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by my own damn boss. So I told her to see you guys. If you said no, then I told her I would help her. But look, you guys are helping her, so enough about that.”
    Eva continued, “Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you’re all helping her, because that means I don’t have to break several laws, but W-T-F, Thomas, I mean, seriously. Don’t tell me he is going to be calling me next, because I don’t know if I can handle that. I know I can’t. It’s been five years since I last saw or heard from your brother on the day he crushed me. I seriously do not think I could handle a call from him as well. You two, I can handle. It stings, but I love you all, so I handle it. You know what I’m saying. So, enough of that crap. What can my hot tamale I do for you?”
    Yeah, he did know what she was saying. It still stung him too. He and Keylee sent Eva holiday cards and gifts. They still loved her and considered her family, no matter what their dickhead brother did five years ago. She was theirs, and hell, they would take care of her. Thomas didn’t call, only sent cards, but Keylee called all the time and would fill him in all the ‘gossip’ as she stated it.
    “I know, Eva, honey. I wish I could tell you what happened or what took place, but I don’t know. Keylee doesn’t know. He won’t talk, he never talks. What I can tell you is whatever happened, it was bad. But that is not why I called. I promised I would only call if there was ever an emergency.”
    “Oh Christ, Thomas, is it Jefferson? Did something happen to him?”
    “Calm down, baby girl. This call is not about my dickhead brother, Jefferson. It’s about a friend of mine. Her parents’ shop has been broken into twice now. This time, they found some drugs at the site as well as a Grandfather clock that was stolen and some old bracelets were found missing. The police think the clock is important because Wen, my neighbor, has a replica of the same type of clock. Once I get the type of clock it is, I’m hoping you can trace the information down for me.”
    “Shouldn’t be too difficult. Just get me what you can and I will work my magic. So, Wen, huh? Is this the same Wen you have the hots for? I have to say if it is, then come on, man, make some moves. All I’ve been hearing about is how sexually charged you two are when you are just feet away.”
    He was going to murder his sister. It was official . “Eva?” His voice held a warning. He did not need her giving him shit as well.
    “Man, you are a big ninny. Call back when you’ve got all the details. Ah, look, my food is here; got to go, big guy. Smooches.”
    Thomas stood there looking at his phone as it displayed call disconnected.
    What the fuck, was right. Sighing to himself, he pushed his phone back into his pocket and made his way to Wen and her family.
    His memory flashed back to when he was in Eva’s apartment five years ago.
    They were throwing Jefferson a goodbye party as he was shipping out for one last tour, a fifteen to eighteen month assignment, and it would be the last time they all saw each other for a while.
    When Jefferson showed up at the apartment, it was the look in his eyes that still haunted Thomas. Jefferson’s eyes were wide and red, sweat trickling from his forehead. He was so white that Thomas stepped close to him, afraid that he would pass out.
    Jefferson just stood there looking at everyone. Suddenly, he announced it was over and just as he’d appeared, he walked out of the apartment he’d shared with Eva.
    It was then that he saw Eva on the floor, crumpled into a ball with Keylee beside her. He walked over to her, lifting her up and into his arms to place her on the couch.
    She looked so lost, eyes just staring past him, through him, that it shook him. That was his vibrant Eva, loud in voice and color. She’d held nothing back until that moment.
    In a voice that was not hers, Thomas heard her ask for them to leave.
    No one moved until she screamed at them to leave her