Jack leaned his head against the window. “I can’t explain it. But Dad—”
“Right now we need to let things cool down.” His father sighed again, but this time it was longer, sadder. “Even if we do manage to work things out, I think you need to re-think going into the Army.”
The words cut Jack to the core. “What? Why?”
“You don’t listen to orders very well, and the Army is all about following orders.”
Jack’s shoulders slumped.
“It’s your decisions lately, Jack. Time and again you’re just rushing in. You act without thinking of the consequences.”
“I had to do something. What was I supposed to do?”
“You should have called the police. You put yourself in a dangerous position.”
“I’m going into the Army. That kinda puts me in a dangerous position twenty-four seven.”
His father frowned. “Smart-ass comments won’t help.”
“I’m sorry. It doesn’t matter now anyway. With this on my record, the Army won’t take me now.”
“I spoke with Detective Clark. He thinks if we let things cool down, he might be able to get Vargas to drop the charges.”
Jack sat up. “Hold up. What did you just say?”
His dad leaned back. “Jack, I said they might drop the charges. I don’t know if you fully understand the gravity of the situation.”
“No. Wait.” Jack shook his head rapidly, as if trying to knock a thought into place. “You said smart-ass.”
“What?”
“Dad.” Jack’s face lit up. “That’s what the homeless guy said to me.”
“What?”
“The homeless guy who sleeps at that bench.” Jack’s palm smacked the dashboard. “He said some smart-ass broke the light.”
“I’m not following.”
“He’s a witness.”
“What are you talking about? A homeless man? Your mother said you spoke with Alex—”
“No. I talked to this other homeless guy in the park… Murray. He saw the killer.”
“He saw the murder?”
“No, he wasn’t there that night. But he saw the killer.”
“You’re not making any sense. If he didn’t see the murder, how did he see the killer?” His dad shook his head. “Jack, start at the beginning.”
“Dad, we need to go to the park.”
His father looked at him as though he’d just lost his mind. “Are you listening to yourself? Are you listening to me? To anyone?”
“Dad, if I figured out there’s a witness, then whoever the killer is may have figured it out too. If the killer realizes they left a witness behind, they’ll go after him. Murray’s life is in danger.”
“Then we can call Clark.”
“No. He’s not going to send someone out to protect a homeless guy, certainly not on my word. Dad, I feel it in my gut. We have to go now.”
“Jack… there’s still a chance, albeit a slim one, that you can salvage your career. Your dreams. But if you do this, there’s no going back.”
“But Dad, that man’s a witness. I’m sure of it.”
His dad’s voice was stern. “No more going off half-cocked. You start by explaining it to me.”
Jack took a deep breath. “The light fixture. It didn’t dawn on me until just now. The light where Stacy was attacked was broken. The way the homeless guy said it—I think he meant somebody broke that light on purpose. This wasn’t a random act of vandalism. It was the murderer, Dad, planning his crime. He probably tampered with her car, too, so she’d be forced to walk home. He planned it all. And if Murray saw him break the light, he knows who the killer is—or at least what he looks like.”
“Jack, the last few days you’ve been ‘sure’ about a lot of things that turned out to be wrong.”
“Please believe me, Dad. I need someone to believe me.”
His father stopped at a red light. He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. “I know you’re upset about today, and right now you may think that you’re right.” The words stung Jack. “But if you decide to do this, I won’t be able to shield you from the consequences.”
“I’m not asking you to shield me. Are you saying this is my decision?”
“You’re eighteen now. You need to make your own choices, and face your own consequences. I can’t do that for you. But as your father I have to say this: Have you thought this through? You could be giving up everything you’ve worked for. Everything.”
“I know. But I know I’m right.”