Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 109903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Neil did the math in his head, but it didn't add up. Kevin hadn't used his phone in the bedroom, and they hadn't split up long enough ago for Wymack to make it here from Palmetto State. The only way Wymack could be standing here now was if Kevin called him when he first went downstairs to get Nicky. Knowing Kevin, Neil bet Wymack got the call before 911 did.
"They arrested Aaron," Neil said.
"I know," Wymack said.
"Why?"
"Someone died on the other end of his racquet."
"It wasn't his," Neil said. "It was mine. The police took it as evidence. Will they give it back or am I going to have to get a new one?"
Wymack exhaled smoke into the air between them. The wind ripped the cloud to shreds as quickly as it formed. Neil watched Wymack watch him, then turned his attention to his cigarette. He turned it over and over between his fingers. There was still dried blood beneath his fingernails. For a moment he thought it was his mother's, clinging stubbornly to his hands after all these years. He gave his cigarette a violent shake, dislodging those thoughts with the first clump of ash.
"Neil," Wymack said.
Neil knew that tone too well. "I'm fine."
"Give me that bullshit answer one more time and see what happens," Wymack said. "I stopped by the station on the way here and got a censored rundown of things. The police have labeled you as a hostile witness, you know. They said you wouldn't talk to them, not even to give them your name. They had to get that from Kevin."
"I'm fine," Neil said again. "I just don't like talking to cops."
"Then don't talk to them," Wymack said. "Talk to me."
"What do you want me to say?"
"The truth," Wymack said.
"No."
"Why not?"
Neil shook his head. He didn't know how to explain the fear eating a hollow knot in his chest. Something like this demanded complete honesty, and Neil had been lying since he was old enough to speak. He didn't know how to tell the truth now. If he tried, would it still be the truth, or would he poison the words by saying them aloud? Would it be instinctive to twist it? He wouldn't risk it. Andrew didn't deserve that.
"Coach, call Oakland," Neil said, because he needed to turn Wymack's questions to a safer target. "Higgins needs to know what happened tonight. You remember him?" he asked when Wymack frowned at him. "He called us at the start of the year when he was investigating Drake's father. I know he shifted the focus to Drake last month, but I don't know if he registered him as an official suspect in the system. If he didn't, the cops here won't know to notify him."
Wymack stared him down in silence for a minute, then pulled a card out of his wallet. Neil saw a glossy blue shield printed on the front and guessed it was from one of the officers handling this mess. He didn't plan on sticking around for this phone call, so he ground his cigarette out beneath one shoe.
"I'm going back inside," he said, and Wymack didn't stop him.
He went back into the emergency room to find his seat taken. There was standing room in a corner, though, so he put his back to the wall and turned his attention on the front desk again. Wymack showed up a couple minutes later, spoke briefly to the frazzled women at the desk, and handed them the plastic bag. One disappeared into the back with it, and Wymack came to wait with Neil. They said nothing else to each other but waited for Andrew to be released.
When Andrew finally stepped through the back doors, Neil half-wished they'd left him there. He was wearing the fresh clothes Wymack had brought him, but even the hooded sweatshirt couldn't hide the mess Drake made of his face. Worse than the bruises and cuts was the brilliant smile Andrew still wore. Neil saw it and wanted to be sick.
Wymack set off to intercept Andrew on his way to the door, so Neil followed after him. Andrew glanced over when he noticed their approach and laughed. "Coach, hello. I don't remember inviting you to this debacle."
"You didn't," Wymack said.
"Kevin," Andrew guessed. "A traitor to the end."
He sounded amused, not annoyed, and motioned for Wymack to lead the way. He spared Neil only the barest of glances as they followed Wymack into the night. Despite the crowd inside Wymack had gotten a decent parking spot right around the corner of the building. Neil held back as they approached so Andrew could decide the seating arrangement. Andrew opened the passenger door but didn't get in. Instead he drummed his fingers on the door and considered his seat as if it was a great mystery.
Neil didn't understand the hesitation. Wymack did, and he said, "There's more room to stretch out in back."
"Oh, you are right," Andrew said, but he got in front anyway. Neil watched his knuckles go white on the door as he leveraged himself into the car, but it wasn't until Andrew laughed and said, "Ouch," that Neil understood how much pain Andrew was still in.
Neil got in the backseat and fastened his seatbelt with numb fingers. Wymack closed his door hard enough to shake the whole car and got the engine running. He didn't go anywhere, though, and Neil half-wondered if Wymack was going to interrogate Andrew right here in the parking lot.
Instead Wymack flicked Andrew an impatient look and an, "Any time now."
"Right, right," Andrew said. "Safety first."
Andrew yanked his buckle into place, and Wymack got them on the road. Neil expected them to head back to the station, but he started recognizing streets before long. Wymack was bringing them to the cousins' house. The thought of spending the night in Columbia was repulsive, but Neil didn't get a chance to protest. There was a car already parked in the driveway and Andrew recognized it even if Neil didn't.
"There is a really good explanation for this," Andrew said. "I can't wait to hear it."