dad’s going to jail. It’s all my fault. He told me to stay in the car, but I didn’t. I didn’t.”
Ray moved over so I could join them on the bed. “Danny says he got out of the car at The Cat’s Meow and tried to sneak inside to see who his dad was talking to. He tried the back door and the side door, but they were locked. He even went into the foyer, but the bouncer kicked him out.”
Danny hiccupped. “Then I went back to the car. It was open. The driver’s door and the back door. I figured my dad came out and couldn’t find me. So I got in the car and waited for him. But when he came out, he didn’t act like he knew I’d gotten out of the car. He just hopped in and took off.”
I moved closer to Danny and hugged him. “I don’t understand. What did you do that was so terrible?”
Danny looked at Ray, who replied. “He left the car, Darlin’. Danny thinks someone came and planted the woman’s arm in the car while he was circling the building.”
“Oh.” I thought about that for a minute. “But the person would need a key to get in the trunk or a remote. Your dad’s key chain didn’t have a remote on it.”
Danny’s eyes widened. “He had a remote. I know he had one.”
Ray and I exchanged glances. I’m sure he was thinking the same as me. What happened to the remote? The key chain Danny claimed to have found in the car at Dr. Albert’s office had just a key and a metal letter P. Was the car the one his father had been driving or not?
Ray patted Danny’s shoulder. “You know what, bud, we’re not going to be able to solve this tonight. You have school tomorrow. You need to go to sleep. Don’t worry. I’ll talk to your dad tomorrow and we’ll figure this all out.”
Danny seemed satisfied. He allowed us to tuck him in bed. Ray and I kissed his cheeks and turned off his lamp.
When we got to our bedroom and climbed into bed, Ray and I conversed in whispers.
“What do you think happened to the remote, Ray?”
“I have no idea.”
“Do you think it fell off the key chain?”
“It’s possible.”
“Do you think someone stole it and planted the arm in the car?”
“Also possible. Anything’s possible, maybe just not probable.”
“What did Danny’s father say about the Camry?”
“Nothing. His lawyer’s trying to work some kind of a deal for his release, and, in the meantime, Danny’s father isn’t answering any questions.”
“But it was his car.”
“It was the dealership’s car. He may have stolen it. From what Danny says, he did. But none of what Danny tells us is going to be admissible in court, and Danny will never testify against him.”
“So what do we do now, Ray?”
He pulled me close and spooned. “We sleep.”
I wiggled out of his arms and sat up. “I can’t sleep. I can’t stop thinking about this.”
“We can’t do anything tonight, Jolene. Go to sleep.”
“I can’t.”
“Then do me a favor. Sit there quietly so I can sleep.”
I arose on Monday still filled with dire thoughts regarding Erica’s whereabouts, Danny’s father, Danny’s future, and, of course, my future. To top it all off, I had to face Principal Travis.
My day only got worse when I realized I couldn’t wear the stretch pants I’d had on for the last four days. My two-size drop meant I had to put on the same skirt I’d worn when I met her last week. Hopefully she wouldn’t notice.
At 8:55 a.m. the principal’s secretary escorted Danny and me to Mrs. Travis’ office for the second time within a week. This time I was exhausted, annoyed, and embarrassed. I had the Nintendo DS in my hand.
Danny managed to enter the office hiding behind my back. I could tell from the way Mrs. Travis craned her neck to catch sight of him. I stepped to the side so she could give him the full effect of her wrath.
Instead, she greeted us both warmly and offered us the chairs in front of her desk. I offered her the Nintendo, and she accepted it. She sat on the edge of her desk, holding it in her hand and towering over Danny, her warm smile still firmly in place.