Chapter 16. All the wrong reasons

"All set?" Mark asked Julie while she tied her long hair into a ponytail.

"Yeah." She answered before bending to take her bag from the ground. Julie walked towards the car but stopped to look around one last time at the beautiful property. "I'm gonna miss this." She said out loud to herself, not noticing Mark behind her.

"I know, me too." He said and it made her jump slightly. He didn't notice.

Julie kissed his limps lightly and got inside the vehicle. Mark closed the door for her and went around to take his place beside her.

Julie turned up the radio and sang along to keep herself from thinking about things she didn't want to recall. She'd make up her own words if an unknown song came out from the speakers, much to Mark's amusement. All to keep her brain distracted.

…

Joe drank the fifth whiskey of the past half hour. He shouldn't have said anything to Billy. His older brother stared at him for just a second before coming back into the car and racing away. Now Joe was scared shitless Billy would fuck something up and would finally give police what they've been searching for all this time. Anger had a blinding power over Billy and only Joe knew how strong that power might be.

…

The cigarette pack was already down to half full. Billy Darley knew the city as the palm of his hand, but he had no idea where he was. He just drove until he couldn't stand it anymore. The feeling kept building up inside him until he finally had to let it go. He was in the middle of nowhere, no one would see this. No one would see him crying for this woman.

Billy didn't know if he was angrier at her or at himself. He was so blindfolded. He fucked it all up, twice. He couldn't be Mr. Perfect and he never wanted to save anybody, but he wanted to be and do it all for her. He would. Billy made up his mind: he'd get his girl back. He hated this feeling with all his strength. He looked around the woods that bordered the road where he had stopped; there was not a soul around. Just then a deer came out of the green wall made up or trees. It was walking peacefully, smelling the ground, looking for something to eat. Before the animal could raise its head up, Billy took his gun and fired five times. The first hit the deer right in the head, it was already dead when the four bullets angrily penetrated the soft skin and muscles.

Billy wished he could have done this to some bastard who owed them money, but the police was hot on their neck. Plus, there was no one but himself here. And the dead deer. Well, that would give the wolves a free meal, if there were any wolf around here. He couldn't care less.

Billy looked himself in the mirror, he looked like shit. His eyes were red from all the crying and he laughed at what he saw. The last time he cried was when he lost his mother, and that was much too long ago to even hurt anymore.

How the hell did we wind up like this?
Why weren't we able to see the signs that we missed?
And try turn the tables

I wish you'd unclench your fists
And unpack your suitcase
Lately there's been too much of this
But don't think it's too late

Nothing's wrong, just as long as
You know that someday I will

Someday, somehow
I'm gonna make it all right but not right now
I know you're wondering when
(You're the only one who knows that)
Someday, somehow
I'm gonna make it all right but not right now
I know you're wondering when

Well I'd hope that since we're here anyway
That we could end up saying
Things we've always needed to say
So we could end up staying
Now the story's played out like this
Just like a paperback novel
Let's rewrite an ending that fits
Instead of a Hollywood horror

Nickelback - Someday

…

"Julie!" Alison squealed as she saw her friend coming in through the front doors of The Falcon. Mark was right behind carrying her bags. The girls hugged each other. "God, I've missed you!"

"I missed you too, Ali. How are you?"

"I'm fine. Kristi just left for lunch, she'll be so glad to know you're back! Oh, hey Mark!" She waved and Mark answered with a nod and a smile, since he was already carrying the baggage upstairs. "Did you two finally get together?" Ali asked with a sly smile. The doctor's face gave it all away.

Julie nodded with a shy smile and Ali laughed. Julie wasn't shy when it came to Billy Darley, but Ali didn't say that out loud. She also didn't comment on how jumpy her friend was. She was never a religious girl, but Ali prayed Julie would finally find some peace beside the doctor.

…

Julie looked around her empty apartment. She was away for a month but it felt more. This was a stranger's home, a different smell circulated around. There was an unseen presence in there. Julie opened all the windows and let the sunshine in along with the cool breeze. That should do it. For the next half an hour Julie only worried about getting all her clothes separated to laundry, fixed up her bathroom stuff and served herself a pre-made meal for lunch. She avoided eyeing the bed during the whole process.

…

"Have you seen today's paper?" Kristin asked Julie while she got the orders done. It was her first day back at work.

"No, should I?" Julie was so over the news. It was always the same: crime, war, politics, economy crisis and more crime. She strongly believed life was easier if you ignored stuff that were out of your control. Not an outstanding citizen for sure.

"I think you would like to see this." Kristi handed her the folded paper. Julie opened it and saw the headline on the bottom of the first page: "Police has new lead on gang activity". Her blood turned ice cold and for a couple of seconds stopped racing through her veins. Julie sat on a stool and read the small article. Turns out that the police had found hair from a dead guy in the house of another dead guy, and their time of death was pretty close. They lived twenty minutes drive from each other, but the police found out that what connected them was that both were drug addicts. The whole area was controlled by Bones Darley, who was also dead. Police believed the control of the illegal activity was now on Billy Darley's hands.

