“But not Bobby Falls?” Chief asked again.
“No. I swear it. You can ask him. He stopped hanging out with them when I did.” Evan wrung his hands together and looked from Caden to the chief. “I would never do something like that. Bobby told me that they thought that since my dad was a cop they’d be safe. Like, if my dad found out, there was no way he’d turn them in if I was involved. That was the night I got pissed. Remember, Dad? When Bella was there for dinner? Me and Bobby were chatting online when he said they told him that. I confronted them last night, and I guess that breaking into Vera’s place was payback or something.”
“Evan, we’re going to bring these kids in, and we’ll ask them for their side of the story.” The chief leaned across the desk. “You realize that we have to listen to all sides.”
“Yes, sir. And I know they might try to say that I was involved. But that’s why I’m giving you my phone, and Dad said you could get the records from our online chats. That will also prove that I wasn’t involved.” He shot a worried look to Caden, and his voice escalated. “They can’t fake that, can they? You can search IP addresses to see what messages came from our house, can’t you?”
Caden placed a hand on Evan’s forearm. He held on tight and hoped that Evan would take comfort in his touch.
“Evan, they can do all those things,” Caden assured him. “What Chief Bassett wants to know is if there is anything you want to admit to so that he hears it from you first. Remember my rule. Please, of all times, this is the time to honor it.”
Evan nodded. “I know.” He drew in a breath, and Caden felt him shaking beneath his touch. “We went to Payton’s Campground one afternoon, and I didn’t do anything, but Mike and David left me and Bobby for about twenty minutes, and when they came back, they told us to get the heck out of there.” His tone was apologetic, and his hooded eyes were dreadfully sorry. “That was the time Bella said she saw me and I said she didn’t. I’m sorry, Dad.”
The day just got even worse.
Evan brought his attention to the chief once again. “Bobby told me later that night that they told him they’d broken into a trailer and stolen some stuff, but he didn’t know what. I should have said something, but I was afraid to. I’m sorry, Dad. I’m sorry, Chief Bassett. If I had said something, maybe they wouldn’t have had the chance to break in to Vera’s cottage. And I take responsibility for that.” Evan sat back and covered his face with his hands. “I’m so sorry.” He drew in another deep breath. “Dad, when we’re done here, I want you to take me to Vera’s. I need to talk to her and Jamie.”
“I don’t know, Evan. This isn’t a little thing. Vera could have had a heart attack. They could have hurt her in some other way. She’s stressed. She feels violated and unsafe in her own cottage. Jamie’s livid. His grandmother, the woman who raised him, was put in danger. Do you understand that?” He didn’t give him a chance to answer. “I’m not sure they’ll be receptive to talking to you just yet. They might need a few days to get past this.” Or a few weeks, or years. He had no idea if Jamie and Vera would ever get past it. He needed time to digest it.
“Please? I know all that, Dad. That’s why I need to talk to them,” Evan begged.
“I think that’s a good idea, Caden.” Chief Bassett held a steady gaze on Caden. “You’ll be there to buffer the situation. Unless you worry they’ll retaliate in some way, I think it’s important to give Evan a chance to make amends.”
“Yes, sir.” Caden realized that he hadn’t said no just because of his concerns of how Jamie and Vera might react, but also because he wasn’t ready to face Bella just yet.
“What will happen to David and Mike?” Evan asked.
Caden found it interesting that Evan wasn’t asking about what would happen to him. He must have truly come clean, which was honorable, even if he should have come to him sooner.
“Well, son, that’ll depend on how the investigation goes, and if Mrs. Reed presses charges. And, of course, if those other thefts are confirmed. If you don’t mind, I’d like a word with your father alone. You can wait right outside the door by Ms. Palken’s desk.” Chief Basset nodded a dismissal to Evan.
“Yes, sir.” Evan left the office, and Caden’s eyes tracked him through the glass until he disappeared in the direction of Kristie’s desk.
Chief Bassett leaned back in his chair. “That’s a pisser, huh?”
“That’s one way to put it.”
“You okay?” Chief Bassett asked.
“Yeah. Fine. Just, you know…When it’s your kid, all sorts of stuff goes through your head.” Like if we never moved, this wouldn’t have happened.
“Yes, I do know. Like, what if he had been involved? What if he’d been the one to break in?”
Caden rose to his feet. “Yeah.”
“Don’t be too hard on him, Caden. He did the right thing.”
“I know. Thanks, Chief.”
On the way out of the station, Evan apologized again.
“I know you’re sorry, Ev. You did the right thing by telling us. I just wish you would have come to me sooner, but in the end, you did the right thing, and I’m proud of you for that.”
Evan had been strong throughout the last few grueling hours. He hadn’t shed a tear since they left the boat, and he hadn’t lost his cool. Now, at his father’s words, his eyes dampened again.
“I didn’t mean to mess up so badly, Dad, but I swear to you that I didn’t have anything to do with any of the breakins. I just wanted friends to hang out with, and then, when I realized what they were into, I didn’t really believe it at first—then I did…”
Caden pulled Evan into his arms. His thin frame shook within Caden’s stable embrace.
“I’m sorry, Dad. I’m so sorry.”
Caden cupped the back of his son’s head and held him close. He’d held him through scraped knees, broken fingers, and hurt feelings. He’d held him through tears shed over an absentee mother, and George’s death, which had sent them both crumpling to their knees. But this, holding Evan after watching him do what most adults wouldn’t have the courage to do—snitch on kids he’d have to face on a daily basis in the fall—this was powerful. Petrifying. This was why he needed to be there for Evan every minute he could.
On the way out of the parking lot, Evan asked to see Vera again.
“Evan, she’s had a terribly hard day. It’s seven o’clock. I think it might be better to wait until tomorrow.”
Evan pressed his palms to his thighs. “Please, Dad? I want to talk to them.”
“As I said, they may not be very receptive.”
“I know. That’s okay. You’ve always taught me to say I’m sorry, and I don’t want to wait to say it.” Evan’s eyes were hooded, tired, but his voice was determined.
Caden knew that Evan would stay up half the night thinking about it if he didn’t take him to see Vera now. He also knew that the longer he waited to talk to Bella, the more difficult it would be.
“Okay.”