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“Fred…” Donna says softly.
Liliana sinks lower in her seat, her parents on either side of her. I feel bad for her, honestly. Other than my presence standing in the corner, I’ve tried to keep out of it while Rory handles most of the interrogating, but I have a feeling if Fred Frederickson is on a tear, he’s not going to let me be silent for long.
After finding the footage of Liliana in the hall, Rory had Ben share photos with him of Rodney the skeleton and, sure enough, forensics found it a match thanks to a chink in the pelvis due to an assembly sketch gone wrong.
Two smoking guns, as it were. The evidence is there.
It’s taken a bit of time to mobilize not only the Fredericksons and Principal Fleming, but we’ve managed it.
Now we just have to get through Fred Frederickson.
“This doesn’t prove anything. You can’t tell me that for a fact says her initial or that there aren’t other students with yellow raincoats. This, Sheriff, is preposterous,” Fred goes on, nostrils flaring.
Principal Fleming holds up her hand from behind her desk. “Mr. Frederickson, please. This is a serious accusation.” Fleming was principal when I was a student at Horace Township High. I think she’s due for retirement even though she doesn’t look a day over fifty.
“It absolutely is, but there’s no proof that?—”
Rory pauses the video on the image of Liliana’s backpack and everyone goes silent. “Is that your backpack, Liliana?”
Fred nearly leaps out of his seat. “She won’t be answering any questions until there’s a lawyer present and it’s disgraceful for you to even goad her into?—”
“Liliana hasn’t been charged with a crime, Mr. Frederickson,” Rory says. “We’re just trying to get to the bottom of what happened to the skeleton in Mr. Chrisley’s classroom.”
I bite on the inside of my cheek as I watch Rory. He has complete control of the situation. Knows just the right things to say, doesn’t back down from a challenge. I love watching him in his element. Even if there’s an element ofgotchahere.
“Then I don’t see whyyouhave to be involved,” Fred says, steam practically pouring out of his ears.
“Yes, that’s my backpack,” Liliana’s light voice cuts through the din of anger.
We all look at her.
Donna rubs her daughter’s shoulder softly. “Honey, we don’t have to do this, Daddy’s right, it’s?—”
“That’s me in the video,” Liliana says. She rubs her lips together, then presses her hands between her knees and ducks her head. “I’m sorry.”
Her parents are speechless.
“Why would you do something like that, Liliana?” Principal Fleming says.
Liliana looks at Rory. Then at me. “Someone asked me to.”
“Who?” I ask without thinking.
“Don’t you start,” Fred practically growls in my direction. Donna attempts to settle him again, but Fred is out for the kill. “I should have known last night was some weird trick. A trap. You wanted something. And while I have no idea how that connects to this, I know you two aren’t innocent in?—”
“Unfounded accusations aren’t going to get you very far with me, Fred,” Rory says sternly.
A shiver runs down my spine. I love a man who knows how to take charge without raising his voice.
“So you can either excuse yourself or keep your thoughts to yourself,” Rory continues.
Fred bunches up his fists, press his lips together, about to throw a tantrum. Thankfully, he rears up and walks out of the office instead.
I can feel the weight of the room lift with his exit.
Liliana looks at me again.
“Who asked you to take the bones, Liliana?” I repeat my question.
