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please…” he reached forward, stroking the little one’s tearful face while he shook his head at the sight of the humming device that was often used to hurt them.
    “ Roll over Eric.”
    And he did, his tummy trembling as he draped his arm over his face.
    “ Alright boy, you know what to do, show your little brother how much you love him.”
    Randy winced, then sighed, the taste of the boy forever imprinted in his memory. The flavor they made was the nectar that sustained him and kept him sane. But it was the staying away from him that made him crazy.
    “ I’m sorry,” he cried, holding Eric’s face between his hands, “I’m sorry…”
    Eric sniffed, “S’okay Ran, s’okay.” he assured, throwing his arms around the older boy’s neck and pressing their mouths together.
    His hand clenched around the dress, his palm sweating into the delicate fabric as tears threatened and his breath came shakily. He wiped the sheen of perspiration off his face and dropped the hopelessly wrinkled garment back onto the bed before lurching at the small suitcase, his eyes fixed on its address tag.
    He spread the panels of the bag open, sweeping his hand through each pocket, looking for anything from a letter to the possible contents of a package when a flash of purple lace caught his attention. He drew the thong from the dark recesses, his breathing growing ragged again as he pressed it to his face hoping to catch confirmation of her scent.
    “Don’t make me…” he whimpered in a whisper, part of his mind still lost in the memories, still trying to undo everything that had long ago been done.
    Frustration crushed the piece of lace into his fist where it ended up in the pocket of his suit jacket before he moved on to the dressers, the closet, under the bed, between the mattress and box spring, and under the chair cushion to finally satisfy himself that so far as yet, Dave’s daughter had nothing in her possession here that could point to him.
    Now all I have to do is keep my eyes and ears open between the center and her apartment. He took a moment to copy down her address from the suitcase before standing at the mirror, making sure he appeared just as he should.
    A quick flick of his fingers through his hair, a long deep breath and a slow exhale and he was ready to exit the room.
    “Okay,” he breathed.
    Making sure he was still alone with a peek into the hallway, Randy then ducked into the bathroom to wet his hands and a towel, just in case anyone saw him. He crept to the corner and glanced downward. If he could descend and leave without anyone knowing he’d been up there at all, so much the better. But if not, then at least he could say the downstairs bathroom had been occupied.
    From the top of the landing he watched Bill open the front door where a man who was definitely NOT a townie introduced himself.
    “Jase Edwards, I’m a friend of Sam’s. You must be Mr. Shiner,” the detective extended his hand.
    Oh man, she had to fuck with a COP! BITCH! he cursed her, I’m gonna fuckin’ kill you so hard Patty’ll feel it!
    Everyone in town knew Dave Backer’s wife Patty had died in childbirth, but Randy was willing to bet that not a single soul knew that the child Dave had raised as his own, was NOT the child Patty gave birth to.
    “I think she’s still at the cabin,” Bill offered, “she should be back soon though.” He stepped back to admit the man whose build, Randy noticed, was almost identical to his own.
    “Thanks. Do you mind if I wait for her?” the detective asked.
     
    “Not at all. Food’s on the table, just grab a plate and dig in, make your self comfortable.” Bill walked with him into the living room and out of earshot.
    Steadying himself with a quick breath, Randy descended the stairs, appearing for anyone who may have noticed, like he had every right to be there.
    As much as he loathed his and Eric’s earliest lessons, he had to admit they’d served him well. The first and sometimes most