Chapter 27: Two Hours

"The vote said the toy run," Brogan said to the doubter. "It didn't say in front of sick kids."

"Then say when."

"Church. Midnight. I'll bring it to the table myself."

"And the ride?"

"The ride goes. Every man here rides it, you and Alec included, and nobody touches a patch on this lot."

The doubter looked at him for a long time and nodded once.

At nine o'clock I stood beside Lo at the end of the mill road and watched two hundred taillights go up Route 9 with Brogan at the front.

The children waved until the last bike was out of sight.

He was back at the garage at ten, and the rest of them came in behind him with their engines ticking, tired and loud and quiet at the same time.

Alec went to the diner with the white-bearded man. I went to the garage.

Brogan was washing his hands at the shop sink, with his back to me and his jaw set.

He did not turn around.

"You made that tip up in front of a camera," he said.

"Yes."

"You could have told me you'd say it out loud."

"You'd have stopped me."

"I would have."

He shut off the water.

"I have two hours," he said. "At midnight I walk into a room and decide whether your brother is alive on Sunday."

"I know."

"So tell me what you want."

I crossed the floor and put my hand flat on his back.

He went rigid, and then his shoulders dropped.

"I want you to not think for two hours," I said.

He turned.

I had never seen his face like that. It was wide open and tired and furious.

"Betsy."

"Pick me up."

He did.

He lifted me by the thighs onto the steel bench, and parts rolled off the edge and rang on the concrete.

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