Officer Cooper studied the photograph.
“This doesn’t prove Mercer did anything.”
“I know.”
Julian sat beside me.
“Then why didn’t he tell us?”
Daniels answered.
“That is a good question.”
He called the principal.
Dr. Mercer agreed to meet immediately.
We returned to the community center.
Maya was still there with her father and Rebecca.
When Mercer entered twenty minutes later, his usual composed expression disappeared the moment he saw the photograph.
He sat down without being asked.
“I wondered whether Tom kept that.”
I folded my arms.
“You remember him.”
“Very well.”
“Yet this morning you acted as if Rebecca was telling you all of this for the first time.”
Mercer rubbed both hands over his face.
“I was hoping I would never have to explain my involvement.”
Julian’s voice was quieter.
“Why?”
The principal looked at him.
“Because I made a mistake.”
Maya said, “That covers a lot of possibilities.”
