Dead Right, ep XIV

There was hardly any conversation as they drove and in twenty minutes or so they were pulling up to Wenton's house. Once again, only Dell and Wenton got out and they walked up to the house.

"Any chance that security guy is watching us? Seeing if anything is out of place?" Wenton asked.

"Oh, I'd bet on it. Try to take your keys out, nonchalant-like, and drop them on the floor when we get to the door."

"Right."

"I'll drop off clothes to you in the morning before I go into the office."

"Okay."

They stood on the porch together and Wenton wasn't sure what to do next. He reached in his pocket.

"Not yet!" his brother said. "Shake my hand. Then drop the keys." Wenton grabbed his brother's outstretched hand and gave it two enthusiastic pumps, fishing the keys out with his free hand. He dropped the keys and took a step back. Dell made a show of fishing in his own pocket for his keys and if he hadn't know what he was doing, Wenton would have thought his brother's keys really had slipped out of his hand and onto the floor.

Dell picked up both sets and fished through Wenton's.

"Which one is it?"

"The silver one," Wenton said. "Has 'Access' or something on it."

Dell unlocked the door and Wenton followed his brother inside. Hanson-Henson—whatever his name was, was knocked out on the couch with his suit jacket draped over his upper body like a blankie.

"Go give the kiddie a kiss g'night and get out of here," Dell said. Wenton nodded and went in his son's bedroom.

Todd was snoring softly, his comforter pulled up to the top of his head. Wenton folded it back as gently as he could and kissed his son on the temple. Dell was right; he had neglected his son when Cara had died. He might even think Wenton was doing the same thing again, but this would be different. Wenton was going to find the peace his wife deserved and once he had that he could truly move on and be the father his child deserved.

Wenton felt himself welling up. If only Cara hadn't been on that side of the city none of this would have ever happened. And she and the baby she'd never told him she was carrying would still be alive.

He could feel the anger bubbling up inside him again. Tears began streaming from his eyes as a reminder of his constant impotence to do anything about what had already happened.

Wenton turned and left the room and almost ran over his brother.

"Whoa, you cool?" he whispered.

"Yeah." Wenton swiped his hand down his face and nodded. "Yeah."

Dell was holding a folder in his hand and Wenton took it.

"What's this?"

"I don't know. I figured you should leave with something official-looking. You know, a reason for you coming inside. You'd better get going."