Highway from Hell
Chapter Four
The color drained from Joe's face. He waited to see what Tony would do.
Tony shook his head, as if trying to clear it and then he looked into Joe's eyes and spoke in an unmistakably familiar voice. "You had me scared to death," Tony told him.
"Frank?" Joe inquired, his eyes going wide in shock. "Wh...what are you doing here?"
"Trying to find out what's going on with you," Frank replied, his eyes narrowing. "You've got some major explaining to do," he added.
"Yeah," Joe admitted, giving the first real smile he had in days. "I do. But not here," he added, his face clouding over again. "Meet me at the swings in say, an hour and a half?"
"Why so long?" Frank asked suspiciously.
"I was supposed to have smoked that," Joe told him, glancing over at the toilet where the evidence had vanished. "Sunlight and heroin doesn't really mix," he added.
Frank nodded and turned to leave but paused and turned back around. "Are you really okay?" he asked, concern evident.
"Yeah," Joe told him. "I didn't have time to get addicted."
"But..." Frank started to say but Joe cut him off.
"At the swings," Joe hissed, and brushed by Frank and left the bathroom. Frank waited a few minutes, then left. He entered the recreation room and took a seat in front of the television.
"Hey," a drab voice said to his right. Frank looked over at the scrawny kid next to him. He was wearing sunglasses on his sunken face and his long blond hair looked like it hadn't been brushed in days. He was wearing faded blue jeans and a light, long-sleeved, beige shirt with the sleeves buttoned.
"Hi," Frank said.
"I'm Cory," the boy introduced himself. "You're Tony, right?" he asked. Frank nodded. "You made it through being sick awfully fast," he commented.
Frank shook his head. "Not really," he said. "I tried to do it at home. My dad's a doctor," he lied. "But it got too rough so I asked to come here."
Cory grinned. "I knew you were like me," he said.
"Huh?" Frank asked, confused.
"Most of the kids here are here because they had no choice so they aren't trying. I actually want off," he paused. When he spoke again, his voice cracked a little. "I got my kid brother hooked," he said. "I didn't mean to. It just felt so good to shoot up and get away from everything so I talked Tim into trying it. He was on it for about two months. A week ago, I went home and found him on my bed. He had OD'ed. That's when it hit me. I didn't want to die. I thought about me and then, as I started hitting the agonies, I thought about Tim. It was all my fault. He shouldn't have died."
Frank didn't know what to say. He imagined being in Cory's place and Joe in Tim's. His heart constricted in horror, but still, he said nothing.
"You picked the wrong guy to try and be friends with," Cory told him. "Joe's not in here because he wants to be," he added. "He's been getting G-shots from someone. I know Toots hooked him up before she left."
"So his supplier is gone," Franks said with a shrug. "Now he'll have to get clean."
"No," Cory denied. "He's still getting it, which makes him just as bad as his supplier. Stay away from him," Cory said feverently. "He'll drag you back in."
Frank stayed and talked to Cory for a bit then excused himself and went outside to the swings. Joe arrived a few minutes later.
"Spill it," Frank ordered as Joe sat down. So Joe told him about hearing Con in the hospital, convincing the doctor to help him and about everything that had happened since, ending wih Ken's role as his supplier.
Frank looked at Joe with disbelief. "You actually were going to do this without me," he said, fighting to keep his voice low.
"I'm sorry," Joe apologized. "I had an instant in and you didn't," he explained. "No one would believe either of us getting hooked if it hadn't been for my being kidnapped." He paused and took in Frank's appearance. "You really look bad," Joe said. "How did you do it?"
Frank explained about his make-over and crash course in being a junkie under the tutalage of Karen Taylor, a friend of their father's.
"Are they very mad?" Joe asked, thinking of his parents.
"Just worried," Frank replied, knowing what was going through Joe's mind. "We all thought you were hooked."
"We had better go back in," Joe said, standing up. He wasn't sure what to say, so he decided to avoid the subject for the time being.
"When do you get to meet Ken's supplier?" Frank asked, staying still and watching Joe wrap his arms around himself. Frank thought Joe looked as vulnerable now as he had when he had to be in the hospital and have his tonsils removed when he was six. Frank remembered Joe wanting him to stay, but the doctor had said he wasn't allowed. Joe had wrapped his arms around himself as he sat in the hospital bed and rocked himself, his blue eyes wide and fearful.
