Code of Silence: Living a Lie Comes With a Price

by Tim Shoemaker

  The course seemed clear. Avoid the talk. Stall it off. No good could come of it, and her snooping around could threaten the Code.

  “Not in a very talkative mood, are you, MacKinnon?” Lunk said.

  “My stomach,” Cooper said. “A little messed up.”

  “Anything to do with Ferrand?”

  Cooper glanced over. She couldn’t have been more than thirty feet away. She’d stopped walking for the moment, giving the room another visual sweep from that vantage point. She still didn’t see him, but it was only a matter of seconds now. He braced himself. Told himself to relax. Stay calm.

  “I’ll distract her,” Lunk said.

  “What?” Cooper looked at him.

  Lunk nodded toward the side exit. “Hit the washroom around the corner until the end of the period. You’ll be safe there.”

  Without waiting for a response, Lunk stood and grabbed his tray. He plowed past some students standing in the aisle—and right into Miss Ferrand.

  His tray crashed to the floor, the sound echoing off the cinder block walls. Miss Ferrand stood with her hands out to her side looking at ketchup blotches on her clothes.

  Kids jumped up from their seats for a better view. Riley Steiner and his boys stood on a bench leading the entire cafeteria in whistles, claps, and cheers.

  “Sorry, Miss Ferrand.” Lunk’s voice sounded sincere over all the other noise.

  Cooper jumped from his seat, and stumbled over his backpack. A black permanent marker spilled out. And the phone. He shouldered the pack, scooped up the phone and marker and jammed them in his pocket as he hustled for the exit. Once around the corner he ran for the men’s room. He kept running until he locked himself in the handicapped stall.

  Had Miss Ferrand seen him scoot out of the lunchroom? What would she think now? If she did see him, he’d be on her most wanted list for sure. And what about Lunk? He owed him some kind of explanation—but what?

  Cooper hung his backpack on the hook behind the door. Pulling the phone from his pocket, he turned it on. The phone came to life. A little part of him wished it didn’t. If it was broken, he wouldn’t have to worry about getting a call from the police. He turned the phone off as quickly as he could, fearing the police might try calling early.

  He wondered what Miss Ferrand was doing now. Mopping herself up in the ladies room? Escorting Lunk to the office? Either of these would keep her distracted. What if she was talking to Gordy? Pumping him with questions. Watching his eyes.

  Hiro picked a lousy day to stay home. She’d abandoned them. If she’d been here, at least he wouldn’t have to worry about Gordy taking on Miss Ferrand by himself.

  But he’d escaped another potential trap. Barely. This was crazy. He leaned against the stall and waited for the period bell to ring. He was innocent. He hadn’t done anything wrong, yet here he was hiding in the bathroom. He wanted to shout it out loud. Over the school PA system. Tell everyone he didn’t do anything wrong.

  The stall partitions had been painted over who knows how many times, erasing brainless messages guys wrote. The current paint was about the color of buckskin. Not the smartest shade to discourage guys who were into graffiti. Cooper had never written on a wall before. He stared at it. And pulled the permanent marker from his pocket.

  When the bell rang, he stepped back and looked at the inside of the wall like he was seeing it for the first time. Written in three inch black letters were the words “I did nothing wrong! I didn’t do it!”

  What was I thinking? Cooper grabbed a piece of toilet paper and rubbed one of the letters. It didn’t even smudge. Idiot. He grabbed his backpack, slung it over his shoulder, and used the toilet paper to open the latch.

  The outer door of the bathroom opened. He heard voices. Cooper hurried to the sink to wash. Two guys walked in, but didn’t even look at Cooper. Lunk was right behind them.

  Cooper saw him in the mirror. Lunk looked at him, and then at the stall door yawning open. Cooper wanted to say thanks, but the words didn’t come. Instead, he stepped away from the sink, and without bothering to dry his hands, went for the door.

  He totally expected Lunk to follow him. When he sensed that he was pushing through the door alone, he felt a measure of relief. Cooper glanced over his shoulder and tensed. Lunk disappeared into the handicapped stall.

