Chapter 9
By: MysticFantasy
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Bobby walked into the kitchen to once more find that Jack wasn't anywhere to be seen.
"Where'd that little fairy get to?" he asked himself before turning to the fridge where he spotted a sticky note. He grabbed the note and read what it said.
"Dear Bobby, spending the day with Billy and Joe. I have my phone if you need to call. I'll be back before dark or a little sooner. Jack."
Bobby sighed and looked at the note again.
"Little fairy knows how to press my buttons." he muttered before Angel showed up.
"Hey, where's Jack?" he asked.
"Spendin' time with Billy and Joe." Bobby answered tossing the note into the trash can.
"Did he leave any breakfast?" Angel asked.
"Nope." Bobby answered. "Gotta make our own today little sister."
"Man, I'm gonna kill Jack when he gets home. My cooking makes me sick."
"You're not the only one it makes sick." Bobby declared.
"Man, shut up." Angel muttered. "When'd Jackie-poo say he'd be back?"
"Somewhere in the evening." Bobby answered. "So be ready incase we don't have any lunch or dinner."
"D**n it!"
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"This mall is a lot nicer than the one in Boston." Joe exclaimed as he walked next to his brothers.
"Really? This place is boring compared to the ones in New York." Jack said.
"Maybe but I bet the ones in New York have a lot more break in's." Billy suggested.
"Alright. I'll give you that one." Jack replied with a grin.
"So who do you normally come with here Jack?" Joe asked. "Friends? Girlfriend?"
"Not seeing anyone right now and it's not helping with Bobby." Jack answered. "Most of the time that I do come I'm with my bandmates."
"No girl?" Billy asked. "S**t, how are you related to Joey?"
"You got girls Joe?" Jack asked.
"Literally, almost a different girl almost every night Jackie." Billy answered.
"F***ing liar." Joe chuckled.
"No I'm not."
"Yea you are."
Jack laughed at his brothers before they made their way into a music store.
"So what kind of rock do you like Jackie?" Billy asked as he looked through a few cd's.
"Almost all rock." Jack answered wandering over to a wall that held guitars on it. He smiled when he saw a beautiful black and dark blue electric guitar.
Billy noticed Jack's smile at the instrument and smiled to himself.
"Dude, I think there's a he/she staring at me." Joe muttered making Jack and Billy laugh. "Shut up!"
"Let's get outta here." Billy said with Jack still laughing.
They left the music store and went into a sports store.
"Play any sports?" Jack asked looking at a hockey stick.
"Basketball every now and then but not very often." Joe answered. "You?"
"Hockey but only when Bobby starts crying for a game." Jack answered.
"You put a lot of guys in the hospital?" Billy asked with a grin.
"Once but only because I tripped over a guy and my skate cut the back of his ankle."
Joe shuddered at the thought of having that kind of injury.
"Wuss." Billy said lightly smacking Joe upside the head.
"You guys know how to skate?" Jack asked making his way over to the skating equipment.
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Jack whirled around and stopped to see how his two older brothers were fairing. He laughed when he saw Joe fall flat on his butt and Billy still struggling to keep his balance.
"Glad to know we amuse you Jackie." Joe said getting on all fours.
"Sorry but you remind me of myself when I was learning how to skate." Jack said offering a hand to Joe and helping him stand.
"You were probably younger than us at the time." Billy said managing to grab onto the wall as Jack helped Joe glide over.
"True." Jack agreed. "I was about ten when I started skating for the first time. But I was a lot worse than you guys. I couldn't get any balance to save my life."
"Bobby showed you how to do this?" Billy asked as they got off the ice.
"Yeah," Jack answered as they walked over to the bench with their shoes. "He showed me how to skate and then showed me how to play hockey. But he didn't let me play in actual games for nearly a year. Said that it would be too tough for me and I was still too small."
"Maybe he was just really protective of you." Joe suggested removing the skates from his feet.
