My Brother's Keeper by Keith Gilman

the sharp angular jaw, the dark, flowing hair, the straight nose and green eyes. And then it was only the red glow of the cigarette that remained, accentuating a set of moist full lips.
    She took a long draw and let the smoke drift from her lips and float toward the light. Lou had caught a glimpse of her face.
    â€˜Franny? Franny Patterson, is that you?’
    She took another drag off the cigarette. This time she turned her head and blew it out, her lips turned down in disgust.
    â€˜My name is Haggerty, Lou. Francis Haggerty. I’m married now. An honest woman. Surely my brother must have told you that much. I seem to be the main topic of conversation with him lately.’
    â€˜Where’s Jimmy?’
    â€˜I left him at home. I told him I didn’t need his help or yours. I came to tell you that myself.’
    â€˜I don’t think Jimmy would be worried if there was nothing to worry about.’
    â€˜What did Jimmy tell you?’
    â€˜Why don’t we continue this conversation in my office? It’s a little more comfortable than this cramped hallway.’
    â€˜And more private. Right, Lou? You always were a private person. Don’t like to air your dirty laundry in public? Is that it?’
    â€˜Mine or anyone else’s.’
    Lou could see her eyes wandering in the darkness, squinting at him through the smoke. She stood like a statue, her hip still cocked to one side, the hand without the cigarette still wedged into the narrow arc of bone where her hip met her waist. Her white shirt was unbuttoned at the neck, exposing sharp protruding collar bones and the steep curve of her breasts. A string of cloudy pearls hung between them. Joey hadn’t taken his eyes off her either. He still held the gun in his hand.
    â€˜You can put that thing away, Joey.’
    Lou unlocked the door and reached for the light inside. He gave the door a little push and let it roll slowly open. Franny eased past him, peering disdainfully around the place and moving directly to the window. She pulled the curtain back slightly and looked out, her two fingers fitted between the folds of sheer material as if she were feeling for a pulse. A thin strip of light fell across the floor. She looked down onto Lancaster Avenue and toward the corner where cars were streaming through the traffic light in both directions.
    Lou came up behind her and followed her gaze to the sidewalk below.
    An old lady with chalk-white hair as transparent as silk stood at the corner waiting to cross. The rush of wind from the moving cars blew her dress against her knees and seemed as if it might snatch the canvas bag hanging off her arm. Franny had the curtain open just an inch, spying the woman with one eye as the light changed and she trotted across the street, barely making it from one corner to the other before the light changed again and the flow of cars threatened to run her down.
    Franny abruptly pulled her hand away and the strip of light disappeared from the floor.
    â€˜I’ll make coffee.’
    Franny kept her back to him, her eyes closed.
    â€˜I don’t plan on being here that long.’
    â€˜I didn’t say it was just for you.’
    She turned and faced him now, her arms folded across her breasts, her eyes moist and blinking back what Lou thought was a tear ready to trickle down her nose. She ran the back of her hand over her cheek, smudging her make-up.
    â€˜I’m sorry, Lou. None of this is your fault and I’m taking it out on you. Jimmy thinks he can treat me like I’m still his little sister and I need his protection.’
    â€˜But you are his little sister.’
    â€˜And a grown woman who can make her own decisions.’
    â€˜If something happened to you and Jimmy could have done something to prevent it and he didn’t, he’d be devastated. That’s the way he is. You’re lucky to have him.’
    She sighed. ‘You’re right, Lou. He’s been like a father to