Chapter 6: The Neighborhood Finds Out
Three days later, our neighbor across the street, Donna, knocked on our door.
Donna was in her sixties, sharp-eyed, and had lived on the block longer than anyone.
She brought a plate of cookies and a look that said the cookies were secondary.
"I heard about the bike," she said, stepping inside when I held the door open.
"News travels fast."
"Gary told his wife.
His wife told Carol.
Carol told me." She set the cookies on the counter.
"He told it differently than I suspect it actually happened."
"How did he tell it?"
"That your son ambushed him.
Recorded him secretly.
Basically blackmailed him into writing some kind of statement." She paused.
"He used the word *extortion* twice."
I felt the familiar tightening in my chest.
"That's not what happened."
"I didn't think it was." She sat down at the kitchen table without being asked.
"But I wanted to hear your version."
Jake came in from the hallway, still in his school clothes.
He stopped when he saw Donna.
"Hi, Mrs.
Donna."
"Hi, sweetheart.
I heard you handled yourself pretty well last week."
Jake glanced at me.
I nodded slightly.
He sat down and told her the whole thing.
The bike.
The photo.
The ordinance.
The recording.
The apology letter.
Donna listened without interrupting.
When Jake finished, she was quiet for a moment.
"Do you still have the recording?" she asked.
"Yes."
"And the photo with the timestamp?"
"Yes."
She nodded slowly.
"Gary has been a problem on this street for a long time," she said.
"He backed into my garden wall four years ago and denied it.
Told me I must have done it myself somehow." She folded her hands on the table.
"I never had any proof."
Jake looked at her.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry." She smiled at him.
"Be the kind of person who keeps the recording."
After she left, Jake stood in the kitchen doorway.
"Dad.
How many people do you think Gary has done this to?"
I didn't have a good answer.
"Because if it's more than just us and Mrs.
Donna—"
"Jake."
"I'm just saying."
May you like
"I know what you're saying." I looked at him.
"Let me make some calls."
