“The boys called Daniel and demanded a favor. Braedon tagged along because, well, he panicked. He knew it was wrong but didn’t want his friend to go alone. He’ll fill you in. Just know that when Braedon tells you they had a gun—”
“What?” Clay can’t tamp down his fury. “They pulled a—”
“Hear me out,” says Zoey. “It wasn’t loaded. Didn’t even have a clip in it. The chamber was empty—I checked.”
Clay hears Zoey’s words but his heart still races.
“The short of it is,” continues Zoey, “all three boys are in custody. Their story is they were out mountain biking and found a work glove, an electric saw, a Replacements hoodie—”
“The band the Replacements?” says Judd.
“Exactly. And with that stuff, Teddy’s earring.”
“What do you mean, they found that stuff?” says Clay. “On the mountain bike trail?”
“Just off it,” says Zoey. “They knew Teddy was missing. So they hatched their plan to pretend they kidnapped him, took the earring as evidence, left the other stuff where they found it, and you know the rest.”
“What are you talking about?” says Mike. “I don’t know anything.”
“No,” says Zoey, her voice flat and unforgiving. “You don’t.”
“A glove, Teddy’s Replacements sweatshirt, a saw, and his earring?” says Judd. “Just those four things? No other sign of Teddy?”
“That’s what they said,” says Zoey. “I didn’t ask for more details. I want separate interrogations for that.”
“Let’s do it,” says Mike.
“I’m going to let you sit this one out, Mike,” says Zoey. “But thanks.”
“But who—”
“I’m bringing Judd out of retirement for this one.” She then turns to Clay and says, “And you went to West Point. They must have taught you something about enemy interrogation when you weren’t playing soccer.”
Clay wonders if she knows more than that, but how could she? She couldn’t. She doesn’t. He simply nods and says, “A little. Happy to help.”
“Good,” says Zoey. “Consider yourselves deputized. And thank you. I’ve spoken with each of the boys’ parents. They’re not real happy with their sons at the moment and waived the right to have an attorney present at questioning, so let’s get to it. Sue and Carol are expecting you to drop Braedon at their place. Then I’ll meet you at the station at… let’s say three o’clock. Figure by the time we’re done, we can go out for breakfast.”
“I really screwed up, Dad. I’m sorry.” Braedon leans against the passenger door half asleep. “I’m willing to accept whatever punishment you give me.”
Clay is tempted to say,Oh, you’re willing? Thank you for your permission and generosity.But this is the first real trouble Braedon has ever been in, and Clay wants to get the parentingpart right. When Clay was a boy, Judd didn’t handle this kind of thing well. All it did was drive Clay underground. Make him more careful. More secretive. Especially when Clay was twelve years old and hadn’t yet found his place on the soccer team at Dorset-Cornwall. He did his share of sneaking out of the house and other mischievousness, and he became damn good at hiding it from his father. Maybe that’s why he became a spy.
More lies is the last thing he wants to instill in Braedon. He doesn’t want to seed clandestine thinking in his son. He wants to seed honesty and transparency. “I hear that you know what you did was wrong,” says Clay.
“I really do,” says Braedon.
Clay believes him. One thing Braedon is not is a bullshitter. “And I appreciate you saying so. Still, I may come up with some kind of punishment. Something that will give you some thinking time.”
“Like what?” says Braedon.
“Maybe repainting the shed out back. It’s looking kind of rough. What do you think of that?”
“That sounds fair,” says Braedon. “I helped paint my room. I think I can do a shed.”
“There you go. Good attitude.” They drive in silence for a minute, then Clay says, “So when that Graham boy pulled a gun on you and Daniel, did it feel like he might really pull the trigger?”
Braedon shrugs. “I don’t know. But I didn’t feel scared when it happened. That’s why I grabbed the bottle from Daniel. I guess I figured he wouldn’t really shoot us. Later, after Chief Jensencame, I felt kind of scared. Like something bad could have happened. But I was okay when it was happening.”
Clay nods. “I know the gun wasn’t loaded. But a gun is a gun. Some people treat them with respect and a healthy amount of fear. And some people think they’re a license to act tough. Or worse. I guess what I’m asking is, do you think any of those boys are capable of killing a person? Or do you think they’re just kids being kids, screwing around?”
