Fire Point by Sean Black

stairs, while everyone apart from Teddy, who was framed in the kitchen doorway, smirking, fussed around the prodigal son. Marcus shot Lock a glance that settled somewhere between contempt and disdain. Lock could hardly pat the kid down but he did do a quick visual scan for a weapon. None that he could see. He walked into the kitchen. Teddy retreated with him. The housekeeper was busy making a mountain of food for breakfast.
    ‘Mind if I grab some coffee?’ Lock asked.
    ‘Rosa will get that for you,’ said Teddy. ‘Get me one too, Rosa,’ he added, doing that white-people thing of raising his voice, as if that would magically make the English language more discernible to a native Spanish speaker from south of the border.
    The housekeeper poured two mugs and set out half-and-half and sugar on the kitchen island for them. She never said anything. She didn’t make eye contact. Lock didn’t blame her. In a nuthouse like this, keeping your head down was usually the best policy, especially when your pay check depended on it.
    ‘ Muchas gracias ,’ said Lock, taking the coffee with a smile that Rosa returned with a raise of her eyebrows that spoke volumes. They were both hired help, after all. He took a sip. The coffee tasted great. Freshly made. The expensive stuff, Blue Mountain from Jamaica.
    Teddy hefted his mug to his mouth, and regarded Lock with bloodhound eyes. ‘Oh, boy, do I need this. And some painkillers. Probably a blood transfusion too.’
    With a glance at the door, where Tarian was still fussing over Marcus, Lock asked, ‘He say anything about where he’s been?’
    ‘With friends,’ said Teddy.
    ‘Anything about the shooting?’
    ‘He’s not mentioned it, and I think Tarian is scared to. Case he freaks out. I asked him when he was last at his place and he said three days ago. I was going to say more but she cut me off. You must have seen that look she has, like she’s going to cut my goddamn balls off.’
    Lock ignored the last part. Whining was never to be encouraged, particularly not when it came from a grown man who had likely contributed his part to the breakdown of his marriage. In Lock’s experience, despite what men would have their fellows believe, women didn’t start out as nags: they got that way because of the men they were married to. If they had started out like that, more fool the men who married them.
    ‘You want me and Tyrone to handle it?’
    ‘Boy, would you? That’d be great. He doesn’t listen to me. It’s like talking to a wall. I’m just the guy who pays all the bills around here.’
    ‘Leave it to us,’ said Lock, draining the rest of his coffee.

26
     
    Lock signaled for Ty to follow him. They walked back out into the hallway. Tarian and the two kids were still fluttering around Marcus. The little boy was trying to show his stepbrother some toy car while the little girl was asking him a million questions. Tarian looked like she was someplace between relieved and apprehensive.
    Marcus stood in the middle of all the activity. When he saw Lock and Ty, Lock thought for a moment that he might bolt for the door. He looked scared. It didn’t take a genius to see it. He was staring at Lock with an air of defiance but his folded-in body language spoke of fear.
    Tarian broke the ice for them: ‘Marcus, this is Ryan, and Tyrone.’
    Lock winced a little at the first names. She was making them sound like camp counsellors. He stepped forward, hand out. ‘Ryan Lock. Good to meet you, Marcus.’
    Marcus offered a sweaty hand. Ty followed Lock’s lead. ‘Hey, brother, Ty Johnson.’
    ‘What’s going on?’ Marcus said to Tarian. ‘Who are these guys? I already told you, I’m not seeing another shrink. I’m fine.’
    Lock and Ty traded a look. Ty took the lead, moving next to Marcus and clapping a hand on his back, imposing himself on the boy. ‘It’s nothing to worry about. But we need to talk to you for a few minutes. Bring you up to speed. That’s all.’
    Lock had