"Not until I get out," Joe replied. 'Tuesday, I think," he added. "When are you leaving?"
"Wedensday," Frank answered, before Joe put his arms down by his sides and turned and headed back inside.
At lunch, Joe brought his tray over to sit beside Frank but Cory, who was on Fran's other side, wasn't going to allow it. "Get out of here," Cory snarled at Joe. "We don't want you here."
"Why don't we let Tony decide?" Joe asked in a saccharin sweet voice.
"His decision was made before he got here," Cory retorted. "Take a hike or pay the price," he threatened Joe.
Joe's eyes narrowed as he looked at Cory. Inside he was jumping up and down, glad to have someone looking out for his brother, but his upper lip curled into a sneer as he said, "Easy, man, I didn't mean to hit on your," he paused and looked at Frank, "girl." The table erupted into laughter and Joe was callled down to sit between two other bedbugs, both with dark brown hair and big grins on their faces.
"That kid so deserves everything he's going to get," Cory whispered angrily.
"What do you mean?" Frank asked, wondering what Cory had in mind.
"Never mind," Cory told Frank with a smile that never reached his eyes. "Figure of speech."
After lights out, Frank told Joe what Cory had said. "Be careful," he warned Joe, a worried look on his face. "I don't think he's too stable."
"You mean he might take his anger at himself for getting his brother hooked out on me?" Joe asked thoughtfully. "Makes sense, I guess."
"Did Ken give you anymore?" Frank inquired.
"Yeah," Joe admitted. "Morning and night," he said. "I tried to get him to talk but he won't. I'm afraid to push too hard in case he gets suspicious," he added.
"You know, Ken's supplier may not be the same one who gave Davenport and his men the drugs," Frank told Joe.
"I thought about that," Joe said. "At first, I wanted revenge for what they did to me and for Kenny and his son," Joe admitted. "But after seeing all these kids and finding out that one of the guys who is supposed to be helping is causing more damage," he paused and turned over on his side to look at Frank. "I just want this place cleaned up. These kids need somewhere they can get help and with Ken around, it's not going to happen. Toots is only sixteen and Mikey, that little red-haired, freckle-faced kid, is only twelve." He stopped talking and shook his head. "I just wish I could let mom and dad know how much I love them and appreciate everything they've done for me."
Frank looked over and saw Joe's eyes were bright with unshed tears. Before he could speak, Joe continued. "And you," Joe told him. "You have got to be the best brother a guy could have."
"Aw, cut the mushy stuff," Frank said. But he reached over and gave Joe's shoulder a gentle squeeze. "I love you too little brother," he told him. "And mom and dad know you love them," he assured Joe. "But if it will make you feel better, I'll pass it on when Dad comes to visit me in the morning."
"You're going to tell him what I did," Joe said, dreading going home for the first time since he had left it.
"Don't worry," Frank comforted Joe. "He'll understand. He may not approve," he amended, "but he'll understand."
"I hope so," Joe replied, yawning. Minutes later, he and Frank were sound asleep.
Joe awoke with a start. A hand was held over his mouth preventing him from shouting. He looked up and saw Ken standing over him with one finger pressed to his lips. Ken released Joe's mouth. Motioning for Joe to follow him, Ken backed up. Joe pushed the sheet over, causing it to fall halfway into the floor. He stood up and followed Ken silently from the room and out into the corridor into another room which was Ken's office. Ken closed the door behind Joe and motioned for him to sit down. Joe sat in a cold metal chair in front of Ken's desk.
"How are you feeling?" Ken asked Joe, watching him intently.
"Kay," Joe mumbled, pretending to be half asleep although by now he was fully alert.
"Good, good," Ken replied. "I've been watching you," he continued. "You circulate pretty well with the other kids." Joe shrugged. "How would you like your fixes for free?" he asked. "Maybe some more money on the side?"
"How?" Joe asked.
"Work for me," Ken replied.
"My dad's a detective," Joe told him honestly, sure Ken already knew.
"I know," Ken said, leaning back in his chair and smiling. "And I know it will be hard for you to get a new supplier," he added shrewdly. "What I would like to know is how close are you and your father?"
