The Tenth Justice - Brad Meltzer [41]
Hold it together, Ben told himself, his shirt soaked with sweat. Don’t lose it. After rearranging the kitchen, the bathroom, the dining room, and the living room, Ben collapsed on the large sofa. He lay facedown; his right arm sagged to the floor and his fingers picked at the carpet. Catching his breath, Ben reached his conclusion. No matter what, you have to trust your friends. That’s the only way to stay sane. Trust your friends.
When Ben’s roommates arrived back at the house, Nathan headed for the bathroom, Ober headed for the kitchen, and Eric slumped in front of the television. Hearing the front door slam, Ben left his room and headed downstairs. He found Ober digging into a pint of ice cream. “How can you possibly be hungry?” Ben asked. “Didn’t you just eat a full meal?”
“I’m a growing boy,” Ober said.
Nathan returned to the living room. “How are you feeling?” he asked Ben. “Still worried about Rick?”
“Of course I’m still worried. But I’ve calmed down. I just needed the time alone.” He joined Eric on the large couch. “How was dinner?”
“You missed it,” Ober said, still picking at the pint of ice cream. “Eric’s aunt is hotter than ever!”
“Can we stop talking about her?” Eric pleaded.
“Listen, we can understand why you feel the need to be protective, but you have to face facts,” Nathan said. “Your aunt is steamy.”
“I don’t understand,” Eric said. “She’s not even that pretty.”
“You’ll never understand,” Nathan said. “It’s her aura. It speaks to us.”
“Does she still have that picture of herself in a bikini on the refrigerator?” Ben asked.
Ober smiled. “Not anymore.” Reaching into his back pocket, he pulled out the photo and threw it to Ben. “I figured you needed a little pick-me-up.”
“You stole the picture from her refrigerator?” Eric asked, looking over Ben’s shoulder.
“We borrowed it,” Ober said. “We’ll give it back. I just wanted to show Ben what he missed.”
“Hello, perverts,” Eric said. “This is my aunt we’re talking about.”
“What would happen if you had sex with her?” Ober asked. “Would your kids be mutants or something?”
“What’s the word again for kids who are born from inbreeding?” Nathan asked.
“I think they’re called ‘Obers,’” Eric said.
“Now that’s funny,” Ober said. “That’s a real laugh riot.”
Comforted by the camaraderie, Ben was even more convinced that the letter was just Rick’s way of playing mind games. He passed the photo to Nathan and put his hand on Eric’s shoulder. “I meant to tell you, I have a good bit of gossip for you. But you have to keep it secret until I say it’s okay.”
“Let’er rip,” Eric said, watching Nathan fawn over the picture of his aunt.
“Let’s just say that if you had to have a journalistic hunch in the next few days, I’d start asking around about an old Supreme Court justice.”
“Blake’s finally retiring?” Eric asked.
“You didn’t hear a word from me,” Ben said. “All I’m saying is that if you want to impress your editors with your sense of intuition, that’s the path I’d start sniffing.”
“Thanks.” Eric smiled.
“Is what you told him illegal?” Ober asked, looking up from his now melting ice cream.
“Of course it’s not illegal,” Ben said. “It’s just friendly advice.”
“Because if it was illegal, I’d be forced to make a citizen’s arrest.” When Ben shook his head, Ober said, “I’m serious. I’d arrest the both of you.”
“Ober, if you got me arrested, I’d call your boss and tell her you faxed me a photocopy of your penis last week.”
“So?” Ober said.
“And then I’d tell her you were the one who sideswiped her car at the office barbecue last July.”
“So?”
“And then I’d call all your overdue credit cards and give them your real address and your daytime telephone number.”
Ober paused. “So?”
“And then I’d tell Eric that you’re constantly stealing his quarters to do your laundry.”
“You’re what?” Eric asked.
“Oh, he’s so full of sh—”
“That