“Why don’t we start with you telling us why you were stealing again?” I ask, shifting everything back to why we’re here, and he’s back in our living room.
Riley’s lips flatten, a muscle in his jaw twitching. Still no answer.
I rub my forehead, going back over the items. “What did you need that stuff for? You planning a murder?”
“What?” Riley squawks. “No! What the fuck?”
I let the language slide if only because I have bigger things to worry about right now. “Are you into something kinky?” Maybe if I embarrass him enough in the wrong direction, he’ll tell me the truth.
Riley’s face twists, first in confusion and then in horror. Guess that answers that, at least. “Like what?Bondage?No fucking way.”
“Hey, there’s no need to be rude,” Lake admonishes. “It’s okay if you’re into that. You just have to make sure that you’re being safe. And that it’s consensual on both sides. And you have safe words. And some knowledge about, you know, all the things you use.”
“You know this from some kind of personal experience?” I ask, raising an eyebrow. That was a hell of a lot of information that just came out of nowhere.
“I think it’s basic knowledge? Or Zach and I found ourselves on an interesting website by accident,” Lake answers with a lopsided smile. “If you’re asking if I’vehadkinky sex, then you would already know the answer.” What? “Like that time we—”
“I don’t think we need a show-and-tell.” I have no fucking idea what we’ve done that he considers kinky, and it’s not something I’m about to bring up in front of a kid. We’re definitely talking about it later, though. “The age of consent is sixteen, and you’re not there yet, kid. Have you had sex? Was it consensual? How old were they? Has someone talked to you about the importance of safe sex?”
Riley’s face is bright red at this point, which doesn’t answer any of the questions. “Can we please stop talking about this?”
“Once you answer the questions, sure.” If I need to put together a list of people to arrest, then I’m willing to do that.
“No, I haven’t had sex. I haven’t even taken my shirt off in front of another guy. Happy?”
“I’m happy that you answered my question. I could do without the attitude.” I’m definitely happy that an avenueI’mnot comfortable going down has been crossed off. Process of elimination and all that. “What did you want the items for, then, if they weren’t for either of those things?”
No answer again. I’m starting to get suspicious. He has no reason to clam up besides being obstinate. Unless he’s protecting someone. “You don’t know, do you?” His eyes shift away. Bingo. “Who were you stealing for?”
“It’s none of your business,” he replies tersely, shifting on his seat.
We’re getting somewhere, at least. “Hanging out with the wrong crowd at school, Riley?”
“I’d need friends in order to hang out with the wrong anything,” he replies bitterly.
That’s another issue entirely and getting distracted won’t do any of us any good. He’s easily crossed off all but one culprit, however. “What about your boyfriend? Would he ask you to steal?”
Riley stares down at his hands, lips twisted. Another tell that confirms everything. I share a glance with Lake, who’s sitting on his own hands and keeping quiet, allowing me to take the lead, when I know he wants to come in and comfort the kid. That can come later. Right now, I need answers and coddling him won’t help me.
“Have you stolen for him before? Other than the flowers.” That was for him, but not on behalf of him. Entirely different scenario. “Times that you haven’t gotten caught?”
“So what if I have?” Riley says defensively. “Gonna throw me in a cell? Just do it already and stop pretending you give a shit.”
“Is that what you think? That I don’t give a shit? Stealing is a serious crime, Riley, and you’re fucking lucky that so far, no one has wanted to press charges for that little habit of yours.”
“It’s not a habit!”
The vehemence is reassuring. “No relationship is worth risking your future for. Do you know how much more difficult your life will be if you have a record? You’ll never get away from it.”
The look on Riley’s face tells me that I’m not getting anything more out of him tonight. Pushing will only blow up in my face, something I’ve unfortunately learned from experience. It took years to learn when to push and when not to during interviews with suspects and witnesses. Quinn has a natural talent for being able to put people at ease; I had to work hard to learn it, and even now there are days where Quinn goes in alone because I’m liable to fuck it up for both of us.
“You can stay here tonight, and then we’ll work out what to do next. If you need money, kid, you come to me, got it? No more stealing.” Standing, I slap my thighs. “I’m starving. You can help make dinner, and I’ll get you my number so you can put it in your phone.”
Riley nods warily, like he doesn’t know if he believes that I’ll keep my word. I don’t blame him. It isn’t like he’s had any adults in his life that have given him reasons to trust.
Hell, trust wasn’t on my top list of priorities when I first met Lake. He taught me that trusting isn’t aboutknowing, it’s about stepping forward anyway.
Maybe Riley can learn that too.