Joe snorted and laughed sourly. "You kidding? He's a busy man. When has he ever had time to get close to me?"
"Miss a male figure in your life?" Ken asked.
Joe seemed to think this remark over, then shook his head. "Not really," he said. "Frank always took the role," he added a bit snidely.
"You don't sound like you approve," Ken observed.
"He's only a year older but he's always telling me what I can and can't do," Joe complained. ""Sometimes, I wish I didn't have a brother."
"So don't," Ken said.
"Huh?" Joe asked, a knot in his stomach. Had he said too much.
"You're seventeen," Ken stated. "Almost legal. You could runaway from home," Ken suggested.
Joe appeared to consider this. "But I don't want to live in the streets," Joe said after a bit.
"You can stay at the house of a friend of mine," Ken told him.
"What's the catch?" Joe demanded suspiciouslly, scratching his arm unconsciously.
"Work for me," Ken said. "You get a place to stay, spending money, and," he added, leaning forward and pulling open his desk drawer and removing a piece of foil with heroin on it and placing it on his desk, "you'll never be in need of a fix again."
Joe looked at the blob, his breathing growing heavier as if he had a strong urge for a fix. He reached out to take it, but Ken grabbed Joe's hand and held it. "Well?" Ken demanded.
Joe looked up into Ken's eyes and nodded. "Okay," he said. Ken released Joe's hand and let him take the blob.
"Go back to bed as soon as you can," Ken ordered him. "I'll make your housing arrangements in the next day or two so you won't even have to go back for a last visit."
Joe gave a lopsided smile and stood up taking the blob with him. He left Ken's office and closed the door behind him, thinking it was a good thing G-shots were only partial fixes or Ken would have tried to kill him with an overdose. Twenty minutes later, Joe left the bathroom and returned to bed.
"You okay?" Frank asked. He had woken up when Joe returned.
"Yeah," Joe replied. "But we have got to talk before you see Dad," he added, yawning. "Ken wants me to leave home," he said before falling sleep.
Frank lay awake the rest of the night, unable to sleep after the bombshell Joe had just dropped on him.
"Up and at'em boys!" came the wake-up call early the next morning. Frank sat up, his face drawn and looked over at Joe who sat up slowly.
"In the shower," Frank whispered as he got up and left the room. Joe followed a few minutes later. When Joe arrived at the showers, there were only four, besides himself and Frank, who felt like taking one. He and Frank slowly undressed, giving the others time to leave before stepping into connecting stalls.
Joe told Frank about his midnight meeting with Ken. "I'm going to need some drops to keep my eyes dilated," he told Frank, when he had finished.
"No way," Frank hissed. "You are not going that deep undercover. It's too dangerous."
"It's perfect," Joe argued. "He knows who I am and wants me anyway," he pointed out. "We could put him and his suppliers out of business."
"It's not worth the risk," Frank almost shouted.
"I think it is," Joe insisted, turning off the water and wrapping a towel around his waist. He left the stall and put his clothes on then headed out, ignoring Frank's attempts to lure him back into the argument.
Frank next saw Joe at breakfast. He started over to sit with him, but Cory caught his arm as he walked by and pulled him into the chair beside him. "Control the cravings, kid. Don't let them control you," Cory told him, watching him look at Joe. "I told you, that one is bad news. Stay away."
Frank nodded and started eating his breakfast casting furitive glances at Joe who seemed to have lost his appetite. A few minutes later, he watched as Joe carried his tray to the trash can an emptied it. Setting the tray on the counter, he left the cafeteria.
Frank stood up and disposed of his food and tray and followed Joe out. He was heading down the corridor after him when Ken came up to him. "Tony, your dad's here," he said. Frank nodded and went to meet his father.
Joe reached the rec room and flipped the television on. He sat down on the sofa and started watching a talk show. He heard someone come in but resisted the urge to see who it was. A moment later, an arm curled around his neck and a hand was clamped over his mouth. He brought up an arm to move it away, but as he did, a needle pierced the inside of his elbow. Seconds passed and Joe's eyes rolled back into his head; his breathing began to slow down and he slumped on the arm holding him. When the arm was removed, Joe fell sideways on the sofa and lay there.
