Screwdrivers for Breakfast

Screwdrivers for Breakfast

Brandi sat in the kitchen, staring at the back of the cereal box as she sipped what appeared to be orange juice. Jinx was nowhere to be seen and Mary was still in the shower. Brandi let out a sigh as her phone began to vibrate along the center island. She knew the number by heart even before it flashed on the small screen. She tried to ignore it. She didn't want to talk to him. She was still regretting going back for the suitcase. She'd thought she was over Chuck. He'd used her in their relationship and he was still exploiting that power he held over her.

"Hey Squish." Brandi looked up to see Mary walk in and head for the coffee pot.

"Huh?"

"Nothing, just saying morning."

"Oh…yeah…morning." Mary poured herself a cup of coffee, sniffing it before taking a sip. She gagged.

"Ok, who left two day old coffee in the pot?" She continued to gag as she reached Brandi's glass of juice. Before Brandi could stop her, Mary had taken a swig. She looked just as surprised by the taste of the juice as she had been by the coffee.

"Are you drinking screwdrivers with breakfast?" Brandi just shrugged, looking away from her older sister.

"God, you're as bad as Mom."

"Someone mention me?" Jinx appeared in the doorway, smiling at her girls.

"Nothing. I've got to get to work." Mary fixed Brandi with a displeased look as she grabbed her keys and stormed out. Jinx moved to stand next o Brandi.

"What's the matter, sweetie?"

"Nothing." Brandi tucked a strand of blond hair behind her ear and put her dishes in the sink, making sure to rinse out the glass thoroughly.

"I'm going out," she announced as she too grabbed her purse and keys and headed outside.

"Why don't you stop by the restaurant later. We can have lunch. Family discount remember!" Brandi just waved at her mother as she climbed into her car and sped off.

She drove for a while, just cruising the city. She had nothing better to do. Still, she couldn't keep her mind from flitting back to the water soaked suitcase that was now hidden in her closet. She knew she shouldn't have gone back for it. Maybe if she'd thrown it harder, she wouldn't have been able to find it again. Brandi was so caught up in her own thoughts that she sat idling at a now green light. She received honks from drivers behind her.

"Ok, ok, I'm going. God." She floored the gas pedal and made a hard left. As she slowed down, her phone began to ring in her purse. She tried to ignore it but it kept ringing. She let out a groan and pulled the car over in an alley.

"Hello?"

"Hey babe."

"Chuck…what is it?"

"Just checking up on you."

"Oh….that's nice." She knew he could feel the tension between, even on the other side of the country.

"So what are you doing, beautiful?"

"Uh you know just taking drive."

"We've got the deal almost set."

"Good."

"So you need to come back in the next few days to make the drop. Don't forget the suitcase."

"I…I don't have a lot of money right now. I don't think I could afford a plane ticket."

"Ask your sister…just get the money and get on a plane and get here."

"Ok…sure." She ended the call, tossing her phone back in her purse and rested her head on the steering wheel. What was she doing? She couldn't fly back to New Jersey with the drugs. She couldn't ask Mary for the money. She'd ask too many questions.

"Think, Brandi, think." She hit her head against the steering wheel a few times, trying to figure out what to do. After a minute or two of contemplating her situation, she put the car back in drive and sped off back onto the main road. She weaved through the morning traffic until she reached a familiar house. She took a minute to check herself in the rearview mirror before climbing out and walking up to the front door. She knocked twice and waited for a response. She could see movement through the windows as Raphael moved towards her. He pulled the door open and just stood there in his workout clothes, staring at her.

"What do you want, Brandi?"

"Can we talk?" Raphael nodded, taking a step back to let her enter. She sat down on the couch and looked around, suddenly full of nervous energy.

"Brandi, are you ok?"

"Yeah, Chico, I'm fine."

"What do you want to talk about because I think Mary made it clear that…"

"God not that. I told you there's no way we'd ever do that, ever." Raph cleared his throat and nodded.

"Right, of course."

"I just…ok so here's the deal. Say you…well not you but someone knew that something big…and illegal was about to happen."

"Ok…"

"So…what should the person do? I mean…they know what's going to happen…and they might be involved…but they aren't sure."

"How involved is the person?"

"Uh…you know….not….a lot. But if they got caught they'd be in like major trouble."

"Ok let me see if I follow…you-"

"Not me. Just…a person."

"Right, sorry. A person knows something bad is going to happen…and is part of it…"

"Yeah…what should the person do? Like…do they turn the other people in? Or should they just go through with it? I mean it's not like they'd get caught, right?" Raphael leaned back and ran a hand over his neck.

"Brandi…are you in trouble? Did something happen?"

"No, God Chico it's not real…it's like…one of those…situations that don't happen."

"Imaginary?"

"Yeah, that."

Raphael didn't look convinced by Brandi's answer. Something was going on and he had a feeling it had to do with Chuck. Brandi looked away from him, her hand toying with a few strands of hair absently. Raph took a breath and slowly exhaled through his nose,

"Does this have something to do with Chuck?"

"This doesn't have anything to do with me, ok. Get that through your head."

"I'm sorry…you said you want my help. I give you my help."

"Just…what would the person do?"

"I…I guess turn them into the police. Maybe then they don't get caught."

"Yeah…probably…." Another silence fell between them. Brandi let out a sigh. She knew Raphael was probably right. She should do the right thing, but what if it backfired? She didn't want Chuck mad at her. He knew people that could do damage and not to just her. They'd go after Mary and Jinx too.

"Do you think Mary is still mad with me?" Brandi blinked.

"What? No. Didn't you listen to her message. She's cool if you see other people."

"But not you."

"Well…yeah...but that's like…duh."

"But I don't know if she really means it. She…can be…you know."

"Yeah, I know. She's Mary."

"Hey…do you think you can take me to physical therapy?"

"Now?"

"Yes." Brandi bit her lip.

"Yeah ok. Let's go. And no more screwing with Judy. She's…just gross."

"Would you let it go? It was one time…"

"Yeah…sure Chico." They stood up and headed outside, climbing into Brandi's car. The drive to the physical therapist's office was quiet except for the radio playing softly in the background. They avoided eye contact as Brandi pulled into a parking spot.

"Hey listen…call me when you're done. I have to go do something. I'll be back though."

"Ok. Thank you for driving me." She watched him walk through the front door and couldn't help but smile. Even if she wouldn't admit it to him, she did like him and more than just a friend. She knew he felt there could be something between them too. She knew it was why he pushed her away and tried to distance himself. He didn't want to cross that line with her and she knew it was because she was Mary's little sister.

She idled in the parking lot for a good fifteen minutes before pulling out onto the highway. She stopped at the stop sign on the corner and looked in the rearview mirror and smoothed her hair. She had a decision to make. She knew she couldn't let herself get dragged down by Chuck anymore. And was sure she couldn't handle a police investigation. It left her with only one option. She pulled away from the corner and continued straight. She knew what she was looking for but she hadn't been there since she'd arrived in Albuquerque. Still she managed to find it. She pulled into the visitor lot and cut the engine. A part of her was telling her to turn around leave, that it wasn't worth the risk she was about to take just to satiate her conscience. But the bigger part, the part that sounded oddly like Rafael was telling her this was the right thing to do.

"Let's get this over with." She climbed out of the driver side and walked with purpose up to the front doors, Albuquerque Police Department. She walked in and was stopped by Detective Dershowitz.

"Can I help you?"