Good morning!

Sorry for the delay in updating, I had planned on posting this chapter on Saturday morning, but due to some technical difficulties, could not post until this morning.

Just a quick note, my story makes no mention of the Amber Alert in Kevin's kidnapping for one simple and good reason: this story takes place at the beginning of 1991, and the Amber alert was only launched in 1996.

Once again, thank you all for your comments and reviews; writing this story is so much fun, and I hope you enjoy it too!

Chapter 8

I kept my cast for six weeks. Six long weeks during which time Harry and Marvin proved to be very strict and dedicated nurses. They followed the instruction left by dear doctor Moore to the letter. It was clear neither of them wanted to risk another trip to the doctor, or having to call Charlie again. And as I understood their dilemma in terms of "stay healthy or they might shoot you", I did not protest no matter how much their attention weighted on me.

Ever since my "little accident", as they refer to it, Harry and Marvin have developed a tendency to overreact to the slightest fluctuation in my health. To this day, if I so much as cough or sneezed too often, I'll find myself buried under blankets eating chicken broth for a week, no matter what I say. Luckily, I was never a sickly child to begin with, and as I did not attend school, I avoided most viruses children catch year after year. The only cold or flu I got were the ones Harry or Marvin brought home, which was not that often. I can also say this about Harry, he never cheaped out on medication where I was concerned. He would buy any syrup, pill, vitamin, antibiotics, etc. to ensure I got back on my feet as quickly as possible.

Harry also unfortunately, took charge of my "physiotherapy", if I could call it that. I'm not sure where he got his instructions from, but once my cast came off, he would sit with me two to three times a day, and make me go through a series of exercises. At first, it was nothing too complicated, just a lot of bending, lifting and stretching my arm, but Harry steadily increased the difficulty by applying resistance to my movements. The exercises were not hard, they were ridiculously simple, but my healed forearm could hardly keep up. As a result, no matter how much I tried, Harry was never satisfied. I was always too slow, did not try hard enough or could not perfectly replicate the movement he had just showed me. He nagged, insisted and pushed me hard every day. Most of the time, these sessions left me aching, and seething with rage. I think Harry did that on purpose, welcomed it even. After the gun incident, I had become unusually silent. As often as Harry had told me to "shut up", I think my silence worried him even more.

Marvin gave me a stuffed animal.

Harry tried a different approach.

I'm not sure which one was more effective.

"Okay, kid; give me ten more." instructed Harry, carefully watching my every move.

I had just finished the latest of a series of flexions he had given me, and had hoped this session would be over. I knew arguing would be useless, so I bit back my complaints, forgot how tired my arm felt, and got started on my new. As an additional challenge, Harry pressed two of his fingers down the can I was holding. My arm trembled under the effort as I brought my arm up once, twice, but then gave out.

"You gotta do better than that, kid! Come on, try!

– I am trying! What's it look like, dummy!"

The moment the insult slipped, I wanted to take it back. Harry's expression darkened. He slowly raised a finger menacingly.

"What did I say about talking back to me?"

Locking eyes with Harry, the strangest thing happened; instead of cowering in fear, I grew defiant. Without hesitation, I turned my hand over and dropped the can I was holding on his foot.

"Oops."

There was not even a hint of remorse in my voice. I guess I should be thankful Harry had been wearing his shoes. For a second, I could've sworn I saw a flash of amusement in Harry's eyes, but I might've imagined it, because when he spoke, his tone was a threatening as ever.

"Pick. It. Up. Now!"

Sensing I might have overstepped my bounds, I retrieved the can from under the table, expecting a slap at any second. True, Harry hadn't lifted a finger on me since the storage room incident, but I had been careful not to give him any reason to correct me. Until today, that was. As if reading my mind, Harry told me, shaking his head:

"I swear, kid; you're just asking for me to take my belt out on you. See if I don't!"

Fear settled in the pit of my stomach, but Harry pointed back to the chair:

"Sit down and start over."

I knew better than to disobey, even when Harry added two more series of exercises to our routine. I was almost done when Marvin walked in the kitchen, a notepad in hand, and sat down at the table with us. Marvin never interfered in my sessions with Harry. He was content with asking Harry about my progress once in a while, and that was about it. It didn't take me long to notice how preoccupied Marvin looked; he kept fidgeting in his chair, and drumming his fingers on the table. I suppose he didn't want to disrupt us, but his nervousness was distracting.

