Page 80 of S.O.S. Billboard

Apparently, Barnie was the head of the selectboard in town, and also the moderator of tonight’s special town meeting. He’d called a gathering to determine whether the townsfolk would adopt a resolution to change the political dynamics of the town, having it governed by a mayor instead of a board.

Billboard still wasn’t seeing the problem. Why would that issue have O’Shea mobilizing?

He screwed up his face and read again, but nothing more stood out. He guessed he’d have to go to the town hall and see what was up in order to ascertain the impetus that had sent O’Shea there.

Zoe meowed plaintively again.

“Uh, thanks, Zoe. I think,” he told her with a scruff to her head. “And yes, I’ll go see what’s up with O’Shea.”

The cat blinked up at him again, and then, as if satisfied, went over and curled up on O’Shea’s pillow.

“Okay, then,” Billboard snorted. He closed the laptop, walked out of the room and down the hall just as the front door opened and Anna Jakes walked in.

“Hey Anna,” he greeted.

Her shoulders, which had been up around her ears, dropped. “Oh. Billboard. It’s you. I, uh, wondered whose vehicle that was in the driveway.”

“Yeah. Sorry to alarm you, but O’Shea’s got my Bronco, remember? So I’m on a loaner. But speaking of O’Shea, do you have any idea why she might be attending your town’s meeting tonight?”

Anna’s mouth dropped open and her eyes grew wide. “She went?”

“I think so,” Billboard replied, confused as to why Anna looked so spooked all of a sudden. His internal bells, which had been reduced to lazily ringing, began clanging again in earnest.

“Uh, Ethan?” Anna called over to her son, who was feeding Cheeto a hunk of cheese from the fridge.

“Yeah, Mom?”

“Why don’t you head into your room for a minute. I need to talk to Billboard in private.”

“Aw, Mom. Why is it when things get good, I’m never allowed to stick around?”

“Young man…” Anna said, in a tone that all people—both children and adults—understood as “don’t even think about giving me crap”.

“Fine,” Ethan grumbled. Hefting Cheeto and purloining the remaining cheese, he shuffled his way to his room.

“Ethan has heard far too much for his young age, already,” Anna stated unhappily. “I don’t want him privy to anymorethings if it’s not absolutely necessary.”

“Tell me,” Billboard prompted.

****

Ten minutes later, Billboard was on his way to the town hall, his guts churning.

What the hell was O’Shea going to do at the meeting? He groaned to himself. If he knew her, she’d probably stand up and call that asshole Barnie out in front of all his constituents. And what would the abusive prick do to retaliate?

Nothing good.

If what Anna said was true, and Billboard had no reason to doubt her, Barnie was a man who enjoyed lording himself over others; using his powers to get exactly what he wanted, and thatincluded abusive behavior. And if the douchebag wanted to shut O’Shea up…

Billboard punched the gas, increasing his speed to another ten miles an hour over the limit.

Just let someone try to stop him.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Well shit.That hadn’t gone well.

Jakes was clearly pissed.

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