“I had the store deliver it to Maya’s house.”
“And did you put anything with it?”
“A card.”
“What did it say?”
Julian’s ears turned pink.
He looked embarrassed rather than frightened.
“I don’t remember exactly.”
I folded my arms.
“Try.”
He stared at the carpet.
“Something like… ‘You shouldn’t have to fight your chair just to get to class. I hope this makes things easier. Please don’t tell everybody it was me.’”
Officer Cooper smiled faintly.
“There was a little more.”
Julian looked confused.
Daniels reached inside his pocket and unfolded a photocopied piece of paper.
He read aloud.
“‘People keep acting like needing help is embarrassing. I think making somebody ask over and over is more embarrassing. You don’t owe me anything. Just use it.’”
Julian’s face went scarlet.
“I wrote that?”
“You did.”
“Can we never read it aloud again?”