"Marv, would you knock it off; what's wrong with you?" finally asked Harry.

I did not know what to make of Marvin's expression as he answered on a weird tone:

"We got a call today about a new job.

– What kind of job?" replied Harry, while helping me lift my arm, and rotate my shoulder.

"Replacing some old gravity furnace.

– How old?

– Original furnace, 1920's house."

I lost interest in the conversation as soon as I realized this was about work. I couldn't stand my parents talking about their work, and they got to travel, attend and host dinner parties. Then again, it wasn't as if I had anything better to do then to listen to them. Besides, this news brought a smile to Harry's face. I relaxed a bit, sensing his good mood.

"That'll bring in a least three grand! Four, or even five if we can convince them that their ducts are covered in asbestos. When did you schedule the estimate?"

Marvin did not even crack a smile. That was unusual.

"I didn't schedule it.

– Uh? Why not?

– Cause that's the address." answered Marvin, holding out the note pad for Harry to read.

I wasn't really paying attention to their discussion until I saw the chock register on Harry's face. That was different! I tried to read what Marvin had written down, but Harry handed him the notepad before I could see anything.

"Are you serious?

– You can't make that stuff up."

"Why… I mean how…"

I don't recall ever seeing Harry so flabbergasted. I was itching to ask what this was about, but I could sense I was very close to being sent to the storage room. So I stayed silent, picked the rocks Harry had got me as part of our sessions and rolled them around in my hands just as he showed me, hoping they would let something slip. Marvin nervously tapped his food under the table.

"So we're going to turn it down, right? Or would that look suspicious?

– Well yeah, we have to turn it down." Somehow, Harry did not sound convinced.

I stopped rolling the rocks around and looked up at my captors in curiosity. Since my arrival, I had never seen them decline any job offer. They must've been good at what they did because their weeks were usually full.

"It is four grand…" reflected Marvin thoughtfully.

From what I knew of Harry and Marvin, they have never been poor. They didn't make as much money as my parents did, that's for sure, but they did well for themselves, and did not live from paychecks to paychecks. Since my impromptu kidnapping, they had put their burglar activities on hold for a time, but they didn't seem to feel the pinch. They liked money, no doubt about that, not enough to answer my mother's offer, but it didn't sound like them to pass up on an easy-grab.

"What did you tell them?" asked Harry.

"That we would call back tomorrow after we were done with another job.

– Good thinking." approved Harry, rubbing his chin. "But, say…say we take the job. Do you think we could handle it?"

Both of them turned to me, and it was my turn to fidget.

"We've handled a lot in the past months…" mumbled Marvin. "We only get that kind of job once or twice a year…"

I was getting bored again. I didn't see what the big deal was; they clearly wanted the job, so I didn't understand their hesitation. In in the end, I made my peace of never solving this mystery, and let my mind wander, looking out the window. I never liked early spring. The snowy fields had been replaced by yellowish brown grass, and there was mud everywhere. There were no leaves on the trees yet, making the forest look sick. The view was depressing; there wasn't much for me to look at. Not even a squirrel or deer in the distance.

Looking out the window, I was the first to notice it. I suddenly sat up straight.

A car had pulled up in the driveway.

And not just any car, it was a police car.

I opened my mouth to scream for help, but one look at Harry, and I closed it hastily. He was sitting right next to me, and would have his hand wrapped around my throat before anyone in that car could hear a sound.

My instinct did save me, though not in the way I had anticipated it would. A tough looking policeman stepped out of the car, slamming the door shut. That's what got Marvin's attention. He did a double take, and stood up so fast his chair fell back.

"Cop!" he hissed in alarm.

As predicted, Harry got a hold of me even before Marvin's chair had hit the floor. He pulled me to my feet, making me drop the rocks in alarm, but one look at the policeman and Harry regained his composure.

"Damn it, Marv; it's just Sid!"

Marvin still looked a little shaky.

"What do we do with the kid?"

Harry pushed me toward Marvin.

"If Sid drove all the way up here, he already knows. I'll take care of this." said Harry as he walked over to the kitchen door. "Just make sure he behaves."

Marvin ushered me into the living room as Harry opened the door before the policeman could even knock.

"Charlie couldn't keep his mouth shut, could he?" were Harry's first words.

"Now, Harry; is that any way to say hello? We need to talk. Got any beer?"

Charlie. The mere mention of Harry's brother was enough to worry me, though I would come to fear Sid's name much more after that day. All I knew at that moment was that I probably shouldn't expect any help from this new comer if he had anything to do with Charlie.

