Bab 69: Chapter 69

Jake moved past Barry and burst into the kitchen, Barry bringing up the rear, his heart pounding.

“What the fuck!” Frank roared.

Barry saw a broken coffee mug on the floor, its contents staining the already dirty linoleum.

“Bess?” Barry asked, going to the clearly distressed woman.

“Who the fuck invited you two fags into my house? Get out!” Frank shouted.

“You should go,” Bess said, trying to step away from Barry but losing her balance in the process.

“I’ve got you.” Barry said.

She clung to him. “You shouldn’t have seen this. It’s…” Her slurring was worse.

“What the fuck’s going on?” Jake asked.

“None of your fucking business,” Frank said. “And are you deaf? I said, get out.”

Barry looked over at Jake. The cowboy was in full-on don’t fuck with me mode as he backed Frank into a corner. “No wonder Bess hasn’t been improving if you’re too lazy and cheap to get her the help she needs.”