  CHAPTER 29

  Cooper didn’t see Miss Ferrand for the rest of the afternoon, but he kept his head down in the halls between classes, just in case. Maybe she went home to change. The final bell rang, and he hit a set of side doors and circled around the outside of the building. He wasn’t going to risk the main doors. He had to focus on other things now—like the fact he might get a call from the police on the cell in his pocket. He had to handle it right. Quick. Disguise his voice. And not give anything away.

  The safest thing would be to walk home. Explain to Gordy later. To get on the bus was to potentially walk into a trap; but if he walked, he might not make it to the park before the phone call came.

  Cooper stayed in the front of the building, but stalled getting on the bus. He’d hop aboard just before it left. If Miss Ferrand or the principal came looking for him, he’d be a sitting duck on the bus.

  Gordy found him easy enough.

  “Miss Ferrand ever find you?” Gordy said.

  “No.”

  Gordy looked at him. “Just how do you plan to avoid her in English tomorrow?”

  “Great question,” Cooper said. “I don’t know. I just have to make it through today first.” He scanned the mass of students gushing out of the school. A couple of teachers were supervising by the bus lines. But no Miss Ferrand.

  Lunk pushed through the crowd and headed their way. Great. Dread settled in Cooper’s stomach.

  “Hey, MacKinnon.”

  Lunk’s voice sounded casual enough, but he had an intensity in his eyes.

  Gordy took a step back.

  Cooper looked past him toward the exit doors. “Thanks for what you did at lunchtime.”

  Lunk gave a half smile. “I enjoyed it. You want to tell me what is going on?”

  A direct question. One Cooper didn’t want to answer. Something about Lunk’s eyes said he had a pretty good boloney detector himself.

  “It was stupid,” Cooper said. He brushed on a smile. “I overreacted to something she said in class. I had a feeling she wanted to talk to me about it.”

  “Just wondering.” Lunk pulled out a pocket spiral notebook. “Either of you have a marker I can borrow?”

  The question sounded innocent, but warnings went off in Cooper’s head. Did he really need a marker, or did Lunk want to see if Cooper had one?

  Gordy shrugged. “Not me. Cooper always has one in his pack. Right, Coop?”

  Cooper cringed inside. “Yeah. I, ah, should have one somewhere.” He lowered his backpack and hovered over it, making a show of checking each compartment. All the while he knew the marker was in his jeans pocket.

  The crowds of students thinned, forming spaghetti lines onto the buses. In a minute they’d have to get on the bus or risk being spotted too easily on the sidewalk. Could he stall that long?

  “I need black,” Lunk said. “Permanent.”

  “That’s the only kind he carries,” Gordy said.

  Great, Gordy. Cooper stood and shrugged. “Must have lost it.”

  Gordy pointed. “How ‘bout your pockets?”

  Cooper wanted to glare at Gordy, but Lunk’s eyes were locked on him. He checked his pockets, slowly. He hoped Lunk would tell him to forget it. Tell him he didn’t need it anyway. He felt it in his right front pocket. Should he pull it out?

  Lunk kept his eyes on him. He didn’t look like a guy who was going to let it go. Cooper pulled the marker out. “Will this work?” He handed Lunk the marker.

  Lunk pulled off the cap and looked at the tip. “It looks perfect.”

  “We gotta go,” Cooper said. “Keep the marker until tomorrow. We’d better catch our bus.” He shouldered his pack.

&
nbsp; Gordy started trotting toward the sidewalk. Cooper followed, but Lunk called after him.

  “Tell me, MacKinnon. Exactly what didn’t you do?”

  “Ride my bike. So if I miss the bus, I’m toast. We can talk tomorrow.”

  Lunk stood there, his weight settled mainly on one foot. The look on his face said he intended to follow up.

  And if he did, Cooper really was toast.

  CHAPTER 30

  Cooper felt weak when he dropped onto the seat beside Gordy. Gordy frowned. “What happened to you?”

  “I think Lunk is on to me.”

  “You sure?”

  “He knows I’m hiding something. He just doesn’t know what.”

  Gordy twisted to look out the window as if he thought Lunk might be watching them. Reading their lips. “What did you tell him?”