Chapter Four
The color drained from Joe's face. He waited to see what Tony would do.
Tony shook his head, as if trying to clear it and then he looked into Joe's eyes and spoke in an unmistakably familiar voice. "You had me scared to death," Tony told him.
"Frank?" Joe inquired, his eyes going wide in shock. "Wh...what are you doing here?"
"Trying to find out what's going on with you," Frank replied, his eyes narrowing. "You've got some major explaining to do," he added.
"Yeah," Joe admitted, giving the first real smile he had in days. "I do. But not here," he added, his face clouding over again. "Meet me at the swings in say, an hour and a half?"
"Why so long?" Frank asked suspiciously.
"I was supposed to have smoked that," Joe told him, glancing over at the toilet where the evidence had vanished. "Sunlight and heroin doesn't really mix," he added.
Frank nodded and turned to leave but paused and turned back around. "Are you really okay?" he asked, concern evident.
"Yeah," Joe told him. "I didn't have time to get addicted."
"But..." Frank started to say but Joe cut him off.
"At the swings," Joe hissed, and brushed by Frank and left the bathroom. Frank waited a few minutes, then left. He entered the recreation room and took a seat in front of the television.
"Hey," a drab voice said to his right. Frank looked over at the scrawny kid next to him. He was wearing sunglasses on his sunken face and his long blond hair looked like it hadn't been brushed in days. He was wearing faded blue jeans and a light, long-sleeved, beige shirt with the sleeves buttoned.
"Hi," Frank said.
"I'm Cory," the boy introduced himself. "You're Tony, right?" he asked. Frank nodded. "You made it through being sick awfully fast," he commented.
Frank shook his head. "Not really," he said. "I tried to do it at home. My dad's a doctor," he lied. "But it got too rough so I asked to come here."
Cory grinned. "I knew you were like me," he said.
"Huh?" Frank asked, confused.
"Most of the kids here are here because they had no choice so they aren't trying. I actually want off," he paused. When he spoke again, his voice cracked a little. "I got my kid brother hooked," he said. "I didn't mean to. It just felt so good to shoot up and get away from everything so I talked Tim into trying it. He was on it for about two months. A week ago, I went home and found him on my bed. He had OD'ed. That's when it hit me. I didn't want to die. I thought about me and then, as I started hitting the agonies, I thought about Tim. It was all my fault. He shouldn't have died."
Frank didn't know what to say. He imagined being in Cory's place and Joe in Tim's. His heart constricted in horror, but still, he said nothing.
"You picked the wrong guy to try and be friends with," Cory told him. "Joe's not in here because he wants to be," he added. "He's been getting G-shots from someone. I know Toots hooked him up before she left."
"So his supplier is gone," Franks said with a shrug. "Now he'll have to get clean."
"No," Cory denied. "He's still getting it, which makes him just as bad as his supplier. Stay away from him," Cory said feverently. "He'll drag you back in."
Frank stayed and talked to Cory for a bit then excused himself and went outside to the swings. Joe arrived a few minutes later.
"Spill it," Frank ordered as Joe sat down. So Joe told him about hearing Con in the hospital, convincing the doctor to help him and about everything that had happened since, ending wih Ken's role as his supplier.
Frank looked at Joe with disbelief. "You actually were going to do this without me," he said, fighting to keep his voice low.
"I'm sorry," Joe apologized. "I had an instant in and you didn't," he explained. "No one would believe either of us getting hooked if it hadn't been for my being kidnapped." He paused and took in Frank's appearance. "You really look bad," Joe said. "How did you do it?"
Frank explained about his make-over and crash course in being a junkie under the tutalage of Karen Taylor, a friend of their father's.
"Are they very mad?" Joe asked, thinking of his parents.
"Just worried," Frank replied, knowing what was going through Joe's mind. "We all thought you were hooked."
"We had better go back in," Joe said, standing up. He wasn't sure what to say, so he decided to avoid the subject for the time being.
"When do you get to meet Ken's supplier?" Frank asked, staying still and watching Joe wrap his arms around himself. Frank thought Joe looked as vulnerable now as he had when he had to be in the hospital and have his tonsils removed when he was six. Frank remembered Joe wanting him to stay, but the doctor had said he wasn't allowed. Joe had wrapped his arms around himself as he sat in the hospital bed and rocked himself, his blue eyes wide and fearful.
