Ed and Eddy had run for the car. Eddy cursed under his breath as they sped through town to get back to the cul-de-sac. He wasn't sure what exactly was going on but he had a sinking feeling in his gut. This was too much for one day, first the grave site, now this. He didn't want to temp fate, but what else could possibly go wrong.
Ed felt like he was still missing pages, he felt like there were things going on around him that no one was telling him about. What kind of trouble could Double D be in? Double D had been staying in his garage and had only seen a few people in the last month or so. He was sure that Double D wouldn't have tried to hurt himself, if that was what he wanted to do he'd have done it a month ago.
Even though they were speeding through town the drive seemed to take longer than it had on the way to the cemetery. The both of them silently worried as they got closer to the cul-de-sac and the sirens grew louder.
Ed suddenly wasn't so sure of his assumptions and looked over at Eddy, "you don't think he would have done something to hurt himself do you?"
The worry in Ed's voice had Eddy about ready to cry again. "I don't think so. I've got a feeling it's something else. I only here cop sirens. If it was something like that there'd be fire trucks and ambulances too."
It wasn't as reassuring as he'd thought it would be, because if it wasn't that then what the hell was going on?
Pulling into the cul-de-sac the two boys saw what looked like all of Pech Creek police department surrounding Edd's house. Nazz and Marie were standing behind the blockades the officers had set up. Marie noticed Eddy's car before Nazz so she nudged the blonder and nodded in their direction. Eddy parked the car right there in the street since his driveway was blocked off.
Nazz jogged up to them and hugged Eddy. "This is all my fault. I'm such an idiot. I should've just called the police the minute I found out."
She was speaking so fast Eddy couldn't keep up. "What are you talking about, found out what?"
Nazz pulled some folded up pieces of paper out of her back pocket and handed it to Eddy. He unfolded them and the crease popped up between his brows. Ed peered over the shorter boy's shoulder to try and read what it said. Nazz put her hands over her mouth as they read the article, her face and eyes were red. When Eddy flipped to the last page and saw his brother's face it made sense why she was apologizing.
Ed finally had the missing pages, and everything clicked for him at once. He looked up from the paper as a couple of officers brought Terrence out of Double D's garage. A third officer walked with Double D who looked terrified and exhausted. The officer seemed concerned and handed something to the beanie clad brunette.
Eddy watched his older brother slide into the back of the cop car. He looked pissed, but there was nothing he could do about it. Terrence had finally gotten exactly what he deserved, and hopefully he wouldn't be back to bother him or his friends for a long time. Eddy hadn't looked up to his brother since middle school when he finally realized just how shitty he actually was.
Nazz started to apologize again but Eddy stopped her with a hug. "It's okay, Nazz. He's gone, he didn't hurt D, he didn't hurt us, he is gone."
Nazz hugged him back tighter and the tears streamed down her face. "I was so worried I had gotten Double D into something he couldn't handle. We were trying to get him to confess, but he started getting predatory with Edd. Marie and I freaked and called the cops. I'm so sorry I didn't tell you."
Eddy just held on to her, he knew Nazz wouldn't listen if he told her to stop apologizing. Eddy only let go of her when one of the officers came over to get her statement. She explained everything that had happened and handed him the papers she'd shown to Eddy. When the officer was done taking her statement he gave her a card with the number for the station and told her to call if there was anything else she could think of.
After the officer was done with Nazz he talked to Eddy. Eddy told him the truth, that he'd had no idea why Terrence had come back to Peach Creek, or what had happened before he'd come home. The officer asked some more questions but Eddy just kept his eyes on Double D.
Eddy sighed and interrupted the officer's next question. "Sir, I understand you're doing your job, but my best friend over there has been through hell the last few months and I just want to go check on him. Is there any way I can answer the rest of your questions later?"
The officer nodded and handed the young man a card, "call me tomorrow and we'll set up a time for you to come in."
Eddy took the card and nodded before taking Nazz by the hand and walking over to the squad of cars surrounding Double D's house. From where they were standing Eddy could see into the open garage. Tools were all over the place but there was no order to them like usual and Eddy knew something had happened. He wasn't sure if his brother had lost it on Edd and started throwing things, or if Edd had just been throwing stuff to try and keep Terrence away. Either way it bothered Eddy and shivered at the thought of his brother hurting his friend.
Eddy could feel Nazz beside him and he was grateful that she was there, but she didn't say a word as he processed the scene before him. His eyes scanned everything and finally found their way back to Double D. Clear blue eyes stared back at him and Eddy understood that the brunette was holding back tears and rage as he spoke to the officer. As the brunette spoke he gestured towards Eddy and Nazz. The officer nodded and spoke into her walkie talkie.
Another officer walked up to them and moved a barricade. Eddy let Nazz walk through first and paused to look for Ed and Marie. To his surprise they were right behind him and he let them walk through the barricade as well.
Edd waited calmly by the open garage door as the group walked up to him. He could still feel Terrence watching him and he refused to let that creep see him break down. Ed was the first to hug him and then he felt more arms wrapping around him.
Marie and Nazz kept apologizing for coming up with such a stupid plan and Edd laughed. "What's stupid is me letting you two talk me into it."
"That's the first time I've seen you smile in months." Eddy said hesitating towards the back of the group.
"Yeah, well I've been dealing with some things, but I'm working it out. I just hope my friends can forgive me for pushing them away." Edd said. looking at each of them as he spoke.
Eddy stepped forward and hugged his friend, "nothing to forgive, Sockhead."
"Yeah, we're always here for you Double D!" Ed shouted before picking the other two up in a big bear hug.
Marie rolled her eyes, a smile playing at her lips, and Nazz laughed at how red Eddy's face turned.
A siren whirred to life behind them and the car with Terrence in it started heading out of the cul-de-sac. One by one the police officers left the street.
Nazz pushed the Ed's towards Double D's front door "You guys should get inside, everyone is going to have a million questions and you guys need to talk."
She was right. Edd needed to fill them in on exactly what had happened with Terrence, and he was happy to do so in his own house.
The trio walked quickly into the house where they all took off their shoes and headed to Edd's room. He would start at the beginning, that day Terrence had weaseled his way into going to the auto shop with him, and then go from there. It had only been a few days, but so much had happened.
