CHAPTER 7: The Brother in the Doorway

Lucas had loved Aaron in the lazy way younger brothers sometimes love men who keep paying for their mistakes.
Aaron paid his overdrafts. Aaron hired him after college. Aaron told Maya, 'He will grow up eventually,' with a tired affection that made her forgive more than she should have.
But Lucas had learned a dangerous lesson from mercy. He learned that Aaron would absorb consequences until other people stopped noticing who caused them.
Now he stood in the doorway while his brother's widow gathered wet clothes from the driveway.
Maya looked at him once. 'You knew this was wrong.'
Lucas swallowed. 'Mom said the lawyers told her.'
'Which lawyers?' Reyes asked.
Lucas opened his mouth, then closed it.
Vivian turned sharply. 'Do not interrogate my son like he is a criminal.'
'I am asking who gave legal advice,' Reyes said.
Maya set the cracked photograph inside the suitcase and lifted the lining from the bottom corner. The motion was small. Vivian missed it because she was busy defending Lucas.
Under the lining was a flat gray envelope taped to the frame.
Aaron's handwriting crossed it in waterproof ink.
For the police. Only if they try to throw Maya out.