Page 55 of Fight
"I just found another note under the windshield wiper on my car."
"Where are you?"
"Parking lot of Safford City Hall."
"Have you touched it?"
"I opened the car and put the paperwork I was carrying inside so I could pull out my PCD, otherwise I haven't touched anything."
"Give me five minutes."
"All right.I'll see you then."I disconnected the call and leaned against the rear of the car while I waited.
A few minutes later the familiar Safford-Thatcher Police Department pickup he drove pulled into the lot.I pushed away from the car and waited while he parked.He pulled into a space just a few cars away, and came to take a look.
"Hey."I hugged him."Thanks for coming."
"It's no big deal.I don't think there's gonna be anything to find, but I figured it was best if I was here while you opened it."
"So you're not going to run your tests?"I asked.
He shook his head."I don't think there's really a point, but I'll do this for you."He pulled the envelope out from under the wiper.His eyes glazed over for a few seconds before he handed me the envelope.
"What did you learn?"I took the envelope from him.
"Nothing that means anything yet."He watched me as I opened the envelope and pulled the folded paper out.
I unfolded the page, and looked down at it.It only took me a second to read the two sentences printed neatly on the page, but a full minute to process what it really meant.I read the words and blinked, looked up, and without a word, handed the page to my brother.
"'This is your fault.You won't get away with it.'"He read, then looked up at me."What does this mean?"
I blinked at him, still thinking."I think this is because Brandon was banished yesterday."
"Banished?"
"Yeah.Basically, he's not allowed in Bill's territory anymore."I glanced at the watch on my wrist."He should be gone now, he was given until noon today to pack and leave."
"When did this happen?"
"From what I heard, yesterday morning.You heard about Devon's bike right?"
"Yeah, he called me and I took the report.But what does that have to do with Brandon being banished?"
"Devon told Bill about the bike, and Bill determined it was the final straw."
"But we can't prove Brandon was behind it."
"That's the advantage to pack law over human law, you don't have to have proof.Of course, that can work against you too."I admitted.
"So this is how Bill's dealing with it?Brandon has to leave?"
"That's what Karen said."I nodded."Brandon has to leave, he has to find somewhere else to live.Somewhere that's not in Bill's territory."
"So you think Brandon left you the note?"He asked, his voice skeptical.
I shook my head."I don't think he left the note, in fact I'm almost certain he didn't.But I think he's probably behind it.I'll bet he never even touched the paper.Bill's had someone following him around during his last twenty-four hours in town, to keep him from starting trouble.They wouldn't have let him leave a note like this."
"You're right that he's not the one who left it.I'm not sure who it was yet, but I'll figure it out."
