Page 121 of Rat

Asher snorted. “He murdered his dad, my brother.”

“That man was abusive,” Rory replied, doing his best to keep his voice level.

“I know my brother could be hot-headed. He had a temper, and he used his fists more than he should’ve.”

“He hit them. He hurt them. He made their lives miserable. All Ollie wanted was for Leo to be safe. I don’t agree with murder, but he was trapped and scared, and he didn’t know what else to do.”

“When Leo’s eighteen, he can decide for himself.”

“At least let him write. Ollie watches that mail cart pass by every day, always waiting—”

“How do you know so much about him, huh?”

“I was inside with him. During an undercover assignment, I struck up a bond with your nephew.”

“Don’t call him that,” Asher snapped. “He’s nothing to me. He showed no remorse, no guilt, and until he does, I don’t want to see him, and I won’t let Leo see him either.”

Rory turned his attention to Maggie. “He’s eighteen, he’s a kid, and he needs you.”

“What are you shouting about?”

Rory took a step back at the sound of the voice, so similar to Ollie’s, only slightly croakier, as if his voice was breaking.

“Police officer Matterson was just leaving,” Asher replied.

“Police officer?”

Asher was shoved aside, and Rory took another step back when he saw Leo. He had the same blond messy hair, huge brown eyes, and the dimple in his chin. He looked like Ollie, but before puberty had matured him.

“My brother…” Leo’s eyes bugged. “Is he okay?”

“No,” Rory answered honestly, struck by Leo’s similar expressions. “He misses you like crazy.”

Leo’s eyes filled with tears. “I miss him too.”

“You’ve barely mentioned him,” Asher grumbled.

Leo stiffened. “I feel like I can’t talk about him, or what happened.”

“Exactly…seeing Ollie will tip you over the edge.”

“That’s not what I meant. When I talk about him, you shut me down, you change the subject and you have this hateful expression on your face, but I want to talk about him. I want to see him.”

“When you’re eighteen,” Asher said firmly.

Leo turned back to Rory. “How come he’s not writing to me? He said he would when he got taken down, he promised, but he hasn’t sent a single letter.”

Rory gawped, then looked at Asher.

Asher glared back.

“What aren’t you telling me?” Leo asked, glancing between them. “Has he written to me?”

“He may have written a letter or two,” Asher mumbled.

Rory shook his head. “He’s written to you every week for the past nine months.”

Leo’s mouth stammered. “W…what?”

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