”
Three joyful faces looked back at him filled with joyful tales of their fun filled summer day.
“What did you do today dad?”
“Well today, A rare Snow Leopard arrived from an animal preserve in Nepal in need of surgery. It came in a big wooden crate. Our hospital will be operating on it soon. You'll all get a chance to see it. It will be here for a few months. Now, let’s thank mom for this meal. And I’ll show you pictures of the big cat after dinner.”

All bowing their heads. Daniel had just finished blessing the dinner table when the doorbell rang. His wife got up,
“Sit, begin, I’ll get it.”
Then a half moment later looking up recognizing his brother coming in.
”You son of a bitch. You dare step into my house after what you did to me.”, he said.

”No”, Jumping to his feet and lunging at his brother.
“Get the Hell out now.—now.”
Joann getting in front of Daniel shouting at him. I invited him. I… invited him.
“What?“ Staring at her, “Why would you do that?”
"Daniel!" said Cryton.
Daniel Pointing a finger toward him. “No, not another word, Put that hat back on your sick little head and get the hell out.—now. I've nothing to say to you.”

”Daniel Samuel Wilson, your children are here.” said Joann.
“Is this the example you want to set?”
Taking his eyes off Cryton, seeing the terror in his children's bulging eyes. He closes his eyes as to hide behind his eyelids as they began to water. Joann seeing this spoke in a soothing tones.
”I invited him so he might try to apologize.”
Daniel turning into his wife‘s tears as she spoke. As he bent over her slightly she with her hand and a stern look directed the children up to their rooms. The room grew silent as their muffled footsteps ended at the top of the stairs. Cryton taking his hat from his chest.
”Give him a chance, he knows what he did was wrong.” Joann said. ”I didn’t think much of it either. But this has gone on for for a few years. You guys can’t keep going on like this. It has to end.”

Daniel thought, And why the hell can't it go on?
”Only a morally bereft individual would have done what you did.”
Daniel wrestled with the idea of pushing her aside to apply some bare-knuckle paint on his face with some of the pain his stunt left him to live with after their mother’s funeral.
“Apologies won’t cut it. Joann don’t let him fool you. He’s taking advantage of your kindness just to see the extent of the damage he‘s created.”
”Joann without turning from Daniel says, "Say something Cryton. You told me you were sorry, say something!”

”Yeah, you hurt your mother and you were always an embarrassment. She got what she, he deserves Joann. And now, I’ve gotten to see you my perfect SELF-MADE BROTHER. Cut and bleeding. Erratically laughing.

Joann stares with widening eyes and mouth open, gasping behind his words.
“What? You lied to me. You said you wanted to be forgiven.”

Cryton shouts. “And why the hell should I be concerned about you either. You’re both a pair of hell-bound abominations.”

Daniel, while tussling to free himself of her grip. says ”Let me go Joann.” who still stood a pillar blocking the dining room doorway as Cryton laughing, began to back up casually to make his exit. Daniel turning headed for his gun. At the front door Cryton turned around to say.
“God…‘ I wish I could have done this twice.”

Joann still standing by the dining room stares and under her breath reveals the truth of the crime to herself in disbelief.
“You sent your brother to the wrong city knowing he wouldn’t be able to get his mother’s funeral—on purpose?”

She felt her tears fall feeling they may never end.
As her husband shuffled by her loading his rifle, she realized instantly, if he ends his brother‘s life it would not only end her brother-n-laws life but hers as well. She began running behind him, repeatedly yelling .
“Stop Daniel!, don’t do it!“ and Cryton upon hearing Daniel cocking his rifle and Joann’s plea’s turns around

Laughing at Daniel, You?—You going to shoot me?
“Go ahead, this will be better than I planned. I’ve gutted you in the eyes of the family for not being at your own mothers funeral, now my death will decimate what’s left of your family and your life. You should’ve never been the first born Danielle. If I had been the oldest I’d have made sure you stayed a bitch, bitch!“

Daniel training his gun on him, as Joann Muted in his thoughts continued to pleaded with him.

”Listen to him, Baby, he’s crazy but, if you pull that trigger your family will lose—I will lose you!”

Without taking his eyes off his brother tells his wife make sure the kids are in bed.

“What?“

”Do it now?”
Trusting him. She reluctantly backs up and into the house.

Cryton staring Daniel right in the eye. ”What'cha gonna do? grow some balls?

"Having no balls was never the problem brother. The problem has always about... bad blood." As Daniel deposits three shells into his chest.



Several months later.

Daniel receives a call from The police, Dr. Daniel Wilson are you familiar with a Cryton Wilson dockworker in Sausalito. Yes, officer, he’s my brother. Has he done something?

"No, I’m sorry to have to inform you that your brother was found dead unfortunately under foul circumstances."

“Wha... What happened?”

“His body was found bound in a crate on a cargo ship.”

”God! What?", then Daniel became silent and let the officer speak.

“Seems like he may have hung around some bad types."

“You could say so. We weren’t close. Is their something I Need to do?“

"There were no effects so notifying you before we closed the case was the last thing to do. Again sorry to have to deliver such news.“

“Joann, that was the police, They said Cryton was killed. They found his body on a ship Somewhere.“

She closed her eyes looking away, "He was so angry, He was bound to die in some violent way I suppose,”

“Do we have to get him. No they said it was all taken care of. Let’s finish dinner.” Should we tell the kids? Joann asks. Let‘s not, at least not now, I think they’ve been traumatized enough. Daniel said. we can tell them later.



Several months earlier, On that night.

Cryton shot, stunned looked down his chest to see three syringes protruding from his chest as he immediately began to feel light headed asking only as Daniel leaned over him. “What the hell are you doing? Just before he collapsed. Daniel answered him in a low tone knowing he couldn’t hear him.

“Ending an old family argument that‘s gone on for too long brother.” Lifting his limp body and putting him into the family car. From the children’s window Joann witnessed Daniel helping Cryton into the car.

Relieved realizing Daniel had not killed Cryton. Trusting him she waited for his return. Daniel took him to his Veterinarian clinic and checking his heart. Cryton was still alive and was likely to remain asleep for about 24 hours. It would be just long enough, he thought.

The next day Cryton groggy began to awake to find himself confined in a wooden box with light seeping in from small cracks between the boards. As he became coherent his condition be came more clear as he realized he was also bound and gagged. It wasn’t long when he realized he was moving. Pushing himself around to see through a crack, he tries to scream as he sees the ocean beyond his wooden prison. With all his might he could muster only a muffled, “Danelle!”,of which none on board could hear.



Cap-Chur Cartridge Rifle