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Officer Mullen met John’s eye, his demeanor cooling. “Your brother’s on parole. He served a year for endangering the welfare of a child.”
“Is that why you hauled him in here, but not the driver? That’s discrimination. My brother served his time. He pleaded guilty and accepted responsibility. His crime was a misdemeanor, induced by alcohol. He made a mistake and was punished. Evidently, he’s still being punished.”
I swallowed hard. I’d never heard John defend what I’d done, even when I couldn’t.
Officer Mullen shook his head. “We didn’t bring him here becauseof his record. We brought him here because we needed to complete the investigation. He seemed ready, willing, and able to answer our questions. We’re entitled to investigate whether he’s in violation of his parole.”
“He’s sober and doesn’t possess a firearm. The only possible parole violation would be if you suspect him of commission of another crime. And I can’t imagine the facts on which you would base such a belief.”
Officer Mullen frowned. “That’s what we’re here to determine. We can’t complete the investigation if he won’t answer questions.”
“The accident tonight happened in front of eyewitnesses. I know, I was there. Any one of them could help you complete the investigation.”
“They weren’t involved.”
John leaned forward, bearing down. “ ‘Involved’ is an imprecise term, irrelevant here. The only person with any criminal culpability is the driver, whom you’re treating with kid gloves.”
“We’d like to understand your brother’s relationship to Mr. Rigel.”
John shook his head. “No, you’re fishing for a parole violation, and I’m not going to let you. My brother has a Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. I’m minutes from concluding this so-called interview.”
“Fine, have it your way.” Officer Mullen bristled. “It’s our understanding that your brother was running after Mr. Rigel. We’d like to know why.”
“I’m not going to let him answer.”
“Does your brother deny he was chasing Mr. Rigel?”
“I’m instructing him not to answer that.”
“Was your brother engaged in an altercation with Mr. Rigel?”
“Instructing him not to answer that, either.”
“How do your brother and Mr. Rigel know each other?”
“Officer Mullen, what doyouknow about this Rigel? What’s his occupation?”
“I’m not here to answer your questions. You’re here to answer ours. Does your brother know the victim?”
“Victim?” John repeated, his eyebrows lifting. “My brother’s a victim, too. He had to jump out of the way of the pickup. The driver was speedingandshe was on her phone. Eyewitnesses told me so, and you would know that, too, if you interviewed them. My brother could have been grievously injured like Mr. Rigel.”
Officer Mullen paused. “Mr. Rigel was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.”
No, no, no. A wave of guilt engulfed me. If only I hadn’t chased him. If only I hadn’t gone to the apartment. I had so many what-ifs, so many questions. Did Rigel kill Lemaire? Why had Rigel come to my home group? I didn’t know if any of the answers mattered now. They wouldn’t change the fact that Rigel’s life ended because of me.
“This interview is over.” John shot up, motioning me to my feet. “Let’s go, TJ.”
I rose on weak knees.
My father followed, grave.
•••
We walked outside, and as soon as we were alone on the street, my father turned on us, furious. “I swear, I don’t know which of you embarrassed me more. TJ, I’ll deal with you when we get home. John, what the hell were you thinking?”
John stopped. “Dad, there’s a lot you don’t—”
“Shut up! Let’s go, TJ. I’m in the garage across the street. I’ll take you to pick up your car. I don’t want a word out of you on the way,not one word. I’m calling your mother. She’s worried sick.” My father stalked across the street, taking out his phone.