"Oh I know he was. He still is. I know that he didn't want me going along for that stuff that happened last night." Jack replied.
"Can't blame him Jack. I'm surprised Billy let me go along." Joe said and got a playful cuff to the head from their older brother.
"I'm keeping a closer eye on the both of you now." Billy stated making the two laugh. "You two getting hungry?"
"I am." Joe answered slipping his shoes on.
"You're always hungry Joe." Billy said tying his laces. "What about you Jackie? Hungry?"
"I'm getting there." Jack answered tying his boots. "Let's go back to my place and I'll make something. I'm sure that Bobby and Angel are starving too."
"They can't cook?" Billy asked grabbing the bag of gear.
"Nope."
"Just like us." Joe said as Billy popped the trunk of his car.
"Seriously?" Jack asked with a grin.
"Yep. With us Jackie it's always take-out." Billy said placing the duffle bag in the trunk and shutting it.
"Yeah, I think we should go back to my place and I'll fix something up." Jack said.
"Sounds good. That stuff you made when we first got here...Wow. Some awesome stuff Jackie." Joe said.
"Had to learn at a young age." Jack said as he climbed into the backseat. "Mom taught me everything I know. I was making whole meals by the time I was twelve."
"One more skill than us." Billy said with a grin as he started the car. "Me and Joe are lucky enough to make noodles without forgetting them."
Jack chuckled as the car left the ice rink.
"So how'd you like ice skating?" he asked.
"Interesting. To say the least. Something I could get into with time." Billy answered turning around a corner.
"Say that in front of Bobby and he'll have you back out here in an hour learning to play hockey." Jack declared. "He's always showing up things that he learned in the league."
"He was in the hockey league?" Joe asked a bit surprised.
"Sure was." Jack answered. "He was the Michigan Mauler. If only he could have controlled his temper. He may still be there."
"Too many fights?" Billy asked.
"Yep. Something Bobby is really known around Detroit for. He's got a bit of a criminal history too." Jack said with a smirk.
"Like me." Billy said with a grin. "He ever been in prison?"
"Jail but the most has been for like two weeks that I can remember." Jack answered.
"You and him seem to be the closest. He must be around a lot." Billy said bringing the car to a stop at a red light.
"Not really." Jack answered with a bit of a sad tone. "Bobby has another little habit of taking off whenever he pleases. Sometimes he stays away for a long time. Longest he's been away is five years."
"Was that recent?" Billy asked.
"Yeah." Jack answered through a sigh. "What happened to our mom is the reason he's back. But he did call almost every day and we talked all the time."
"Was he here when you graduated from high school?" Joe asked.
"Yeah. He made it right on time to see me walk in and threw me a party afterwards." Jack answered with a slight grin. "He takes off a lot but he does know when to be here when he's needed most."
"That's good. How was he to you when you were little?" Billy asked changing lanes to get onto the highway.
"They've all been great to me but Bobby was the one to make sure that no one messed with me and he was always trying to make a man outta me. He'd always beat the s**t out of anyone who did mess with me. Put a few guys in the hospital a couple of times."
"Billy did that for me once." Joe mused.
"I didn't beat him though." Billy stated. "Shot him. He never laid a finger on you again."
"Because you blew his fingers off." Joe chuckled.
Jack laughed as well and watched the scenery outside the window go by. He'd seen this scene hundreds of times before but now that he was with Billy and Joe it seemed different somehow. A whole new atmosphere.
He loves the way it feels.
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Bobby looked up from the hockey game when he heard the front door open. He quickly realized who it was when he heard Jack laughing.
"He really did that?" Jack exclaimed appearing in view as he removed his jacket.
"He did." Billy answered through laughter. "I still don't let Joe live it down."
"No s**t." Joe said. "Get over it man! It was two years ago and I was drunk!"
"Hammered is more like it Joey." Billy said. "You can't do that kinda damage to someones living room unless you're seriously hammered."
"Hey guys." Bobby greeted standing. "Where you been?"
