The Lost Days (Prairie Town Book 3) (35 page)

They could both thank his Dad for that.

What sucked the most was the fact he had no idea what he’d done to the old bastard to deserve the hardships he was putting him through. 

Wasn’t he the reason Devin had turned into such a miserable piece of shit in the first place?

I can’t keep blaming everybody else, no matter how big of a role they played in it.

“Oh, and before you head off to burn up the streets,” she said, interrupting his internal monologue.  “Can you give me a ride back to the house?”

“Are you kidding me?  You just gave me your car, Mama.  If I can’t give you a ride home, what kind of son am I?”

She laughed and patted his arm, opening her mouth to say something when the sound of screeching tires caught their attention.

They both turned to see an old pickup truck speed into the parking lot and his heart did a nose dive into his stomach.

“Oh, no,” he said beneath his breath.  “Is that Jebson McIntosh?”

“I...I think so,” his mother replied, tightening her grip on his arm.  “Sweetie, get in the car.”

Even if he’d wanted to, it was too late. 

Jebson left the engine running and hopped out of his truck.  He walked towards them with murder in his eyes and arms big enough to accomplish it.

“Devin, please,” his mother pleaded.  “Get in the—”

“Hey. Douchenozzle.  I’ve been looking for you.”

Oh, shit.

“Get in the car, Mom,” he said, trying to hide the tremble in his voice.  Bracing himself for whatever was about to happen, Devin glanced in his mother’s direction.  Her face had paled significantly and he could see the fear in her eyes.

He was scared, too.

“I knew I’d see you out sooner or later,” Jebson said, grabbing the front of his shirt and shoving him backwards.  “I just hoped it’d be a little sooner.”

Stumbling backwards, he quickly caught himself against the hood of the car and narrowly dodged a punch to the face.  He hadn’t realized he could be so fast, but apparently his body remembered a thing or two about fighting.

Finally.

“Jeb, please!” Mrs. Rose wailed.  “Don’t make me call the police on you.”

“Go ahead and call ‘em,” Jeb replied through clenched teeth.  “Your family seems to be good at doing that.”

He charged at him again and rather than move and risk his mother being hit, Devin stayed put and allowed Jebson to tackle him.  They hit the unforgiving asphalt and he hissed in pain as his elbow scraped across it.

“You lyin’ sum’bitch!” Jebson bellowed, punching him in the ribs.  “You ain’t got me fooled, Rose.  Not one bit!”

“Oh, God! Get off of him!” Mrs. Rose screamed.  “Somebody help! Please!”

Jebson ignored her pleas and rammed his knee into his groin.  Devin doubled over, certain he was going to throw up.

“Get up, you scheming fucker.”

He stumbled to his feet and swayed back and forth, unable to shake the ringing from his head as Jebson’s fist flew into his gut. 

Shit.  He really was going to throw up.

“All the years of misery you put us through and they let you out?  Fucking piece of shit justice system.”

So that’s what he wanted?  Justice?

“You...have it all wrong.” Devin managed to say before Jebson’s knuckles connected with his jaw.  He hit him with such force, such insane strength, that he toppled backwards to the ground again.  God almighty, he was seeing stars.

“I ain’t got nothing wrong!” Jebson growled, hoisting him up like a sack of potatoes.  “You ruined our lives and yet here you are, walking around and having a nice time with your mommy.  If the law won’t do something about it, I will.  You have to pay for what you did to my sisters.”

“Jebson, please.  I don’t—”

The yelp of a siren caused Jeb to release him and they quickly separated. 

Wiping at his mouth, Devin pulled his hand back to see blood on his fingertips.

Great,
he thought. 
Just another one to add to my collection, I guess.

Jeb took a few steps away from him and Mrs. Rose hurried to his side, grabbing his face between her hands and examining him.

“Oh, sweetheart.  Are you okay?” She asked, tears streaming down her cheeks.  “Why did he do that to you?”

“Because my past won’t stay in the past,” he replied in a quiet voice.  “It’s going to haunt me forever, Mama.”

“What’s going on here?” The police officer asked as he got out of his car and approached them.  His hand hovered just above the gun resting against his hip, and his eyes stayed on Jebson.  “Giving him trouble again, McIntosh?  What’d I tell ya about that?”

“I was just—”

“Shut up, McIntosh.  I didn’t tell you to speak.”  The officer pulled his gun free from the holster and pointed it at him.  “Put your hands in the air and turn around.”