"Not until I get out," Joe replied. 'Tuesday, I think," he added. "When are you leaving?"
"Wedensday," Frank answered, before Joe put his arms down by his sides and turned and headed back inside.
At lunch, Joe brought his tray over to sit beside Frank but Cory, who was on Fran's other side, wasn't going to allow it. "Get out of here," Cory snarled at Joe. "We don't want you here."
"Why don't we let Tony decide?" Joe asked in a saccharin sweet voice.
"His decision was made before he got here," Cory retorted. "Take a hike or pay the price," he threatened Joe.
Joe's eyes narrowed as he looked at Cory. Inside he was jumping up and down, glad to have someone looking out for his brother, but his upper lip curled into a sneer as he said, "Easy, man, I didn't mean to hit on your," he paused and looked at Frank, "girl." The table erupted into laughter and Joe was callled down to sit between two other bedbugs, both with dark brown hair and big grins on their faces.
"That kid so deserves everything he's going to get," Cory whispered angrily.
"What do you mean?" Frank asked, wondering what Cory had in mind.
"Never mind," Cory told Frank with a smile that never reached his eyes. "Figure of speech."
After lights out, Frank told Joe what Cory had said. "Be careful," he warned Joe, a worried look on his face. "I don't think he's too stable."
"You mean he might take his anger at himself for getting his brother hooked out on me?" Joe asked thoughtfully. "Makes sense, I guess."
"Did Ken give you anymore?" Frank inquired.
"Yeah," Joe admitted. "Morning and night," he said. "I tried to get him to talk but he won't. I'm afraid to push too hard in case he gets suspicious," he added.
"You know, Ken's supplier may not be the same one who gave Davenport and his men the drugs," Frank told Joe.
"I thought about that," Joe said. "At first, I wanted revenge for what they did to me and for Kenny and his son," Joe admitted. "But after seeing all these kids and finding out that one of the guys who is supposed to be helping is causing more damage," he paused and turned over on his side to look at Frank. "I just want this place cleaned up. These kids need somewhere they can get help and with Ken around, it's not going to happen. Toots is only sixteen and Mikey, that little red-haired, freckle-faced kid, is only twelve." He stopped talking and shook his head. "I just wish I could let mom and dad know how much I love them and appreciate everything they've done for me."
Frank looked over and saw Joe's eyes were bright with unshed tears. Before he could speak, Joe continued. "And you," Joe told him. "You have got to be the best brother a guy could have."
"Aw, cut the mushy stuff," Frank said. But he reached over and gave Joe's shoulder a gentle squeeze. "I love you too little brother," he told him. "And mom and dad know you love them," he assured Joe. "But if it will make you feel better, I'll pass it on when Dad comes to visit me in the morning."
"You're going to tell him what I did," Joe said, dreading going home for the first time since he had left it.
"Don't worry," Frank comforted Joe. "He'll understand. He may not approve," he amended, "but he'll understand."
"I hope so," Joe replied, yawning. Minutes later, he and Frank were sound asleep.
Joe awoke with a start. A hand was held over his mouth preventing him from shouting. He looked up and saw Ken standing over him with one finger pressed to his lips. Ken released Joe's mouth. Motioning for Joe to follow him, Ken backed up. Joe pushed the sheet over, causing it to fall halfway into the floor. He stood up and followed Ken silently from the room and out into the corridor into another room which was Ken's office. Ken closed the door behind Joe and motioned for him to sit down. Joe sat in a cold metal chair in front of Ken's desk.
"How are you feeling?" Ken asked Joe, watching him intently.
"Kay," Joe mumbled, pretending to be half asleep although by now he was fully alert.
"Good, good," Ken replied. "I've been watching you," he continued. "You circulate pretty well with the other kids." Joe shrugged. "How would you like your fixes for free?" he asked. "Maybe some more money on the side?"
"How?" Joe asked.
"Work for me," Ken replied.
"My dad's a detective," Joe told him honestly, sure Ken already knew.
"I know," Ken said, leaning back in his chair and smiling. "And I know it will be hard for you to get a new supplier," he added shrewdly. "What I would like to know is how close are you and your father?"
