Concealed Hearts (Hometown Jasper #4) - Nicky James Page 0,52
would never admit the truth. If I was right, I’d walked in his shoes my whole life. In that case, there would be nothing on God’s green earth that would make him spill his secret if he wasn’t ready.
John stopped at his patrol car but didn’t get in. He scanned the street, squinting against the morning sun peeking over the mountains in the distance.
“This pisses me off.”
I stopped at my car and waited for him to continue.
John pinched his lips together, his nostrils flaring. “I’m telling you, as a parent, I feel it is my duty to raise my girls to be as open-minded as possible. I can’t wrap my head around the shit some parents teach their kids. All this fucking hatred, and it doesn’t get better. This world is supposed to be more accepting, but when I look at kids today, they seem more cruel.”
John slapped the roof of his car and turned his focus on me. “Jasper’s always felt like a warm and accepting town. Mayor Croucher goes out of his way to ensure shit like this doesn’t happen.” John jabbed a finger at the school. “He promotes equality for everyone. He fights against racism and homophobia. Hell, we had our first town-wide gay wedding last year. That’s the kind of stuff I want my girls to see when they grow up. Not this.”
“You’re a good dad, John. They’ll stand up against kids like this because their daddy taught them about equality.”
“I hope so.”
“I know so.”
“Do you know what happens to kids like this Grant?”
A cold chill ran down my spine. I could name a half a dozen things that happened to kids like Grant, but I stayed quiet.
“Those are the kids who end up shooting up schools or hanging themselves in their garages because they can’t take it anymore. If they’re lucky, they move to a bigger city and find their pack. But it boils down to the bullies who are the true culprits.”
“And it’s our job to put our foot down and stop it.”
“You know who did this.”
“I know. So let’s find a way to prove it. For Grant.”
For Felix and all the other people out there who are too afraid to be who they really are.
As I drove toward Felix’s neighborhood, I rolled John’s words around my head. I’d never seen him so geared-up before. Being a parent had opened his eyes to things. He’d always been a strong advocate in our community, but I could see the fire in his eyes burned hotter and brighter now that he was raising two girls.
I wished my parents had been half as open-minded and liberated as John. Perhaps I would have stepped outside of the closet long ago and not bunkered down within it.
I parked on the road out front of Felix’s house. Studying the quiet street, I noted both his parents’ cars were in the driveway. The clock on my dash read 9:47. It was Saturday, so I figured they weren’t working.
I knocked and stepped back, scanning the windows and the front of the house. A minute later, Catherine, Felix’s mother, answered. She wore yoga pants and a loose-fitting shirt she’d tied at the side. Her silver and brown hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail, and a sheen of sweat coated her bare arms and forehead.
“Chief?”
“Good morning. I seem to have interrupted a workout.”
She pushed a few flyaway strands of hair off her face, nodding. “Power yoga. Can I help you?”
“I was wondering if Felix was around?”
She frowned, her posture turning rigid as she crossed her arms. “He’s not. Took off this morning like a bat out of hell. Why? Has he done something again?”
“No, ma’am. I had a few questions about a boy I’m pretty sure he hangs out with. Do you know when he might be home?”
“No. He’s grounded, so he wasn’t supposed to leave the house at all, but you just try stopping him. Cleveland was at the store when Felix ran off. He’s not too happy with him right now. Felix better pull his shit together and fast or he’ll be out of the house.” Catherine shook her head. “Cleveland has warned him enough times. He’s making a bad name for himself, and it reflects on this family.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Teenagers sometimes struggle to find their feet. I’m sure he’ll come around.”
Since she didn’t know where Felix was and had nothing nice to say about her son, I chose to leave.