Marvin sat next to me on the couch and flipped the channels at random before settling on some baseball game. He pretended not to, but I could tell he was listening to the conversation in the kitchen. I couldn't help but whisper to him:

"Is that the cop who bought the camping stuff?

I had yet to learn the golden rule of any good burglars, never invite buying clients back to your own house. That was just asking for trouble.

"What? No." confirmed Marvin. After a few seconds of hesitation, he added begrudgingly "Sid is Harry's older brother. His mean older brother, so hush."

Another brother. I felt uneasy upon hearing this. Over time, I would learn that Harry, not unlike me, had two older brothers, Sid and Charlie, and a younger one, named Leo. Leo is the only one I would never meet. Unlike his older siblings, he sounded relatively harmless, making a living selling life insurance which, according to Harry, made him the one true crook of the family. Leo and Harry weren't exactly close, though I came to understand that is was through him that Harry had befriended Marvin years ago.

Sid's deep and lazy voice reached us, and I just knew I wouldn't like this man.

"What'd do with the uniform I gave you?

– It's around. You drove all the way out here to get it back? You know you could've just called."

Sid laughed. It wasn't a pleasant laugh.

"Harry, Harry, Harry what have you been up to?" taunted Sid "Charlie and you have always been plotting, always up to no good, but now Charlie thinks you got yourself in deep trouble, and I have to agree. From thief to kidnapper, you sure came a long way.

– Yeah well, we're handling it.

– This isn't going to blow over, you know. His parents aren't letting this die down."

I perked up, while Marvin scowled next to me. In the kitchen, Sid kept going:

"They're telling their sob story to every journalist that will listen. Hell, they're holding fucking candle vigils all over Chicago. He even made national news.

– I'm telling you, we're handling it." repeated Harry on a much colder tone.

"You had better. My department is under enough fire over this. No brother of mine can be involved, do you understand?

– We've got everything under control. Why is your department feeling the heat anyway?

– Oh, you're going to love this" sneered Sid "turns out one of my officers was sent over to the house on the day those morons left for Paris to fetch the brat. Let's just say he was less than thorough.

– Fuck, seriously? I could kill that guy!

– Take a number. The guys are furious with him for making us look like a bunch of idiots, the Commissioner wants to make an example of him to try and salvage the department's reputation, and the parents' lawyers are clamouring for all of our heads. And in case you haven't been keeping up with the news lately, the public opinion is not exactly on our side in all this. Anyway, the jerk's on stress leave pending investigation from I.A.

– Stress leave… fucking bullshit, I could use a stress leave!"

I am still confused by Sid's statement. According to him, a policeman had been sent to my house, but surely I would remember such visit if it had even taken place! Either the policeman in question was lying and never came to my house, or he didn't try very hard to find me. I lost track of the conversation as I searched my memory. The only policeman I remember seeing was the one who had chased me in the park, and that couldn't be it.

I then felt Marvin tense up next to me and I was drawn back into the conversation.

"You guys are lucky they've got no files on you! You left your DNA all over the place! And no gloves? What the hell, Harry! I expected better from you two after all these years! Again, lucky what looks like a hundred people went through that house in the days leading to your little stunt. C.S.I. are still processing and sorting all the prints.

– So, no leads, then?" Harry actually sounded cheerful while my heart sank.

"The only lead I got was a call from Charlie. You're in the clear, for now. I'll make sure some of the evidence gets lost, but I'll need some time. Until then, do not get so much as a parking ticket got it?

– Get off your high horse Sid, don't act as if Marv and I didn't make plenty of stuff disappear for you too.

– Isn't that for family is for?"

Harry and his brother talked of this and that for a few minutes, and just when I was starting to think Sid was about to leave, he asked:

"So, Harry; aren't you going to introduce me?

– What? You mean to the kid?"

Marvin looked over to the kitchen, pursing his lips.

"You don't even like kids, and last I checked, the feeling was mutual.

– Come on; let's have a look at the brat. Where do you keep him anyway? The shed?"

Marvin cursed under his breath, which led me to believe he did not like Sid any more than I did.

"Marv, I don't want to see him." I whispered, hoping he would spare me this meeting.

But then Harry called me over into the kitchen, and I knew I had already lost that battle.

"Stay quiet and close to Harry" Marvin whispered. "Don't make Sid angry." were his final words as he led me back to the kitchen.

