Chapter 3
Derrick Bernard laughed gaily with his friends as they strolled down the street. The group reaches a large townhouse built from brown brick, and Derrick stops and says, “I appreciate you guys walking me home and thank you for such a fun night.”
One of the guys replies, “What do you think we were going to do? Let you stay in on the night that you skip the slammer?”
“Hardy har, har, it’s called being innocent.”
“Sure you were,” another one of his friend’s jokes.
“Anyway, once again thank you. Get home safely guys,” says Derrick and walks up the stairs of his town house. He places the key in the door knob, turns the handle, and walks in.
Derrick shuts the door behind him, leans his back against it, closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. He is relieved that he is finally alon
