Beyond Repair Read Online Free PDF

rent-a-cop looks from me to Leah and back again to me. He closes his notebook and puts it back in his pocket. “Well, all right then. That seems to be above board.” He adjusts his jacket. “Think twice before you go nosing around parked cars again, son. You must know how it looks. Now go on. Your sister needs you.”
    Leah is holding on to the metal bar above the shopping carts with one hand. She’s waving at me with the other. Luckily, a car drives by, so only I know she’s calling my name—which does not sound a bit like Jason.
    â€œIt’s nice to know that a special kid like that has someone to look after her. Don’t see it that often,” the security guard says.
    Now I feel bad. Maybe this really is his dream job, making sure cars don’t get stolen and people don’t get mugged for their groceries. “Thank you, sir. Have a good day, now,” I say like a law-abiding citizen.
    I weave through the cars until I reach my sister.
    â€œWhat were you doing with that man? I thought he was going to arrest you,” says Leah. “What did you do?”
    â€œYou ask too many questions,” I say. “Let’s go home.”
    â€œWhat about the groceries?”
    â€œI told you not to ask questions. Come on.”
    A car skims by so close that I feel the moving air against my side. I don’t bother to check to see who’s driving. I just stare straight ahead as I lead my sister to Mom’s old Honda.
    I should go back into the store and see if the cart we abandoned is still there. But all my energy has seeped out through my shoes.
    I can’t keep this to myself anymore.
    Whether I want to or not, I have to tell Mom about the stalker. If it is only my imagination and the man of the house is about to lose his mind, she should know.
    I find the car and shove Leah in. I hope the muffler doesn’t fall off before we get home.

Chapter Nine
    When we get home, Mom is at the kitchen table with yesterday’s paper spread in front of her. Behind her, the coffeemaker is gurgling.
    â€œI thought you were at the store,” she says, when she sees we’re empty-handed.
    â€œWe got broccoli for you. And brown spaghetti,” says Leah. “But I left the list at home. We couldn’t finish the shopping because Cam saw someone and ran out of the store.”
    â€œI said I would explain to Mom.” I poke Leah in the back. “Okay?”
    â€œFine then,” she says. “Mom, can I watch TV ?” Leah leaves the room without waiting for an answer.
    Mom folds up the paper and looks up at me. “Explain what, Cam?”
    â€œRemember the guy on the driveway? That day it snowed?” I say. “You want this coffee, or can I have it?”
    â€œFinish it. I’m done. What about the guy on the driveway?” Mom turns to watch me pour the coffee into a mug and add cream and three sugars. Then one more.
    I sit down and stack the sections of the paper.
    â€œThe guy in the driveway?” Mom prompts me.
    â€œOne day he came into the video store,” I say. “And he was at Shop Rite just now.” I watch her face as I tell her, “I think he’s still stalking us.”
    Mom folds her hands on the table so I won’t notice the trembling. “You sure this is the same man?” she asks.
    â€œPretty sure,” I say. “Well, the first time I couldn’t be sure. But this time? Yeah. Well maybe. I’m pretty sure it was Bryan Klausen.”
    Mom shivers. It starts in her shoulders, then runs down her arms.
    â€œHe was in the coffee aisle,” I say. As if it makes a difference.
    Mom’s hands are still shaking. “I knew I should have done what I threatened that first time. Get a restraining order.” She stands up and pulls her housecoat tight around her. “Why didn’t you tell me, Cam? When you saw him at work?”
    â€œWell, like I said, I couldn’t be