Theo was only thirteen. These questions would stump any adult. “He’s still in jail?”
“Yes. He called the house last night from jail and said he would get out today. My mom is scared to death. So am I.”
“Does your mom know a lawyer?”
Pete grunted. What a ridiculous question. “We can’t afford a lawyer, Theo. That’s why I’m talking to you.”
“I’m not a lawyer, and I can’t give legal advice.”
“I know that. But what should we do?”
Theo wasn’t sure what to do, but he had to do something. If he did nothing, Pete’s mother and maybe Pete himself could be in real danger. Theo said, “My mother will know what to do. She’s the best divorce lawyer in town, and she’s not afraid of anything. Can you and your mom come to our office this afternoon?”
“I don’t know. I’m not sure my mom will do that because if my dad finds out she’s talking to a lawyer he might go crazy again. She’s trapped, Theo. My mom is trapped and doesn’t know where to go or what to do.”
Theo stopped and put a hand on Pete’s shoulder. “Here’s the deal, Pete. I’m not sure what to do and you’re not sure what to do, but we’re just kids, right? My mother deals with this stuff all the time, and she’ll give your mom the best advice possible. She will know exactly what to do. Trust me, and trust her. I’ll give you the address of our office, and I’ll talk to my mother. I’ll meet you there this afternoon, and things will start to get better. I promise.”
Pete’s lip quivered and his eyes were moist. “Thanks, Theo,” he managed to say before his voice choked up.
An hour later, Theo was suffering through a review of basic biology when his mind drifted back to his conversation with Pete. The poor kid was living a nightmare, afraid of getting punched by his brute of a father and afraid for his mother’s life. How was a kid like Pete supposed to sit through four days of testing, concentrate on the exams, and score well enough to get properly placed on the right track for high school? And that placement could well determine his future. It made little sense, at least to Theo.
Chapter 3
When the last bell rang, Theo grabbed his backpack and fled the school. He jumped on his bike and raced away. Ten minutes later he slid to a stop in front of Boone & Boone, a two-story office in what was once a family residence on Park Street. He pushed his bike up the front sidewalk and parked it on the porch. He took a deep breath and walked inside, where he was immediately assaulted by Elsa, the law firm’s ancient secretary and receptionist. She also considered herself to be Theo’s second mother. When she saw him she gushed, “Well, hello, Theo!” and jumped from her chair to grab him. She hugged him tightly, then pushed back, looked at his attire, and said, “Didn’t you wear that shirt last Friday?”
“I did not.” He found it so irritating to be examined daily by Elsa. He was thirteen; he didn’t care what he wore. Why should she?
“How was your day?” she said, pinching a cheek.
“Awful. Just awful. And it only gets worse tomorrow.”
“Now, Theo, just think of all the unlucky kids around the world who don’t have nice schools and good teachers and healthy lunches. You should always count your blessings and—”
“I know, I know,” Theo said, stepping back. He got so tired of these little lectures. “What’s in the kitchen?” He was always starving by three o’clock in the afternoon, and there was always something to snack on in the firm’s kitchen. Judge finally got up from his bed under Elsa’s desk, one of his many resting places throughout the offices, and walked over to say hello. Theo rubbed his head. What a life.
“I think Dorothy brought some brownies,” Elsa said.
“Not those little peanut butter things. They taste like cardboard.” Not even Judge would touch Dorothy’s brownies.
“Now, Theo,” Elsa said, already losing interest and eager to get back to work. Elsa was skinny and had no appetite, and she liked to show off her thinness by wearing all manner of tight pants and sweaters. Mrs. Boone said that Elsa wore things that only she could get by with because she was at least seventy years old.
“Is my mother in?” he asked.
“Yes, but she’s with a client.”
“I need to book an appointment with her.”
“Theo, you don’t have to make an appointment to see your mother.”
“It’s not for me, Elsa, but for a friend. I’m not getting a divorce yet.”
Elsa glanced at a large calendar in the center of her desk. It was her daily planner, a terribly important sheet of paper because it kept track of everything from meetings with clients and court appointments to vacations and Theo’s visits to the orthodontist. “She’s free at four thirty.”
“Thanks,” Theo said. “If a guy named Pete Holland calls, let me talk to him.”
Theo bounded up the stairs to the second floor, the domain of his father. As usual, Mr. Boone was sitting behind his large cluttered desk, pipe in his mouth, tie pulled loose, with the look of a man who’d been plowing through paperwork for days. He smiled and said, “Hello, Theo, a good day at school?”
Theo fell into a chair and Judge sat beside him. “Just awful, Dad, terrible. I’m sick of school.”
“Well, dropping out is not an option. I suggest you stop the whining and get tough. These tests are important, and you need to do well.”
Thanks for nothing, Dad. They talked for a few minutes until the phone rang. Mr. Boone reached for it and said, “Now shove off and go do your homework.”
Perhaps the only good thing about the week was that there would be no homework. Theo went downstairs, rummaged through the refrigerator, found nothing but some stale doughnuts, and eventually wandered back to his small office where he killed some time. Bored, he was soon sleepy, so he put his feet on his desk, kicked back in his chair, and was about to doze off when his mother tapped on his door and stepped in.
“Hello, Theo. Elsa said you needed to see me.”
“Sure, Mom. There’s a kid at school who needs your help.”
“What’s the problem?”
“It’s a long story, but the kid and his mother might be in danger.”
“Let’s go to my office and talk.”
It was almost five p.m. when Pete Holland arrived with his mother and two younger sisters. The little girls were wide-eyed and seemed too frightened to speak. Pete, at thirteen, was trying to be the man of the family, but he, too, was overwhelmed. His mother, Carrie, had a swollen eye and a cut on her upper lip. She looked like she had been crying for hours and began again as soon as Mrs. Boone introduced herself and said she could help. She led Carrie into her office and closed the door. Theo pointed to the conference room and said, “Let’s wait in there.” Pete and his sisters followed Theo while Elsa hurried to the kitchen. She returned with the same stale doughnuts and some soft drinks. Even Judge seemed concerned and allowed the girls to rub his head.
Pete said, “My dad got out of jail this afternoon and he’s looking for us. My mom’s really scared and doesn’t know what to do.”
Sharon, the ten-year-old, finally spoke and said, “Mom says we can’t go home.” Sally, the seven-year-old, chewed on a doughnut and looked at Theo as if he had two heads.