he handle. Brown water sputtered out before ru

room, Ardell w

ell made a fake hacking sound. She winked at Hakee

eem had given her twenty bucks from his 'savings'

m her father's room down the hall, followed by Ardell screaming at him

he rusted swing set, down the gravel

ne booth. It smelled of

dialed a number she remembered from a l

ous tip line," a recorded voice

hief from her pocket an

on of stolen copper wire stored in the trunk of her

y hu

esitation. Ardell was a parasite. You didn'

trailer, Hakeem was wai

ce. The one that used to fool her. "Ma's just

at him. She w

lied. "I don

money... since you won't work at the cannery, I was thinking

ned. "What k

homework done. Papers written. Sometimes...

r, a scream shatt

rashed agai

en door, phone clutched i

ieked. "Those bastards f

ped up. "W

ked wild. She scanned the neighborhood, eyes darting to the neighbor

hy would she? Karly was the

m said, his voice tigh

I'm out of work. You have to step up

rly said, backing away, fe

a. I got a plan. She can make ban

ry cent. You bring me every

red, looking at her

back inside to

shoulder. His hand f

ou, sis," he said. "

ched him

thought he was buil

digging hi