Part 496
The sun was beginning to dip behind the mountains and Nick was getting worried. Billy had been faithful, calling in every half an hour with updates on Becca's whereabouts, but now she’d been out most of the afternoon and Nick knew the temperature was rapidly dropping. Sarah was still sleeping, which was a blessing in disguise because quite frankly he had no desire to rehash his argument with Becca and listen to Sarah or Howie’s well-meaning advice. At the moment, he was stretched out on the floor in front of the window, shaking one of Garrett’s rattles over the infant’s head and trying like hell to distract both the baby and himself.
The sound of the door opening sent him scrambling to his feet. "Becca?"
"No," said Kevin with a lazy smile, "it’s just me. How’s it goin’?" The smile he’d been wearing quickly turned to a frown when he saw the concern on Nick’s face. "What’s wrong?" he asked, cutting right to the chase.
"I was hoping Bec was back."
"Back? Where is she?" Kevin dropped his coat on the back of the couch and went to sit on the floor with Garrett while Nick paced.
"Out."
"Nick, come on, you mean Bec is out wandering around Denver all alone?"
"No biggie, Kev, she lived here for almost six months. But Billy is with her. Kind of."
"I think you need to start at the beginning, little bro, and tell me what’s going on."
Any other time, Kevin’s ‘endearment’ would have earned him a sharp retort, but for once it made Nick feel a hell of a lot better. Nick sat back down beside Kevin, and as they both played with the baby, he spilled the entire story. By the time he was finished, Kevin was leaning back on his hands and watching Nick’s face. After all these years together he could read him like a book.
"So what’s really bothering you Nick? That Becca stood up to him? Or the fact that Becca can see through Pearlman so well that she hit too close to the truth?"
"I don’t know what you’re talking about." Nick looked away, suddenly becoming interested in Garrett’s toes and fingers.
"Yes you do. She called him a pedophile?" Kevin snorted. "I’d say that’s pretty damn close to the truth and you of all of us should know that."
"That’s just whacked, Kev. You know that asshole never touched me."
"But he tried, Nick." Kevin looked closer at Nick’s face, and suddenly it all made sense.
"Sonofabitch … and I’m the only one you told."
Nick’s silence was all the answer Kevin needed.
"I need to call Billy and get her back here." Nick went for his cell phone, but Kevin was right there, a hand on his arm to stop him.
"Let me go get her, Nick."
"Kev-"
"I won’t say a word, Nick. That’s your place, but you’d better tell her soon. I wouldn’t put it past Lou to work in his own slimy little version of what happened all those years ago, especially if he plans on ‘outing’ the relationship that Sarah had with the three of us."
"I just wanted to forget it Kev."
"With Lou still alive and breathing?" Kevin asked in amazement. "Not a chance, Nick. Call Billy and find out where they are, and tell him I’m on my way."