“Go, go, go!” He stressed as he fumbled with his seatbelt.
Howie just stared at him as he turned the wheel and pulled back out of the parking lot. “What’s going on?”
Nick clicked his belt then ran a hand through his hair. “It’s Celeste. She’s in trouble, I just know it!”
Howie glanced at him. “What do you mean, she’s in trouble?”
Nick sighed. “AJ is going after her. Can’t you drive any faster?” He glanced over at the speedometer.
Howie sped up a little bit. “What do you mean, AJ’s after her?” He was thoroughly confused.
“AJ set me up. Told me to meet him here and never shows. Meanwhile he gets someone to slash my tires so I can’t leave, and goes after Celeste.”
Howie let out a short, curt laugh. “Nick, AJ wouldn’t do that.” He shook his head.
Nick glared at Howie. “He has.” He let out a frustrated sigh. “He raped Celeste, Howie.”
“What?” Howie’s head spun to meet Nick’s.
Nick nodded. “Yeah.”
“No, he wouldn’t….” Howie objected.
“Yes he would, cuz he did.” Nick argued. “And if you don’t speed this god damned car up I’m going to come over there and drive it myself.”
Howie sped up a little more. “I’m not going to break the speed limit.” He said, glancing at the speedometer himself.
Nick let out a growl. “Celeste’s life is on the line and you’re worried about a freaking speeding ticket?” He waved a hand. “Hell, if we get pulled over the cop could escort us! Just drive!” He flopped back angrily in his seat.
The two were silent for a few moments.
“Okay, so what makes you think its AJ?” Howie finally questioned.
Nick rubbed his temples. “Because I saw him leaving the house the day he came and threatened her."
Howie glanced in surprise at Nick again. “AJ threatened her?”
Nick nodded. “Yeah.”
“Wow.” Howie wasn’t too sure how to reply to that.
“Though of course he’s denying it wasn’t him. He even has an alibi.” Nick added after a moment.
Howie looked at Nick confused. “But if you saw him……”
“I didn’t see him see him, I saw his car pulling out of my driveway.” He held a hand up. “Howie, how many people drive silver BMW’s and know the codes to my gates and house?”
Howie just shrugged.
“Exactly.” Satisfied, Nick settled back in his seat. “But he’s still insisting it wasn’t him.” Suddenly Nick was slamming his hand down on the armrest. “Damnit, why is he like this?”
“Maybe because it wasn’t him…” Howie began to suggest.
“You too?” Nick let out another growl. “Don’t tell me you’re gonna believe him. Kevin already does. Hell, he’s his freaking alibi.” His face scrunched as he mimicked his oldest ‘brother’. “He was on the phone with me. We were talking about what our plans were gonna be.” Nick sighed again.
“That sounds like Kev.” Howie bobbed his head.
“It was Kev.” Nick replied dryly. “Damnit Howie, can’t you drive any faster?”
“Nick!” Howie exclaimed. “I’m going 90!”
“Go 95!” Nick yelled back. “Damnit Howie, I swear if he lays even a finger on her…so help me God I’ll…”
“No you won’t.” Howie interrupted him. “You’ll let the cops take care of it.”
Nick raked a hand through his hair. “But…”
“But nothing.” Howie interrupted again. “The last thing Celeste needs is to have you taken off to jail.”
Nick let out another growl then fell silent. He stared absently out the window. “Do you know how much this hurts?” He finally questioned, turning back to Howie. “To have your brother, your best friend, do something like this to someone you care about?”
Howie glanced at him then back to the road. He slowly shook his head. “No Nick, I don’t.”
“Of course not!” Nick waved a hand in the air. “It’s not your friend that AJ raped.”
“I can’t believe AJ would rape someone.” Howie still couldn’t fathom that it might have been AJ. “You know him Nick, you know he’s not like that.”
Nick nodded. “But I also know what I saw.” He glanced back outside.
“Okay, I’ll give you that much.” Howie agreed. “But think about this for a moment, if you will…” he wet his lips. “What if someone took AJ’s car and set him up? You see the silver BMW, you automatically think its AJ.”
“Who would do that?” Nick turned away from the window. “Not just anyone can get into AJ’s house and steal his car.”
Howie shrugged. “Just think about it. It is possible.”
“Right, and that same person knowing the codes to my house?” He rolled his eyes. “That’s unlikely and you know it.”
“I’m just saying.” Howie explained.
“I know what you were saying.” Nick replied. “And it’s impossible. It was AJ, it was.”
Howie fell silent and just drove.
A few minutes later he turned back to Nick. “Alright, so what did AJ say when he talked you into coming here and meeting him.”
Nick ran a hand through his hair before letting it fall slack against his leg. “He said that he found proof of who had raped Celeste, and that he wanted to show me.” Frustrated he looked at Howie. “See, see how prefect of a set-up that is. Get me out of the house, slash my tires so I can’t get away, then go after her.” His voice rose with each word.
“I’m sure she’s okay.” Howie said as he pulled his phone out of his pocket. “Did you try calling AJ?”
“No answer.” Nick responded. “But of course there wouldn’t be because he’s in my house doing God awful things to Celeste.” He lifted a hand and wiped his eyes. He was so frustrated, pissed, and worried. All his emotions were mixed and tears were now filling his eyes. “We have to get there, D.” He choked out.
Howie set his phone on the dash and patted Nick’s shoulder. “We will, we’re almost there.”
Nick just lowered himself in the seat.
“I’m gonna try and call him. Maybe if he sees it’s me he’ll answer.”
“Good luck.” Nick replied sarcastically, folding his arms over his chest.
Howie dialed AJ’s cell number first. He listened to the rings then frowned and hung up. “That’s funny, it says his phone is out of service.”
Nick’s brow furrowed. “Out of service?”
Howie nodded and punched in AJ’s home number. “Yeah.” He lifted his cell to his ear and listened to the rings. Finally he hung up. “Answering machine.”
“What the hell is out of service?” Nick exploded.
“Calm down.” Howie tucked his phone back into his pocket, then he shrugged. “Um…the only thing I can think of is if he’s not able to use his phone anymore.”
“What do you mean, anymore?” Nick pressed him.
Howie shrugged again. “I don’t know, Nick.”
Nick humphed and crossed his arms once more.
A few moments later Howie was exiting the freeway and heading to Nick’s neighborhood.
Nick sat on the edge of the seat, his fists clenched, biting his bottom lip nervously. This was it. They were almost there. And suddenly Nick was afraid. Afraid of what they’d find, afraid of what might have happened. Afraid of what he might walk in on. He took a deep breath as Howie turned onto his street.
They were almost there. Just a few more feet and they’d be at his driveway. He’d punch the code in and the gates would open and they’d go up the driveway. And then he was going to find AJ. Find AJ and make him pay for what he did to Celeste.
“Uh…Nick?”
Howie’s voice broke through his thoughts and Nick blinked, becoming aware of his surroundings. “Huh? What?” He turned to Howie.
Howie looked at him, then out the windshield, then back to him.
Slowly Nick followed his gaze and froze. His gates, they were already open. Open wide as if inviting everyone up and into his house. He let out a choked cry. “Drive!”
Howie did as he was told and moved the car through the gates and up the driveway, wondering what exactly they were going to find up there.