Todd sits on the park bench with Tom’s notebook open in his hands. He stares at the same page over and over until the text starts to get blurry. He looks up and rubs his eyes. It’s getting dark out.

“Hey mister! Want me to shine yer shoes?”
“I didn’t know anybody still did that. Sure.” He was wearing sneakers. The boy kneeled down in front of him anyway and started to rub off the dirt. Todd looked at the boy oddly until the boy seemed to feel his gaze. The boy looked Todd in the eye and grinned almost as if…. almost as if he’s flirting with me! Todd thought, shocked at first, then amused.

Todd throws his head in his hands and sighs loudly. Oh sure! I thought it was so cute that some little kid liked me… amused… he scoffs at himself. But I love Arielle! he despairs. If only I’d known…

Hopelessly, Todd looks again at the To-Do list in front of him, written in Tom’s sloppy cursive.

1. Figure out where she lives.
2. buy a knife.
3. get him back.