Part 24 (2/2)

Caleb's chin dropped. ”No.”

”The sweats.h.i.+rt had *Weaver' printed on the back.”

”Caleb!” Anne gasped, shooting forward.

Caleb's head whirled toward his mother. ”I know this looks bad, but it wasn't me . . . honest,” he cried.

Anne's lips tightened. ”But you know who it was, don't you?”

He seemed to shrink in the chair. ”No-ah-I lost that sweats.h.i.+rt a couple of weeks ago.”

”Where?” she asked, her eyes drilling into his.

Shrugging, he looked down and shook his head. ”I don't know.”

”Okay, let's try this,” Deputy Parker said in a calm voice. ”Where were you last night?”

Caleb shot a nervous glance at Anne. ”It was raining so hard that I pulled over at Dunlap's to wait it out.”

”Did anyone see you?”

”Ah-no.”

He's lying, Anne thought as her temper began to flare. ”If you know anything about what happened to Dr. Van Horn's car, I suggest you tell Deputy Parker . . . immediately.”

”I can't-I don't,” he declared.

Deputy Parker slapped his legs and rose. ”I guess if you can't help me out, Caleb, I'll just have to write up my report based on what Dr. Van Horn said.” He lifted a shoulder. ”Then, if he wants to press charges, it'll be up to the judge to decide.”

Anne, her mind numb, showed Deputy Parker to the door. When they reached it, he turned.

”Sorry to see you again under these circ.u.mstances,” he said softly. ”Caleb's a good kid and it's hard for me to believe he keyed Dr. Van Horn's car.” He shook his head. ”But I do think he knows who did. If he wants to talk about it, give me a call. I'm on duty all day.”

Anne laid a hand on his arm. ”Thanks, Duane. I'll let you know if I find out anything.”

After shutting the door, she marched back to the living room and over to where Caleb was still sitting. Towering over him, she fisted her hands on her hips. ”Unless you want to be grounded for the rest of your life, you'd better start talking.”

He shot out of the chair. ”I can't-I won't-I'm not a narc.” Pulling his fingers through his hair, he walked around her and headed for the kitchen.

Anne followed, stopping at the doorway. ”You can be charged as an adult.”

”I'm sorry someone did that to Dr. Van Horn's car, Mom, but it is just a misdemeanor,” he said, yanking a cabinet door open. ”If Deputy Parker doesn't find out who did it and they blame me, all a judge would do is give me community service.”

”Have you got s.h.i.+t for brains? Allowing yourself to be charged for something you didn't do?” Anne screamed, then thought of Sam's reaction. ”I could even lose my job over this!”

Caleb slammed the cabinet shut and rested his forehead against the door. ”I'm sorry, Mom.”

Taking a deep breath, she crossed the distance between them and laid a hand on his shoulder. ”I'm sorry, too. I shouldn't have sworn at you,” she said, trying to keep her voice gentle, ”but if you know who did this, you have to tell the authorities. If you're found guilty, it will be on your record.”

Caleb lifted his head. ”I don't know for sure if he did it.”

Anne's fingers gripped his shoulder. ”Who?”

He spun away from the counter and began to pace. ”I gave a couple of guys a ride home from Dunlap's last night.” He hesitated. ”I think my sweats.h.i.+rt might have been in the backseat.”

”And one of them took it?” she prodded.

”Maybe-I didn't check.”

Placing her palms on her cheeks, Anne shook her head. ”Who were the guys?”

He stopped his pacing and stared down at his feet.

”Who were they, Caleb?” she asked again.

”If I tell, you're going to call Deputy Parker, then they'll know I ratted them out.”

”You'd rather face charges?”

”I like having friends, Mom, and if I get branded as a rat, I won't.” He pulled out a chair and flopped down. ”I don't want my car keyed and I don't want the inside of it smeared with Limburger cheese.” He buried his head in his hands. ”That's what happened to Joey last year after he told them that Te-” He clamped his lips shut.

”That Teddy was the one who set the boats adrift,” Anne said, finis.h.i.+ng for him. ”You gave Teddy a ride home from Dunlap's. Was Joey the other guy?”

He nodded.

”And Teddy took your sweats.h.i.+rt?”

”Probably-Joey was in the front with me.”

She crossed to the table and placed both hands on its top, leaning forward. ”Look at me, Caleb,” she commanded. ”You're old enough to do the right thing, but if you don't, I will.” She glanced up at the clock. ”I'm going to Hankton to see about a job. You've got until I get back to think about it.”

The interview had taken place in the administrator's office, and Anne thought she'd made a good impression. The job itself was up in the air. Her availability was in question, but to determine that, she needed to tell Sam of her plans. Surely Sam wouldn't object to her moonlighting. And that's exactly what it would be, since she'd be working the night s.h.i.+ft. She hated leaving Caleb alone every night, but he was a big boy. He should be able to take care of himself. If only she could trust him to stay away from Teddy Brighton.

She gave her head a quick shake. She had to trust him. This second job meant sending him to St. Michael's-the first college Caleb had shown any interest in. She'd have faith that he'd behave, and she'd make the sacrifice of working eighteen-hour days. After all, who needed sleep?

Anne had reached her car and was unlocking the door when a blonde walking across the parking lot caught her eye. She'd recognize that bouffant anywhere.

”Alice,” she called out to the woman.

The woman gave a hurried glance over her shoulder then picked up her pace.

”Alice,” Anne called again, but the woman kept walking.

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