Chapter 22

- Dana's point of view -

I am worried. Something must have happend Sunday night, after Daniel went with teacher Alex for his date. But he won't tell me.

I first noticed Monday at noon. Daniel went out, donning a full on suit. He seldomly does this, only if he needed to impress the group. Was there a group meeting scheduled?

From this afternoon onwards there were two guards in the house, one of them Steven. Normally, Daniel only insisted on us having guards when we went outside, but now the security was even in the house?

But still, Daniel didn't say a word. I grew anxious. Just Sunday was the death anniversary of my late husband. What was happening? Was there danger approaching?

I first wanted to confront him at the dinner table, but should be disappointed. After going out in his suit he didn't come back until yesterday night. I wouldn't have even noticed this if not for his shoes in the entrance area. Today is Thursday. What did he do for these past few days?

I send Peter of to the kindergarten with Steven in tow. It would not do to disturb Peter's daily routine just because of my anxiousness and Steven would always be close. The poor guy would park out front the whole day, reading book after book or whatever you can do to kill so much spare time.

Now I will get to the bottom of this. I prepare a late breakfast for my brother and seat myself at the table with a tea cup in hand. Like this I wait for another hour.

Finally, I hear some commotion upstairs. Doors opening and closing, footsteps. Soon enough the footsteps move down the steps.

When I finally see my brother for the first time in days, an audible gasp escapes my lips. "You look horrible." I can't help but point out. He only allows a weak smile.

"Thank you for preparing breakfast.", is all he says before he starts eating.

I try to calm myself, watching him wolf down the meal like he didn't have any decent food in the past few days.

When he finally swallows the last spoonful I stand up, getting him a new cup of tea.

I sit back down across from him, watching him like I would a naughty child. "You ate. Now spill."

Daniel twitches his lips, clearly not happy with the question. I just stare at him, waiting for him to finally fess up.

"We had some trouble the past few days. But I am handling it." Was he stupid enough to believe I would fall for this half-assed answer?

"Daniel, I already figured out that this is something big. Why else would you increase the guards in the house? Now, don't bullshit me. You know as well as I do, that this concerns Peter and me, too."

Surprisingly, Daniel lowers his gaze like he can not meet my eyes. What is going on here?

"I am sorry. You are right." I tense when I hear him appologizing and sense the seriousness, more because of his voice than because of his words. He sighs deeply, like the whole world rests on his shoulders. Then, even last part of tension leaves his body and he slumbs in his chair, eyes still fixed on the table. He finally tells me everything.

After he is finished, I have to admit, I am scared. The death of my husband, these scenes where still edged in my brain, now vividly playing behind my eyes as if to mock me.

I come to a decision. "Okay, since it is like this, Peter and I will go to the lake house for some time. Then you don't have to worry about us and can focus on handling this situation." I can do nothing else. I am just weak. I felt it before, when my husband bled out in my arms and I feel it now, when there is a person out there, targeting Daniel's loved ones.

"Thank you. Steven will accompany you." I just nod. I feel so helpless.

But before we have a chance to discuss this further, the phone rings. I answer it. When the caller identifies herself and delays the situation, my eyes widen in surprise. "Okay, my brother will come pick him up immediately." I hang up.

Looking at Daniel, he meets me with a surprised look. "What happened?"

I sigh. This day just gets worse. "Peter got into a fight with another kid in the kindergarten. Since it seemed serious, they called the parents. Could you handle this? I have to start packing for the lake house."

I am a bit puzzled, when Daniel meets this simple request with a troubled expression. But nonetheless, he accepts it. Only when he leaves for the kindergarten do I understand this, the part he left out of the story. Teacher Alex was threatened right in front of him, of course my always responsible brother would take the consequences. He would have ended it with the teacher.

I smile sadly. This just barely started relationship didn't deserve this abrupt ending. But who knows what might happen, if these two meet again now?

__________________________

- Back to the regular POV -

At the same time at the day-care-centre, Alex' supervisor, looking at Peter, who stands next to Alex, clinging closely to the man's leg, says "Your uncle will come pick you up. Teacher Alex will be waiting with you."

Before she could notice the rookie teacher's face impale, she has already left the room, going back to supervise her group.

'Daniel comes? Here?' Alex feels his heartbeat quicken. Panic rises within him. 'I am not ready yet. I still have not found my answer.'

He doesn't realize that alone the fact that he still ponders over a question his logical childhood self answered with such conviction ("The foolish girl should call the police and stay away from the gangster.") he already has part of the answer he searches for.