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It was ugly. So bad that I had thrown my book at him in anger, barely missing his head. And still he came at me. I was right about one thing, though. He was a lot like my father, especially when it came to how he used his words. They stung, hit all the right chords, and shattered me from inside the way I had never been hurt when Dennis used his hands. If ever anyone had told me that my brother could kill me with his words, I would have laughed it off. Last night proved just how wrong I could be.
He didn’t even try to stop me when I packed a small bag, took my keys and stormed out of the house. I think he even wished me luck, like he knew that I wouldn’t be able to make it without him. I hated how much I needed him, how safe he had made me feel, how normal, ever since I got to Mansfield. To have that ripped away from under my feet was devastating, and I felt like I had been thrown back to square one, back in the prison I had been trying to escape from.
Straight to jail. Do not pass ‘Go’. Do not collect two hundred dollars.
Thank God for Andy.
He had been nice enough to give me the bed, taking the couch himself while he tried his best to make me feel comfortable. He didn’t ask about what happened, and although I knew he could hear my sobs, he didn’t try to get me to talk. He gave me the space I needed, and I was grateful for that. Grateful for him.
He looked like he had been through hell himself, an ironic turn of events given how the day had started. Bobby had been very vocal about how he felt about Andy, and I was sure the two of them had had a nice little fight of their own back at the station. It was probably why Andy had been drinking. I felt like a total bitch, the reason why my brother and his best friend were fighting, and it didn’t help the shitty night I was already having.
So, no, I hadn’t slept very well. I had hardly slept at all, and driving into work this morning, strung up on coffee and fighting the urge to break down and cry again, had been a massive toil. Still, I had a job, one that I probably needed more than ever now that I had no idea what would happen between me and Bobby. And Jane was counting on me. I couldn’t let everyone I knew down.
“Rough night sounds like you’re underplaying what actually happened, sweetheart,” Jane said.
“I’ll tell you all about it, I promise,” I assured her. “But right now, I’m high on caffeine and a desire to work. I want to get as much of this done as possible while I’m still on a roll.”
Jane looked at me for a beat, nodded, and said, “I’m outside if you need me. And if you need to go home instead, that’s okay.”
“I’m fine, I promise,” I smiled.
“Sure,” she countered with a wink, and closed the door behind her.
I sighed, ran a hand across my face and rubbed my eyes. My cellphone rang, and I cursed under my breath when I saw Karen’s number flashing. I hadn’t called the office since I left, and a part of me had hoped they’d just somehow forget about me and find a more reliable replacement. I braced myself and answered.
“Where the hell are you?” Karen hissed.
I frowned, thinking that it had taken her long enough to even realize I was gone. Then I remembered it was only Tuesday, and for all she knew, I had only missed a day of work without an excuse.
“Hi, Karen,” I replied.
“Don’t ‘Hi-Karen’ me, Andrea. Are you okay?”
I almost laughed at how many people were asking me that today. “I’m fine.”
“I thought the bastard killed you or something,” Karen said. “Which would probably be better than what Karp is going to do to you when you finally show up.”
And you only thought of calling me now?
“Did you send the search party for me?”
“Don’t be stupid,” Karen said. “I’m hoping it’s a black eye that’s keeping you out of the office. Either that, or you’re dying from some rare, incurable disease. Because I’m running out of excuses to cover your ass.”
“I’m in Mansfield,” I said after a brief hesitation.
“Mansfield?” Karen sounded like I had told her I was on Mars. “What are you doing in Mansfield?”
“I ran.”
“Excuse me?”
“I ran,” I repeated. “I packed a bag, got into my car and ran. I’m staying with my brother until I can figure out what to do next.”
Silence on the other line. I waited for Karen to say something, anything, but she was obviously at a loss for words.
“Good for you,” she finally said.
I was taken aback. “Really?”
