My Brother's Keeper

When I was growing up, my mother and father always instilled in us kids the importance of family. "Family will always be there", my father would always say after our Sunday meals. Mom would always cook big meals on Sunday with some of the best desserts you could imagine. I believed him. My dad stood about 5 6", not a very tall man, but his voice deeper than the ocean. His words thundered through our home which usually kept all the kids in line. When I grew older, I always kept that thought that family would always be there closer to my heart. When my parents died in a car crash I took responsibility of looking after my youngest brother, Malcolm. Malcolm wasn't necessarily a trouble maker, but wherever he went trouble found him. I managed to get him a job at the advertising firm I worked at. Everything was decent until last month when I started noticing major changes in Malcom.

"Hey Malcolm, how you doing today", I asked him as we both entered the huge gray building to start our shift. Malcolm looked like he didn't sleep last night. His blonde hair was all over his head, his red long sleeved button down was wrinkled which matched the wrinkle black pants he wore.

"I'm fine sis, you can stop worrying about me damn", he snarled. I guess he could tell he hurt my feelings a little because he immediately looked sorry, but before he could apologize I was already making my way down the hall towards my office.

"Goodmorning Mrs. Pripper" my secretary whispered to me, as she handed me three different color sticky notes. "You had three calls so far, one from Mr. Daniels, one from Julia, and one from your brother Luke". I must have looked shocked because she asked me if anything was wrong, but I shook my head no. I went into my office and shut the door. What could Luke have wanted, I had not spoke to him since our parents will reading. Luke and I were the oldest. He was my twin brother. We were fraternal, not identical. I had long brown hair like my mother, he had short blonde hair like my father, I had green eyes like my mom, and he had blue like my dad, and let me not get started on our personality differences. I was more orderly he was more care free, come to hunk of it, the only thing we had in common was our birthdays. I walked over to my desk, had a seat and starred at the sticky note with he phone number on it. I put it to the side. I dove deep into my work. It seems by the time I looked up the day was over, but where did time go. I looked at the clock and it was 6:30 p.m. I had been on so many calls, going through files trying to get this huge account that I didn't even take lunch, nor did I notice my secretary had left. I got up gathered my papers and headed for the door. I found my little Kia sitting all by her lonesome. I put my things in the backseat and went to get into my car when I noticed something hanging on my windshield. I got out and found a black rose pinned under my windshield wipers. I hurriedly got into my car and drove off.

A black rose, what could this mean, I've seen mafia movies and a black rose meant death. I had to get a grip there were plenty of logical reasons the rose was there, maybe it was a prank. Yea that is it a prank. Breath Melinda breathe. I drove home to my apartment where I was greeted by my doorman Albert. Albert was mid 50s salt and pepper hair, ex military pretty stocky guy. He must have seen I was shaken up because he offered to walk me to my apartment. I politely declined. I got on the elevator hit the button to the 5th floor and kept telling myself everything was okay. As I approached my door, I noticed a box sitting in front of my door. It was a black box with a bow on it. I grabbed the box and opened my door. I set the box on my table just as my phone started ringing.

"Hello", I answered while staring at the box.

"Hey", Luke said on the other end of the phone ", I know it has been a while, but I wanted to call and check on you.

"You wanted to check on me, after 10 years brother"?

"I'm in town and wanted to talk with you if that is okay." Everything in my being wanted to hang up the phone, but I continued to listen and finally gave in, I gave my brother my address and told him he could come over and that I would make us something to eat and we could discuss whatever it was he wanted to discuss. Dealing with my brother I had completely forgot about the box sitting on the floor next to the my coffee table. I went into my bedroom put on something more comfortable and proceeded to make dinner. I may have had issues with my brother, but I loved him nonetheless. I knew his favorite food was lasagna and I just had happened to have all ingredients needed. I was finishing up the lasagna when a knock on the door. I was in my own world so the knock startled me a little. I looked in the peep hole and saw my younger brother Malcolm and my twin Luke standing in the hallway. What was Malcolm doing. I opened the door definitely surprised. Both brothers hugged me and even Malcolm looked a little better.

