And it saideverythingthat Theo had tried to hide.
Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch
Joey Hancock:I’m really sorry to be the one to tell you this, but there’s someone in your town that isn’t who he says he is. Theo Murf is actually Theodore Murphy, the son of a family just outside of Knoxville that sells drugs. He’s come to yourtown to hide, but has had contact with people who deliver drugs for his family. He’s trying to make you all think he’s a decent man and hide his past, but you all should know a man like this doesn’t belong in your community.
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I could hardly believe my eyes. I had to read it multiple times and pinch myself to make sure I was awake.
“What thehellis your problem?” I asked when reality finally set in. “He did nothing to you. Or me, for that matter.”
“He hasn’t done anythingyet. But now he never will. I have a feeling he’ll leave the second he sees this.”
I let out a sob, but I tried to shake it off. My breath was coming too fast and I felt like I couldn’t stand. Joey was right. Theo would have to leave when the town saw this. We’d talked about it many times.
There was only one thing that might make him stay.
“Take it down,” I said.
“No.”
“Yes!”
“There is nothing you can say to convince me to take it down.”
Joey’s phone was in his hand, and desperation was the only excuse for what I did next. I tore over to him, ignoring that this was the first time we’d ever touched, ignoring my own fears.
Ineededthat phone.
“P-Piper!” he said, his arm coming up to stop me. I collided with it and my heart jumped into my throat.
I pushed on.
“Give me the phone, Joey!” I didn’t recognize my own voice. It was filled with an anguish I hadn’t felt in years.
“No!”
I tried to pull his arm down, but he raised it high in the air. I tried to jump for it, but nearly toppled him over.
“Joey!” I cried. “Come on!”
“Getoff!” This time, he pushed hard enough and I fell onto the floor with athud.
I dimly felt the pain. I knew I’d be bruised, but I was too busy heaving.
This felt like a past I couldn’t relive.
But I was.
That was when the front door opened. New light spilled into the room and Joey used it as a chance to get away. I tried to follow, but my body had locked up. I couldn’t get enough air. I couldn’t move either.
Dimly, I recognized that I was sobbing.
“Piper?” Mitch asked. “What the hell is going on?”
“Mitch,” Joey said, his voice weak, “you’re home early.”
“Yeah, you said something was wrong.” He slammed the door behind him, which caused me to flinch. I’d heard many doors slam like that, and the memories of Dad coming home to take out his anger on me threatened to resurface.