"Julie, you look kinda pale." Kristin questioned if she really should have showed the paper to Julie.

"It's nothing." She lied shaking her head. Julie didn't miss the fact that both deaths happened on the same day she ran away with Mark. Was it too arrogant of her to think she had anything to do with that? She suddenly felt sick. Julie had no doubt of who was guilty for those murders. She was halfway done recovering when a female voice called for her attention. Julie looked up to a black woman with her straightened hair tied back in a ponytail. She had no make up on and wore a black turtle neck blouse with dark jeans.

"How can I help you?" Julie asked politely, shoving the paper down the counter.

The woman fished for something in her back pocket and showed it to Julie. A badge. "I'm detective Wallis. Can I ask you some questions?"

Julie felt her throat tighten but didn't show it. "Sure."

"Have you ever seen this man?" Wallis showed her a pictured of Billy Darley and Julie's heart started racing. It took all of her self control to not give it all away.

"He's a gang member, isn't he?" She asked innocently.

"He is. Have you ever had any kind of contact with him?" Wallis asked professionally. Some witness had seen Darley around that coffee shop and she wanted to know why.

"Hmm…" Julie was unsure. She didn't want to have anything to do with this. She knew Billy Darley was trouble and still she went head on. She was so stupid. Julie wanted to take a hit at herself. "Yes." She answered shortly to buy herself some time and decide what to do.

"What kind of contact?" Wallis leaned in the counter.

"I actually bumped into him in the hospital. My fr- er boyfriend works there and I asked for him to take care of him, he was bleeding a lot." Julie explained while he detective wrote it all down on a notepad.

"Do you know why?"

"Why he was bleeding?" Julie asked and Wallis nodded. "I have no idea. It was an arm wound, if that helps."

"What's your boyfriend's name?"

Fuck. She didn't want to get Mark involved in this but there was no other way around. It was like a little blanket used to cover two grown people. Protect one, uncover the other. "Mark Westling."

"When was that?"

"Just before I traveled. I got back yesterday."

"Why did you go away from the city?"

Julie frowned at this question but answered anyway. "I went on vacations with my boyfriend."

"Have you met Billy Darley after you met at the hospital?"

Julie did a quick thinking. The detective wouldn't have come here if someone had not hinted Billy's presence. "Yes, the day after we met. He somehow found out where I worked and came to say thanks."

"To say thanks?" Wallis doubtful asked.

"And to buy a frappuccino, of course." Julie added with a very small smile. Well, that was a messed up truth but not a lie.

"Ok, that's it for now." Wallis said while still scraping the paper. She looked back at Julie when she was done and handed her a card. "Let me know if you remember anything else or see him again. This guy is dangerous." She warned and Julie simply nodded. She had heard that piece of advice way too much and still didn't seem to take it. Julie sighed as she watched the police officer walking away. She counted until twenty to call Mark. He was at the hospital and Julie told him everything the detective had asked her and her exact answers.

"Julie, why didn't you tell her everything?!" He asked stunned that she lost her chance to get rid of the maniac.

"Because… he's being accused of several murders. They will try to fit me in there somehow!" She answered not hinting her fear of seeing Billy behind bars.

"You're right. Don't worry about it. I'm sure she'll be here at any moment and I'll cover your story."

The detective sure was there not long after he hung up. Mark did exactly what he said he would and the detective got almost the same answers from the boyfriend. As far as she could tell, they were both clean and their involvement with Darley was pure coincidence. After she was gone Mark thanked God he had pressed an unidentified charge against the gang back when they beat him, or their cover would have been discovered.

Julie jumped when Ali came beside her and grabbed her arm. "What the hell?!"

"Someone is here to see you." Ali whispered in a disapproving tone. Whoever was, Ali wasn't happy about the visit. That sent chills down on Julie's spine.

"Who is it?" Julie wary whispered back as her friend dragged her to the back room that was the deposit.

"It's not him." Ali was quick. "But that doesn't mean it ain't trouble." She added as she opened the door and shoved Julie inside. No one could see his guy here, not only two minutes after the police had walked off. The detective had asked the same questions to Kristin and Alison, they both heard what Julie had said and confirmed her version. The girls knew that would save their friend a lot of trouble.

"It's been a long time, Hottie." Joe Darley smirked at her.

"Joe, what are you doing here?!" Julie hissed. What if there were cops still wondering around? "The police just left!"

"I know. I certainly got a perfect timing, don't I?" He joked and gave a small laugh. Julie didn't join him; she stood there with her arms crossed across her chest, keeping a distance from him. Truth to be told, she liked Joe. She only was defensive like this because of what had just happened.

