Chapter 6

"What the hell, Jeffrey! Why here?" I was on my way to our backyard when I heard Mark yelled at Jeffrey.

"It's not my fault, bro. She doesn't like you! Why don't you just accept that?" Jeffrey yelled back.

"How could even have the chance to court her if you already stole her from me!" Mark yelled again.

Wait, are my brothers fighting over a girl?

Mom and Dad left early for the convention, that they were invited to be a guest speaker. I didn't even know that my brothers have an issue.

"I didn't steal her from you! You never had her, Mark! Why don't you accept that!" Jeffrey's voice is more hostile now.

"Damn you, Jeffrey! Damn you!" When I heard the noise like things are already falling, I decided to go out. I saw Mark wrestling Jeffrey. What the?

"Hey! That's enough, damn it!' I tried to separate them, but they just kept coming, especially Mark.

"I said enough!" I hit Mark's with my left elbow and Jeffrey with my right. "You're seriously fighting over a woman? Do you think Mom and Dad would be happy to you see the two of you like this? God! What the hell is wrong with both of you?"

"You don't know anything, Chris. Stay out of this." Jeffrey seemed to calm down, but Mark still looks like he's ready to attack anytime.

"I don't have to know anything, Mark! You're hurting our brother because of a woman who, by the way, is not even your girlfriend. I could understand you if she's your girlfriend but no! Yes, you like her, but she's not yours! You don't have the right to be mad at Jeffrey." I tried to explain to him.

"Since we were kids, I've always been the odd man out. I never had an alliance with any of you." I was shocked by what Mark said.

"How could you say that?" It was Melanie who looked like she was awoken by the commotion earlier. "Don't you remember how Jeffrey's nose got broken because he wanted to avenge you? Or when Chris almost got expelled for beating the crap out of your bully classmate who destroyed your art project? He knew how much you needed that project. You were failing. Have you forgotten how Jeffrey and Chris sacrificed their own attendance just to help you fix that project? Do you even remember how Jeffrey was willing to sacrifice his own life just to save you? You almost by a car, but Jeffrey jumped in, saving you. How could you say that?" Melanie was crying when she finished. I looked at Jeffrey, and his eyes were already swollen, trying to hold back his tears.

"We love you, bro. You were never the odd man out. We always pull pranks on you because we wanted you to play with us. We wanted to be friends. If I know that Chelsey likes you, I will walk away. I would never do that to you, bro." Jeffrey failed to stop himself from crying.

"You're our big brother, Mark. We will always look up to you." I said as I smile at him while my left arm is wrapped around Melanie's shoulder.

"If you want her, she's yours. I won't give up my big brother over a woman."

Mark started crying when Melanie pulled him into a hug. Damn! That's early for my taste.

After that dramatic morning moment with my siblings, I quickly took a bath and went to the station. I had to work hard on finding that rapist engineer. I promised Calvin that I will find him and put him behind bars for my goddaughter, and I intend to keep that promise.

"Chris! Have you find your goddaughter's rapist?" Should I promise to break his neck? It's still too early, but the narcissistic voice of Kevin Guzman already ruins my mood.

"Shut up, Guzman." Oliver hit his abdomen to make him stop before he approached me.

"Why? You think you can stop me from saying what I want to say?" Kevin intentionally spoke louder. I already have my back on him when she continued. "Maybe the kid deserves—"

Kevin did not get the chance to finish his sentence because I could get to him within seconds and punched his face, sending him back to the ground. 'Wrong move.' I said to myself when I walked over to him and grabbed his collar to lift him.

"I already beat you into a pulp once. I can easily do it. So watch your mouth." I warned him before pushing him, which made him fall backward again.

"I told you to shut up." Oliver pushed him as he passed him by.

"You know what? I am so full that Guzman's craft." I said as I tried to calm myself.

"Don't mind him, man. I've got good news for you. Albert Humphrey was spotted last night at a seedy motel two towns away from here." Oliver showed me a print photo of CCTV footage.

"That's him," I exclaimed.

"Don't worry, bro. I already sent a copy of his pictures to the police stations around us. He won't get far. We will find him." Oliver assured me.

And just like that, as if Oliver's words were like a wish granted by a genie, an officer called us to say that Albert was spotted on Nicolson and I now being chased by the police.

We wasted no time and drove to Nicolson with six of our officers. It's a town four hours away from us, but if you take the shortcut in the forest, you can reach Nicolson in just one and a half hours. I wanted to be there when they catch him, so I drove like a maniac and reached Nicolson in just 45 minutes.

When we got to the Nicolson Police Department, Albert Humphrey was already cornered. He took a whole restaurant as a hostage, using the civilians as a shield. As we stood outside the restaurant, I saw Albert holding a gun in his shaking hands to keep the civilians down. I thought of something when I noticed the door on the far corner of the restaurant.

"I'm going in," I announced as I took off my jacket.

"What?" Oliver's shocked expression is written all over his face.

"Sir, with all due respect, but I'm not putting the people of my town in danger." A tall man approached me. He looked like someone in position.

"I'm taking him down, and him alone." I took out my gun and run to the alley located at the back of the restaurant.

I was right, there's a backdoor in this alley, and it was not locked. Albert Humphrey is not a professional criminal; that's why he didn't mind the small details. I snuck into the kitchen and watched as Albert paced back and forth. One of the customers saw me, and I immediately signaled her to stay quiet.

It was not the only thing she did. She kept Albert's attention on her as I quietly crept into the counter. I waited for a few minutes, and when I had the chance, I threw a tray into the far left of the restaurant, away from the civilian. And when face that direction with his gun on the ready, I shot his hand which caused him to let go of the gun.