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Officer Toomey pulled into the parking lot of the Farnum Police Department at exactly 10:00 p.m. He got out of the police car and removed his shotgun from the trunk. He shut the trunk and heard a muffled cry behind him. A hippie guy, bound with rope, was hanging upside down from a rusty climbing peg on a telephone pole. His hair was matted with blood, and he had a cloth gag taped in his mouth.
Toomey pulled the folding knife out of his utility belt and cut the rope, slowly lowering the man. He removed the gag and untied his hands.
“Thank you,” said Luke.
“I’m Officer Toomey with the Farnum Police Department. What is your name, sir?”
“I’m Luke, Luke Forest.” Luke tried to stand, but he fell back down. “Whoa, dizzy.”
“Whoa, sit for a minute. I’m going to call an ambulance.”
“No ambulance,” said Luke. “No doctors!”
“Okay, okay. Let’s go inside and talk.” Officer Toomey unlocked the door, and they sat down in an interview room. “Would you like some coffee?”
“Maybe just some water? I’m dying of thirst and gotta pee.” Toomey pointed out the restroom.
Luke came back and sat down, chugging the water Toomey gave him. Luke’s hands were shaking. “Thanks.”
“So, Mr. Forest, how did you come to be hanging from that telephone pole?”
Luke knew he couldn’t connect himself with the commune or he’d definitely go to jail. “Some kids did it. I was walking down the road, and they stopped their car and asked me where I was going. I told them I was heading east, and they knocked me down and tied me up. Then they drove me here and hung me on that pole.”
“How long were you hanging there? Are you injured?”
“No, I’m okay. I was there for about an hour, maybe more.”
“Did you recognize these kids?”
“No, I’m not from around here. I’m from New York.”
“Okay, did they steal anything?”
“They took my knapsack which had my wallet in it, but I didn’t have much money.”
“Can you describe the kids and their car?”
“The car was an old blue Ford—a Fairlane, I think. The boys were about eighteen, had short hair, one blond the rest dark. One had a burn scar on his neck here.”
“Okay, Mr. Forest. I just wrote down what you told me. Please read it and sign here.” Luke read it and signed. “No reason for us to hold you here. How can I get in contact with you?”
Luke thought about it. “I guess you can’t. I’m just kinda passing through. I do want my wallet back, though. Can I just call you in a few days?”