Theodore (Xavier's Hatchlings #2) - Kathi S. Barton Page 0,29

him why he was there, but Theo suspected he might already have figured it out. He asked him if he could find the necklace he’d made for Mom long ago. Yes. I can find it. I actually think I know just where it is.

Getting up, careful not to wake Pem, he started toward the area he was looking for. Finn started speaking to him even as he bent to pick up the jewel cases he’d been looking for.

The boys’ bodies are being shipped home. Aunt Carson took care that a funeral director from their town was on the plane with them when they left a little while ago. Neither Austin nor Caroline is aware that the boys are riding with them. I thought it was better that way. Theo agreed with him. He’s also going to try and talk them into a graveside service without anything in the paper. It’s all over the news about them already. Aunt Carson made sure he understood there were going to be a lot of pissed off people if they had anything more than that. Apparently, the town they live in isn’t all that keen on the boys or their parents. I still have trouble wrapping my mind around the things they said to Mom.

Pem and her grandma are taking it a good deal better than I thought they would. I think MaryBeth is still thinking about leaving her gun at home, and what more could have been done if she’d brought it. I doubt very much they would have let her in with it. He told Finn he’d found the necklace. How did they get the one gun in? I never thought to ask.

I saw the recording. Stanley went through the metal detector first, and of course, set off the alarms. While he was emptying his pockets, David put up a hell of a fuss about the toys that he said belonged to him. The two of them were in and out of the detector several times, setting it off. By the time it was settled between them, Stanley just walked into the station while his brother came through with the gun in his back pocket. You can even see when Stanley gave him a thumbs up when they were both on the other side. Christ, to know how smart they were at this is fucking scary. Theo agreed with him. I think I told you that Amos passed away, didn’t I?

Yes. The guy was stressed to the limit when I spoke to him right afterwards. They’re attaching that to the body count too. The state is suing their parents. They said they were negligent by letting them use a firearm in the first place. Not to mention not having the guns locked up away from them. I have a feeling they’d have gotten them anyway. Like you said, they were just too smart. Theo looked around for other things he could bring home for Pem to wear or just to put into the house.

I’m supposed to tell you that you did a fantastic job of taking over the crime scene. The Feds were thrilled to death that you’d had Amos put the recordings and other things in the safe. He said he’d had this happen before. Yes, but locking the recordings in the safety deposit box was a stroke of brilliance. That way, when they arrived, they knew that no one had tampered with anything in it. Even having each of the officers there to write up in their own words, what went down was great. Theo said he was just making sure everything was where it needed to be. Speaking of which, I wish you’d think of taking the job as police chief. I know we have a great deal to handle as it is. Having someone right there that can tell us when and where there is trouble would go a long way in us being able to get help to people faster. Think about it. All right?

I’ll talk to Pem. Right now, I want to get to know my wife better. Theo laughed as he sat down on one of the many chairs that were stashed in here. I don’t know how anyone that has been around as long as we have can ever get used to saying that word. Do you know what I mean?

I do, and you’re right. He felt his brother’s distraction. I don’t know how much longer you’re going to be there, but when you