“It was all a misunderstanding. Lender thought Robert had some sort of blackmail; once Lender got worried, the Ozark Volunteers were interested too.”
Theo shook his head again. “I don’t know. It doesn’t feel right.”
“Why are you being stubborn about this? We can take this to Lender. We can explain the whole thing. We can be done with it.”
“He’s not going to believe this story. Not without some sort of proof that Robert was intending to blackmail you. Without that, it just reads like two separate events in Robert’s life. It could piss him off.”
“I’m going to tell him.”
“No, that’s not a good idea. If he thinks we’re trying to pull a trick, he could decide to teach us a lesson. Provide motivation. Make an example.”
“I’ll call him and explain—”
“No,” Theo shouted, slamming the ale down so hard that foam ran down the neck, the bubbles fizzing against his fingers. “What don’t you understand? I’m saying no. No. That’s the fucking end of it.”
“Why are you getting so angry?” Auggie said. “I think if we—”
“Oh my God. Do you really not understand what I’m telling you? No, Auggie. We keep looking, and we find the flash drive that Robert hid, and then we’re done. Then we’re safe.”
“You don’t get to talk to me like that.” Auggie slid out of the seat. He snatched up the flash drive that Orlando had given Theo and held it up. “This isn’t just about you. I want to be done with Lender so we can take care of Orlando. I’m going to—”
“If you say it one more time,” Theo said, “I’ll call Lender myself and warn him you’re going to spin him a bullshit story.”
“Why are you being like this?”
“Because I’m fucking terrified!”
The transformation in Auggie’s face was so sudden that Theo almost didn’t understand what he was seeing; it took him a moment to recognize compassion in the kid’s face.
“Did he threaten Lana?” Auggie asked. “I know the care center isn’t the most secure facility, but I don’t think she’s in danger.”
“What did you say?”
Theo could see in Auggie’s face the knowledge that he had made a mistake.
“Never mind,” Auggie said.
“What did you say about Lana?”
“Nothing. It’s none of my business.”
“You’re right it’s none of your business.” The sound of the ale sliding across the table was the only noise in the room. Theo managed to get to his feet. “Did you follow me?”
“No, I—”
“Get out of my house.”
“Ok, yes, but Theo, I didn’t mean to. I mean, I did, but it just kind of happened. It’s not like I planned it.”
“Get out.”
“I’m really sorry. I didn’t know. You looked so upset when you got on the bus, and I thought maybe I could help, and—”
“Get.” Theo was struggling to get enough air; his knuckles were white around the ale. “Out.”
Something in his tone or his face must have convinced Auggie, because the kid stumbled back. He hurried toward the door, shoved his feet into his boots, and grabbed his coat.
“Theo, please, please, please. I am so sorry. I wasn’t trying to spy on you.”
Limping into the front room, Theo circled Auggie and pulled open the front door. Cold air rushed in; tracings of snow powdered the floor and melted into a shining fan of water.
“We’re done,” Theo said. “Do you understand that?”
“I made a really big mistake,” Auggie said. “I know that. I know I messed up, Theo. Please tell me how I can make this right.”
“Easy,” Theo said, smiling because the night was cold and the snow was glowing under the streetlights and for the first time since June he felt at peace. “Never show your fucking face around here again.”
15
Wroxall’s library was one of the oldest buildings on campus, built from stone, with carvings of fauns and nymphs on the tympana of the south entrance and sculptures of Aristotle and Plato on the north entrance. It had verdigris copper flashing, and the windows were leadlights with geometric patterns of red and white. On the inside, though, it had been gutted and completely redone five years ago, and everything was glass and blond wood and chrome. Auggie sat on a bench near the north entrance; he needed to be as smart as possible for the next ten or fifteen minutes, and he figured Aristotle and Plato might be a little more help than the fauns trying to bang one out with the nymphs. On Saturday morning, the library was quiet. Auggie waited, his knee bouncing.
When Lender arrived, the detective stood for a moment in the entrance, scanning the lobby. Then, adjusting the thick glasses, he sauntered over and sat next to Auggie.
“August, my boy,” he said, clapping him on the shoulder. “How the heck are you?”
“All right,” Auggie said. He pulled out his laptop and opened it. “I’ve got what you wanted.”
“Do you? Now, isn’t that interesting? Because I didn’t ask you for it. I asked your pal Theo.”
“We’re helping each other. Anyway, it was my decision. You’ll see what I mean in a minute.”
Lender made a rumbling noise in his throat; he smelled like garments that had been in storage for too long, a stale, closed-up odor that reminded Auggie of visiting his grandfather.
“Here’s what happened,” Auggie said, clicking to the first tab he had open. He explained all of it: the nasty breakup with Chan, the Craigslist ad, Robert’s texts negotiating with Chan, the ways Robert had tried to
