Chapter 29

As we walked to Mr. Bell's car, I was feeling very confused by all that had transpired. Since I trusted Colleen and Mr. Bell, I knew they would explain things to me but the waiting wasn't pleasant. I needed a car, some clothes and shaving gear, as well as a place to sleep for a few nights, while I figured out what to do about the cabin.

Rebecca and Colleen took care of part of that. Colleen spoke for both of them, "Brian, you're going home with us tonight. We'll put you in the spare room and between us we'll figure out the rest, tomorrow. First, we need to get you fed and something to wear. Daddy is taking us all to his favorite steak place and then he'll drop us at Rebecca's office to pick up our cars. Then we can hit Target to get you the essentials you'll need to get through tonight."

"Is there any risk that those two will come after me tonight? If so, just drop me at a hotel. You don't need to be in any danger just because a crazy woman is after me," I said and meant it.

"Daddy!' Colleen was suddenly excited. "I bet if we check, Harold Smith works for that oil company that killed Beth. It all fits together, doesn't it? If they harassed Brain to the point his aneurysm opens up, again, he would be dead, Beth would be dead and suddenly there's no one to sue them. If they got Harold and Sherrie to do their dirty work, their hands stay clean.

"Daddy, can you get the PI's on this? It ties things up and maybe makes our filings even more powerful."

Mr. Bell went into his deep thinking mode, but did make a quick call to sic his investigators on Harold Smith's trail. We ate at a very nice, mom and pop steakhouse. The owners fawned over Mr. and Mrs. Bell like they were celebrities. The place was decorated in World War Two posters, signs, photographs and other memorabilia. It was fun and filling.

Afterwards, Mr. Bell dropped us at Rebecca's office. Colleen and I went shopping while Rebecca caught up on her work. It took no time to find a pair of Nike sneakers in my size, a couple of pairs of slacks and some short sleeve shirts, along with the basic essentials of underwear, sleeping shorts and socks, toothbrush and other things for my overnight kit.

Colleen seemed to enjoy spending the time doing something other than working as my attorney. We laughed joked and generally made light of my situation. As soon as things were paid for, I stepped into the men's room and changed clothes, tossed out the flip flops and used the toiletries to clean up a little.

All set, Colleen drove me to the home she shared with Rebecca. It was a sweet, very neat, one-story, bungalow, near the strip. The layout was predictable and as fast as possible I stretched out on the office sofa and crashed. Up until that moment, I'd forgotten how exhausted I was.

It was much later when I heard the ladies talking nearby. "He was such a doll when I took him to Target. He knew what he needed and shopped like General Patton, you know, search and destroy.

That boy was so exhausted he barely made it to the couch. I had to convince him to let me spread out sheets and get him a pillow. Are you sure he's Ok?" Colleen was not in lawyer mode. It sounded like she was in worried mother mode, if anything.

Rebecca drew a deep breath. "Colleen, you know I love you. We have been best friends since grade school. I would never do anything to hurt you but I have to give you a warning. Brian is in really iffy shape. I was totally truthful in court. I've been watching you develop this crush on him since the first time you brought him to my office, and I don't want you completely losing it if his body can't keep fighting.

"What that evil bitch did to him, today could have easily killed him." It seemed 'evil bitch' was the new name for Mesicowski. "It was possible for him just to stop breathing when I was helping into my car. He was shutting down, and it was serious. Getting him off his feet, out of the road, into the cool air, and pouring water down his throat calmed him just enough to back the pressure in his head down - a little and keep him from blowing his stitches and bleeding to death before we could get to in there to stop it.

"If you're going to fall in love with him, you need to keep in mind that he is sick and probably won't get well. He'll be Ok for a while but everything is going to be a risk, and one day the odds will catch up with him.

"I'm not even surprised you would fall for a fourteen year old boy, because I'm just as attracted to him. There is something so special about him but you have to be clear headed about his health and try not to completely fall apart if he dies."

The two were silent for a while, contemplating Rebecca's words. Colleen recovered first and asked, "Since you know how I am starting to feel about this, is it safe to even think about sex with him? Could it kill him if he got excited?" She was, if nothing, direct and to the point.

Rebecca took a deep breath and let it out in a long sigh. "I know you're aroused around him and would be gentle, so I am certain he wouldn't be in danger if you don't demand wild and crazy sex too soon. We need to keep his heartbeat down for a few weeks to another month while things knit and strengthen.