Joe snorted and laughed sourly. "You kidding? He's a busy man. When has he ever had time to get close to me?"
"Miss a male figure in your life?" Ken asked.
Joe seemed to think this remark over, then shook his head. "Not really," he said. "Frank always took the role," he added a bit snidely.
"You don't sound like you approve," Ken observed.
"He's only a year older but he's always telling me what I can and can't do," Joe complained. ""Sometimes, I wish I didn't have a brother."
"So don't," Ken said.
"Huh?" Joe asked, a knot in his stomach. Had he said too much.
"You're seventeen," Ken stated. "Almost legal. You could runaway from home," Ken suggested.
Joe appeared to consider this. "But I don't want to live in the streets," Joe said after a bit.
"You can stay at the house of a friend of mine," Ken told him.
"What's the catch?" Joe demanded suspiciouslly, scratching his arm unconsciously.
"Work for me," Ken said. "You get a place to stay, spending money, and," he added, leaning forward and pulling open his desk drawer and removing a piece of foil with heroin on it and placing it on his desk, "you'll never be in need of a fix again."
Joe looked at the blob, his breathing growing heavier as if he had a strong urge for a fix. He reached out to take it, but Ken grabbed Joe's hand and held it. "Well?" Ken demanded.
Joe looked up into Ken's eyes and nodded. "Okay," he said. Ken released Joe's hand and let him take the blob.
"Go back to bed as soon as you can," Ken ordered him. "I'll make your housing arrangements in the next day or two so you won't even have to go back for a last visit."
Joe gave a lopsided smile and stood up taking the blob with him. He left Ken's office and closed the door behind him, thinking it was a good thing G-shots were only partial fixes or Ken would have tried to kill him with an overdose. Twenty minutes later, Joe left the bathroom and returned to bed.
"You okay?" Frank asked. He had woken up when Joe returned.
"Yeah," Joe replied. "But we have got to talk before you see Dad," he added, yawning. "Ken wants me to leave home," he said before falling sleep.
Frank lay awake the rest of the night, unable to sleep after the bombshell Joe had just dropped on him.
"Up and at'em boys!" came the wake-up call early the next morning. Frank sat up, his face drawn and looked over at Joe who sat up slowly.
"In the shower," Frank whispered as he got up and left the room. Joe followed a few minutes later. When Joe arrived at the showers, there were only four, besides himself and Frank, who felt like taking one. He and Frank slowly undressed, giving the others time to leave before stepping into connecting stalls.
Joe told Frank about his midnight meeting with Ken. "I'm going to need some drops to keep my eyes dilated," he told Frank, when he had finished.
"No way," Frank hissed. "You are not going that deep undercover. It's too dangerous."
"It's perfect," Joe argued. "He knows who I am and wants me anyway," he pointed out. "We could put him and his suppliers out of business."
"It's not worth the risk," Frank almost shouted.
"I think it is," Joe insisted, turning off the water and wrapping a towel around his waist. He left the stall and put his clothes on then headed out, ignoring Frank's attempts to lure him back into the argument.
Frank next saw Joe at breakfast. He started over to sit with him, but Cory caught his arm as he walked by and pulled him into the chair beside him. "Control the cravings, kid. Don't let them control you," Cory told him, watching him look at Joe. "I told you, that one is bad news. Stay away."
Frank nodded and started eating his breakfast casting furitive glances at Joe who seemed to have lost his appetite. A few minutes later, he watched as Joe carried his tray to the trash can an emptied it. Setting the tray on the counter, he left the cafeteria.
Frank stood up and disposed of his food and tray and followed Joe out. He was heading down the corridor after him when Ken came up to him. "Tony, your dad's here," he said. Frank nodded and went to meet his father.
Joe reached the rec room and flipped the television on. He sat down on the sofa and started watching a talk show. He heard someone come in but resisted the urge to see who it was. A moment later, an arm curled around his neck and a hand was clamped over his mouth. He brought up an arm to move it away, but as he did, a needle pierced the inside of his elbow. Seconds passed and Joe's eyes rolled back into his head; his breathing began to slow down and he slumped on the arm holding him. When the arm was removed, Joe fell sideways on the sofa and lay there.