"What do you want, Joe?" She tried to make her voice not to sound harsh.

"You left without saying goodbye." He looked at her with accusing eyes. He liked her as well, but he was here for his brother.

"It was for the best."

"Whose?"

Julie sat down on a closed box without checking its content. "Everybody's."

Joe copied her. "Cut it out, Julie. You were scared, I get it. But why did you have to run away with the doctor?!"

"Because he offered and I needed to get away from that mess."

"It's not better now. If only, it's worse."

"I know… I- how did you know I was back?" Julie frowned.

"I pass by everyday since I found out what you had done. Today I saw your apartment's window open." He looked a bit ashamed of admitting such behavior.

"Why?"

Joe took a deep breath before answering. He decided to be honest with her. "I'm trying to help my brother." Julie strained at the mention of him. "You have no idea how messed up he is."

"Oh I think I have a pretty good idea." She sarcastically answered.

"I mean the mess you made, Julie." Joe seriously accused. "Fuck. He'll kill me if he ever knows I told you this. But what the hell! He cried, Julie. When I told him what you had done, he raced away in his car and came back hours later with red eyes."

"How can you tell it wasn't the drugs?" Julie unbelieving asked. Billy Darley didn't cry.

"Because he was wearing a gray t-shirt and I noticed the black spots on his chest. And it wasn't raining." That shut Julie up. "You see? He cares so much about you. He just doesn't know how to handle it and you sure don't help!"

"What? Are you gonna put all the blame on my shoulders now?!"

"Not at all. I just want you to see that he is a piece of shit, but a piece of shit who loves you." Julie was tongue tied again.

"Fuck, that's so messed up Joe."

"I know." He humorlessly laughed.

"I just lied to the police, you know. They came in here asking if I knew him, and I told them I had only bumped into him in the hospital."

"That was all?" Joe asked, aware that that information would have to be passed along.

"And that I had seen him after only because he came in here to thank me for helping him, and to buy frappuccino, of course." She added with a small smile and Joe barked a laugh.

Then he eyed her curiously. "Why didn't you tell them the truth?"

"Because he's being investigated of murder, I don't wanna be involved…"

"And?" He could see she was leaving a piece of her answer behind, unlike Mark who didn't notice it at all.

Julie sighed. "I don't wanna see you guys in jail."

"You hate what he does but still cover what you know from the law." Joe knew of her feelings for him, but was also fully aware that it was only Billy who kept her from spilling the beans. "You care, Julie." He stated matter-of-factly.

"I shouldn't." She didn't argue.

"Why not?"

"Because he's no good, Joe. I don't want to be caught up in the middle of his shit. I'll never know, one day he'll kiss me and the other will take a hit on me. That's not what I want for myself." A single tear escaped from her left eye and she quickly wiped it away with the back of her hand. Great, now she was crying over him. So much for making up her mind for hating Billy Darley.

"He only acts like a fool because he's scared shitless of losing you. Julie, I'll tell you something, you've touched my brother in a really weird way. He's still the same jackass to the rest of the world, but he can be whatever the hell you want, only for you. He'll keep on doing his shit, but when around you he'll only be Billy. Take it from someone who has seen the very worst and the very best from him, he can do it all."

Julie smirked. "You're a hell of a brother, Joe."

He flashed a smile, "I know", and then got serious again. "Will you consider?"

Julie shook her head no. "I'm with Mark. He helped me a lot."

"Who cares about the doctor?! He'll be better off."

"Are you telling me something is going to happen to him, Joe?!"

Joe shrugged. "I know nothing, but now that you two are back…"

"You, your brother and your freaking gang stay the hell away from him, do you hear me?!" Julie angrily raised her voice while accusingly pointing a finger at the youngster.

Joe got up and started pacing back towards the back door. "We never know what the future will bring. I'll tell Billy you said 'hello'. Bye, Hottie!" He was gone before Julie could yell for him to not tell Billy anything of what had been said for the past twenty minutes. Now she not only feared for her life, but Mark's. They were both in mortal danger while Billy Darley was free on the streets.

Well I wanted you
I wanted no one else
I thought it through
I got you to myself
You got off
Every time you got on to me
I got caught up
In favorable slavery

Was it wrong? Was it wrong?

I guess it wasn't really right
I guess it wasn't meant to be
It didn't matter what they said
'Cause we were good in bed
I guess I stuck around so I could watch us fight
for all the wrong reasons
No, it didn't matter what I tried
It's just a little hard to leave
When you're going down on me
I guess I stuck around so I could watch us fight
for all the wrong reasons

Well you know my friends
Well they know your enemies
I'd pretend
Not to hear what they said to me
'Cause I got off
Every time you got on to me
Was it wrong
To go along with insanity?

Nickelback – Fight For All The Wrong Reasons