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Victims.
Did I hear that right?
They werevictims?
“Nobody wants to see you in trouble, Miss Young,” the officer continued to say. “Certainly not any member of my team, but you are pushing it to the point where we are going tohaveto intervene if this behavior doesn’t stop.” She paused for a long beat before adding, “None of us want to see a grieving child in a Garda station, so can I have assurance that you will stop slandering the Allen family?”
“Don’t worry,” I mumbled, feeling my heart turn cold. “You’ll never see me back here again.”
GET OVER IT
Hugh
APRIL 7, 2001
“WHAT’S WITH THE FACE?” FEELY ASKED WHENCLAIRE STOMPED INTO MY ROOM ONSaturday night, looking like someone pissed in her cornflakes.
“I’ve been ditched,” she declared dramatically before flopping down on my bed.“Again.”
“Ignore her,” I said, rolling my eyes. “She’s throwing her toys out of the pram because Gibs went to Dublin with Cap for Easter.”
“Dublin,” Claire huffed, folding her arms across her chest. “What possible reason would they have for going toDublin.”
“Uh, maybe because that’s where the Kavanaghs are from?” I offered dryly. “And Johnny’s parents still own property and businesses in Dublin they might like to check in on?”
“Aren’t Cap and Gibs attending an event while they’re up there?” Feely asked.
“An event?” Springing up on my bed, Claire’s eyes bulged. “Whatkindof event?”
“The rugby youth’s annual award ceremony.”
“For what?”
“Cap won half a dozen trophies,” Feely explained. “Gibs is his plus one.”
“You don’t own the lad, Claire,” I reminded her. “Gibs is allowed to have other friends, you know.” I shrugged. “Besides, it might do you some good to have a little space from him.”
“Are you serious, Hughie?” My sister gaped at me like I had just told her the world was flat. “Why would Ieverwant space from Gerard?”
“Maybe so you spend time with your other friends,” Feely offered. “Like Lizzie?”
“Exactly,” I agreed, pausing the movie playing on my TV. “You do remember her, don’t you?”
“You mean my friend who likes to suck face with my brother?”
“She’s got you there, lad,” Feely chuckled.
“She’s still your friend, Claire.”
“She likes you more than me.”
“Most people generally do,” I agreed. “But that’s no reason to not put yourself out there.”
“You’re an ass,” Claire snickered, tossing a pillow at my head.
“Seriously,” I added. “You should call her, Claire.”
“I would if she spoke more than four words to me,” my sister replied with a sad sigh. “She’s just so sad.”
