“Doughnut?”
While Auggie opened the paper bag, Theo caught his chin and turned his head, examining him. “Did you take that prescription?”
Auggie’s answer came through a mouthful of chocolate long john.
Because Auggie’s Civic was still in the shop, and because they didn’t have time to head back to Theo’s house to get the Malibu, they took an Uber to the hospital. They tried to get in to see Nia, but they were rebuffed by a grim-faced woman at the visiting desk.
“Immediate family only.”
“We are family,” Auggie said.
Theo sighed, covered his eyes, and led Auggie back outside. The cold made Theo’s nose run, and he sniffled as he said, “I am so sick of this weather.”
“We’ll get an Uber.”
Theo shook his head. “No, I don’t—”
“I’ll pay for it.” Before Theo could object, Auggie had his phone out and was tapping rapidly.
They took the Uber to Wayne’s apartment. His BMW was parked in the assigned stall. In the intense brightness of the January sun, the building’s freshly cleaned mortar glowed. They were getting out of the Uber as Wayne came down the stairs from his apartment, crossed the parking lot, and emptied a box into the dumpster.
“Now that’s interesting,” Theo said.
Auggie nodded.
Wayne was halfway across the lot when he saw them, stopped, and then resumed walking jerkily. “Hello,” he said. “Looking for Orlando?”
“Looking for you,” Theo said.
Wayne just grunted and climbed the stairs to the apartment again. Theo and Auggie followed. Inside, the apartment was clearly undergoing a massive cleanout. Cardboard boxes lined one wall, stacked as high as Theo’s head, with flattened, empty boxes piled on the couch. Mounds of clothing covered the floor, divided into piles that had no clear organization to Theo. A black Hefty bag, the flaps pulled back, held shoes: sneakers, boots, cleats, even flip-flops. From where they stood, Theo could see into the kitchen; every cabinet door stood open, and the contents were spread on the counter, the table, and the floor.
Leaning down to speak into Auggie’s ear, Theo said, “Go look in the dumpster.”
Auggie nodded and left.
Wayne had disappeared into one of the bedrooms. When footsteps moved toward the living room, Theo was surprised to see Orlando. Orlando, on the other hand, did not look surprised to see him. Instead, Orlando looked guilty. His shoulders were hunched, and his head hung down, and he barely managed a wave and “Hello, Theo.”
“Orlando, what are you doing here?”
“Just helping.”
“Helping with what?”
“Oh, you know. Stuff.” Orlando’s thick eyebrows drew together. “Where’s Augs?”
“He’ll be up in a minute.” Theo looked around the apartment again. “Is Wayne moving out?”
Heavy steps announced Wayne’s return. He was carrying an enormous cardboard box, which he passed to Orlando, and he said, “Take this one down.” Then, to Theo, he said, “We’re cleaning out Cal’s stuff. Orlando is probably going to move in.”
“Really?” Theo said, trying to catch Orlando’s eye. Orlando wouldn’t look at him, and he shuffled past Theo, using the box to hide his face as he made his way out the door. “Seems pretty fast to be getting rid of Cal’s stuff.”
“Yeah, well, what am I supposed to do?” Wayne squatted, digging through a pile of clothes. “You gotta move on with your life.”
“Where were you last night?”
It wasn’t that the world went silent. Down the hall, a child was shrieking something about Barney. Through the wall, a TV was playing the Jeopardy! theme song. The bathroom fan whirred. But the way Wayne went suddenly and completely still made Theo think the world had pressed mute.
“What?”
“Last night. Where were you?”
Wayne straightened. He turned to face Theo. “What the fuck business is it of yours?”
“Just a question.”
“Me and my family, we’re sick of your questions. You and your twinkie buddy have been nothing but trouble for my family. For some reason, Orlando still thinks you guys are helping us, but the rest of us are sick of this shit.”
“Pretty good speech.”
“Ok, I’ll try again: get the fuck out, and quit bothering my family.” Wayne cleared his throat. “Got it?”
“So you can’t tell me where you were last night?”
The door opened, and Auggie and Orlando entered the apartment. They were in the middle of their own conversation.
“—I’m just saying,” Auggie said, “I was worried when you didn’t answer your phone last night. That’s all. And I was just curious where you were.”
“It didn’t sound like you were worried,” Orlando said. He came to an abrupt stop, crossing his arms, studying Theo and Wayne as though he’d sensed the tension in the air. He shot a sidelong look at Auggie and said, “It sounded like you thought I had something to do with that girl getting shot.”
“I don’t know why you won’t tell me where you were,” Auggie said.
“Augs, just leave it—”
“We were together.” Wayne’s gaze locked with Theo’s. “Out of town. Got back this morning. Right, Orlando?”
Orlando hesitated. Then he nodded. “Right.”
“Where?” Auggie said.
“That’s it, then?” Wayne looked from Theo to Auggie to Orlando. “That’s what you came for? To accuse me and my brother?”
Orlando looked ready to cry. “Augs, did you really think—”
“And you got what you wanted,” Wayne said, pointing at the door. “So it’s time for you to go.”
“Orlando,” Auggie said, “if you’re in trouble, I want to—”
Orlando pulled away. He took two trembling steps and sidled up to Wayne.
“Orlando?” Auggie said.
Theo touched Auggie’s arm and nodded at the door. They left.
In the parking lot, Theo glanced at the dumpster. “Find anything?”
“That was such a nightmare.” Auggie scrubbed one hand through his crew cut. “What? Oh. No, just junk. Old Wroxall College gear, a tennis racket, a bag of bathroom trash. And then some really foul stuff, you know, all the garbage that’s collected over the week. It doesn’t look like it’s been picked up yet.”
“What do you think that was all about?”
“They were lying.”
“I agree, but why?”
Auggie shrugged. “Because they have something to hide.”
Theo considered the apartment, and then he looked Auggie in the eye. “Whoever took that shot last night, he knew the inside of that building better than most people. It used to be the athletic facility, and that exit on the bottom floor is the one that the trainers used to use. And Wayne and Orlando just gave about the worst alibi for each other I’ve ever heard.”