Code of Silence: Living a Lie Comes With a Price (6 page)

“His boss was murdered,” Cooper said. “That’d shake anybody up.”

Hiro told him about the man Lunk argued with—and how they followed him at a safe distance.

“He looked mean,” she said. “Creepy mean. He’s connected. I know it.”

Cooper shook his head. “You followed a mean-looking stranger?”

“A
suspect.
”

“You’re not a cop. You do know that, right? I know you want to be one someday, but—”

“I can take care of myself.” She raised her chin. “Do you want to hear the rest or not?”

Cooper heard the bus round the corner and head their way.
Terrific.
He had hoped the bus would be late to give them more time to talk. “So what happened?”

“We followed him to Lunk’s house. The creep is living in the shed.”

Definitely strange. Cooper had to admit it. “Okay, so that’s weird. But what does it prove, really?”

The bus slowed to a stop and swung open it’s doors.

“An inside job,” she said. “The man is Lunk’s dad.”

C
ooper led the way to a couple rows of seats near the back of the bus and waited to talk until the bus started moving again. “I never saw his dad around,” Cooper said. “I just figured he lived in another state or something.”

“Or maybe the state
pen
,” Hiro said. “Seriously, he looks like an ex-con. I’m telling you, there’s a connection here. Wanna hear my theory?”

The bus slowed, coasted to the curb, and picked up six more passengers. Two of them sat in the row directly in front of Gordy and Hiro.

“Later. When we can talk,” Cooper whispered.

She looked disappointed, but nodded in agreement.

Cooper could guess her theory pinned this on Lunk somehow. She’d love that. Lunk made her first day at school miserable when she moved to Rolling Meadows after her dad died. Maybe it was the fact she wore her dad’s leather Chicago police jacket to school for weeks—even though it hung almost to her knees. Lunk made fun of the jacket, even when he knew her dad had died. And the more he did, the more other kids stayed away. Not because Lunk was especially popular. It seemed more like kids were afraid they’d be a target if they got too close.

But because all three of their moms were longtime friends, Cooper and Gordy had known Hiro for years. And they ended up being the only real friends she had. Cooper understood her. Most of the time, anyway. Honestly, the girls who locked her out of their tight little circles didn’t know what they were missing. That’s the way Cooper saw it. She was a great friend. Fiercely loyal. And now the three of them had to stay close and keep quiet.

Cooper sat behind Hiro and Gordy and stared out the school bus window. If only he’d slung his backpack over his shoulder before he went to call Frank. The regrets that kept him awake last night still wouldn’t let him rest.

Police cars filled every handicapped parking spot at Plum Grove Junior High. Not a good sign.

Gordy turned in his seat and gave Cooper a wide-eyed look. He’d obviously seen the cop cars, too.

If Cooper had ridden his bike as usual, he’d have been tempted to turn around and pedal home. And he wouldn’t have to lie to say he felt sick. His stomach felt jazzed all morning.

But staying home might draw more attention than he wanted. Besides, he’d be ditching his two best friends—and Gordy might need help staying calm. Cooper filed off the bus behind the others, trying to look natural. Gordy looked like a zombie.

“Think they’ve figured it out?” Gordy fell in step beside Hiro and Cooper.

Cooper eyed the police milling around the entrance. “No.”

Gordy tugged on Cooper’s arm. “For sure?”

Cooper stopped and let a group of students pass. “If they knew, they’d have already picked us up.”

Hiro didn’t say a word, but she nodded slightly.

“They’re zeroing in,” Gordy whispered. “What do we do now?”

Cooper forced his mind to stay logical. Just the sight of all the police had him teetering on the edge of panic. “Exactly what we said before.” He willed himself to look calm.
If Gordy knew what was going on inside me he’d totally lose it.
Pushing the thought out
of his head, Cooper started walking again. “Just act like nothing is wrong.”

One police officer was eyeballing the dozens of bikes poking out of the steel racks. Cooper felt relieved they’d taken the bus after all. Cooper, Hiro, and Gordy mixed in with other students entering the building through sets of double doors. They stayed close together, but Cooper was in his own world.

