“The school has been blaming her for all of these confrontations?” He pulled at his tie, knuckles popping through his skin as he did. “These boys have been harassing her for close to a year with no repercussions for their actions?”
“That seems to be the theme.”
Noah took my arm, bringing me to a stop in the hall. “I want the names of the kids who’ve been harassing her.”
“You’ll have to ask her, but they’re your customary entitled jocks with names like Ty, Zach, and Chad probably.” I took a sip of my fourth coffee in a to-go cup of the day, feeling delirious from lack of sleep and excess of grind. “However, it’s safe to say your daughter got her art of war skills from you. You should have seen the two boys outside Principal Severson’s office that day I went in to discuss Andee’s ‘violent’ outbursts. Looked like they’d picked a fight with an injured wolverine instead of our hundred-and-ten-pound daughter whose favorite color was pink up until two years ago.”
Noah was glaring at the floor, his posture rigid. “Why wouldn’t she tell us this had been going on for so long?”
“Maybe she tried. Maybe we weren’t listening.” I shifted my weight. “Maybe we were too busy to read between the lines the way parents of teenagers need to.”
Rubbing his forehead, he let out an uneven breath. “Do we have any idea what brought this on? Why this group of kids decided to target her?”
I sought distraction in my coffee. After taking a heavy drink, my shoulders lifted. “Humans are brutal,” I said, echoing Andee’s sentiments.
“These ‘humans’ are going to pay for their actions,” he replied, turning to continue down the hall with me.
We traveled in silence, moving toward the lit office at the end of the hall. Guilt nudged at me for keeping the naked pictures of Andee from Noah, but I’d promised her I wouldn’t mention them to him. She was mortified, and despite evidence suggesting otherwise, she desperately sought her father’s approval. Even though I’d assured her he wouldn’t think less of her for the photos, I swore I wouldn’t bring them up, allowing her to tell him one day if she so chose.
It was the first secret in a long time Andee had entrusted me with, and it felt like the proverbial turning point in our volatile relationship.
“I want those boys’ names, Grace.”
“Why? So you can attempt to make them see the error of their ways during a few counseling sessions with you?” My eyebrow lifted at him. “These types of kids don’t change. They just become bigger dickheads with age.”
“People change when exposed to the right degree of motivation,” he said, pulling open the door for me.
“Want me to put them in a sleeper hold since I’m an expert now?” I whispered to him with a half smile.
“How about a permanent one?” he quipped, following me into the conference room where everyone was already assembled.
“Noah, thank you again for taking the time to meet with us tonight,” my dad greeted from his spot at the head of the table, coming around to shake his son-in-law’s hand. There was a slight, possibly nonexistent, acknowledgement of my presence. “I know how busy work keeps you.”
“Happy to help however I can.”
“Everyone, this is Dr. Noah Wolff, my son-in-law.” The room quieted when my father spoke. “I invited him here tonight to provide some distinctive insight into our investigation.”
Noah raised his hand, making eye contact with the others seated around the table as we moved behind a couple of empty chairs.
“As you might be aware, Noah is a psychiatrist who specializes in pedophilic therapy. He works in both a court-appointed capacity as well as a private practice, in addition to moderating several support groups around the city.” My dad clapped his hand over Noah’s shoulder, giving it a shake. “There are few people on the planet who know more about the depraved inner workings of a child abuser than him, so let’s make use of his knowledge to fill in whatever gaps in the investigation could use padding.”
Amelia rushed around the table, distributing bottles of water and taking additional drink orders, while an array of nonverbal reactions followed Noah’s introduction to the group. Will led the repulsion front while Don mastered the unfazed veneer, Titus and Teddy falling somewhere in between. Samantha, as per usual, projected ennui.
“The public prosecutor who puts kiddy rapists behind bars is married to a shrink who sympathizes with them?” Will pointed his ballpoint pen between us, clicking it dramatically.
“My job isn’t to sympathize with them. My job is to help rehabilitate them.”
“And how’s that working out for you, chief?” Will continued, pushing back into his chair. “Last I checked, you’re in something of a growth industry.”
“What, the mental health industry? I’d consider it a good thing that more people are taking all facets of their health seriously.” Noah didn’t give away any signs of bristling as he slid into his chair, switching his phone to silent.
“I was referring to the crime industry. Specifically, the pedophilia sector of crime,” Will said, almost smirking at Noah.
Noah reached for his water, snuffing a yawn. “We’re both interested in the same thing—protecting the innocent.”
“We are nothing alike.” Will’s pen stabbed the air to the beat of his words.
“You’ll hear no argument from me,” Noah replied, twisting the cap from his water.
“Dr. Wolff is here at my request. Let’s treat him as a guest instead of an adversary.” Dad directed his stare at Will, daring him to continue.
Will shoved out of his chair, heading straight for the drink table set up at the end of the room.
After a brief round of introductions, Dad turned to Noah. “What are your patients’ insights on this Huntsman targeting their kind?”
“I can only give you general, overarching answers due to doctor-patient confidentiality—”
“You’re a court-appointed shrink,” Will chided, pouring himself a quadruple vodka from the looks of it.
“Which means I can share specific details with the court, not some privately funded task force.” Noah didn’t glance Will’s way while giving his response. “My patients are frightened,” he continued, addressing the table. “My colleagues from around the country express the same views. With there being no geographic region this killer is keeping to, everyone is a potential target.”
“Everyone who’s a convicted pedophile,” Titus interjected across the table.
Noah tipped his head in acknowledgment. “They’re scared to go out at night. They’re afraid of their own homes. Every stranger who makes eye contact is a potential murderer. These people’s lives have been irrevocably reduced by fear.”
“You’ll excuse me if I don’t shed a tear, Doc.” Teddy rocked in his chair, tan Stetson low on his forehead. “I used mine all up on the victims a long time ago.”
“I’m not relaying this information to invoke sympathy, but as an exchange of information. Cry. Don’t cry. Your emotions are yours to do with as you please.”
“Classic shrink response.”