He couldn't ever remember speaking to a teacher or any of other authority figures in the manner in which he had just addressed Mrs. Miller. The only e...otion he felt at the moment was rage, and his only outlet for this sensation was to kick the shit out of Trent Hamilton.In all honesty it wasn't really much of a fight. Greg threw one crazy punch after another desperately trying to make contact with the elusive teen. In the end it was Greg who was shocked to find himself sprawled out on his back. ” He glanced down at his open notebook. “You’re still only sixteen, right, Tiffany? We’d double check, but I’m afraid we have a duty to inform your legal guardians. That is your parents, right?”“But I can’t go home! They’re killing me!”It sounded dramatic, but Tiff sounded frantic. It sounded convincing.“Are you in danger?” the policeman who’d been speaking eased past me to stand beside Tiff, leaning back against the wall with her - beside her, rather than in front of her. It felt like the. ”“She’s at her parents place. While you were in the hospital, she went up there. She doesn’t want to see anyone. Not you, not me, not anyone.”“Damn.”“I know. It must have been a horrific experience for you both.”“If I see that guy again, I’m going to kill him.”“No,” he sighed, “that’s not a good idea. Let the police handle it. This is a small town, so if he returns, they’ll nail him. He’s probably done this many times before. I bet they pick him up real soon.”“I shouldn’t have left her at the. The road’s pretty empty, and maybe I get it up a little fast, but anyhow the next thing I know there are those familiar flashing blue lights in my mirror. Shit, I haven’t had a ticket in forever, but I guess my winning streak has come to an end.Hugo’s been half dozing in the passenger seat, he spent most of the day in the garden and I guess he’s tired. As I slow down to pull off he sits up and looks around.“Why do we stop?” he asks, seeing that we’re not home yet.“I told you about the police,”.