Page 19 of Shattered Echoes

“Hi, Sheriff,” I respond.

“You like the painting?” he asks.

“It's…” I glance at it. “It's great. People say that you've been chasing down the artist.”

“Yes, I have. Whether the art is good, it doesn't change the fact that it's a defamation of public property, and that's still a petty crime.”

“Petty crime,” I say, bringing his attention to the adjective.

“Petty, huge…a crime is a crime, nonetheless.”

“Well, it's a good thing that these are the only crimes you have to worry about in Shadow's Bend.”

“Are you saying that I don't have work to do?” He frowns.

“No, no…that's not what I meant,” the words come out defensively. “I'm saying that it's a good thing that there aren't serious crimes here. It means that the town is safe.”

“Hmm.” Sheriff Reed knits his brows, squinting at me. “Watch yourself, boy.” He whistles and walks away.

I slap my forehead because I always get into trouble with Reed, especially when I was younger, since I used to be a bit of a troublemaker. This one time, Reed actually caught me smoking, and I guess that's the day his dislike for me started.

I take one last look at that painting and appreciate the art, even though I don't like the way it's making me feel.

Taking my groceries with me, I head back to my truck and stack them into the backseat. While I'm walking over to the driver's seat, my phone rings, and I squint at the number, which isn't Leo nor Gabby.

Peering closely at it, I suddenly recognize it and excitedly answer.

“Hey, Henry!” I open the door and get inside.

“Oh, come on Antonio! You just had to ruin this for me, didn't you?” Henry grouches on the other line.

“What do you mean?” I laugh.

“I wanted to prank you first, man.”

“Well, jokes on you.” I can't stop smiling. Finally, I'm talking to someone other than my brother or his wife. “You forget, I memorized your number.”

“Yeah…” he drawls lazily.

“It's so nice to hear your voice, man,” I confess, starting the engine and driving home.

“Same here, man. How are you doing, though?”

“I’m…I'm trying to be fine,” I immediately change the subject. “Wait. How were you able to convince Leo to give you this number?”

“It wasn't easy. I had to beg him for one entire week. One freaking week before he finally budged.”

I scoff. Classic Leo.

“Leo might be strict with this recovery thing, but trust me…he's a great big brother.”

I massage my eyeballs.

“I know, Henry. But it's stifling sometimes, you know? Bro, I couldn't even talk to my best friend. Leo took it a little too far,” I complain.

“Would you blame him?”

I know where Henry is going with this, and I'm getting pissed.

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