Jebson did as he was told.  Lifting his hands high into the air, he turned around to face Devin once again, anger burning in his eyes. 

“This is bullshit,” he muttered.  “It must be nice to have buddies in blue.  Did you have them watching me?”

Devin quickly shook his head.

“Be quiet, McIntosh or I’ll tase your ass.” The officer put his firearm away and grabbed one of his wrists, violently jerking it behind his massive body.  Jebson winced, but didn’t try to fight him as he shoved him to the ground and pressed a knee into his back.

“You don’t have to be so rough,” he said, taking a step towards them. “He’s cooperating.”

Both the officer and Jebson stared at him in confusion.  As if he’d said something forbidden.

“Just let him do his job, sweetie.  That boy was attacking you.” His mother touched his arm and he shrugged her away, shaking his head.

“He’s not doing his job, Mother.  He automatically assumed this was entirely Jebson’s fault, but we were both fighting.”

“But he started it, right?” The officer asked.  He finished handcuffing Jebson and then pulled him up from the ground.  “He’s a troublemaker, Devon.  This isn’t anything new.  I’ve had to arrest him before.”

“No thanks to you.” Jebson glared at Devin, his mouth trembling.  “I guess I shouldn’t have expected any different.  The cops do your bidding all the time.”

What did he mean by that?

“You’re coming downtown with me, McIntosh.  We can’t have trash like you on the streets, attacking innocent people.” The officer grinned maliciously and it rubbed Devin the wrong way.  Even though the man wore a uniform, something wasn’t right about his behavior.

Why had he automatically gone after Jebson upon arrival?  Why didn’t he ask for the full story?  And what did Jebson mean by saying he had buddies in blue?

“You and I are going to have a nice long chat when we get to the police department.” The officer turned him around and shoved him towards the car.  Jebson stumbled a little, but kept his footing as he straightened to his full height and stepped forward. 

“It will be all right now,” Mrs. Rose whispered, rubbing his back soothingly.  “He just needs to cool down behind bars, sweetie.”

Lifting his fingers to his throbbing lip, Devin tried to figure out what was happening.  Yes, Jebson had started it, but he had a good reason, didn’t he?

I would want to hurt the guy who hurt my sisters, too.

After placing Jebson in the backseat of his cruiser, the officer returned and tipped his hat to Mrs. Rose.  “I’m sorry about that, ma’am.  He’s been known to give us a lot of trouble down at the department.  I personally believe he needs to spend some time behind bars, give him a while to think about what he’s done wrong.  Are you all right?”

“A little shaken,” she replied, reaching her hand out to him.  “Thank you so much for stopping, Phillip.  I was so afraid he was going to hurt Devin.”

“I’m fine, Mother.” Devin frowned, staring back and forth between the two of them.  “It’s...just old history.”

“Just old history?” Phillip rolled his eyes and scoffed.  “Pardon me for a minute, Dev.  I’m going to help your mother into her car.”

“Well, technically it’s Devin’s now,” his mother said matter-of-factly.  “But thank you, Phillip.  You’re such a sweet boy.”

His eyes wandered back to the cruiser and he saw that Jebson had his head bowed.  Though he had no idea what was going through the guy’s mind, he imagined he was probably scared to death about going to jail.

And he felt a little guilty about sending him there.

They’re acting like it was one-sided. 

As shitty as it was of Jebson to catch him out in town and instigate a fight, he understood why he did it.

I made their lives miserable.  He hasn’t forgiven me for all the horrible things I did. 

Beating up Lydia like a favorite pastime hobby wasn’t necessarily something he was proud of.  He deserved Jebson’s wrath.

My past isn’t going to disappear until I make things right with him.

But, how?

“So, uh, Devin.” Phillip was suddenly by his side.  “What do you want me to do to him this time?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“With Dumb-Shit over there.” He nodded towards the cruiser and draped an arm around his shoulders.  “Maybe he’ll trip down some stairs or something?”

“What?” He shrugged his arm away and stared at him in bewilderment.  Had he heard him correctly?

“I know our plan got snubbed last time because Leland forgot to read him his Miranda rights, but I’ll make sure it’s all by the book this time.” Phillip grinned.  “I’ll make sure he doesn’t get out of jail any time soon.”

The alarms in his head started going off.  Something about this entire situation wasn’t right.  It wasn’t right at all.

