An Unlikely Allie

Chapter 23

Anita Delaney's POV

When Annie got attack, that was the worst day of my life. My daughter had been beaten and her face was cut. Thankfully, the plastic surgeon said it would be an easy fix. A day later, I found out that another girl was attacked in a similar fashion to my Annie. I was also informed that she had information on the young man that did it. Charles and I went to talk to the parents of this other girl, but we were met with such hostile greasers, as Annie calls them, that we got nowhere with them! One of them hinted at the fact that the other girl wasn't even mentioned in the newspaper. It is not my fault that my Annie had an article written about her. These greasers treated us with such disrespect at the hospital and then again when we showed up at their house. All we want is to get the guy who did this convicted and off the streets. Is that really so much to ask?

Then, Annie comes home and tells that the Curtis girl to going to talk to us, our lawyer, and the police! Charles and I were beyond ecstatic! Well, they came in with demands! They want to use our lawyer to get multiple guys arrested. I could not believe that they are 'drug dealers' in Tulsa. They made their neighborhood sound dreadful and dangerous. One of the young men, yelled at us, when Charles didn't cave to their blackmail. Of course, I feel for the girl. She was probably pretty before the attack happened, but now...well, let's just say she was hard to look at.

Charles, was already in bed when I climbed in. He was reading the newspaper, I opened my book when Annie walked in, "Mom, Daddy?"

"What is it, sweetie?" She looked concerned.

"I think we should help Phaedra," I must have looked confused because she added, "Curtis...the other girl."

"Annie, I love that you want to help, but I just don't think we should get involved with..." Charles cleared his throat, "them".

"I know they're greasers, but Phaedra and Ponyboy aren't your typical greaser. Pony is taking college courses and runs track. Phaedra's gonna be the reason the softball team is going to state."

"Where are their parents in all of this? Drunk? Hooking?" Charles was very adamant about not helping them.

Annie shook her head, "they died, about two years ago, in a car accident. Darrel Curtis, you remember, he played football with Paul Holden and Brody?"

"Oh yes," I remembered. Brody, our nephew, is studying business at Ole' Miss, "that's Darry Curtis?" I thought back to when Brody played football. They graduated four years ago, "he looks much older than Brody."

"Just think about it, ok?" She asked, her eyes hopeful.

"We'll talk about it," I nudged my husband, "right, Charles?" He just nodded and went back to his paper.

I tried to concentrate on my book. How did I not put two and two together? I decided to give Brody a call. "Brody, it's Aunt Anita." I said when he answered, "I have a question for you about Darry Curtis."

"What about him? I think the last time I talked to him was at his parents funeral."

"You went to their funeral?" I was surprised. Surely I would have remembered that.

"Yeah, the whole football team did. It was tough. Darry declined a football scholarship for his brothers and sister."

"The young man that attacked Annie, hurt Darry's sister. All we want is for his sister to testify against the guy and put him away, but Darry practically blackmailed us. She won't testify."

Brody was silent for a minute, "what does Charles say?"

"Charles," I clenched my jaw, "refuses to be taken advantage of."

"Alright, I will call Darry and talk to him."

My heart swelled, "thank you, Brody."

"Anita, I'm not doin' it for you. I'm doing it for Annmarie AND the Curtis's." Brody hung up.