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“Who the hell knows? If Jake really likes this girl, he’d do most anything for her. I don’t think she’s the type who would make him steal or do drugs, but it’s possible. I only know her from when she was a little girl. I’m sure she’s changed a lot since then, especially if she’s hanging out with guys like Troy.”
“Maybe Troy’s changed. Maybe he’s not like he used to be.”
“If anything, he’s worse, not better. I remember when Troy would come to the house and how I’d thinkheseemed more like my brother than Jake.”
“Why?”
“Because we were so alike. The smallest thing would set Troy off. Like if Jake got the last piece of pizza but Troy wanted it, he’d fucking blow up at him, then tackle him. I’d break them apart and tell Troy to get out and not come back. But then Mom would let him come over again. She didn’t see anything wrong with Troy’s outbursts because to her, that was normal. She was used to it from being around Dad. And me. But I knew it wasn’t normal. When I felt that rage taking over, I knew something was wrong with me. It didn’t happen with Jake. He wasn’t wired like me. But Troy was. I could tell from the first time I met him. He was maybe five or six the first time he came over to play with Jake. And I just knew. I knew he was trouble because he was just like me.”
“Yes, but you changed. So Troy can too.”
“It’s not the same. I worked my ass off to change. I got out of that environment. I got into college. Went to counseling. I fell in love with a girl who was good for me and made me want to do better.”
Brook smiles. “I always knew you were more than that angry bully I knew in high school.”
“I’d still be that guy if I hadn’t met you. And if I’d stayed in that house, in that neighborhood, with no money, no hope of escaping that life? I’d probably be in prison right now, or on my way there.”
“I don’t believe that. You were determined to be a good role model for Jake.”
“But I was losing it, Brook. I was losing the battle. When we met, I was about ready to give up. I couldn’t see the light. All I saw was darkness, and when you get to that place,nothing matters anymore. You just try to survive. You steal. Sell drugs. You do whatever will get you money the fastest. You’re desperate, and desperate people don’t think before they do shit. That’s why I don’t want Jake hanging out with those guys. It won’t be long before they’re at that point where they’re feeling desperate. Hopeless. Like nothing matters. Maybe they’re already there. They’re done with school and have nothing to do all day but get into trouble. Add in the anger issues like Troy has? It’s like a gun that’s loaded and ready to go off. I don’t want Jake anywhere near that.”
“Is the gun just an analogy or are you saying Troy has one?”
“I’m sure he has one, or has access to one. Almost everyone there does. My dad had one until the cops took it. If I still lived there, I’d have one. You gotta protect yourself. It’s the only way to survive.”
“If what you’re saying about Troy is true, why would this girl choose him over Jake? Is it the whole bad boy thing? She likes a guy who’s dangerous?”
“It could be that, but then she wouldn’t be interested in Jake.”
“So why is she with Troy?”
I pause to consider that. I can think of several reasons but one keeps coming to the top. “Maybe she’s afraid to leave him.”
“You think he’s threatening her?”
“Threatening her. Manipulating her. And I hate to say this, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s abusing her.”
“Physically?” Brook asks in a hesitant tone, like she’s hoping that’s not what I meant.
“I don’t know if it’s come to that yet, but like I said, I wouldn’t be surprised if it has. And if I’m right, she might be afraid of what he’ll do if she tries to leave him.”
“What does that mean for Jake?”
“It means he needs to stay out of it. He can’t be the one to help her. She needs to find someone else. Someone who’s trained to deal with that shit.” I rub my jaw, feeling it tense up. “Fuck. I wasn’t even thinking about that. Now I’m even more worried.”
“About Tara? Or Jake?”
“Both of them. If that’s really what’s happening—if Troy’s hurting this girl—Jakes’s going to try to save her. That’s not going to end well for either of them. Shit. I need to get up there before something happens.” I grab my phone. “How much does a last-minute plane ticket cost?”
“Dean, hold on.” Brook takes my phone from me and sets it down. “You don’t know if this is actually happening. You can’t just fly to Chicago and accuse some guy of abusing his girlfriend.”
“So what am I supposed to do? Just sit here and do nothing?”
“For now, that’s really all youcando. Or try to get Jake to call you back. Maybe I could try talking to him. Maybe he’ll answer if I call him instead of you.”
“He won’t. He’ll know I told you to do it.”
“I can still try.”
