If You Knew What I Knew:
Chapter 2

Nick

   All of the thoughts that were swirling in my head began with one statement- if only.  If only I hadn’t pushed her.  If only I hadn’t dared her.  If only I had gone to the police.  If only I had jumped in after her.  If only I had never taken her down to the lake in the first place.  But it was too late for all of the “if only’s”.  Nothing could be done now.  Except to make the call to the police.
    When we reached the park, everything flashed before me again.  I shook my head as if I could shake the thought from my head.  We went straight to the restrooms where there was a pay phone.
    “You have to make the call since it’s your mess.”
    “We have to have a plan before we call.” We both sat there thinking.
    “Okay, you disguise your voice.  Try to use an accent or ebonics or something.  Say that you’re a homeless man and that you were hanging out at the park last night and saw a man push a girl into the lake.  Say that he kept calling her Polly Anna or something like that.  If they ask you why you didn’t call last night, tell them that it took you till this morning to find enough change on the streets to make the call.  Then hang up.  Don’t wait for them ask any questions.” Brian was about to pick the phone up, but I grabbed his hand.
    “What about finger prints?” Brian had obviously not thought of this.
    He dug in his pockets and pulled out a glove.  “From the last show.” He explained before handing it to me.  I slipped it on.  Since it was big on Brian, it fit perfect on my hand.
    I picked up the receiver and then dropped it.  I only had one hand gloved so I had to dial with that hand and then pick back up the receiver.  I quickly dialed 9-1-1.
    “Hello, 9-1-1 operator.  What’s your problem?”
    I pretended that I talked with ebonics.  “Lady, I have to tell you sum-in, but I’m not tellin’ you my name.”
    “Sir, are you at the Ranchester Park?”
    “Ya.” I kept going with the story that Brian had told me.  “Last night I see a man and a girl out on da lake.  I see him push her in and den run.  Before he ran, he was callin’ hur Polly Anna or sumpdin.  But lady, I gotta go now.” I hung up and me and Brian quickly got out of the park/lake area.
    “Think she believed it?” I asked nervously.
    “Yeah.  They have to check out every call that they get.”  We walked back to the hotel in silence. 
    “We still gotta do a show tonight, you know.” I nodded.  I wasn’t in the mood to do a show though.

*        *        *        *        *        *

    It was after the show that Howie got the news.  He fell back against the wall, shocked out of tears.  He didn’t say anything.
    “Mr. Dorough, we still have things that we would like to discuss with you.” The police officer flipped open a note pad and sat down in one of the chairs in Howie’s dressing room.  We were all in there.
    “How do you know it was my sister?”
    “We got an anonymous call from the park.  We think that it was a homeless man that had seen it all.  From what he told us, we think it was accidental murder.  Or maybe even a planned murder.” The police man looked around again.
    “Do you know of anyone that would have liked to kill your sister?  Do you know of any conflicts that she had been having with anyone?” The police officer’s voice was monotone, as if this were everyday stuff.
    “Officer, I don’t think that any of us are in any condition to talk to you right now.” AJ said curtly.  He opened the door to Howie’s dressing room and waited until the police officer left.
    We all sat silently in the small dressing room.  Only me and Brian were ready for the news.  We exchanged looks and continued to act like we were grieving.
    “I...I just can’t believe this!” Howie’s voice cracked with sobs.  “First Caroline and now Polly!” He put his head in his hands and sobbed.  It broke my heart to see him so sad.  It hurt me even more to know that I was the one that was causing him so much pain.

Chapter 3
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