Page 70 of Things We Hide from the Light
“I understand your predicament, Big Nicky. All I’m sayin’ is I think there’s a way around this that doesn’t involve pressing charges. We all do stupid things. Especially at that age.”
He huffed out a breath and glanced over my shoulder at the kids. “Hell, when I was that age, I was stealin’ my daddy’s cigarettes and cutting class to go fishing.”
“And you made it out of childhood without a record,” I pointed out.
He nodded thoughtfully. “My mama scared me straight. Guess not all of us are lucky enough to have parents who care enough to scare the shit out of us.”
I knew what that was like. Could still feel the tilting of my axis after Mom—the glue, the fun, the love of our family—left this world, and us, behind.
“Toby and Kyle, their parents are gonna ground them until it comes time for learner’s permits,” I predicted.
“But Lonnie…” Big Nicky let that hang there.
But Lonnie.
Knockemout wasn’t good at keeping secrets. That was how I knew Lonnie Potter was a tall, tough kid who had a mom that skipped out on him and his siblings two years ago. His dad worked third shift, which left little time for raising kids. I also knew that Lonnie had quietly joined the Drama Club at school. First, probably to have a place to go when no one was home, andthen because he’d taken a liking to trying on other people’s lives. He was good at it, according to Waylay. But no family members ever showed in the audience on opening night.
“Noticed the paint’s peeling outside,” I mused.
“That’s what I get for hiring that yahoo’s crew outta Lawlerville. Did a shit job with shit paint because they don’t give a shit. Pardon my French. None of them live here to be embarrassed by watching their half-assed work flake away.”
“Bet some motivated young labor could get the job done for you for the cost of materials.” I nodded toward the hallway.
Big Nicky’s smile was slow. “Huh. You might be right, Chief. Nothing like a little manual labor to keep you out of trouble.”
I hooked my thumbs in my belt. “That option sits well with you, I’ll talk it over with their parents. I have a feelin’ they’ll be amenable.”
“I’m feelin’ pretty amenable myself,” he said.
“Then I’ll get ’em out of your hair and we’ll work it out with the parents.”
“Appreciate that, Chief.”
I found Grave standing guard over the boys, frowning like a terrifying specter.
“All right, gang. I’ve got a one-time offer for you that’s gonna save you from a lifetime of grounding and me an acre of paperwork…”
Graveand I trooped the boys out the back and into my SUV to keep the gossip mill from getting any hotter. Piper greeted the troublemakers with nervous peeks between the seats.
We ran through the situation with Toby’s and then Kyle’s parents. Punishments were doled out, community service and official apologies agreed upon.
“My dad ain’t home,” said Lonnie, the remaining member of the felonious trio in the back seat. “He’s workin’ a double.”
Piper wagged her tail from her perch on Grave’s lap.
“I’ll get a hold of your dad at work,” I told him.
Lonnie stared out the back window, looking mournful. “He’s gonna kill me.”
That crust of tough wasn’t as thick as he thought it was.
“He’s gonna be mad. But mad means he cares,” I told him.
“I fucked up.” The kid winced. “Sorry. I mean screwed up.”
Grave and I exchanged a look.
“You ever set fire to your daddy’s shed with fireworks you stole from your drunk neighbor?” Grave asked him.
