knickknacks. There were a few framed photographs of people who looked like family on the mantel over the fireplace. “Would you like coffee or tea? It’s the extent of my culinary skills, but I do those pretty reliably.”
We declined, and Liam sat down in one of the chairs across from the couch. I started by asking him whether he’d been in the gym at the time.
He shook his head. “I stayed in the classroom so I could set up for our weather experiment.” He’d eventually heard the gunfire, but his classroom was on the second floor, at the opposite end of the hall from the library. He hadn’t seen anything.
“Can you tell us what you remember about Otis Barney?” I asked after Bailey and I had settled into the couch.
“I figured you’d ask that so I’ve been thinking about him. He was pretty quiet, intense, you know? He seemed like a sensitive kid who was trying not to be, if that makes any sense.”
It did. But it was probably true of half the school. “Was he a problem in class?”
“Not really. He was never disruptive. But there was something…anxious about him. It felt like he was trying very hard to fit in, be one of the guys. I kind of got the impression he was getting picked on.” Liam sighed. “He never told me, and I never saw anyone attack him in any way, so I couldn’t do anything about it. And maybe I’m wrong about that. It was just a feeling. But no, he never caused me any problems. Why? Are you thinking…?”
I didn’t want to answer that question, not until we had solid evidence of Otis’s involvement. “We’re just following up on all leads. Otis is one of the many we’re looking into.” Not true, but the safest answer for now. “Any information you can give us will be helpful.”
Liam nodded. “I remember being surprised that Otis volunteered for the extra-credit team project. He didn’t really seem all that interested in science.”
But it didn’t surprise me. If Otis was looking for a friend, signing up for a team project gave him a safe way to make one. “And he teamed up with Carson James,” I said. “What can you tell us about him?”
“Carson was kind of a loner, and a rebellious type—sat in the back and never talked in class—but he loved science. And he was good at it. He didn’t want a partner, didn’t want to have to collaborate with anyone, but I told him that was the deal. Otis was happy to let Carson call all the shots, so it was a good fit. And I’m sure Otis also liked the fact that no one messed with Carson.”
“Why?” I asked.
“For one thing, he was over six feet, and he seemed to be in pretty good shape.”
The pieces were starting to fall into place. I didn’t have to look at Bailey to know that her ears had perked up too. “Mind if I show you a photograph?” I pulled out the enhanced cell phone photo of the taller shooter’s wrist. “Do you remember seeing any student with a marking like this on his right arm?”
Liam studied the photograph carefully. “No. Several of my students have tatts, but I don’t recognize this one.”
“Did you ever see any kind of tattoo on Carson’s wrist?” I asked.
Liam paused. “Not that I can recall. Sorry.”
It was a letdown, but not a game ender. He might’ve just missed it. “Do you happen to know any of Carson’s friends?” I didn’t want to go to his parents yet. If he did have the tattoo, they’d jump to the right conclusion. And possibly help him run.
“I don’t. But I can give you the names of the other students in the class. Maybe one of them can help you.”
Someone had to. And soon.
14
Tuesday, late afternoon, October 8
Bailey started the car but let it idle. “I think this Carson dude is exactly what the doctor ordered.”
“Agreed.” I snapped my seat belt into place. “Just because Liam didn’t see the tattoo doesn’t mean it wasn’t there—”
“Or it might be very recent. The kid could’ve even done it the night before the shooting.”
“Yep.
We declined, and Liam sat down in one of the chairs across from the couch. I started by asking him whether he’d been in the gym at the time.
He shook his head. “I stayed in the classroom so I could set up for our weather experiment.” He’d eventually heard the gunfire, but his classroom was on the second floor, at the opposite end of the hall from the library. He hadn’t seen anything.
“Can you tell us what you remember about Otis Barney?” I asked after Bailey and I had settled into the couch.
“I figured you’d ask that so I’ve been thinking about him. He was pretty quiet, intense, you know? He seemed like a sensitive kid who was trying not to be, if that makes any sense.”
It did. But it was probably true of half the school. “Was he a problem in class?”
“Not really. He was never disruptive. But there was something…anxious about him. It felt like he was trying very hard to fit in, be one of the guys. I kind of got the impression he was getting picked on.” Liam sighed. “He never told me, and I never saw anyone attack him in any way, so I couldn’t do anything about it. And maybe I’m wrong about that. It was just a feeling. But no, he never caused me any problems. Why? Are you thinking…?”
I didn’t want to answer that question, not until we had solid evidence of Otis’s involvement. “We’re just following up on all leads. Otis is one of the many we’re looking into.” Not true, but the safest answer for now. “Any information you can give us will be helpful.”
Liam nodded. “I remember being surprised that Otis volunteered for the extra-credit team project. He didn’t really seem all that interested in science.”
But it didn’t surprise me. If Otis was looking for a friend, signing up for a team project gave him a safe way to make one. “And he teamed up with Carson James,” I said. “What can you tell us about him?”
“Carson was kind of a loner, and a rebellious type—sat in the back and never talked in class—but he loved science. And he was good at it. He didn’t want a partner, didn’t want to have to collaborate with anyone, but I told him that was the deal. Otis was happy to let Carson call all the shots, so it was a good fit. And I’m sure Otis also liked the fact that no one messed with Carson.”
“Why?” I asked.
“For one thing, he was over six feet, and he seemed to be in pretty good shape.”
The pieces were starting to fall into place. I didn’t have to look at Bailey to know that her ears had perked up too. “Mind if I show you a photograph?” I pulled out the enhanced cell phone photo of the taller shooter’s wrist. “Do you remember seeing any student with a marking like this on his right arm?”
Liam studied the photograph carefully. “No. Several of my students have tatts, but I don’t recognize this one.”
“Did you ever see any kind of tattoo on Carson’s wrist?” I asked.
Liam paused. “Not that I can recall. Sorry.”
It was a letdown, but not a game ender. He might’ve just missed it. “Do you happen to know any of Carson’s friends?” I didn’t want to go to his parents yet. If he did have the tattoo, they’d jump to the right conclusion. And possibly help him run.
“I don’t. But I can give you the names of the other students in the class. Maybe one of them can help you.”
Someone had to. And soon.
14
Tuesday, late afternoon, October 8
Bailey started the car but let it idle. “I think this Carson dude is exactly what the doctor ordered.”
“Agreed.” I snapped my seat belt into place. “Just because Liam didn’t see the tattoo doesn’t mean it wasn’t there—”
“Or it might be very recent. The kid could’ve even done it the night before the shooting.”
“Yep.
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