Chapter 5: Assessing

Boone did not raise his voice.

"Say that again," he said.

Carl's smile slipped by about an inch.

"I was talking to my sister," he said.

"Stepsister," I said.

"I was talking to my stepsister."

"I heard you," Boone said. "I want you to hear yourself."

The landing went silent.

The neighbor put her hand over her mouth.

Carl looked at Boone's hands, then at the two men behind him, then at the stairwell.

There was no way out except through us.

"It was a joke, man," he said.

"It wasn't."

"Boone," I said.

He stopped with one boot still lifted.

"This one's mine," I said.

He looked down at me.

I could see how much he wanted to put Carl through the wall, and I could see him hold it.

"Yours," he said.

I turned to Carl.

"I'm going to ask you a question," I said. "You're going to answer it in front of the whole building."

"Lane."

"Who did you send the video to?"

"I told you. The group chat."

"Who else?"

He glanced at Trent.

Trent studied the carpet.

"Nobody," Carl said.

"Then you won't mind if I call my stepmother and ask her how her son is doing."

His face changed.

"Don't," he said.

"Why not? You're not ashamed."

"I said don't."

"Then keep your boots off my table," I said. "And keep your phone out of my room. You have a week to be out of my apartment."

"You can't kick me out. I pay rent here."

"Watch me."

I walked past him and down the stairs.

I did not stop until I reached the sidewalk.

Then my knees gave out, and Hank caught me under the good arm.