  “Nothing. Thankfully we had to get on the bus.”

  The bus door closed and the driver eased away from the curb.

  Gordy gave a low whistle. “Close call.”

  “Too close.” He’d made it through another day, but they were getting harder. And it wasn’t over yet.

  He checked his watch. In thirty minutes he’d be turning on his phone, and the thought of that just added to his mounting concerns about Miss Ferrand and Lunk. And Hiro.

  Gordy didn’t speak until the bus pulled out of the parking lot. “Think the police will call?”

  “I’m sure of it.” As much as he dreaded it, he also knew this was his chance. It would be worth it if he could get the police to stop looking for him and put all their efforts into finding Elvis, Mr. Clown, and Mr. Lucky. Then he’d straighten things out with Hiro.

  “I’m glad I don’t have to talk to them,” Gordy said. “Think Hiro will show?”

  “Hope so.” Cooper felt more confident when she was around, and if a call came from the police, he’d need all the help he could get. But most of all he wanted to make things right with her about last night. He wanted her to know he was sorry about riding off angry.

  The bus swayed down Plum Grove Road, picking up speed. Cooper reached in his backpack and pulled out the cell. Holding it in his hand, he stared out the window. Did the letter really help the police? Were they any closer to finding the men who put Frank in the coma? Cooper’s knee started shaking.

  By the time the bus reached their stop, Cooper felt like his whole body was shaking. The two boys hustled off the bus.

  Gordy started across the street as soon as the bus passed. “Meet you in five minutes?”

  “Right.” Cooper jammed the cell in his pocket and took off at a run for his house. The front door was locked, so he circled around to the back. Peering through the glass on the back door, he saw Mom with her back to him working at the kitchen counter. The fact that she wore the black apron meant she’d been baking. He tapped on the glass. Mom turned and smiled. Fudge bounded into the kitchen barking her security dog bark, which turned into a tail swinging “let’s go out and play” bark the moment she saw Cooper.

  His mom pulled open the door and gave him a hug. He was only slightly taller than her, but just enough to look over her shoulder at the microwave clock. He had to get moving.

  She kissed him on the cheek. “Still didn’t find your key?”

  “Nope. Did you talk to dad about getting the locks changed?”

  “No.” She opened the refrigerator door. “Dad figures it will show up. Nothing to worry about.”

  That’s exactly what worried Cooper … that the key would show up. In the hands of Elvis. Or the clown. Or Hammer. His mind flew back to the stool crashing through the window the night of the robbery. Changing locks wouldn’t stop these guys anyway.

  “What would you like for a snack?” Mom said. “Peanut butter sandwich? Cookies? I just baked a fresh batch.”

  The five minutes had to be nearly up. “Not right now. I have to meet Gordy. He’s probably out front waiting for me.”

  “There’s always time for a snack. I’ll get one for Gordy too.” Mom disappeared toward the front door.

  Cooper followed with Fudge right at his side. Mom opened the door and swung open the screen. Gordy stood in front of the porch holding his bike. The surprise on his face was obvious.

  “How about a little snack, Gordy?”

  Gordy glanced his way, and Cooper shook his head slightly.

  “Aw, thanks, Aunt Dana. Maybe later.”

  “Gordon Digby, you never turn down a snack.” She looked back at Cooper, suspicion in her eyes. “What are you boys up to?”

  “Just riding bikes, right Coop?”

  Cooper nodded.

  Mom didn’t look convinced. “You’re not planning to shoot that potato gun are you?”

  “No. Honest, Mom. We’re just going to ride around a little. Maybe play some ball.”

  “Then you can take time for a snack.” She walked past him into the house.

  The way she said it, it was almost like a test. If he didn’t have a snack, she’d know they were up to something. Then there’d be more questions. More lies.

  “I guess a snack would be a good idea,” Cooper said. He motioned for Gordy to follow.

  “What would you like?”

  “Cookies,” Cooper said. It would be quicker.

  Mom pulled out the chocolate chips and set them on the table. Gordy started right in and sat down like he had no idea what time it really was. Cooper grabbed one too, sat across from him, and ate fast. Fudge laid her head on his leg.

