Page 14 of Northern Escape


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Right there, in exam room one, was the first euthanasia he’d ever done because his dad was too drunk to hold the syringe. He probably should’ve sent the owner someplace else, but the poor black lab had been suffering. Her liver had shut down and her skin under her coat was bright yellow. He couldn’t send them away, so he made excuses for his dad and administered the drug himself. He’d cried right along with the owner as the lab drew her final breath. That was the day he decided he did not want to be a vet.

He heard the footstep behind him a millisecond before he registered he was not alone in the hospital. He whipped around, protectively shielding Peanut with one arm, ready to defend her with his life.

Nathaniel, his middle brother, stood in the doorway between the lobby and the treatment area out back.

“Nate?” He relaxed, but only marginally. The last time he’d seen his brothers there had been punches thrown and threats issued. But that had been mainly between him and Damian. Nate got clocked in the eye trying to be the peacekeeper.

“Hey, El.” His voice was gravel like he didn’t use it enough. Given what he did for a living, basically an animal medical examiner, he probably didn’t. He definitely looked like he didn't get out and mingle with the general public very much.

Nate’s beard had always been redder than the strawberry blond hair on his head, but it had gone full ginger since Ellis last saw him. It had also grown in thick and wild. He looked like one of the crazies who lived off the grid and thought the government was controlling them through their teeth fillings.

“Nice beard, bro. If you’re going for the Unabomber look, you’ve nailed it.”

Nate ran his hand over his chin. “I, uh, don’t get out much.”

“Too busy dissecting dead animals?”

“There’s more to veterinary pathology than—”

“You know most serial killers get their start dissecting animals?”

Even under the bushy beard, the muscle twitch in Nate’s jaw was obvious. He shook his head. “Same old Ellis. Always pushing buttons. Why are you here?”

“I suspect the same reason you are. Brielle Ives called and guilt-tripped you into coming back?”

“I wouldn’t say guilt-trip, but yes. She called all of us.”

Why that irritated Ellis, he couldn’t say. “Damian’s here?”

“Not yet.”

“That’ll be fun. Bet he’ll bring a film crew, turn the family tragedy into reality TV.”

Nate sighed. “Cut it out. You’ve never given him the benefit of a doubt.”

“Because he’s never given me reason to. He’s a cold, money-hungry little shit. Always has been. You’ll see. He’ll turn this into a cash grab.”

Again, there was that muscle twitch that made his beard jump. “No. He’s coming back because Dad is missing. Same reason I’m here.”

“Bullshit. You don’t care about the old man any more than I do.”

“You’re wrong,” Nate said very softly. “I care more than you ever did.”

He aims, he shoots, he scores.

Direct shot to the heart, but Ellis had gotten good at hiding his pain. Oh, he cared. Often too much, which was why he’d left in the first place. Because in this family caring equaled constant heartbreak and sorrow. He’d been drowning in it by the time he walked into the Army recruiter’s office at seventeen and all but begged them to take him.

“Dad’s sober now,” Nate said after too many beats of silence.

“So I’ve heard. You’ve kept in touch?”

“I call him on his birthday, holidays. We got together for lunch a few times when he was in Fairbanks.”

“But when did you last see him?” Nate’s silence was all the answer he needed. “Yeah, that's what I thought. Will says he’s sober, but I don’t believe it. We’ve been down this road with him before. He’s lied before.”

“Two years, El. He hasn’t had a drink in two years.”

“Uh-huh, sure. If you want to keep believing in him, that’s your time to waste. I washed my hands of him’’— he motioned around the crumbling pet hospital with a sweep of his arm— “and this place a long time ago.”

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