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THIRTY-THREE
Summer
I rushto the bookstore in fear. Along the way to the store Shaw calls the police as soon as his mom texted him with “There’s an angry man here,”
We arrive at the same time as Officer Jones does.
“Holy shit.” Shaw whispers, stopping in his tracks.
“That’s his mom is inside,” I tell Officer Jones. “She volunteers here.”
I see a man in a hood standing in front of Janet and my heart beats out of my chest. I can’t see him, or what he’s doing, but I can see Janet’s terrified eyes. They stay trained on the man in front of her, even as Officer Jones slips into the store.
“I want all the money in the register!” The man yells.
“I’m sorry, I don’t have the special code you press to get it to open. I’m new here. I’m just a volunteer.” Janet’s hands raise in the air as the officer steps into view.
“Put down the gun, son.” He growls.
The man’s stance tenses and he turns, points the gun in his hand to Officer Jones and sneers at him. He swivels his head and sees me by the door.
“You. All of this is your fault. You whispered ideas into his head.” The man nods his head to Shaw who is standing beside me now, “and now that boy is going to be taken away from his mother.” He pierces me with his beady eyes.
“I had nothing to do with what’s happening between them.”
“Please, she didn’t. And that woman behind the counter didn’t either.” Shaw says, his voice calm.
“Son, I’m going to need you to put down the gun.” Officer Jones says.
“She’s a home wrecker.” The man points at me with his free hand, then looks back to Officer Jones.
“I don’t know where you’re getting your information, but I’m not. I’ve always been friends with Shaw, its only recently when it became something more. Please, listen to the officer and put your gun down.”
“Please, listen to her. Listen to the officer.” Janet pleads.
“I don’t believe you.” He looks at me.
“I can only tell you my side of the story. I can’t speak for what is thought by others. Please, you don’t want to do this.”
Shaw meetsJanet and me at the police station. We closed up the bookstore early and followed Officer Jones to the precinct for our statements.
Still not having a clue who the man is, or exactly what his motive was, I’m hoping that Shaw can help provide insight. He doesn’t look like any of the men in the photos that were provided, and I don’t recognize him.
The mugshot of the man with the gun is brought into the room where the three of us are sitting.
Officer Jones sits in front of us and crosses his arms in front of him.
“He states that your ex doesn’t know about what he’s done. He is related to her boyfriend, Connor. I believe he is his cousin or something along those lines. He has a pretty dirty record, so these events to your bookstore are not his first run-ins with either B&E’s or vandalizing.”
“Did he say why he’s done it all?” Shaw asks.
“He heard about what has been happening and took it upon himself to take matters into his own hands. He had no endgame, no idea really what he was going to do. It started out with him trying to scare you guys, but it got out of hand as he says. He said that he gained all his knowledge from conversations from his cousin.”
“So then he has to know Marie?” Shaw asks.
“He says she’s not spoken to him about it. He’s been very clear in making sure that it’s known that she had nothing to do with his decisions.”
“Do you believe him?” I ask Officer Jones.