A handful of police stood just inside the building, watching students enter. The door to the principal’s glass-walled office was closed. Principal Shull sat on the corner of his desk listening to several uniformed officers crowded around it. Cooper picked up the pace, and kept his head down. If the three of them could just make it through today without breaking the Code of Silence, there was hope. Then he’d have all weekend to try to figure out what to do next.

Principal Shull made a surprise visit to the first period class—carrying Cooper’s backpack. He ducked in, smiled, and pointed at it.

“Anybody lose a backpack with an English book and sweatshirt inside?”

He appeared totally casual about the whole thing, like he was just trying to be helpful.

The man was trolling. Hoping for a bite. Cooper hoped his own act would be as convincing as the principal’s. He didn’t move.

“No?” The principal smiled again. “Anybody know of another student who is missing one?” He looked directly over Cooper’s head at a group of boys sitting behind him.

Cooper turned to look at them too, as did half the class.

Riley Steiner, Walker Demel, and Trevor Tellshow looked totally innocent. They’d looked the same way when the principal came in questioning the culprits behind the
Out of Order-Do Not Enter
signs taped on every
GIRLS
washroom door in Plum Grove school just a couple weeks ago. Rumor had it that head librarian Miss Hoskins had a little ‘accident’ while running from one bathroom to another—looking for one that was operational. Steiner,
Demel, and Tellshow claimed to be innocent then, too, but they were found out a couple days later. The detentions they served as a result only boosted their hero status among many of the guys—including Gordy.

“Mr. Steiner?” The principal held it a little higher, as if he thought Riley couldn’t see the backpack clearly from where he slouched at his desk.

Riley shrugged and shook his head—obviously answering for the whole group.

Apparently satisfied, Principal Shull made a methodical row-by-row visual sweep of the room. Cooper had no worries about Hiro. She could be impossible to read when she wanted to—which drove Cooper nuts. Gordy was another story. Cooper prayed the principal wouldn’t read anything on Gordy’s face.

“Anybody?” He gave the backpack a little shake.

Jake Mickel raised his hand. “If there’s any money in it, it’s mine.”

It broke the tension, and Cooper laughed right along with the rest of them. Mickel looked pleased with himself, and shot a glance toward the guys in the back.

The principal continued his scanning. Cooper held steady when the man looked at him.

“I’ll check another homeroom.” Again, the big toothy, “just-trying-to-be-helpful” smile. “If you think of someone, I’ll have it in my office. Just stop by.”

Right. And the cops will kindly escort you to the police station. Nice try, Principal Shull.

The principal nodded at Mrs. Schmidt, as if to signal the class was all hers again. The man disappeared out the door, closing it behind him.

For the rest of the morning Cooper’s heart pumped double-time, while the clock seemed to tick at half speed. When he stepped into Miss Ferrand’s fourth period English class, two policemen and Principal Shull were waiting inside. This wasn’t good. They stood
huddled up by Miss Ferrand’s desk like they were planning a raid, or going over their strategy. Obviously the “Gee, did anybody lose a backpack?” plan didn’t work. Now they’d moved to Plan B.

Gordy looked like he was going to wet his pants. Hiro sat right in front of Cooper’s desk and set her backpack beside her. She locked eyes with him as he passed—like she knew their little masquerade was about to unravel.

This had to be about the English book in his backpack. It obviously led the police to Plum Grove School. The book was only used by eighth-graders, and all the eighth-grade English classes were taught by Miss Ferrand. By process of elimination they were narrowing the field. Fast.

Steiner, Tellshow, and Demel put up a cool front. Talking loud. Laughing. To Cooper it seemed they were trying a little too hard. The fact they deliberately acted like they had nothing to hide made them look guilty as sin. They were in the clear, though. Cooper was sure of that. The police weren’t there looking for someone behind another prank. They were looking for him.

Kids still talked, but without the usual volume. Jake Mickel leaned over, eyes wide.

“I heard the cops are here for a drug bust.”

If he only knew the truth.

Kelsey Seals, who sat directly in front of Jake, twisted around in her seat. “I heard there might be a bomb threat,” she said. “What do you think, MacKinnon?”

Bomb? Like they’d actually keep the students in the building while they checked it out.
“I hear they’re cracking down on kids doodling in their textbooks.”

Jake laughed. “You’re an idiot, MacKinnon.”

Cooper shrugged. “It’s what I heard.”

