I drove straight to Shermans. It was the best place to start. I got out of the car and walked to the door. It was only 7 o'clock so the shops were still open. I walked over to where Shermans was and noticed that it was a new store. I didn't know it closed down. The new store was called "Impeccable Smokes". It was some cigar shop. As I turned to leave a man walked out of the store.

"Can I help you?" He asked.

It was that man who went to the clubhouse that night. It couldn't be a coincidence, but who was he?

"Shermans. They closed down a month and a half ago. Hope it wasn't a return." He laughed.

I didn't say anything. I was so confused. If Shermans was closed then where the hell did the bag come from. I turned around and almost ran into another man. Him I recognized. It was the man with the neck tat, the leader. He went up to the other man and they patted each other's shoulder. They knew each other. This was no coincidence.

I walked back to my car and got out a cigarette. I needed to calm down before I drove. On top of being high my nerves were shot. I had to do something. They could not do this to me anymore. I am done being a victim. I am done being helpless. I decided that's was going to wait and I was going to ask the man who did this to me why. I just wanted to know why.

I was thinking about all of this when I heard someone yelling. I turned my head and it was some woman in another car.

"You leaving or what?"

I reached over and grabbed my revolver out of my purse. I pointed it at her through my window.

"Crazy bitch!" She said, driving away.

I just sat there. I rolled up my window and was watching the shop through my driver's side mirror. I waited on him to leave the shop. After waiting about ten minutes I got a text from Tig. He was back at the garage and was wondering where I went. I was about to answer when there was a knock at my window. I rolled it down. It was Wayne.

"Got a disturbing call from a woman who says you pulled a gun on her?"

"Yeah."

"That's it? Just yeah."

"I didn't shoot her did I?"

"What the hell am I supposed to do with that? Look, let me take you home okay? You look exhausted."

"I can't do that Wayne."

"Why not?" I showed him the bag I had gotten. He pulled the mask out. "You gonna hit a bank next?"

I rolled my eyes. "It's what they wore. It got sent to me in the goddamn mail at Teller-Morrow. In the Shermans' bag."

"Who?... Oh." I nodded. "Shermans. That's where Zobelle's set up shop."

"Zobelle?"

"Yeah. Ethan Zobelle and his group "The League of American Nationalists" or some shit like that. Clay didn't tell you?"

"No. He didn't tell me shit. I saw him come to the clubhouse that night before it happened, but I wasn't close enough to hear anything."

"Look, they're just trying to rattle you."

"I'm sorry about the gun."

Just then I saw the man with the neck tat come out of the store and go to his truck.

"Look Wayne, I gotta go. There's somethin' I gotta do. Can we talk later?"

"Yeah." I put the car in reverse. "Woah woah woah, you gonna give me the gun?"

"Sure."

"I'll give it back later I promise."

"Fine." I reached over and handed it to him. He finally backed away so I could pull out of the parking spot. I followed the truck a couple cars behind until he parked at some construction site. I parked across the street from him and waited for him to get out. When he did I grabbed my other gun, made sure it was loaded, cocked it, put it in the back waistband of my pants and followed him into the site. He went over to a table and talked to some people, so I went inside one of the porta potties and cracked the door so I could see them talking.

He walked away from the table after a minute and called someone. I pulled out my gun and pointed it at him. I was shaking. I've never killed anyone before. Was I really about to do this? Just then, he started talking.

"Hey Buddy. How's your brother? Good good. How was practice? That's awesome, Buddy. Well, y'all be good for nana okay? I'll be home soon okay. Y'all go to bed alright? It's late. I love you guys. Bye."

Oh my God. He had kids, a family. How could someone with a family do something so terrible? I put the gun down and sat down. I couldn't do this. I couldn't kill someone. I couldn't do that to those kids. They had nothing to do with any of this. I waited a little while so he would be gone before I went back to my car.

I took a deep breath and stood up. I opened the door so I could leave and he was standing there, in my face. He pushed me back inside and closed the door. He grabbed my gun out of my hand and held it next to his hip.

