Period 8 - By Chris Crutcher Page 0,53
has anything to do with it or not.”
Logs stares at the screen. The images aren’t live. If Kylie isn’t burned, what’s she doing getting into an ambulance?
.15
Dr. Johannsen walks onto the stage in a stone-silent auditorium, the counselors and other administrators in folding chairs next to the podium. Justin and Tak sit between Paulie and Hannah near the front.
Dr. Johannsen taps the mike with her finger. “Good morning, people. For those of you who don’t know, the family of one of our students experienced a major house fire last night. A few minutes ago I got off the phone with someone from the city fire department, who says there is evidence of foul play, which I assume means arson. They’ve requested to come into the school today to ask questions of anyone who might be able to shed light on their investigation. Your teachers will bring you up to date on the details, and we’d like anyone who thinks they might have any useful information to excuse yourself to the office. Please do not use it as simply an excuse to get yourself out of class.”
Light laughter.
“Okay,” Dr. Johannsen says, “return to your first period and let’s see if we can do this in a fashion that doesn’t cause too much interruption in the day.”
The mass exodus begins.
“I saw on TV that a neighbor said Kylie was yelling it was her fault,” Justin says.
“Kylie or her mom,” Hannah says.
“Yeah, well,” Tak says, “what’s your bet? Remember her in P-8 the other day?”
The others don’t respond. They remember.
“Second news report said no one was injured,” Paulie says. “So what’s with the ambulance?”
Justin smiles. “Two kinds of hospital you go to in an ambulance,” he says.
Paulie and Hannah say it together: “Psych ward.”
“So,” Paulie says, gazing at Justin and Tak, “Sixty-four-thousand-dollar question. Where the hell is Mary Wells?”
“I guess that used to be a lot of money, huh?” Justin says.
Tak says, “Yeah, back when they made up the saying. Mr. Logs was probably younger than us.”
“I caught up with him on the way out of school,” Paulie says. “He’s still gonna meet up with her dad this afternoon. He said he’d call if he learns anything.”
“Lot of crazy shit happenin’ around here,” Justin says.
“A lot of crazy shit.” Tak agrees. He sips his hot chocolate. “What do you guys think about Kylie? House is on fire and she’s yellin’ it’s her fault?”
“That neighbor wasn’t sure who was yelling,” Paulie says. “And you know the news guys, they’ll say anything to get some suspense going.”
“Maybe,” Justin says, “but she gets all freaky the other day in P-8. Might make sense she’s freaky when the ol’ home catches fire.”
Paulie rocks his chair back on two legs, staring at the screen on his cell. “I was gonna hit the water this afternoon, but I’m afraid I might miss something.”
Justin says, “I just want to hear what Wells is gonna say. Shit, man, his daughter is missing and he’s more pissed and embarrassed than freaked. What a sorry . . .”
Paulie enters Period 8 late the next day, sees an open seat next to Hannah and slips into it.
Logs says, “So, who wants to start?”
“How about you start, Mr. Logs,” Marley Waits says. “You know any more about Mary? And what about Kylie?”
“This is probably confidential,” he says, “but we keep it all in the room, right?”
“Yeah, man,” Justin says. “We keep it in the room.”
“They took Kylie to the psychiatric unit.”
Taylor Max says, “She start the fire?”
“No, Taylor, she didn’t start the fire. She got hysterical and they couldn’t calm her down. She’s there for a seventy-two-hour observation. That’s about all I can tell you.”
“Was the neighbor lady right?” Bobby Wright asks. “Was she yelling that it was her fault?”
“I have no idea,” Logs says, “and how about we keep the conjecture to a minimum. Maybe when all of this calms down she can tell us herself.”
“So what about Mary?” Marley asks.
“I don’t know a thing. I was supposed to meet with her father yesterday afternoon, but he didn’t show up. Either he didn’t get back or he decided not to keep us in the loop. I’m sure he’s contacted the police.”
“Jesus Christ,” Hannah says. “Your kid is missing and you take a couple of days to come home?”
“I got the feeling on the phone that Mr. Wells thinks Mary took off to cause trouble for him,” Logs says. “Since she disappeared that first time, he isn’t giving her much slack.”
“God,” Marley says. “Do we