Read My Brother's Keeper for Free Online Page B

had never been able to erase it from her mind. And it wasn’t from lack of trying. She slept there and ate there but always her eyes went to the spot on the kitchen floor where her grandmother’s body was found and a chill went down her spine.
    Maggie set out napkins, knives and forks and paper placemats in front of her customers in the booth. She brought them eggs and toast and refilled their cups. Lou sipped his coffee and turned toward Joey.
    â€˜Sorry I’m late.’
    â€˜Forget about it. Any trouble?’
    â€˜Not really.’
    â€˜You don’t sound very convincing.’
    â€˜Remember I told you I’ve been seeing Jimmy Patterson on my morning runs? Well, I ran into him again today and he wants me to look into a little problem his sister is having with her husband.’
    â€˜His sister, huh?’
    â€˜Yeah, Franny Patterson. You remember her. Jimmy’s little sister.’
    â€˜Sure. I thought we didn’t do divorce work. Too sticky, you said.’
    â€˜Normally I wouldn’t touch it, but I’ve known Jimmy a long time. And I don’t think I have the whole story. He’s bringing her by the office this afternoon.’
    â€˜Franny Patterson? You used to have something going with her, right?’
    â€˜I wouldn’t say that.’
    â€˜I won’t say it if you don’t want me to. Come to think of it, Lou, there were a lot of girls that you had something going with. But you never seemed to end up with any of them.’
    â€˜I get off to a good start but I don’t finish well.’
    â€˜Whatever you say.’
    They both sipped their coffee. Joey pawed the morning paper, crumpling the corners in his meaty hands.
    â€˜You know a guy named Brian Haggerty?’
    â€˜I know the name.’
    â€˜Yeah, that’s what I said.’
    â€˜He’s probably Billy Haggerty’s kid. Everybody’s heard of William Haggerty.’
    â€˜That’s right. I know who you’re talking about now. Had a couple of run-ins with him myself.’
    â€˜He ran the unions down on the docks, back in the days when that fucking meant something.’
    â€˜And it doesn’t mean anything now?’
    â€˜It’s all about money now.’
    â€˜It was always all about money, Joey.’
    â€˜Yeah, but now big money calls the shots. Back then you could be a union boss and wield a lot of power and not necessarily be filthy rich. You’d get rich, if you played your cards right, like Haggerty did. But it wasn’t just about the money. It was about control.’
    â€˜You mean control over people.’
    â€˜Exactly. What good is money if you can’t get any work done?’
    â€˜Yeah, but how do you stay in control? Money buys a lot of loyalty.’
    Joey folded the paper in half and swatted a fly on the counter. A fluorescent light began to flicker in the ceiling. Heshy got under it and tapped the ceiling with the point of a broom handle. The flickering stopped.
    â€˜Guys like Haggerty had personality, Lou. They used intimidation, sure. But they kept to their own. They lived in Irish neighborhoods. They employed Irish people. Haggerty was like a fucking saint to those people. If Franny Patterson’s husband has got Billy Haggerty’s blood in his veins, he’s a son of a bitch.’
    â€˜Franny always did have good taste in men.’
    â€˜Is that why she dumped you?’
    â€˜Maybe she set her sights too high. Franny was always a bit of a social climber, Joey. She wanted status. She craved it, if you ask me. I think that’s what finally broke us up. And she needed to be in control. Maybe when she landed Brian Haggerty she bit off more than she could chew.’
    â€˜Something tells me Franny Patterson wouldn’t have any trouble fitting in with the Haggertys.’
    â€˜You didn’t know her like I did. She wasn’t as confident as you think. She dressed the part but she was covering