Daniel had started telling his version before I’d even collected my medicine.

Pearl offered to write down what she’d heard and when.

I thanked her but made it clear that I didn’t want a neighborhood campaign.

She agreed.

Then she told me something that hurt in an entirely different way.

“A while back you asked Sloan not to smoke near your bedroom window.

I heard her tell someone on the phone she’d make sure you were gone before the holidays.

I thought it was just ugly talk.”