Chapters (95)
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Dedication
- Epigraph
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Forty-Eight
- Forty-Nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-One
- Fifty-Two
- Fifty-Three
- Fifty-Four
- Fifty-Five
- Fifty-Six
- Fifty-Seven
- Fifty-Eight
- Fifty-Nine
- Sixty
- Sixty-One
- Sixty-Two
- Sixty-Three
- Sixty-Four
- Sixty-Five
- Sixty-Six
- Sixty-Seven
- Sixty-Eight
- Sixty-Nine
- Seventy
- Seventy-One
- Seventy-Two
- Seventy-Three
- Seventy-Four
- Seventy-Five
- Seventy-Six
- Seventy-Seven
- Seventy-Eight
- Seventy-Nine
- Eighty
- Eighty-One
- Eighty-Two
- Eighty-Three
- Eighty-Four
- Eighty-Five
- Eighty-Six
- Eighty-Seven
- Acknowledgements
- About the Author
- Also by David Swinson
- Thank you for buying this ebook, published by Hachette Digital.
The officer from the second car pats him down and searches him. He pulls out a gun from Jasper’s right side, near his waist.
Jasper’s turning, now screaming at the officers.
I can hear him yell, “Fuck, I’m one of you! What the hell is this? That’s my service weapon, fuckwad!”
What is there to do but smirk and smile big, despite the sweat all over my face?
Eighty-Five
Eighty-Five
Hot morning sun. Finished all my water and starting to feel dehydrated. A lot of officials showed up, even Deputy Chief Wightman.
Wightman looked happy. Probably already had Jasper on his bad-boy list.
Crime Scene Search just cleared the scene, and Jasper’s car is finally getting towed.
I’m good to go.
I start the car, get the seat back to its regular position, and blast the air.
Damn, that feels good.
I let the tow truck pull out.
I head home to take a cold shower.
After a shower, I plop on my bed wearing only my boxers. I think sleep is going to be my friend today.
I look at my phone for the time, remember the message Aunt Linda left but I never listened to.
I go to Messages, click it to play. I’m happy that we were able to talk face-to-face. I just want you to know that I believe in you, because the smile I saw on your face when we were sitting in the car is the same one I remember you having as a little boy. Don’t worry, Frankie. Every day has enough trouble of its own. We’ll talk soon. I love you.
Damn.
Eighty-Six
Eighty-Six
Midday, and I step out of the car onto Riggs Street, fold up the bag, and walk up to the house. Ring the doorbell. A minute later, a young lady answers. I know she’s not a relative because she’s Hispanic.
“Can I help you?” she asks with a kind smile.
“I’m a neighbor. I don’t really know the lady who lives here, but we all heard about what happened. Is she okay?”
“Yes, she’s fine. I’m with social services and here to check up on her. She’s in the living room if you’d like to say hello.”
“So she’s moving around?”
“A little every day, but she still has to use a walker. She can take care of herself, though.”
“Those troublemaking boys aren’t here, are they?”
“No. They’re both in jail, but that’s all I know.”
“Then I think I will come in and say hello. I don’t think she’ll remember me. It seems like forever since I saw her walking around.”
“Can you wait? I’ll go see if she wants company.”
“Of course.”
She returns, opens the security gate to let me in.
“She’s on the sofa in the living room.”
“Thank you.”