The Sinner

67

The sound of gravel crunching fills my ears. Someone was here.

Directly after, I heard the sound of squeaky breaks. I look at Rafe, and then we both quickly turn on our heels. We walk back towards the side of the house and both freeze in our tracks when we realize it could be the police.

"I'll look," I tell him. He nods, his lips slightly apart. There's a couple beads of sweat on his forehead from the amount of anxiety and stress he was going through. He somehow managed to still look good.

I turn to look around the side of the house and see a truck that I'm not familiar with. It had a lot of junk in the bed of it, along with deep dents on the side too. Barry was still seated next to the fire, which was now beginning to fade. But he too had turned around to look at the truck's owner.

"Who is it?" Rafe asks.

"I don't know. It's a random truck," I tell him. "I don't think it's the police."

"Maybe it's one of his suppliers."

The tarp that was in the back was abruptly pushed into the air. After poking his head out for a brief moment to inspect the area, Ward hopped out. He spoke softly to the driver of the vehicle before handing him what I imagined to be a fifty dollar bill. I couldn't tell, but Ward always pays big.

He walks past Barry, barely acknowledging his presence. He had a dark grey hat on that was probably supposed to conceal his identity. It didn't do much though. I watch him stick his head into the house.

"Yeah go right ahead, enter my house without consent. Sit down! Stay a while," Barry's sarcasm could be made out even from where we were standing.

Out of the corner of my eye I see the tarp shift again. Another head pops out, and the familiar figure hops out of the truck. I tilt my head when I realize it's my dad. What the hell is he doing here too?

"Who's he talking to?" Rafe asks.

"Your dad," I say, turning back around to face him. "He was in the back of the truck."

Rafe quickly turns the corner, not expecting to see both of our dad's here. The pair exchange looks when they saw me walking around the corner too. My dad and I make eye contact, and I could tell even though he hasn't said a word, that he wasn't happy.

"How'd I know you'd drag her into this too?" My dad asks. Rafe holds his hands up in defense.

"Hold on a second Mike-"

"You're trouble son, whether you know it or not," My dad says pointing a finger to him.

"I don't mean to be," Rafe says, "You've known me Mike, for the longest time."

"He's just a kid, Mike," Ward stands up for his son, "Just like you and I were many years ago." He seems to stand down after that.

"Corrine," My dad says to me. "I'm taking you home, now."

"No," I tell him sternly. He raises his eyebrows at me. "I'm staying with Rafe."

"It's what's best honey," Ward intervenes. "This is getting into some serious stuff, did he tell you what happened?"

"Yeah," I say, crossing my arms over my chest. "But I'm here to help."

"Nothing like both of your daddy's to save the day," Barry's voice interrupts our conversation. I forgot he was even here.

"Do you mind?" My father's voice snaps at him. "We're having a private conversation here."

"On my prop-"

"Enough with the on my property shit," Rafe snaps back at him. "Leave us for a second man."

Barry walks back into the house after shaking his head and mumbling something under his breath. I hear his heavy footsteps creak the floorboards as he walks into his house.