Chương 7
“No.”
“Do you know how it got into your backpack?”
“Mason put it there.”
“Did you see him?”
“No.”
“How do you know?”
“He was in my backpack before dinner.”
“What was he doing?”
“He said nothing.”
Patrice nodded.
“Did anybody else touch your backpack?”
“Grandma moved it when she vacuumed.”
“Anyone else?”
“I don’t know.”
Patrice did not tell Noah she believed him.
She did not tell him she doubted him.
She simply wrote it down.
That restraint gave Claire more confidence than immediate reassurance would have.
At the Whitaker house, Daniel stood in front of his son.
Mason had not slept.
Daniel had.
That difference seemed offensive to Mason.
His father looked rested enough to ask questions carefully.
“Tell me exactly what happened.”
“I already did.”
“Do it again.”
Mason folded his arms.
“Noah took the watch.”
“How do you know?”
“Because it was in his bag.”
“That proves where it was found.”
Mason stared.
Daniel pulled out a kitchen chair.
“Sit.”
“I’m already sitting.”
Daniel nearly snapped at him.
He stopped himself.
Arthur’s influence was in the room even when Arthur was not.
That frightened Daniel more than he expected.
He sat across from Mason.
“Was the watch damaged before it went missing?”
Mason looked up.
Daniel had noticed the clasp.
“No.”
“Look at me.”
Mason did.
“Was it damaged?”
“I don’t know.”
“It’s your watch.”
“I don’t stare at the clasp all day.”
Daniel leaned back.
“Okay.”
Mason hated the calmness.
“You think I’m lying.”
“I think your cousin almost died last night, and I’m not going to decide what I think based on what feels comfortable.”
“He didn’t almost die.”
Daniel’s face changed.
“Don’t.”
Mason went quiet.
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
“Your aunt is at the hospital with him.”
“I know.”
“Your grandmother can barely speak.”
“I know.”
“Grandpa is still there.”
Mason looked toward the hallway.
Daniel watched him.
“Why were you near Noah’s backpack?”
Mason’s eyes snapped back.
“What?”
“Noah told them you were near his bag.”
“He’s lying.”
“Were you?”
“No.”
Daniel waited.
Mason looked away.
“You hesitated.”
“So?”
“So I’m asking again.”
“I was getting my shoes.”
“Your shoes were in the garage.”
Mason froze.
Daniel had moved them there himself after shoveling the back steps.
For several seconds neither spoke.
Then Mason said, “I forgot.”
Daniel’s shoulders dropped.
Not because he knew the whole truth.
Because he knew enough to become afraid of it.
“Where did you damage the watch?”
Mason’s face reddened.
“I didn’t.”
“Where?”
“I said I didn’t.”
Daniel stood.
Mason stood too.
“What are you doing?”
“Calling Claire.”
“No.”
Daniel looked at him.
Mason’s panic was immediate.
“Dad, don’t.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why shouldn’t I call her?”
“Because.”
Daniel took out his phone.
Mason grabbed his wrist.
It was the first unmistakable admission.
Daniel stopped.
Mason released him.
His voice became very small.
“I didn’t know Grandpa would do that.”
Daniel stared at his son.
Mason started crying.
Not loudly.
His face crumpled and he turned away as though ashamed to let it happen.
“I didn’t know.”
Daniel lowered the phone.
“What did you do?”
Mason wiped his nose on the sleeve of his hoodie.
“I put it in Noah’s bag.”
Daniel sat.
The chair made a scraping sound against the tile.
“Why?”
Mason shook his head.
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“That isn’t enough.”
“I was mad.”
“About what?”
“I don’t know!”
Daniel closed his eyes.
Mason began talking too quickly.
“He tells on everything. Grandma likes him. Grandpa likes him. Everybody says he’s nice all the time.”
Daniel looked at him.
“So you framed him for stealing?”
“I thought Grandpa would just yell!”
“You know Grandpa.”
“I didn’t know.”
“You know him.”
Mason stared at the floor.
Daniel’s anger rose so fast he had to stand and walk to the sink.
He ran the faucet.
He had no reason to.
He turned it off.
When he faced Mason again, the boy had both hands over his face.
Daniel wanted to shout.
Part of him wanted Mason to feel exactly how terrible the thing was.
Another part recognized that impulse.
He had grown up beneath it.
He sat again.
“You are going to tell the truth.”
Mason shook his head immediately.
“Yes.”
“Grandpa will hate me.”
Daniel stared.
There it was.
Not jail.
Not Noah.
Not Claire.
Grandpa.
Arthur’s approval had become so important to Mason that losing it frightened him more than what his lie had done.
Daniel’s anger changed shape.
“Your grandfather’s feelings are not the emergency here.”
Mason lowered his hands.
“Is Noah okay?”
Daniel swallowed.
“He’s in the hospital.”
“Is he going to die?”
“No.”
The certainty came too fast.
Daniel corrected himself.
“I don’t think so. Your aunt said he’s stable.”
Mason started crying harder.
Daniel moved around the table and sat beside him.
He did not hug him at first.
Then Mason leaned sideways until his shoulder touched Daniel’s arm.
Daniel put a hand behind his neck.
“You did something cruel,” he said quietly.
Mason sobbed.
“I know.”
“And Grandpa did something dangerous.”
“I know.”
“You are responsible for what you did. You are not responsible for what he chose to do.”
Mason looked at him.
Daniel had not planned the sentence.
He realized only afterward that he needed to hear it too.
At Mercy General, Claire received the call.
She walked into the hallway before answering.
Daniel said, “Mason did it.”
Claire leaned against the wall.
For a moment she could not speak.
“What?”
“He put the watch in the backpack.”
Claire closed her eyes.
“Why?”
“He says he was mad. The watch clasp was damaged. He was scared Dad would get on him for it, and he was angry at Noah. It’s... stupid kid logic. Terrible kid logic.”
Claire opened her eyes.
“Does Arthur know?”
“No.”
“Don’t tell him yet.”
Daniel went quiet.
“Why?”
“Because I want Mason to tell the officer before Dad talks to him.”
Daniel understood immediately.
May you like
“You think he’ll pressure him.”
“I think Dad will start explaining.”
