Chapter 3

Joe followed his directions and stabbed the button to start the machine. Then Derek took him back up to the first floor and the small guest bedroom off the living room. “The shower’s in here.” He opened the door to the bathroom. “Take your time. Your clothes won’t be ready for an hour between washing and drying.”

Derek had the feeling Joe was overwhelmed by everything from the way he meekly nodded before going into the bathroom, closing the door behind him.

If a stranger had done this for Jace would it have made a difference? Would he still be alive? Probably not. He was too far gone by the time he ended up on the streets.

Pushing thoughts of his brother to the back of his mind, as much as possible, Derek went into the kitchen to let Sherwat in again, and after drying him off, began to fix a late night meal for Joe. He’d eat with him, since he didn’t want the young man to feel any more uncomfortable than he did already.