“Why did you continue to pursue the disappearance of Cole and not report it to the police?”
“I didn’t know that there was something to report. All I had was that he wasn’t coming to class and someone pulled the fire alarm.”
“But you found out more information.”
It’s obvious the police have nothing and are trying to get Josie to spill, but I don’t need to tell her that. She reads them easily.
“I didn’t or I wouldn’t still be asking questions.” She spreads her hands apart to indicate how empty her leads are, which is actually true. We don’t have much to go on.
“I heard it may be gang violence.”
It takes everything I have to not tense up. Josie doesn’t even bat an eyelash. “Do I look like someone who is going to variousgangs asking if they have kidnapped one of Central Academy’s basketball players?”
The detective shifts her gaze to me. “How about you?”
“Me what?” I blink like I’ve got nothing inside my head but Tetris cubes tumbling around.
“You speak to any gangs?”
“Like on the internet? Cuz when I’m playing League, we’ve got a team. Is that the kind of gang you’re talking about?” I lean forward with my elbows on my knees. “I’m suffering right now because I got dropped from diamond to emerald. I need more time to play the game, but school’s kind of kicking my ass. I might be booted from my team if I don’t get my ranking up. See?—”
“Okay.” She turns back to Josie. “What about the fire alarm?”
This feels like a trick question. Josie cocks her head. “The fire alarm?”
I think back. Shane was the one who told us that the police were starting their questioning, but he never mentioned the fire alarm stuff. Then I remember that Candace told us that she thought the fire alarm was pulled by someone on the basketball team. If Candace has told that to the police, and Josie says that Candace told her nothing, the police are going to suspect Josie’s hiding something. But if Candace told them nothing and Josie spills, she gets Candace in trouble. I don’t know the blonde girl well enough to guess what direction she took. Hopefully Josie does, though.
“Yeah, what did you learn about the fire alarm?”
“I don’t know anything about the fire alarm. Wouldn’t that be a question for the fire department?”
The woman narrows her eyes. “You weren’t told who pulled the alarm?”
“Someone on the basketball team is the rumor.” She doesn’t give away, yet, that Candace was the one that shared that with us.
“And you didn’t put two and two together?”
“I’m a high school newspaper writer, not a detective, so I don’t know what you’re getting at. If the fire alarm being pulled has something to do with Cole, please help me out because I don’t know where he is, and like you said, I’ve been asking everyone.” Josie sounds frustrated and indignant, which are probably her honest feelings. We haven’t been able to get anywhere with our investigation.
“When was the first time you knew Cole was dead?”
Another trick question.
“Dead?” Josie rears back. Shit, she’s a good actress. “He’s missing. I never said he was dead.”
“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” I add so that I don’t look like I’ve got some hidden knowledge they need to dig out from my brain.
The detective tips the end of her pen toward Josie. “Yes, dead. This is a murder investigation, and if I find out that you’re withholding information from us, I’ll charge you with obstruction of justice. That’s a felony, and I don’t think it would look good on your academic record.”
“I think that’s enough.” Josie’s dad steps forward. “If you’re going to accuse my daughter of wrongdoing, we’re going to call a lawyer.”
“Your daughter is eighteen. We don’t need your permission to question her,” snaps the woman.
“I—I,” Josie stutters and then looks at her dad. “I want a lawyer.”
The two detectives exchange a frustrated look. The woman snaps her notebook shut and stiffly nods. “We’ll be in touch. Don’t go anywhere. You either.” She points to me.
I have this urge to salute but manage to keep my hands at my side. The detectives finally leave after pressing a card into Josie’s dad’s hand and making him promise to call them if we remember anything different.
