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“You didn’t see them at the school,” Theo said. “The first day of school. They weren’t just angry. They were scared.”
“And Lorcan and the others, they’re convinced something bad happened to her,” Auggie said.
“Yes,” John-Henry said, “but they’re also children. Come on, think: there are a lot of possible explanations. The easiest one is that she got her phone taken away. We took Colt’s phone away one weekend, and Ashley literally showed up on our doorstep because he thought Colt had died. That’s not an exaggeration.”
“It helps that they’re so cute together,” Auggie said.
John-Henry’s face softened, and a shadow smile touched his lip. “That kind of wears off after a while. They’re less cute after they’ve ruined two Saturdays’ worth of gardening because they were wrestling in those stupid sumo suits.”
“What about the break-in at our house? What about that?”
Spreading his hands, John-Henry gave him a helpless look. “Auggie, if you think that’s connected, I believe you. You and Theo are smart. I trust your judgment. Tell me where to go or what to look at, and I’ll do it. Right now, though, all I’ve got are Keelan’s angry parents. They can smell blood in the water; if Keelan starts talking, we’re going to have a much bigger problem to deal with. I don’t think you realize how big of a problem, especially for you, Theo.”
Auggie didn’t need the threat spelled out. Theo was a teacher; if there was even a whiff of inappropriate behavior between Theo and a student, it could mean being fired—or worse.
“So, what are you telling us?” Theo asked. It was still that stranger’s voice. “Stop investigating?”
“If I told you that, would it make any difference?”
“Are you going to arrest us?”
“God, Theo, could you work with me a little?”
“I don’t understand what you want me to say. There are two children out there, and they’re missing, and something is seriously wrong. And nobody seems to care about that, not even you.”
“Theo,” Auggie said.
“I’m sorry it seems that way to you.” John-Henry leaned forward, elbows on the desk. “We all went through a lot last weekend—”
Theo shook his head and looked away.
“—and I know you feel a responsibility for these kids—”
“Someone ought to.”
The only tell was the slight pause in the flow of John-Henry’s words. “—but I do think the best thing for you and Auggie to do is wait until we know more. Ree and I are looking into the Cottonmouth Club. Tean and Jem are trying to figure out who’s moving wildlife through there. North and Shaw are going to be back soon, and they’re going to start looking into everybody connected to that operation, background checks, finances, all of it. We’ll figure out what’s going on. And then we’ll deal with it through proper legal channels.”
Theo nodded. “And in the meantime, two kids are out there, and they might be hurt, they might be victims, they might be going through the worst possible things you can imagine, but they’re just going to have to wait.”
“Theo, that’s not what he’s saying,” Auggie said.
“I’m trying—” John-Henry began.
“But that doesn’t bother you.”
“What is going on with you?” Auggie whispered.
John-Henry still wore that calm, almost relaxed professionalism, but when he spoke, his voice was tight. “For someone who cares so much about children, Theo, you don’t seem to have any qualms about putting them in danger.”
“We didn’t ask Dot to put a stun gun on Keelan,” Theo said.
“I’m talking about Colt and Ashley. I’m talking about my son.” John-Henry pushed back from the desk and stood. “I think we’re done with this conversation.”
“John-Henry, we’re sorry,” Auggie said. “We never meant to get Colt and Ashley involved, and we definitely didn’t mean for anything else to happen.”
“I’ve said what I needed to say.” John-Henry looked at Theo, and Theo met his gaze. “Do you want to add anything?”
“No,” Theo said. “We’re done here.”
