Chapter 67 Nasty Stuff
Right after Byron found out what happened, he got on the phone with his lawyer.
Emily listened intently, trying to tell by the expressions on his face and what he was saying whether there was any hope for Nick. Byron seemed to be frowning a lot, but it was hard to tell whether he was just concentrating or something discouraging was being revealed.
“The bad news is he’s eighteen, so he’ll be tried as an adult,” Byron said after he got off the phone, “But maybe it could be possible for him to avoid serious jail time since he’s not a violent offender, at least I hope he’s not.”
“I don’t see him ever being violent,” Emily said, rubbing her temples, “Although he’s deceived me before so who knows? But no, it’s really unlikely.”
“Well, I guess dinner is cancelled,” Byron said, “let’s go get the kid. Don’t worry, I’ll put up the money for his bail, whatever it may be.” Byron was already putting on his jacket and getting ready to go.
“Byron, you don’t need to do that. It’s not your problem.”
He paused and turned to face her. “Of course it’s my problem. Nick is really important to me, and he’s your brother. Besides, he’s not exactly on the world’s most wanted list. I don’t think his bail will be that high.”
“I have half a mind to let him spend the night in jail,” Emily said, “but we should probably try to get him out.”
They took the elevator down and were soon driving to the police station.
“Don’t be too hard on him,” Byron said as they stopped outside the station. “He probably lied to us about not being on drugs. Since he’s dealing, he’s probably doing them too. But the thing about an addict is lying becomes a necessary part of their lives.”
“That’s horrible,” Emily said. “It’s going to make it so hard to get through to him.”
“I know. My dad had a problem with alcohol. My mother said she could never trust him, and that was a major reason why she divorced him.”
“But when it’s a brother, I guess I’m stuck with him,” Emily said, trying to smile.
“He probably appreciates your help more than you know,” Byron said, putting his hand on her shoulder.
Emily was so grateful for his care. Even though he had his own emotional issues to deal with, Byron had so much understanding and sympathy. He was always supportive of her, and even of Nick, when she wasn’t sure her brother deserved it.
Nick was fairly gloomy when they picked him up from the police, but he did thank them for getting him out.
Emily wanted to wait until later to talk to him, but she just couldn’t hold back.
“Why would you do it? Why would you deal drugs?” she asked.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Nick said.
The next morning, Nick was a little more contrite. Emily tried to talk to him again, and he admitted he had been using cocaine and prescription pills.
“It’s nasty stuff,” he admitted, “but it makes me feel better, even if it’s only temporary.”
“God, Nick. I didn’t know you were in such dire straits. What is it that makes you feel so down?”
“I don’t know, life, I guess,” he said. “I have a lot of anxiety, and I don’t really feel like the world is a fair place. I’m reminded of it every day. Kids being abused, people too poor to pay their bills living on the street.”
“Of course, I feel that too,” Emily said, “Why didn’t you talk to me?”
“No offence, Em, but you seem to live in a world of butterflies and rainbows. I don’t think you really get how low I feel sometimes. Your boyfriend seems like he’s more in touch with the darker side of life, but he’s mega rich. I don’t think he would get it either.”
“But why would you want to be a dealer?” Emily asked.
He shrugged. “The money is good, better than what I get paid at my ‘honest job’. And besides, people are treated poorly every day at work or abused by their family members, and they can’t carry on without the drugs. They deserve some kind of a break.”
“Nick, what you’re doing is not helping people!” she exclaimed, “It’s just making it worse by numbing their pain.”
Nick was silent and didn’t reveal any more of his thoughts.
Emily could not believe that her little brother whom she had played with when they were kids was a remorseless drug dealer. She was still not over the shock.
“He’s so stubborn,” Emily said to Byron when they met up again and could finally have dinner together. “I don’t think he even realizes that what he was doing was wrong.”
“We can’t be too hard on him,” Byron advised. “I think soon enough he’ll figure things out.”
“I hope so...”
“My lawyer had some good news,” Byron stated, rubbing her arm in an effort to reassure her, “Now that she has more information about the case, she says Nick would be a good fit for the non-violent offender clause.”
“What does that mean?” Emily asked, not daring to hope.
“Even if he’s found guilty, Nick can be considered a first-time offender and a non-violent one. He’ll have to undergo regular drug testing, and he’ll be on some serious probation, but he won’t go to jail.”
For the first time in many days, Emily felt she could breathe a little easier.
“Whatever happens,” Emily said, “I am so grateful for what you’ve done. I’ll never forget that you were there for me.”
Her eyes burned with a sudden onset of tears. Byron stroked her hair and wiped away the tears with his hand.
“How could I not be?” he said softly, “I love you, and I am going to be there, especially in tough times. Just like you were there for me.”
