CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Isaac often amazed himself at how easily he was able to move on after the death of a family member.
The first had been when he was just twelve and Leo was seven.
He wasn’t able to help Isaac but he was able to watch for their parents to return home.
At the time, Isaac had no idea why their littlest brother was so deformed, only that he was draining their bank accounts and causing stares and whispers from the neighbors.
Isaac knew enough that no one would suspect him when the child was found dead in his bed. It was easy to smother him with the pillow. At first, it wasn’t easy to watch his parents grieve and it was uncomfortable the way Leo stared at him but he knew he’d done the right thing.
The next three were easier. As they became old enough to be diagnosed with whatever their infirmity was, he knew that they had to leave this earth. The final task was to stop his parents from procreating. They were at the core of the problem and they had to be stopped.
So, one night he and Leo left the house on the premise of going to a movie. He was just seventeen years old. With the movie theater just a few blocks away, he told his brother to save his seat while he went to get popcorn and sodas for them.
“I may use the restroom as well. Don’t be scared,” he told Leo.
“I’m not a baby, Isaac. I won’t be scared.”
Isaac was gone much longer than Leo thought he would be but he didn’t get scared. In fact the only person who truly scared him was Isaac. When his brother returned, he was sweaty and looked nervous but was carrying the popcorn and sodas.
“Are you okay?” he’d asked him.
“Fine. Just a little stomach virus,” he said winking at his brother. Leo bought it. At least for a while. When they walked home, they saw the fire trucks and police cars, both boys taking off towards the house.
Isaac remembered the way his brother looked at him. The accusations were clear on his face but the other adults had no idea. They simply saw two boys that needed one another.
Since Isaac had been part of a gifted program in school, he was given special permission, under the watchful eye of a child advocate to care for his little brother.
He was already in college and Leo was mature in his own way.
Isaac fully expected his brother to follow in his footsteps.
When he joined the military, he was shocked.
“Why would you do that without my permission?” he yelled.
“I don’t need your permission, Isaac. I need my own life, my own path and the military can provide that for me. I already have a bunch of college credits and they’ll pay for me to continue and get my degree.”
“We are supposed to be working on this project together,” he said through clenched teeth. Hovering over Leo, Isaac knew that he was scaring his brother. He didn’t care.
“I’ll come back, Isaac.”
In the end, he didn’t come back. Isaac had to track Leo down, time and time again. He’d move from one base to another, one duty station to another, and never notify his big brother.
“Ungrateful,” muttered Isaac to himself.
“May I get you anything to eat, sir?” asked the gentleman with the cart full of food. Isaac was hesitant, not wanting to see food he didn’t recognize. Realizing he still had a ways to go and his stomach was rumbling, he had no choice but to give in.
“What do you have?” he asked.
“We’ve got some lovely sandwiches with a variety of sides. I have curried rice and chicken, and curried noodles with lamb.”
Isaac made his selection, paid the man and purchased a bottle of water and a soda. He stared at the empty seat across from him, missing his brother. He didn’t tell anyone that the seat was available, instead keeping the two seats for himself so he could stretch out.
The meal was surprisingly tasty and made him sleepy. It was perfect timing as the sun settled in the distance and others were beginning to snore. Putting his ear plugs in, he leaned the chair back and lifted his feet to get comfortable.
Leo had been very concerned about the soldier and his friends and family but thus far, Isaac had seen nothing to be worried about. Leo. Always making mountains out of molehills.
With just three more stops to make, he might just be able to reach the numbers that his buyers were hoping for. The final two would be the ultimate test. If he could make the serum work for a group of millions, he’d be the wealthiest man on the planet, and the most difficult to find.
He’d already booked his appointment with the plastic surgeon in Brazil. He was going to look half his age when they were done and no one would be able to find him. Not even the super special soldiers that Leo feared so much.
He chuckled to himself and closed his eyes. Just a few more hours and he’d be at the next stop. With any luck, it would move quickly. By the end of the week, he’d be recovering on the beach in Rio.
In six months, he’d be on his own private island waiting for his next opportunity to serve those that shared his thoughts.