Heartless by Janet Taylor-Perry Page A

just found
your mentor. Sheena Johnson, I'd like you to meet our new
senior, Parker Reynolds."
Sheena looked at Ray questioningly. Ray nodded. Sheena
stuck out her hand. "Hello, Parker. Let me see your schedule."
Parker handed the girl the schedule. She looked at Dr.
Fairchild. "Did you do this on purpose? We have every class
together."
"Providence, I assure you."
Sheena shrugged. "Well, come on, Parker. I'll show you
around. Nice to see you, Mr. Ray. Tell everybody hi for me.
Oh, if you'd like, I'll give Parker a ride home today."
"Ask him. Tomorrow he'll probably ride his motorcycle."
Ray gave Parker a look that said, "Go for it."
Parker stammered, "Um. Yeah. Thanks." He walked down
the hall with Sheena Johnson.
Rona Fairchild commented, "He has your eyes. Who's his
mother?"
"Mia."
"Wow! How's Larkin taking it?"
"She's an angel. Oh, and she's pregnant."
"You're kidding."
"Nope. I found out about my eldest and my youngest on the
same day. Give me a cup of your wonderful coffee, and I'll tell
you the whole story."
♥♥♥
    Sheena dropped Parker off around four-thirty. His first day
at this school had been amazing. The kids did not treat him as
if he had a disease. On the contrary, they accepted him. He was
Raiford Reynolds's son. People respected Raiford Reynolds. In
addition, Sheena Johnson was class president and the most
beautiful girl Parker had ever seen. She had asked him if he
wanted to get pizza next Friday night.
    Parker entered the house humming. "Well, somebody's
happy," said Larkin.
"I met the most beautiful girl in the world today."
"Uh-oh. Who's this girl?"
"Sheena Johnson."
"Ah. She was our flower girl. Yes, she is pretty."
"She asked me to go out for pizza next Friday. Is it all
right?"
"Sure. Have fun. How much money do you need?"
"I don't know." You’re gonna give me money?
"We'll talk about it later. Now is homework time. Courtney
and Christopher are at the kitchen table."
    "I have some calculus." This is a normal family. Miss Maxi
did this kind of thing. Even Fritz tried. He smiled. I think I like
normal.
    Larkin’s voice jarred him back to the here
-and-now. "Get
busy. Ray will be home soon."
Parker joined the other two children and finished the
twenty-five math problems in short time.
Before Ray got home, the door chime reverberated. Larkin
answered to find Lawrence Dantzler on her porch. She
scowled. "Come to interrogate me?"
"No, although you did teach Miss Horn.
"I recognized her picture. As I recall, she was an average
student. I think she got a B in my class. It would have been
three years ago. If you aren't here to talk to me, what do you
want?"
"I need to speak with this kid that Ray told Chris about."
"Without a lawyer?"
"He's a minor. I guess you're his parent. You can be
present."
"I don't like it." She took a step closer to a man that was a
foot and half taller than she was. Lawrence stepped back.
With a huff, she showed Dantzler to the table where the
children were doing homework and shooed Christopher and
Courtney away with a stern warning not to come downstairs
until she called them. Then, she introduced Lawrence to
Parker, who held his breath. Here goes the ax , he thought.
To both Parker's and Larkin's surprise and relief, Dantzler
talked casually to Parker and subtly asked questions about a
number of dead people. After only about ten minutes, the big
man stood and shook Parker's hand . Not a killer. Not a mean
bone in this boy's body.
Larkin escorted her unwanted guest to the front door.
"Relax," he said. "I had to do my job. That kid is not a suspect,
but you are one feisty little lady. I think you could have brained
me if I had tried to take him into custody."
"Damn right," she snarled.
Lawrence laughed. "And Chris and Ray wonder why you
could be a person of interest."
"Am I?"
"Not really." He walked down the steps and chuckled all
the way to his car.
Ray came in an hour later with a manila envelope. Larkin
told him about the FBI's visit. Through clenched