Part 193 (1/2)

it wouldn't be the last. ”I can't do it, Stevie.”

”Christ, Bri, just a couple grams. Nothing major. AJI they give me in

here's Tinkertoy drugs. It's like going cold turkey with aspirin.”

Brian pulled his hand away and turned around. He couldn't bear to look

at those dark, haunted eyes. Pleading eyes. ”I'm not going to

score c.o.ke for you, Stevie. The doctors say it'd be like putting a gun

to your head.”

”I already tried that.” Fighting tears, Stevie pressed both hands to his

face. ”All right, no c.o.ke. You could get me something else. Some

Dolophine. It's a good drug, Bri. If it was good enough for the n.a.z.is,

it's good enough for me.” He began to whine, staring at Brian's back.

”It's just a subst.i.tute, man. You've done it for me before so what's

the big tucking deal? It'll keep me straight.”

Brian sighed. When he turned, opening his mouth to refuse yet again, he

saw Emma in the doorway. She stood like a statue, her lush hair caught

back in a braid, baggy blue pants. .h.i.tched with white suspenders lying on

a crimson s.h.i.+rt. There were big gold hoops at her ears, and she carried

a game of Scrabble. Brian thought she looked sixteen, until he saw her

eyes.

They were cold. A woman's cold, accusing eyes.

”Am I interrupting?”

”No.” Brian stuck his hands in his pockets. ”I've got to get on.”

”I'd like to talk with you.” She didn't look at him as she spoke, but

moved to the opposite side of Stevie's bed. ”Maybe you could wait

outside for me. I won't be long. The doctor said Stevie needed rest.”

”All right.” It was ridiculous, Brian thought, but he felt like a child