Fixin’ Tyrone by Keith Thomas Walker Page A

two years ago at Mom’s.”
    He then handed her court documents.
    “This is the restraining order I filed against Shareefa. See, here’s me as the complainant, and there’s Shareefa’s name.”
    He reached over the table and pointed to the areas of interest. Mia wasn’t an expert in legal jargon, but the restraining order appeared to be legit. Eric even had a six-page affidavit where he described his ex-fiancée as abusive, obsessive, and neurotic. There were at least ten instances of stalking noted. According to the affidavit, Shareefa Tamara Jones had done everything from harassing Eric’s mom to slicing his tires. The court order was finalized just two months ago.
    “She never could accept that we weren’t together anymore. She has showed up at my job, gone through my mail . . .”
    Eric’s voice started to fade out. Mia put the restraining order down and studied the pictures again, two of them in particular.
    “These two. You say you were seven in this one, and this one was when you were in high school?”
    “The football one? Yeah. We were freshmen.”
    Mia flipped the pictures over. “These look new. They aren’t the originals, are they?”
    “No,” Eric said. “Those were in my mother’s photo album. When I went to visit last Christmas, I got her to make a copy of them for me. I tried to get the originals, but she wouldn’t give them up. Had them for years.” He narrowed his eyes. “Why? Is there a problem?”
    “You only have these three pictures?” Mia asked.
    “Well, I have more pictures of him at home, with his wife and kids. I’ve got some of him in his uniform, too. Why? What’s wrong?”
    Nothing , Mia thought, except the only pictures you have of the two of you together look brand new. And there are websites on the Internet that specialize in fake celebrity nudes . If someone could fabricate a picture of Jennifer Anniston in the midst of a sticky gangbang, then you could have pictures of a secret twin brother.
    But how farfetched was that? Mia wondered. Was she so paranoid she was going to make his story a lie no matter what evidence he provided?
    “Nothing,” Mia said. She gathered his papers and photographs and handed them back to him. “I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have had to do that.” She rubbed her face. “I hope you don’t think I’m some crazy or something.”
    Eric smiled. “Mia, I understand exactly how you felt. I’ve been dealing with Shareefa for a long time. She can definitely make you feel crazy. She broke my windshield that night, after you left, and I still don’t—”
    Mia nearly choked on her water. She put a hand to her face. “ Ugk , I—I’m sorry. Excuse me? ”
    “You all right?”
    She nodded, her eyes watering.
    “Um, Shareefa, she broke my windshield after you left. She swore up and down she didn’t do it, but she’s done it twice already. Are you sure you’re okay?”
    Mia cleared her throat and managed to get a breath of air down. “I’m sorry,” she said, and took another sip of water.
    Eric smiled. “I thought I was going to lose you again,” he joked.
    “Eric,” she said, “Shareefa didn’t break your windshield. You didn’t call the police on her, did you?”
    “No,” he said. His brow furrowed. “I was tired and didn’t feel like staying up to wait for them. Plus I didn’t want my deductible to go up again. I just cursed her out and bought another one. Why do you think Shareefa didn’t break my windshield?”
    Mia took a deep breath. “Well, remember what I did to your phone?” she asked. “When I was still mad at you . . .”
    He shook his head. “I don’t believe it.”
    “I’m sorry,” Mia said. She grabbed her purse and produced a checkbook. “I want to pay for it. The phone, too.”
    “ You broke my windshield?”
    “Yes, Eric. I’m sorry. I—I don’t know what came over me. How much was it?” She started writing the check.
    “Stop,” Eric said. “Look at me. How did you break my