Sounded like good advice. Sid was in full police uniform, just like Harry was on the night I first saw him. Unlike Harry however, Sid did not possess the natural charm of his brother that got everyone, including my own parents, to spill out information they would've normally kept to themselves. One look at Sid and anyone knew not to mess with him. He was taller than Harry and completely bald with huge hands and a nasty looking scar running from his left cheek down his neck. All of that I could've ignored if it weren't for his eyes. They were dead cold as he appraised me over his glass of beer. I didn't like it.

"So this is the kid?" said Sid as I made my way to Harry's side.

"How many kids do you think I have lying around? Of course that's the kid!"

Marvin got himself a beer as well, but hung back at the kitchen counter, and did not sit with Harry and his brother.

"And you just let him walk around unrestrained?

– He's just a kid, Sid. I think we can deal."

Sid smirked at that.

"Tell me, boy; I heard you had an accident, what happened to your arm?" he asked with a nasty grin plastered on his face.

I automatically repeated the lie I had heard Harry use on Tony. I did not need to look at Harry to know Sid had better never find out about my little escape attempt.

"I fell down the stairs."

Sid snorted and winked at Harry.

"Sure you did. I see you got him good and under a tight leash. That's comforting."

Looking back at me, Sid then surprised me with his next question:

"Do you know what happened to Harry's hand?"

Now I was truly stumped, and did not know how to respond. There was no way I would ever tell Sid the truth about Harry's hand! Thankfully, Harry himself saved me the trouble of answering.

"What is this, an interrogation? I burned myself on the job, end of story. Why are you making a big deal out of it?

– Why are you trying to hide it?

– It was a beginner's mistake. It's beneath me to fall for something that dumb."

I'm not sure Sid believed Harry's story, but he left it at that. Addressing himself once more to me, Sid motioned me to come closer.

"Come here, boy. Let me look at you."

I did not move from my position next to Harry, and Marvin's the one who spoke-up.

"What are you playing at, Sid? Leave the kid alone.

– Stay out of it Merchants! No one asked you!" snarled Sid, shooting him a look of pure loathing which Marvin returned.

"Careful Sid, remember what happened last time you tried to meddle in our business?" Marvin warned him, a humourless smile playing on his lips.

I saw Sid scratch scar with his thumb as his expression soured.

"I'm not about to forget, Merchants.

– Oh will you two grow up!" cut-in Harry, annoyed.

I was wrong to assume Marvin did not like Sid. Marvin hated him. There was bad blood between those two going years back. I asked Marvin about it a couple of times, but his answers were always vague.

"What the hell is his problem, anyway?" growled Sid "Don't tell me he got attached to your new pet!"

Sid laughed at his own little joke, but no one else joined in. A pet? It took me a few seconds to realise Sid was talking about me. Just who did he think he was! I wasn't a dog or some kind of stray! Forgetting Marvin's advice, I snapped back at him:

"I am not a pet!"

Harry got a hold on my arm.

"Marv, get him back upstairs, will ya?

– No, no, Harry. Let the boy talk." laughed it off Sid. "He's got spunk!

– Yeah, and he bites too." darkly muttered Marvin, but Sid ignored him.

"You're not scared, are you boy?

There was a malevolent spark in Sid's dark eyes, but I ignored the warning signs, and stepped forward until I was standing in front of him. I don't know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn't for Sid to bring out a hand and raise my chin.

"Blue eyes, huh?"

I pulled away and glared. Sid had only been commenting on the colour of my eyes, but for some reason, it put me on edge.

"Well aren't you the cutest little thing." crooned Sid, curling his lips back in an intimidating smile.

No eight-year-old wants to hear anyone remark on how cute they are, and definitely not using that tone. It almost made me shiver.

"How old is he?" I remember him suddenly asking.

– I don't know; eight, nine, why do you care?" cautiously answered Harry.

"You know, some people would be willing to pay a shit load of money to get their hands on a little blond boy with blue eyes" tossed in Sid.

His words filled me with dread. I was too young to understand what he meant, but I was smart enough to know it wasn't good. Behind Sid, Marvin stopped fiddling with his beer bottle, and stared at him in what I can only identify as disgust. I looked up Harry's face, but could not read his expression.

"And your point is?

