It shouldn’t have surprised me, the cruelty of young girls, but in this case it did. One impulsive act had set off an avalanche of events that had resulted in an attack on a little girl, two arrests and an attempted suicide.

I chose my words carefully. “It’s up to you, Kendall, but since you are asking for my advice, I think you should tell your parents and then talk to the police together. Eventually the police will find out that you and Emery were the ones who posted on the website. It won’t be easy, but it will be better for everyone if you tell the truth.”

“Can you be with me? When I talk to them?” She looked so young, so scared.

“Of course. When you’re ready, you let me know.”

“But not right now.” She turned her head away from me, closed her eyes. “Maybe tomorrow.”

Thomas Petit Thursday, April 19, 2018

Thomas Petit

Thursday, April 19, 2018

Thomas is in his truck just before the sun rises. He didn’t sleep well last night. Someone was sneaking around the back of the house. He had tried to catch whoever was out there but his arthritic legs couldn’t move fast enough. At any rate he was able to scare them off before they caused any mischief.

When he finally got back into bed his mind started replaying the events of the day before. Thomas went to the courthouse, Jordyn’s dress clothes in hand, fully expecting that she would be arraigned. He wasn’t sure what she was going to talk about, but it didn’t sound good.

When he got there, Robert told him that the arraignment was postponed, Jordyn was being reinterviewed by the police and more than likely she was going to get to come home the next day. Though Thomas pressed him, Robert wouldn’t give any details as to what bombshell Jordyn was about to drop. He said the police had to investigate Jordyn’s claims and he’d be able to share more soon. “I believe her,” Robert had told him and Thomas breathed a sigh of relief.

Thomas drives up and down the quiet streets of Pitch to center himself. Most homes are still steeped in darkness with lights off and shades drawn. He could put a name to just about each and every house he passed, and if he couldn’t remember names he remembered drinks.

Simon Gaspar lives there in the green house with the white shutters. He is partial to gin and tonics with a twist of lime. The Porters live across the street in the gray house with the bay window. Roy Porter likes rum and Coke while his wife always orders a Long Island iced tea. The woman in the yellow house at the end of the block asks for something called a Fallen Angel, a concoction made with gin, white crème de menthe, lemons, bitters and a cherry on top.