“Often the most talented are the most troubled,” Janie tried.
“That pretty much sums it up.”
Janie glanced around to see if either of her cop watchdogs were nearby. They weren’t. She wanted to text Rafe, tell him that Jimmy Chaney was here, but taking out her phone seemed rude.
“Derek loved your class,” Jimmy finally said.
“I’m just the lab assistant.”
“Yes, but you were someone close to his age who was doing something she loved.”
“Did he talk about the class, or about any of his friends and what they were doing?”
“He didn’t talk to me about his friends. He knew I didn’t care for any of them. He talked about your class and a girl he liked.”
“Brittney.” Janie nodded, not bothering to correct Jimmy about Brittney being in the class.
“I don’t remember the name. The cops asked me about her but I couldn’t say much. Neither Derek nor I are talkers.”
As if to prove his point, he took out his cell phone and checked the time. “I need to get home. Mom’s trying to find out when Derek’s body will be released to us so we can bury him.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Me, too.”
He walked away, leaving Janie feeling unsettled.
That evening Janie went to school where an empty chair in her class accused her of not caring enough.
It wasn’t just the chair that was empty. All Derek’s belongings—his paints, his paintings, his trash—it was all gone.
“The police took it,” Patricia said when they had a chance to talk as the students worked. “They came in with a warrant.”
“Rafe?”
“No, the other one. Nathan Williamson. It was this morning. He asked if you were around, but I said you’d be here this evening.”
“He ask you questions?”
“For over an hour.” Patricia spoke softly, not wanting the students to overhear. Even if the students didn’t know all the details of what was going on, thanks to the news and campus grapevine, they knew enough to be scared. It made for a silent night, with lots of furtive glances toward the windows, and even the students who usually worked with bright colors were drawn to browns, blacks and grays.
When class finally ended, Janie helped clean up and then headed for the door. Rafe was leaning against the wall, exactly as he had last week. He appeared just as relaxed, just as cocky. She had to fight to keep from smiling. She was glad to see him, but he didn’t deserve it.
This time her students didn’t make small talk with him. Maybe because another officer, young-looking and clearly nervous, stood next to him.
“You waiting for me?” Janie asked, glancing from one to the other.
“Miss Vincent, we’d appreciate it if you’d come down to the Adobe Hills police station and answer a few questions.” The young officer spoke quickly, his words stumbling, as if he had a job to do and no one was going to usurp him, not even a sheriff.