Page 73 of The Manny

“That was your friend?”

“Yeah.”

I was literallydyingto ask questions, but I clamped my lips tight.

“We were like brothers. Or so I thought,” he said quietly.

“God. I’m sorry.”

He shrugged. “That’s just how people are, right? They use you to get what they want.”

“Not all people.”

He sighed. “No. Not all people.”

After a moment, I asked, “Why rob a computer warehouse?”

“Kenny said we could resell the computers and make a lot of money. He was always dreaming up schemes to make fast money. I didn’t take him seriously for the most part, but this time he wouldn’t drop it. I really only went along so he didn’t get himself into trouble.”

I frowned. “Then how did the story become you were the ring leader?”

His jaw clenched. “He brought his dirt-bag brother along. When we got arrested, his brother threw me under the bus and Kenny went along with it.”

“What anasshole,” I hissed angrily. I sat up on my elbow. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

He raised his brows, looking a little surprised at my passionate response. “Uh, no.”

“What a jerk. You went along to keep him out of trouble, andyougot the longest sentence because they lied?”

“It was my word against theirs. The judge we got had a long history with my dad. He was only too willing to believe the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Judge Carter. I’ll never forget that asshole’s smug face.”

“I don’t blame you.”

“Anyway, the entire trial was humiliating. I felt numb most of the time.”

“Of course.” I sighed, studying his tense face. “I hate to think of you like that; eighteen and terrified.”

He winced. “Don’t feel sorry for me.”

“I’m angry for you. How about that?”

“That works.”

“You must have felt horribly betrayed,” I said softly.

His face flinched. “Yeah. I loved Kenny. I grew up with him. He was the one person in the world I trusted, and look where that got me.”

“Well, nobody can go through life without trusting someone. People need people.”

“Not me.”

“Even you need people, Jack.”

He narrowed his eyes. “No.”

I laughed. “Not true. You put your trust in people every day.”

“Not if I can help it.”

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