"Well well well, what do we have here? Amelia Morrow looking for revenge?"

I didn't say anything. I couldn't. I just stood there. Frozen in place.

"Ya see, now you've seen my face. You know who I am. And a smart girl like you." He pushed my hair behind my ear. "I bet you also know who I work for. Don't you? Don't you!?"

I jumped a little. I was not helpless. I could take care of myself. "Yes I do. I know exactly who you and your boss are. And I am not afraid of you. You may know who my father is and what he's capable of, but-" I got in his face. "You have no idea what I am capable of. If you ever come near me or my family again, I'll put a bullet right between your eyes. Do you understand me?"

"Well would ya look at that. Someone finally grew a pair. Congratulations, Miss Morrow."

He handed me back my gun and left. I waited another minute and went to my car. I drove home and when I got into my driveway I screamed as loud as I could and started to cry. I took two more pills and knew I had to grab another baggie before I left tomorrow, I only had three left. I got out and walked into the kitchen. No one was here so I could relax at the table without having to worry.

I went to the fridge to get some wine when I saw a note on it. Went to the rap party with your dad. Be home late. Prolly 11-12. Have a good night. Love you. -Mom. Great. I had the house to myself for at least three more hours. Just as I sat back down with the bottle and a glass, there was a knock at the door. Goddamn it. I looked through the window and sighed. It was Wayne.

"Hey. Come on in."

He came and sat at the table with me so I could drink while we talked. He put my revolver back on the table and put the bullets next to it.

"You emptied it?"

"Thought it might be best. I promised I'd give it back, didn't I?'

"Hmm."

"You do know the serial numbers have been ground off that?"

"Yeah." I laughed. "Anonymity suits me."

"I'd prefer it didn't end up in your bag again."

"Not sure I can make that promise."

"Look, I ain't got no idea how to help you Amelia. I just know how to do my job. I'm going to protect you. As long as I live, I'm not gonna let nothing else bad happen to you. I promise."

"Yeah. Okay."

"I mean it okay? So don't go out there and do anything stupid. Alright?"

"Alright. I won't. I do need some more information though."

"What kind of information?"

"I want to know everything you know about Ethan Zobelle and that man with the tat on his neck."

"That's AJ Weston. He's Zobelle's right hand. He handles all of the dirty work that Zobelle doesn't want to be officially involved with."

"And the blonde? Who is she?"

"What blonde?"

"There was a blonde that night. She's the one that knocked me out at the stoplight. Around my age maybe."

"Oh, that's Zobelle's daughter, Polly. Yeah she's your age. I didn't realize that she was involved in the league's business."

"The league?"

"Yeah, it's their little group. Ya know, white supremacy and hate. All that bullshit."

"Right, right. What're they doing here? In Charming I mean."

"That I don't know. Zobelle claims he just wants to build a business in a small town with less drama. He claims it's for his daughter. To make her happy."

"Less drama, huh? He's not off to a very good start."

"No, he's not. Um, Amelia?"

"Yeah."

"How much of that wine have you had?"

"Like two glasses I think. Why?"

"You're slurring a little bit. Are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm just tired is all." Shit. He had to leave before he realized I was high.

"Alright well, I'll leave you to it then. You gonna be okay by yourself?"

"I'll be fine Wayne." I said, walking him to the door. I stumbled a little and was walking zig-zagged again.

"I can help you upstairs. It's no trouble, really."

"I'll be fine Wayne. Have a nice night."

"You too Amelia. And.." He said, turning around in the doorway. "I meant what I said. Nothing else bad is gonna happen to you."

"I know you did. Thank you."

"Goodnight."

"Night." I waved at him as he walked back to his car.

I closed the door and went back to the table. I got out a joint and my cigarettes. I just wanted to pass out and have this day be over. I smoked the joint and a couple of cigarettes, as well as finished the bottle of wine, before I laid my head down on the table. I knew I couldn't make it up the stairs so I just decided to sleep there. It wasn't so bad. Hell, it even felt kind of comfortable.