Chapter 9 Winder the Snitch (Darry's Point of View)
I look at the clock again for the hundredth time in the past ten minutes. It's four. Damn that kid is going to be in so much trouble when he gets home! I came home early today to have a meeting with Stefan, and when Pony didn't show up at three like he usually does, I tracked down Two-bit. I was answered with, "Oh, you didn't know? Pony didn't go to school today." Of course I didn't know that. He surely didn't inform me with this little piece of information. Damn with everything going on, he decides to skip school! It's enough to make me hit the roof.
It's also enough to make me worry my ass off. It's four. Well, now it's past four, and Pony still isn't home.
"Chill out Dar. He's probably fine. Maybe he was going to come home but saw your truck and felt like living to be fifteen." Two-bit tells me from my couch. I shrug and try to look unconcerned.
"Well, he should of thought about that before he skipped school." I answer, flipping through the papers that Soda's lawyer gave me to look over. Things are looking better on Steve and Soda's case. They still can't prove Tim had anything to do with fire, but they can't prove Soda and Steve did anything either. There's a huge clash between stories with Soda and Steve, and the three 'witnesses' that supposedly saw them light the fire. Who just watches someone burn a house down, is what I want to know.
And how did the real arsonists, or should I say Tim, know Dally was in that house? Alive?
Pony's Point of View
"Anderson told Dally to come back to Tulsa?" I ask again for the millionth time. Johnny sighs with annoyance and buries his head in his arms.
"Yes. For the last time, Anderson told Dally to come back to Tulsa." Johnny answer comes muffled through his hands. We're sitting in Buck's living room, smoking and drinking, and trying to figure out what to do next. I guess I should say that we're sitting in Buck's living room, watching him smoke and drink, while Johnny and I try to figure out what to do next.
"But that doesn't make sense! If he got you guys out of town, he'd know what would happen if you guys came back. He said Tim was angry at Dally. Why would he bring Dally home? Besides, he's the one that told me to find you, because you were the only one who knew. Why would he tell me that?" I yell.
"I don't know Pon. I don't know why he told you that." Johnny says with frustration. He looks real worn out.
"Tell me about that day. What exactly happened?" I ask. Johnny throws his arms up in the air and stands up to pace the room.
"We've been over this!" Johnny tells me.
"Just one more time. Don't leave anything out." I urge him.
"Ugh. One more time. Dally and I were in Cincinnati. Anderson was the only person who knew where we were. He called Dally up and they talked for about ten minutes. I don't know exactly what was said, but Dally seemed upset. Then he hung up. Told me he had to go to Tulsa. It was an emergency. I told him I was going too, but he refused. After a lot of arguing, I finally convinced him to bring me to Oklahoma City and drop me off where you found me. He said it was safe, and I wasn't allowed to leave. Then he was gone for about two days and then news of the fire broke out. Anderson was the only one who knew where Dally was, I'm sure of it." Johnny tells me. He stops pacing and stares at me.
"What do you think?" He asks.
"I think we're knee deep in bullshit." Buck says from the couch, where he's getting drunker by the minute. We both ignore him and I try to think over the details. Anderson tells Dally to come home. Why? Why, why, why?
"I think something's not right." I state, thinking about Winder. Winder the snitch that told Tim about Anderson's plan.
"Something's seriously, not right."
Winder's Point of View
I know what's going on. I should have known from the beginning, from the second I was arrested for dealing drugs with Tim. I should have known the second Anderson strapped those handcuffs around my wrists and winked at me as I was hauled away. I should have put two and two together. Or two and three. Or two and four. I just should have known. But after I got bail and the Chief promised to drop the charges as long as I retired, I made a run for it. I wanted to get out of there in one piece. Out of Tulsa. Out of the drug scam. Out of Tim's and Anderson's way.
But I'm not who I was yesterday. I'm not going to sit back and let Anderson get away with this like he has everything else. He's planning something. Something big. And when he goes through with it, I'm going to be there.
