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"You can check the door, but, yeah, I did I don’t want todeal out of this It’s probably just kids" Poor "kids" They were bla on a pad "Anything else happen recently?"

"Someone left a note on my windshield It said, ‘You better watch yourself’"

"Did you keep it?"

"No"

"You know, Jack, it’s always frustrating when the taxpayers of Manningsport don’t turn to their friendly neighborhood cop for help Especially when that cop happens to be a member of their family"

"Yeah, yeah" He paused "The notepaper was hot pink, if that helps"

"What would’ve really helped is if you didn’t throw it away Anything else you’re not telling ht when I cahts were on and the front door was open Ithings recently"

"That accident was bound to cause soht otherwise? Any proble?"

Nice to know E to her boss For a second, he thought about telling Levi about the flashbacks and nightmares But Levi was his brother-in-law, an expectant father, the police chief and combat veteran who probably had flashbacks of his own Jack wasn’t going to add to his load "No, I’ood"

Levi stared at him Jack stared back

"Okay," Levi finally said "Sounds to me like someone’s mad at you, Jack I’d like to talk to the Deiners"

"Absolutely not," Jack said "No"

"Jack, they--"

"Their son is in a coma I doubt very much that they have time to pick up roadkill and sneak it into my truck"

"Yeah They haven’t left his side, so I doubt it, too" Levi leaned back in his chair "How about your ex-wife?"

The thought had crossed his hts and the note on the windshield,makes people crazier than jealousy"

Jack paused Hadley was a littleoff; that was true He couldn’t see her doing this, though "Doesn’t seeht ask her so else happens, tell me The dead animal in your truck--that ups the stakes a bit"

"Yeah" There was a picture of Faith on the bookcase behind Levi "How’s ed froreat"

"Good Can’t wait to see o"

Emmaline still wasn’t back

Damn

CHAPTER NINETEEN

"REMEMBER, THIS PERSON IS, for the ti, your friend," Jamie the badass instructor said "Even if you hate what they’re doing and wish you could kick them in the sac, for now, you empathize, you listen, you mirror" She tapped the whiteboard to emphasize the words she’d written there "Don’t tell the is crazy or stupid Don’t deny what they’re feeling That’s creating an argument, and you want them to feel they can trust you Okay? Emmaline and Butch, you’re up Eunpoint Andaction"

Butch cleared his throat He and E away from each other while Shirley and Gale pretended to be the cowering parents

"So what’s going on with you and your parents?" Butch asked

"I hate the at Shirley, as her best bud in the class

"Well, yeah, everyone hates their parents I hate mine, too," Butch said

"No, Butch," Jamie interrupted "This isn’t about you It’s about E"

"Okay," Butch said "Uhhate your parents, huh?"

"Yes," Eo for so close to home

"Love your sister best, huh?"

"Yep"

"Why do you think that is?" Butch asked E; he wasn’t the best student in the group

"Because she’s just better Prettier, srid quipped

"Keep going, Butch," Jamie said

"Souhwhat should I say next?"

"How about sos so she’ll know you understand her situation"

"Right, right Uh, so you’re really pissed, right?"

Em tried not to smile "Yeah, I’un!" Role-playing was fun

To be honest, there was a lot ical work in this field than E, behavioral change For the first time in her life, she understood why her parents loved their jobs so much

"Let me take over, Butch," Jamie said She kicked Butch out of his chair and sat down "So, E like it’s not fair that your parents favor your sister"

"Exactly," E Note, class, that I’ them, like Butchie was--no offense, Butch But when I put a label on theet it, and that I understand her We’re creating e"