"Hanging out." Jack answered.
"He showed us the ice rink where you taught him to skate." Billy said.
"The fairy show you any of his figure skating moves?" Bobby asked.
"A**hole." Jack said through a half-hearted smirk. "I'll get started on lunch."
"Good. You owe me one Cracker Jack. Taking off without a word. Angel tried to cook and ended up burning the food." Bobby exclaimed.
"No wonder it smells bad in here." Jack said walking into the kitchen.
"We can't cook either. Just to let you know." Billy said as he and Joe followed Bobby into the living room.
"Me either." Bobby replied sitting down. "The fairy is the only one who can and we depend on him a lot."
"No s**t!" Jack exclaimed from the kitchen.
Billy and Joe laughed and turned their attention to the tv. A hockey game was playing.
"Jackie told us that you use to be in the league." Billy said.
"Sure was." Bobby replied with a bit of a satisfied smirk on his face.
"What happened?" Joe asked even though they already knew.
"Bunch of sissies is what." Bobby answered. "Hockey is suppose to be violent but no one could take a punch. Management was saying that the fan were nuts about the way I played but the other players didn't like getting black eyes and broken noses."
"Man, they should expect that when you play hockey." Billy stated.
"That's exactly what I told them." Bobby said. "Even after they got rid of me, I still hold the record for being the toughest hockey player."
"That's your ego talking." Jack declared.
"Shut it fairy."
Billy laughed and looked out of the corner of his eye to see Jack in the kitchen putting something in the oven.
"So where's Angel and Jerry?" Joe asked.
"Angel's probably at his crazy girlfriends house and Jerry's hardly around because of his luxury condo business that's under construction right now. He's here maybe once or twice a week." Bobby answered.
"So most of the time it's just you and Jackie huh?" Billy asked.
"Yeah and Jackie just loves having me around." Bobby answered with a smirk.
"As if." Jack said bringing his brothers bottles of beer.
"Thanks Jackie." Billy said taking one, opening it and taking a drink.
"So how'd you guys enjoy skating?" Bobby asked opening his beer as Jack went back to the kitchen.
"Wasn't too bad." Joe answered. "When I wasn't falling on my a**."
Bobby laughed.
"It gets easier." he said. "Maybe I can help you guys out after everything settles down."
"Find out anything else?" Billy asked.
"Not much. Angel and I are gonna check out the shooters place tonight and see if we can find out anything." Bobby answered before Jack suddenly appeared.
"Cops outside. Green and Fowler." he said.
"S**t." Joe muttered.
"It's alright. Just act cool. I know one of them. He's gonna try to trick us into a confession. Just say that we were here the past two days so you guys could catch up with Jack and you got here the day before but it took a while to find him. Go with how we met if they ask." Bobby answered. "Pretend that we're really into the game. Jack, act natural."
The three nodded. Jack went back into the kitchen and continued what he was doing while Billy and Joe copied Bobby's actions toward the hockey game.
"Hey there Jack. Mind if we come in?" Green asked as he and Fowler came in through the back door and into the kitchen.
"You're already in." Jack said as he continued cutting lettuce. "Ain't the cops ever heard of knocking? Can this be considered breaking and entering?"
Green chuckled before he and Fowler made their way into the living room. The older cop right away noticed Billy and Joe and saw the amazing resemblance they held to Jack.
"Hey there Bobby." Green greeted.
"Green." Bobby greeted back standing and shaking hands with the officer. "Nice of you to drop in."
"I bet." Green replied. "Who are your new friends?"
"We're Jack's biological brothers." Billy answered standing.
"You wouldn't be Billy Darley by any chance would you?" Green asked.
"That's me and that's Joe Darley." Billy answered. "How'd you know about us?"
"I've been to Boston a few times." Green answered. "Everyone's heard about you but I didn't know you and Jack were brothers. Everyone thought that Jack was an only child."