“What are you talking about?”

“Oh, come on.  You can drop the amnesia act now.” Phillip crossed his arms.  “We’ve been friends since the fifth grade, buddy.  You don’t have to pretend around me.”

“I...what?”

“You’re a good actor – I’ll give ya that.” Phillip flashed a yellow-teethed smile and chuckled.  “You’ve got everybody down at the department convinced you really did break your brain.  We applaud you for slithering your way out of prison, you sly snake.”

His face felt like it was on fire.  “I’m not acting.”

“Yeah, yeah.  I’ll go along with this,” Phillip chuckled.  “But I’m being serious; what do you want me to do with him this time?”

“I don’t want you to do anything with him.”

“What the hell do you mean you don’t want me to do anything?” Phillip’s friendly smile vanished.  “I said you could drop the act, damn it.”

“And I said, I’m not acting!” He replied through gritted teeth.  “Listen, Phillip, whoever you are.  I don’t want you to take him to jail.  It’s a misunderstanding.  I can handle this.”

“Oh, please.” Phillip rolled his eyes and snickered.  “You?  Devin, you’ve never handled anything in your life.  Every time you get into trouble your daddy comes running with his wallet open.  If you’re afraid of hurting feelings, don’t worry about it.  I can handle Jeb.”

“I don’t
want
you to handle him.  I want you to let him go.”

“Are you fuckin’ kidding right now?” Phillip narrowed his eyes at him.  “Because this ain’t no time to play, Rose.  I got shit to do.”

“I don’t want to press charges, Officer.  Let him go.”

“All right. Fine.” Phillip heaved a heavy sigh and shifted his weight from one foot to the other.  “Listen, Devin.  I know you’ve been through a lot over the past year and what those McIntosh inbreeds did to you ain’t a bit fair, but there’s no reason to have any sympathy towards that one in the back of my car.  He’s an animal.”

“And that was determined by who?  My father?” He curled his hands into fists at his sides, glaring at the ‘officer’ as he probed his tongue against the inside of his cheek.

Were these the types of people Prairie Town hired to serve and to protect?  Phillip didn’t seem like a good guy to him.  In fact,
he
was the animal in his eyes.

“You,” Phillip replied simply.  “But if you’re gonna keep up with the innocent act, I’ll go with it.  Just don’t expect me to be watching the next time he pulls a stupid stunt like this.  Got it?”

“I don’t get why you were watching anyway,” he mumbled.  But then it hit him.  His eyes drifted to the car and he frowned.  What if he was watching his mom, too?  “Did my dad tell you to watch me?”

“Hey, man.  I just do what’s asked of me.” Phillip lifted his hands in defense.  “You can’t blame the guy for being worried.”

Worried, my ass.

“Well, you can stop watching.  I’m fine.”

“Sure, sure.  Whatever you say, Dev.  I’ve got better things to do anyway than get tangled up in your drama.”

“Good.”

I’m not that guy anymore.
  He’d wanted to say.  Causing drama and hurting people wasn’t something he found to be entertaining.  Maybe his old self did, but not now. 

As sad as it was, he knew it useless trying to convince the guy otherwise.  The person everyone else remembered him to be was still alive and well in the minds of people like Phillip – and the entire Prairie Town Police Department apparently.

“Once I leave here, there’s nothing I can do, you know?” Phillip tugged his key ring free from his belt loop and found the handcuff key, frowning.  “If he hurts you again, I ain’t coming back to save your ass.”

“I understand,” he said, keeping his voice as calm as possible.  “Now please release him.”

“Whatever, Devvy-Boy.”

It was easy to see Phillip wasn’t too thrilled about letting Jeb go, but Devin couldn’t allow him to take him to jail knowing the fate awaiting him once he was there.  His stomach churned as he thought about the officer’s words.

“What do you want me to do with him this time?”

He wasn’t sure he wanted to know what had happened the first time, honestly.

I need to talk to him.  I need to know how I’ve wronged him.

It was profoundly evident he’d done more to Jebson McIntosh than just hurt his sisters; he’d hurt him, too.

Once Jeb was free from his handcuffs and Phillip drove away, Devin sucked in a deep breath and slowly walked towards him. 

I may get punched again.

“Devin! What are you doing?” His mother cried as she got out of the car and hurried after him.  “Can’t we go home, please?  Let’s just go home.”