Kelsey turned to share her theory with Eliza Miller—who seemed more than eager to listen.

Miss Ferrand studied the students row by row. Cooper turned to cement when Miss Ferrand’s eyes met his. Her eyes held no
accusations, just an appearance of deep concern. She kept scanning the room.

Nothing in that backpack pointed directly to Cooper. He was safe, except for the fact that he no longer had an English book. And from the looks of things, he was going to need one. Now.

He looked at the clock. The bell would ring in just over a minute. Cooper didn’t dare draw extra attention to himself by leaning forward and whispering to Hiro. He slid his cell out of his pocket and texted her.

GOT YOUR ENGLISH BK?

She jumped slightly, like the vibration of her phone startled her. Fishing it out of her pocket, she read the screen and tapped out an answer.

His phone vibrated with her response.

Y. In b-pack.

Seconds left now before the bell. He texted again.

Hiro read the message and closed her phone without answering. In one smooth motion she slid her backpack behind her chair—right next to his.

The bell rang, and Principal Shull instantly stepped to the front of the class. Punctuality was a big deal with him. One of the policemen joined him.

“Students, I would like each of the boys in this classroom to take out their English book and place it on their desk.”

A murmur rose from students. Cooper reached down and slid his hand into Hiro’s backpack instead of his own. He found the book easily and slapped it on his desk like it was a “get out of jail” card.

Four boys didn’t have a book, and Jake Mickel was one of them. Principal Shull called them forward.

“Hey, I didn’t doodle in my book,” Mickel said. “I didn’t even write my name in it.”

Laughter followed him as he shuffled to the front. Seals and Miller exchanged a knowing look.

Principal Shull, along with the police officers, escorted the four boys out of the room. Unless they could pull the book from their locker, these guys would have some questions to answer. Cooper was sure about that. He guessed the police had been doing this each period after the “lost and found” approach bombed, hoping to find the guy without an English book—or an alibi for last night.

Miss Ferrand offered no explanation, and the period passed in a blur. When the bell sounded for lunch, Cooper let out a shaky breath, as if he’d been holding it since he walked into the room. He couldn’t get out of there fast enough. Hiro melted into the hallway crowd. Gordy hustled up alongside him and cupped his hand by his mouth. “They’re on to us.”

“Not here,” Cooper hissed. “Split up. See you at lunch.” Hiking his old backpack on his shoulder, Cooper picked up the pace and weaved his way through a group of girls.

“MacKinnon,” Jake Mickel called from across the hall. He stood in front of his open locker.

Cooper crossed the hallway, dodging kids hurrying to lunch.

“The cops actually wanted to see my book.” He pointed to his English book lying on the bottom of his locker.

“Did they check for doodling?”

“Didn’t even open it. Just wanted to make sure I had it.” Jake shook his head. “Weird, right?”

Grab his book.
The thought flashed through Cooper’s mind.
Steal it? What was he thinking?
But he wouldn’t
actually
be stealing. He’d just borrow it until things cooled down. He slid his backpack off his shoulder and set it in front of Jake’s locker. “Maybe it’s a new tactic to be sure we do our homework.”

He laughed, and turned to stop Kelsey and Eliza, who both approached as kids shuffled past “Did you see the way the cops hauled me out of class?”

This was his chance. Cooper bent down to retie his shoe. The English book stared at him. He glanced up at Jake. His back was turned, and his body blocked the girls’ view. His heart thumped
harder. With a rush of adrenaline he snatched Jake’s book, dropped it in his own backpack, and stood.

Jake was still going at it, but in more detail than he’d shared with Cooper.

Cooper shouldered his pack. “See you, Jake. I’m starving.”

“Me too.” Jake slammed his locker closed without looking.

“Weren’t you scared?” Kelsey asked.

He shook his head. “Not a bit. I had nothing to worry about, right?”

Cooper smiled and jogged toward the cafeteria.
You might have something to worry about now.

H
iro sat at their usual table and positioned herself where she could watch the cafeteria entrance. Strange how she still felt out of place, even after going here for over a year. Her mom thought the move would be good for her. Mom could be near Gordy’s and Cooper’s moms—her best friends. And Hiro would have Coop and Gordy—and she’d make new friends. They would be just what she needed. That was the plan.