Rourke’s were rough and strong, like a rancher’s. Will saw nothing remotely “academic” about the headmaster. He looked like he could pick his teeth with a bowie knife and seemed as confident as a four-star general.
Rourke smiled at him. “You’ve had an interesting journey,” he said.
“That I have, sir.”
Dan McBride headed for the door. “All the best now, Will. See you soon.”
“Thanks for your help, Mr. McBride.”
McBride gave Will a crisp two-finger salute as he left. Robbins invited Will to sit on a sofa near the fire. A tray of fresh-cut fruit and rolls sat on a nearby table. Rourke poured coffee and sat down across from him.
“Did you finish the paperwork I gave you?” asked Robbins.
Will fished the papers from his bag and handed them over. She paged through them, while Will tried not to watch. Rourke casually studied him.
“In many cultures, including our local Oglala Lakota,” said Rourke, “to wish anyone an ‘interesting journey’ is considered something of a curse.”
“I’d have to say my last twenty-four hours have been … interesting,” said Will.
Robbins looked up from the papers and gave Rourke a nod: Everything in order .
“What would you like to share with us about it, Will?” asked Rourke.
TELL NO ONE .
Will wanted to honor Dad’s warning, but he also felt he owed them an explanation. He was here and, for all he knew, still alive because of their timely help and interest in him. But the whole truth—Dave, doppelgänger parents, gremlins, and special sunglasses—wouldn’t buy him anything but a room at the Laughing Academy with no handle on his side of the door.
#63: THE BEST WAY TO LIE IS TO INCLUDE PART OF THE TRUTH.
“My parents wanted me to come here right away. As soon as I could. Today. Because they thought I was in danger.”
Rourke and Robbins exchanged a look of concern. Rourke leaned forward. “What sort of danger, Will?” he asked.
“They didn’t say exactly, sir. But there were people looking for me yesterday, in our neighborhood, that we’d never seen before.”
“Describe them for me.”
“I didn’t see them up close. Men in black cars, with unmarked license plates.”
“Do you have any idea who they were or what they wanted?”
“No, sir.”
“Was this before or after I saw you at your school?” asked Robbins.
“I saw them once before, briefly, but mostly after.”
“Did your parents contact the police?” asked Rourke.
“They did,” said Will, as close to making a lie of the truth as he could manage. “After I left for the airport. That was when I called you last night, Dr. Robbins.”
“So this was the reason for the urgency,” said Robbins. “Your parents felt these people represented some kind of threat to you.”
Will nodded. His throat felt too tight to speak. He poured more coffee and hoped they wouldn’t ask too many more questions.
“Have you spoken with your parents this morning?” asked Rourke.
“Not yet, sir.”
“You need to let them know you’ve arrived safely, Will. And I’m sure you’d like to know they’re safe as well.”
“I do. I would.”
“Do you have any idea what this could be about?” asked Robbins. “Or what their interest in you might be?”
“None at all,” said Will. Then he asked the question he’d had in mind all morning. “Do you?”
Rourke and Robbins looked at each other. He seemed to ask for her opinion. She shook her head.
“We don’t,” said Rourke. “What you’ve told us is more than troubling, Will. But we’re not without resources here. I’m more than willing to investigate the whole situation if you think that would be helpful.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“I’m truly sorry you’ve been through this. Hardly the ideal circumstances for your arrival. A new student’s first day should be a much happier occasion.”
“I’m happy to be here anyway,” said Will.
Right now—straight up—I’m happy to be anywhere .
“We’re happy to
Rourke smiled at him. “You’ve had an interesting journey,” he said.
“That I have, sir.”
Dan McBride headed for the door. “All the best now, Will. See you soon.”
“Thanks for your help, Mr. McBride.”
McBride gave Will a crisp two-finger salute as he left. Robbins invited Will to sit on a sofa near the fire. A tray of fresh-cut fruit and rolls sat on a nearby table. Rourke poured coffee and sat down across from him.
“Did you finish the paperwork I gave you?” asked Robbins.
Will fished the papers from his bag and handed them over. She paged through them, while Will tried not to watch. Rourke casually studied him.
“In many cultures, including our local Oglala Lakota,” said Rourke, “to wish anyone an ‘interesting journey’ is considered something of a curse.”
“I’d have to say my last twenty-four hours have been … interesting,” said Will.
Robbins looked up from the papers and gave Rourke a nod: Everything in order .
“What would you like to share with us about it, Will?” asked Rourke.
TELL NO ONE .
Will wanted to honor Dad’s warning, but he also felt he owed them an explanation. He was here and, for all he knew, still alive because of their timely help and interest in him. But the whole truth—Dave, doppelgänger parents, gremlins, and special sunglasses—wouldn’t buy him anything but a room at the Laughing Academy with no handle on his side of the door.
#63: THE BEST WAY TO LIE IS TO INCLUDE PART OF THE TRUTH.
“My parents wanted me to come here right away. As soon as I could. Today. Because they thought I was in danger.”
Rourke and Robbins exchanged a look of concern. Rourke leaned forward. “What sort of danger, Will?” he asked.
“They didn’t say exactly, sir. But there were people looking for me yesterday, in our neighborhood, that we’d never seen before.”
“Describe them for me.”
“I didn’t see them up close. Men in black cars, with unmarked license plates.”
“Do you have any idea who they were or what they wanted?”
“No, sir.”
“Was this before or after I saw you at your school?” asked Robbins.
“I saw them once before, briefly, but mostly after.”
“Did your parents contact the police?” asked Rourke.
“They did,” said Will, as close to making a lie of the truth as he could manage. “After I left for the airport. That was when I called you last night, Dr. Robbins.”
“So this was the reason for the urgency,” said Robbins. “Your parents felt these people represented some kind of threat to you.”
Will nodded. His throat felt too tight to speak. He poured more coffee and hoped they wouldn’t ask too many more questions.
“Have you spoken with your parents this morning?” asked Rourke.
“Not yet, sir.”
“You need to let them know you’ve arrived safely, Will. And I’m sure you’d like to know they’re safe as well.”
“I do. I would.”
“Do you have any idea what this could be about?” asked Robbins. “Or what their interest in you might be?”
“None at all,” said Will. Then he asked the question he’d had in mind all morning. “Do you?”
Rourke and Robbins looked at each other. He seemed to ask for her opinion. She shook her head.
“We don’t,” said Rourke. “What you’ve told us is more than troubling, Will. But we’re not without resources here. I’m more than willing to investigate the whole situation if you think that would be helpful.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“I’m truly sorry you’ve been through this. Hardly the ideal circumstances for your arrival. A new student’s first day should be a much happier occasion.”
“I’m happy to be here anyway,” said Will.
Right now—straight up—I’m happy to be anywhere .
“We’re happy to
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