If Only Read Online Free

Two?”
    â€œI don’t know.”
    â€œAn army surplus jacket,” Constable Diggins says. He makes another note in his notebook. “What about his pants?”
    â€œMaybe jeans,” Danny says.
    â€œShoes?”
    â€œI didn’t see them.”
    Danny closes his eyes for a second. When he opens them, Constable Diggins is staring at him. His eyes are almost black. Danny looks away first. “He had a knife,” he says. “Some kind of hunting knife. He told me to put my arms around this tree and stay there and that no one would get hurt. So I stayed there until Carol and Prince came.”
    He swallows. “I’m sorry,” he whispers. “I’m so sorry.”
    â€œWho’s Carol?” Constable Diggins says.
    â€œShe lives by the trail. In a duplex. I don’t really know her, but I know her dog’s called Prince.”
    Dad produces a piece of paper and gives it to the cop. “Carol Hinson. Her address.”
    â€œOkay. We’ll see what we can do.” Constable Diggins pauses. “It’s serious, but at least no one got hurt.”
    Danny thinks about Pam throwing up and wonders what kind of hurt the cop is talking about. He fights back a jolt of anger. The cop turns to Dad, who has been standing there silently. “I’ll drop by and see Miss Hinson. But first I’d like to talk to your daughter.”
    Dad surprises Danny. “No,” he says. “Not tonight. I want you to leave her alone tonight.”
    â€œTomorrow, then,” Constable Diggins says. He closes his notebook and says to Dad, “I need to talk to you privately just for a minute.”
    â€œYou can go, Danny,” Dad says . His eyes are turned away, and Danny knows Dad can’t stand to look at him.
    Danny goes back to his bedroom, past the bathroom. The bathroom door is open. Wet towels are scattered across the floor. He doesn’t want Pam to get into trouble. He grabs the towels and crams them in the laundry hamper. He picks up a facecloth covered in blue and black smudges and throws that on top of the towels.
    Pam’s bedroom door is closed. Danny goes into his room and lies on his bed and stares at the ceiling. Most nights Pam plays her Beatles records, and the sound comes right through the wall into his room. Sometimes it bugs Danny. Tonight there is no sound. He rolls over onto his side and watches the light outside the window fade.
    Dad calls them for supper, but Danny ignores him. He strains to hear if Pam opens her door, but there is nothing.
    It’s dark when Danny’s door creaks open. Dad fills the doorway, a giant in the shadows. Danny can smell beer. He doesn’t move. Not one muscle.
    â€œI just want to know one thing.” Dad’s voice is slurred. “Why the hell didn’t you protect your sister?”

Pam
    When I wake up my heart is racing, and for a few seconds I don’t know what’s the matter with me. Then I remember. Ice spreads from my toes to my head.
    My sheets are tangled in a knot, and my quilt is on the floor. I could swear I’ve been lying awake all night. But when I last checked it was three o’clock and I thought the night would never end, and now the room is filled with gray light. So I must have slept. My stomach hurts like it does when you’re really hungry, but I know I’ll barf again if I eat.
    I hear Danny through the wall. His dresser drawer scrapes open, and his footsteps go back and forth across his squeaky floor. Danny always gets up before me. He has this thing about being late, so he gives himself tons of time for everything. He even eats a real breakfast.
    I roll over onto my side and look at the clock on my dresser. Eight o’clock. Time to get ready for school.
    Only I’m not going to school. Not today. Maybe never. I know Mrs. Glassen went straight home and told Julie what happened, and Julie will tell everyone else. School is just not possible.
    I listen