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house itself was an old, humongous, two-story Victorian, set in a
neighborhood of older houses of all shapes and sizes. Nothing like the
new developments cropping up all over the country that made Richard
wonder how anyone found their own house at night since they all looked
identical.
He took a quick, deep breath, blew it out in a plume of white
reflected by the porch light overhead, and knocked on the dark blue
painted door.
After a count of three, the door swung open. Yeah?
Judging by the man s dark blue uniform and the medical patch on
the sleeve, Richard held out his hand and said, You must be Damon.
The man, about the same height as Richard but slightly bigger built
in the shoulders and chest, eyed him up and down with eyes a little paler
than Sylvia s. Yeah. And you are?
As if he didn t know. Richard Princeton. I m here to pick Sylvia up
for our date.
You re early.
Richard let his hand drop. He d thought just maybe the married
brother would be less hostile, but apparently he d been very wrong.
Better early than late. Is she ready?
Is that him? Richard heard from behind Damon.
Yeah, it s him, Damon answered, keeping his tone all business.
Richard pasted on a pleasant smile when Gregory moved up beside
Damon to form a formidable-looking barrier into the house. Gregory.
How are you this evening?
I ve been better. Gregory stepped forward, out onto the porch,
forcing Richard to take a step back and brace for another blow that,
fortunately, never came. Instead, Gregory said in a low, gravelly voice,
What happens right now is just between us? It s personal, not business,
so it has nothing to do with my job, right?
Here it comes& . That s right. Me taking your sister for a date has
nothing to do with your job.
Gregory, Damon said in a warning tone.
I m not gonna hurt him& unless he does somethin foolish& to
provoke me. To Richard he said, You aren t the foolish type, are you?
He wasn t the type to like threats either. I m no more the fool than
you, Gregory, but just to be perfectly clear, what type of provocation
would you consider foolish?
If you hurt my baby sister, I ll hurt you. He pointed at Richard
with a beefy finger. Is that clear enough for you?
Crystal. I assure you, I will not harm Sylvia, Richard said
solemnly, meaning it with all his heart.
I don t just mean you hitting her or something. I mean, if I see my
baby sister in any kind of upset over you, you ll pay.
I understand fully.
Good. Then we understand each other.
Hey! someone called from inside. Is that him? She s really
dating your boss?
Gregory s expression changed to one of exasperation, and when he
turned to go back inside, Richard caught a glimpse of a tall, gangly teen
with hair hanging over his right eye.
Get back inside, Doyle.
Hey, Mr. Princeton, another young man said, showing much
more politeness than Gregory or Damon. Damon had stepped back from
the doorway to let the latest brother through, but still stood guard, arms
folded over his chest. Sylvia s on her way down. She was& fixin stuff.
He made a motion with his fingers in front of his face and over his head,
which Richard took to mean Sylvia was finishing her hair and makeup.
Richard smiled. Thanks. And which one are you?
I m Harland. He held out his hand to Richard, and Richard shook
it. Nice ta meet cha. Excuse me. He slipped on a coat as he crossed the
porch. I ve got to get to work. He headed down the sidewalk and got
into an old pickup truck parked at the end of the driveway.
Sylvia had said Harland played The Copper Room tonight.
You give him the talk? Doyle asked.
I thought I told you to go back inside, Gregory challenged.
Go do your homework, Damon said.
It s done. Did you? Doyle stood his ground.
Richard tried not to grin. He still stood on the porch, freezing, the
front door left wide open with Damon and Gregory standing like stone
sentries. Doyle looked like a sapling next to his older brothers.
Where you takin her? Gregory asked, ignoring Doyle s question
in favor of interrogating Richard.
That, dear brother, Sylvia said as she came around the corner
into sight, is none of your business.
It damn well is my business, Gregory said, grabbing her by the
arm when she moved to pass him. It s our job to keep you safe since
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