"Girl you haven't changed a bit", Luke said playfully.

"I'm surprised you remembered what I was like", I said sarcastically. My brother's both took a seat on my couch as I sat in the recliner across from them. There was something going on, I could feel the tension.

"Okay, cut the bullshit, why are you guys here?", I blurted out. Malcolm and Luke looked at each other and then looked at me. Luke stood up.

"Well, all cards on the table, Malcolm doesn't know anything, I asked him to come. I wanted to tell you both in person. I left after the funeral for a reason. I went to Dansbury because I wanted to get some clarity.

"Why would you go to where our parents had that car crash, what clarity were you needing", I asked curiously. Luke took a deep breath.

" Our parents were murdered, they weren't in a car crash, someone purposefully ran into them." I looked at Like in disbelief. Malcolm set back on the couch in almost an uncaring way. I couldn't believe my ears.

"Brother that is impossible, we saw those cars, we saw the other driver, he was dead we didn't know him."

"Yes, well what I found after examining the body, there was no way that other person killed mom and dad."

"Look brother you are an amazing investigator, but this is a bit much, I mean how do you know", I asked legitimately concerned for my brother.

"Because the body that was pulled from that car crash had been dead at least 3 days prior to the car accident. My heart melted. I was speechless.

"Well do you know who did it", I asked. Luke glared at Malcolm, "there was a blood at the scene." Malcolm started laughing as he stood up.

"You just couldn't leave this alone could you brother, Malcolm said as he pulled a gun from his waist and pointed it at Like and I.

"What are you doing", I screamed at Malcolm.

"You see that is the problem, it was always about the Twins, the twins this and that, what did I ever get from them, nothing and since we are putting everything on the table let's put it on the table your dad wasn't even my dad. Mother dear got drunk one night and slept with Uncle Max, I heard him and your dad arguing one night in the garage. Max wanted to take me, but daddy dearest just couldn't have his perfect family messed up now could he. I found his will and he had scratched me out and referred to me as the bastard child. Well I showed him who the true bastard child was.

"Come on Malcolm, don't do this, we can get through this", I said in between sobs.

"Oh shut up, the only reason you have kept me close to you is because it made you feel better as a person. Please stop trying to fix everything. You can't fix this, I want you both to suffer like I suffered. Your dad use to beat me for everything you did, I just want you to suffer. Malcolm cocked the gun placed his finger on the trigger and let off a round, it hit me in my leg. I collapsed onto the floor screaming in agony. Luke tackled Malcolm and they began fighting over the gun. I crawled to the side of the table, next to the box my purse was sitting with my phone in it. Just as I reached my purse I heard the shot go off. I didn't even want to look back for fear it was Luke lying on the floor. I slowly turned my head and saw Malcolm walking towards me. Luke was lying in a pool of blood. Malcolm leaned over me.

"How does it feel sister, knowing you have no one left, but me." I was in so much pain I began blacking out. The last thing I remember was being carried outside.

I woke up to a beeping noise. I was in a bed hooked up to all these monitors, my throat was so dry. I looked around the room and saw Luke sitting in a chair. He saw me open my eyes and immediately ran over to my side. I tried to mouth Malcolm's name, but my mouth was so dry I couldn't speak.

"He got a way, he shot me in the shoulder, it went in and out clean", he looked so sad. I began feeling for my leg. What in the hell. My leg.

Mel, he hit a major artery in your leg, in order to save you they had to cut it off Mel," tears began streaming down my face. Luke's phone began ringing. He looked puzzled, but answered it. He handed me the phone.

"How you doing little sister, heard you lost a leg, hope you get to feeling better, I shall see you soon, but for now let's cut ties, the line went dead.