“I won’t bother the children,” Jenn said. “I’m just gathering background for a larger story I’m working on.”
“Didn’t you used to do weather?” Nina said.
Jenn grinned at her.
“Sure did. Want some information on cold fronts and high-pressure systems?”
Nina smiled.
“No,” she said. “I very much don’t.”
“No one seems to,” Jenn said. “Except program directors and station managers.”
“I would prefer you not talk to the children,” Nina said.
“No need,” Jenn said. “I have a lot of film from the first day they arrived.”
“Nina,” Jesse said. “Do I recall you saying that one of these Crowne estate kids had a brother in the Horn Street Boys?”
Nina looked at Jenn.
“This conversation is off the record,” Nina said.
“Of course,” Jenn said.
“Yes,” Nina said to Jesse, “there’s a brother.”
“What’s his name?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“The Horn Street Boys have a connection to the victim,” Jesse said, “and a connection to the school. And the victim was found on school grounds.”
“You think the Horn Street Boys are involved?”
“I only know what I told you,” Jesse said. “I don’t even have a theory yet.”
“I won’t give you a name,” Nina said. “I shouldn’t have even mentioned the brother.”
“Why?” Jenn said.
“Improving life for these kids is so fragile a proposition,” she said. “Anything can ruin us.”
“Like having the head person in this program rat one of their brothers to the cops,” Jesse said.
“Just like that,” Nina said.
“But since you know of the relationship, the two boys must have some regular contact,” Jesse said.
“Yes.”
“So it’s possible,” Jesse said, “that the Horn Street Boys know abut the Crowne estate project and maybe even about the local opposition.”
“Yes.”
“You think they were making a statement?” Jenn said.
“I have no idea,” Nina said.
“We’re not the enemy,” Jenn said. “We’re just trying to
