Trouble is a Friend of Mine

‘He thinks you were in there stealing meds,’ Holloway said.

‘But you’re not letting him go back to work, are you?’ Digby said.

‘We filed a complaint with the medical board and they issued an emergency restriction on his clinical privileges pending an inquiry,’ Cooper said.

‘That’s it? No charges?’ Digby said. ‘This same DA stalked my family for no reason at all.’

‘That’s not true. The evidence against your parents was legit,’ Holloway said.

‘All circumstantial. Nothing like a video of someone actually committing a crime,’ Digby said. ‘Wow. Nice to know I have nothing whatsoever to fear from the justice system if I decide to use my powers for evil.’

It was weird to see Digby genuinely upset, because I’d mostly only seen him either mocking someone (usually me) or taking them for a ride (again, usually me). We all jumped when he kicked the trash can across the room.

‘Calm down, please,’ Holloway said.

Digby swept books off shelves and tore apart some poor social studies student’s diorama. It was heartbreaking watching him throw a tantrum. Finally, Digby sank onto a chair with his fists balled up on his lap.

‘I’m starving,’ Digby said.

‘I have sunflower seeds you could have,’ Cooper said.

Digby shivered. ‘Bird food. No, thanks.’

‘They’re great for your skin.’

‘Do not even.’

I checked that the red delicious sitting on the desk wasn’t wax and gave it to Digby. We watched him mechanically eat it. When he was done, he asked, ‘Did you check his prints?’

‘We ran them. Nothing,’ Holloway said.

‘But you were able to take his fingerprints?’ Digby said.

‘Sure. When we arrested him. Why?’ Holloway said.

‘Just a dumb idea I had about the smudges in Marina Miller’s room,’ Digby said. ‘Did you see she was a patient of Schell’s?’

‘Look, the search for Marina’s stalled. If you know something more about it, you should tell us now,’ Holloway said.

‘Are you saying you need my help?’ Digby said.

‘I’m saying you want something from us too,’ Holloway said. ‘Maybe we could help each other out.’

‘Sounds like you’re out of ideas. You go first if you want to trade,’ Digby said. ‘Well?’

Holloway and Cooper were silent.

‘We’re going to be late for … Spanish?’ Digby looked at me for confirmation.

‘Language arts. You’re kidding. Are you telling me you’re in that class with me? I’ve never seen you,’ I said.

‘So, what about it, policepersons?’ Digby said. Still nothing. ‘Look, I’m not going to blink first. I have all the time in the world.’

‘All right. I’m afraid to ask. What do you want?’ Holloway said.

‘My sister’s case files,’ Digby said.

‘File a Freedom of Information request,’ Holloway said.

‘I did. They gave me stuff they released to the media. I want the investigating officers’ notes. Full transcripts of the interviews,’ Digby said.

‘I can’t do that,’ Holloway said. ‘That case isn’t closed.’

‘Good luck with Marina, then. Put her file next to my sister’s on your special shelf for missing girls who stay missing,’ Digby said.

‘Okay, okay,’ Holloway said. ‘We’ll see what we can do.’

‘Don’t “we’ll see” me. I’m not some eight-year-old kid asking to go to Chuck E. Cheese,’ Digby said.

‘No, you’re a sixteen-year-old kid asking me to steal confidential police files, so be realistic and let me see what I can do. In the meantime, stop playing games and tell me something worth committing larceny for.’

‘I got the prescription number from Marina’s file and called her pharmacy. A week before she disappeared, she got eight months’ worth of birth control,’ Digby said. ‘Were there seven and a half unused packs of pills when you searched her room?’

‘I’ll check the log at the precinct.’ Holloway paused. ‘Thank you, Philip. That seems relevant to the case.’

‘You’re welcome. Even if that was a little condescending,’ Digby said.

‘Gimme a break, kid. You just schooled me, okay?’ Holloway said. ‘But do me a favor. No more breaking into places?’

Cooper smiled and patted me on the head before they walked out the door.

‘That was weird,’ I said.

‘Those are some hugely inappropriate cops,’ he said. ‘Maybe that means there’s a chance I’ll get those files after all.’

‘Are you coming? We really are going to be late now.’

‘Late? For what?’

‘For language arts. Hello?’

‘You go. I have to see about this skateboarding banana. It’s driving me crazy.’

‘You’re skipping again? Do you at least want me to make up an excuse for you?’

‘Nah … it’ll just confuse the teacher. Don’t even mention it. He probably doesn’t know I exist.’

‘Um … the teacher’s a she, and she’ll probably figure out that you do exist when she starts writing your report card and realizes she’s never even seen you.’