"Complicated story." Billy said. "We were seperated when he was still a kid and we found him not too long ago. We're here visiting for a while."
"That so?" Fowler asked suspiciously.
"Yeah. You got a problem with it?" Billy asked.
"No, he doesn't." Green answered before turning to Bobby. "Bobby, did you happen to forget our little conversation we had at your brother's house about not interfering with our investigation?"
"No, I didn't. You know I've been trying to keep straight Green." Bobby answered.
"Where's you car, Bobby? It's not outside." Green asked.
"Left it at Jerry's." Joe answered as he stood. "We came home in our car. The mustang."
"Yeah. Billy's a great driver with this kind of weather and his car did better with the streets the way they are." Bobby said.
"Fascinating. Hey, Gretzky, you know what this is?" Fowler asked turning to Bobby and holding up a little baggy with a hair in it.
"A hair from your wife's tit?"
"Try from your thick skull. Forensics took it off a pair of contract killers we found dead this morning." Fowler said.
"Fishing for a confession with a phony hair, huh? That's an old one, boys." Bobby said laughing. Billy and Joe were a little surprised when Green laughed as well and patted his partner on the back.
"Come on, Green" Bobby said as he sat back down on the couch. "You know when I'll know you got my hair off a dead body, right? When I hear the jailhouse doors close behind me."
"Okay, then you tell me what they told you. You think that these thugs were hired to kill Evelyn, is that it?"
"Wait, how do you go from petty thug to contract killer?" Bobby asked. "And if they were professional shooters, like you say, they'd have never told us who they was working with anyway. Even if they got one hell of an a**-whupping."
"You think you're pretty cute, don't you?" Fowler asked. "Everybody's a smart guy until I bust them in the mouth."
"Hey! hey! Wait!" Green said, trying to control his partner while Billy and Joe took a step forward to defend Bobby.
"This ain't what I'm here for!" Green said. "Look, Bobby, if you got something, you give it to me and if it's something vital, we will run with this. But don't try and take on Detroit by yourself. You keep knocking on the devil's door long enough and sooner or later somebody's gonna answer you."
Bobby simply nodded.
Green then turned to Billy.
"So how long have you been here with Jack?" he asked.
"Only a few days." Billy answered. "Takes a while to find your kid brother after he was forcefully taken away by cops and placed in foster care."
"Since you're here, I'm assuming you know what happened to Ms. Evelyn then."
"Yeah, Jackie told us what happened." Billy answered and noticed Green seemed to study him.
"Well it was nice meeting you Billy, Joe. Bobby, you remember what I told you. Alright?"
"Sure thing Green." Bobby answered.
"Alright then." Green said as he and Fowler walked back toward the kitchen.
"Jack, watch yourself alright? Don't take after your big brothers." Green said.
"Green, I'm a blood Darley who was raised Mercer. How long do you think someone like me can stay in check with those two here?" Jack replied.
Green laughed.
"Well, you're the rational one. Hope you keep that in mind Jack. I'd hate to have to put you in cuffs for anything." he said before he left with Fowler right behind him.
"Nice guys." Joe muttered sarcastically.
"Green seems to know what's going on." Billy said.
"He does." Bobby answered. "He's known me since we were kids. But he can't do anything unless he has solid proof. He's one of those straight by-the-book cops. Can't stand conspiracy and stuff like that. But he has been on our side more than a few times."
"Guess it's good to kinda have a cop on your side without him being bribed." Joe said.
"You guys got twisted cops in Boston?" Bobby asked.
"Yep. If we want them to look the other way we gotta pay them no less than a thousand." Billy answered.
"But we're hardly ever caught when we do something." Joe added.
"I've gotten away with a few things." Bobby said with a nod and saw Jack start to place small dishes on the table. "Lunch almost ready sweetheart?"
Jack gave Bobby the finger before returning to the kitchen.
The three older men laughed.
"I love showing him how much I care." Bobby chuckled.
"You smother me." Jack said sarcastically.