– My point is, be smart, Harry. So you don't want to kill the boy, I get it! But you don't really want to be stuck with him, do you? You're in luck, some people wouldn't mind taking him off your hands, no questions asked. You could probably score more over this than you would in a lifetime of robbing houses, with the right… introductions, of course. Everybody knows blond hair and blue eyes is the winning combo.

– Is that so? You ever done this before?

– Little kids don't just fall in my lap, but I know people."

Looking at me once again, he added with mocked concern:

"Tsk, tsk tsk, what were your parents thinking, leaving you behind? Tell me boy, do you think your mom and dad wanted to get rid of you?

– That's enough, Sid!" shouted Harry.

But it was too late. I already felt the sting of tears behind my eyes. I angrily bit my tongue and lowered my eyes to keep my tears from falling. I refused to cry. Not now! Instead, I focused on my anger.

"Oh, come now, Harry; I'm just messing with the boy, no harm done. But seriously, it's too bad you couldn't snatch the blond girl too, they would've made an adorable set, and fetched hefty a price."

Linnie… My blood boiled at hearing him talk about my sister that way.

"Shut up, you fucking big horse's ass!"

Not the best of insults, I'll admit, but it got Sid to stop smiling. I think that was the first time I ever used the "f" word. I could hardly be blamed; it wasn't as if Harry or Marvin ever held back in front of me. Curses are just one of their many bad habits I picked up, though Sid did not appreciate it. His eyes clouded with anger, and he leaned closer to me.

"What did you just call me?" the laziness had all but disappeared from his voice.

I probably shouldn't have, I don't even know what came over me as I spat:

"I'm sorry."

I had infused my words with as much sarcasm as I could, and to top it all off, I gave Sid the finger, smirking all the while. Sid's face twisted in fury.

"Why, you little shit." he said in a low tone, not unlike Harry's.

I didn't even see him move. I just caught a movement down the corner of my eye and the next thing I knew, his fist was in my face. I felt the force of the blow behind the punch and would've ended up with a broken jaw, if not worst, had Harry not pulled me out of his brother's reach, and knocked his fist out of the way.

"That's enough, Sid. Time to go."

Sid got up, kicking his chair back in anger.

"You don't seriously think I'm going to let that slide!

Next to me, Harry sounded unconcerned.

"My house, my rules, Sid. I'll deal with the kid myself.

– Don't tell me you've gone soft!

– I don't know, Sid. You wanna have a go at me and find out?"

Harry's tone remained friendly enough, but I saw how Sid didn't seem so sure of himself all of a sudden.

"Whatever, Harry. Think about what I said. Think about the money.

– Just out of curiosity, Sid; what does Charlie say about your new idea for a money scheme?"

Sid glared at Harry, but did not answer.

"That's what I thought. Go."

Muttering to himself, Sid left, slamming the kitchen door behind him. Harry remained silent until his brother's police car had disappeared down the road. I watched it as well, hardly believing that such a man was allowed to wear a police uniform. Harry might have dressed up like a policeman, but Sid was the real thing. Of the two of them, I knew where my best chances stood. It should come as no surprise that I lost fate, not only in adults, but the police force as well. In the years that would follow, even when the opportunity came up, I always remembered Sid, and I never asked or sought help from the authorities.

My anger and shock slowly drained away as I found myself, once again, alone with my captors. I did not feel half as brave as I had a few minutes earlier. Harry let go of me.

"Marv, we need to talk.

– No." Marvin's response was sharp and final. "We're not talking about that. Sid is sick, and he doesn't come near the kid ever again.

– That's not what I meant!" replied Harry with impatience "That new job, we're taking it."

– Really? What changed your mind?

– Sid, what else! Once he sets his mind on something… We're going to need cash. Call them back, we're taking that job. We'll also need to go over our papers and licenses. I want them all in order, just in case."

Harry then spoke to me sternly.

"And you…I don't know if I should teach you better manners, or better insults.

I breathed more easily. I was getting to know Harry, and there was no real bite behind his words.

"Did you see the look on Sid's face when the kid told him to fuck off." chuckled Marvin. "It was priceless!"

I looked at Marvin in wonder; he actually sounded proud!

"Don't get any ideas, kid. If you ever talk to Marv or to me like that, you will be sorry." warned Harry.

I nodded, relieved to see Harry was letting me off easy. Sid's words, however, were not so easy to dismiss. They frightened me and still do. I shudder to think of what might have become of me had Harry and Marvin been so devoid of conscience or greedy enough to consider Sid's offer.

You got to be thankful for small mercies, I guess.