Page 152 of Something Tattered
"Well, uh, yeah. But I didn't think it was a big deal."
In hindsight, it all seemed terribly naïve. Seriously, what did I think? That Joel could go around breaking the law and there'd be no consequences, ever?
I'd just finished relaying what Derek had told me – that Joel was under some sort of suspended sentence. Apparently, he'd been busted for illegal fighting six months earlier. But, thanks to some high-dollar help from one of the promoters, he'd gotten off with barely a slap on the wrist.
Unfortunately, the slap had come with conditions. During a one-year term, Joel couldn’t associate with a whole list of people who'd been involved in that particular fight.
Again, I looked down to the photos. They all showed basically the same thing – Joel hanging out in some bar with a bunch of guys who I didn't recognize. But thanks to Derek, I knew their names, and a little about their backgrounds.
A couple were fellow fighters, while a third guy was involved in the whole betting operation. All of them were on the list.
Looking at them now, I wanted to cry. How could Joel be so stupid? And why hadn't he told me?
Cassie asked, "When were these taken?"
"Like two months ago." I pointed to a beefy guy in a black dress-shirt. "See him? He got married the next day."
"How do you know?" she asked.
"Oh, that's the best part," I said. "I know, because these stupid photos were taken just before his bachelor party." I gave a bark of laughter. "And what does the guy do? He posts the photos online."
I mimicked his stupidity, "Oh, look at me. I'm getting married tomorrow." I gave a derisive snort. "Idiot."
Cassie's tone was gentle. "Oh come on. You can't really blame the guy."
I looked up. "Can't I? Youdoknow what'll happen to Joel if the right person sees these?"
"No. What will happen?"
"Don't you get it? He'll be rearrested. Thrown in jail." My voice was shaking. "And then, the way Derek talked, off to prison."
"You don't know that for sure." Her tone grew hopeful. "Maybe he'd just get a warning or something."
I shook my head. "No. He won't. Derek's dad knows the prosecutor." My jaw tightened. "I swear, that guy knows everyone."
"But so what?" Cassie said. "That prosecutor – he probably won't even see the photos. I mean, not everyone scours the internet, right?"
"Don't you get it?" I wanted to scream. "He won't have to scour. Derek's gonna show him."
Cassie's mouth fell open. "What?"
I nodded. "Didn't I tell you?"
"Honestly," she said, "you were a little hard to understand. You were kind of…" She waved her words away. "Never mind."
"Hysterical?" I gave a bitter laugh. "Gee, I wonder why."
Again, I looked to the photos. The groom-to-be looked so happy. And I hated him for it. I looked up, meeting Cassie's gaze. "Wanna hear the worst part?"
She eyed me with concern. "There's something worse?"
"Oh yeah." I took a deep breath. "Apparently, there was this fight last year, where Joel really mopped the floor with some guy. And guess who he is."
Cassie shook her head. "I have no idea."
"Get this. He's a member of the Broadstreets."
Cassie looked utterly horrified. "The gang?"