  Mom opened the freezer and shifted things around on the shelves. “I have some vanilla ice cream in here somewhere. How about I make an ice cream sandwich with those cookies?”

  Gordy’s eyes lit up. “Excellent!”

  Cooper kicked him under the table and pointed at his wrist.

  “How about you, Cooper?” Her voice sounded muffled by the freezer.

  “The chocolate chips are perfect just like this.” He broke off a piece and fed it to the Hoover under the table. Fudge sucked it up and swallowed it without even chewing.

  Mom nodded and pulled the vanilla ice cream from the freezer. Cooper felt the phone in his pocket, thankful he hadn’t turned it on yet.

  The doorbell rang, and Cooper jumped to his feet. Fear-charged adrenalin. What now? If it was Miss Ferrand he might as well give it up. Trotting down the hall, he recognized the silhouette framed in the screen door. “Hiro.”

  “Ask her if she’d like a snack,” Mom called after him.

  Cooper swung open the door. “Where were you today?” Fudge bounded out and greeted her with a wagging tail and happy whimpers.

  She bent down and kissed Fudge on the top of her head. “I’ll explain later.”

  Her voice sounded fine. If she was sick, it wasn’t a cold.

  “Shouldn’t we be leaving?” Hiro said.

  “I’m trying.”

  Mom came around the corner wiping her hands on a towel. “Can I get you something, Hiro?”

  Gordy followed her, holding the cookie ice cream sandwich like a Whopper.

  Hiro smiled. “It looks really good, but we have to run. We’re supposed to be at the park right now meeting someone.”

  Cooper’s mom put her hands on her hips and eyed him. “First you were playing ball. Now you’re meeting someone?”

  Not good. Cooper hesitated, but only for an instant. “I can explain. Later.”

  “You can explain now, too.”

  She didn’t look like she was going to budge.

  Cooper sighed. “We are going to play a little ball. But there’s also someone I’ve got to talk to. Just a guy I’m trying to help out a little—and I’m not even sure he’ll show up. But I’m supposed to be there by 3:30—and if I don’t leave now I’ll be late.”

  Cooper’s mom looked at him like she was trying to make up her mind.

  Hiro cleared her throat. “Actually I’ve been the one trying to encourage Coop to talk.”

  Mom’s shoulders relaxed and she gave Hiro a hug.

  Cooper leaned ov
er and gave his mom a kiss on the cheek. “If there’s anything to tell, I’ll fill you in later. Okay?”

  She gave him a kiss back. “You’d better.”

  “If he doesn’t,” Hiro said, “I will.”

  Cooper had a feeling she really meant it, too.

  Mom smiled. “Have a good time.”

  Minutes later Cooper left the residential section and wheeled his bike across Campbell Street and into Kimball Hill Park. Hiro still rode right next to him. It felt good to be on his new bike again. It felt better to be riding next to Hiro. He held his bat along the handlebars and a ball in his pocket. They rode in silence. She didn’t offer any explanation as to why she missed school today—and he wasn’t sure he wanted to ask.

  What he really wanted to do was tell her how sorry he was for the way he acted last night. But it would have to wait. He had to get the phone call done first. He checked over his shoulder. Gordy lagged several houses back, trying to eat the ice cream sandwich as he rode.

  The bike and jogging path ran between a small pond to the left and Salt Creek to the right. Ahead, a footbridge crossed the creek to connect with the bike path on the other side. Eventually the bike path on the other side of the creek led under Kirchoff Road to Frank’n Stein’s. Cooper wished he was heading there for a monster shake and fries right now.

  “Hello. Hello. Hullo.” Cooper practiced disguising his voice. His high voice sounded wimpy. Talking really low tickled his throat.

  The park was the perfect place to field a call. He didn’t want it too near his house, just in case the police were able to trace the cell. A public place was best, especially one like this where they could see police approaching from a good distance away. Far enough to allow them a chance to escape—and from the park they could take off in any direction. Campbell Street and Kirchoff Avenue ran parallel to each other, with Kimball Hill Park sandwiched right between them.