DNA? The fact that he obviously lied about being there?â
âI agree. No doubt, evidence is there, but is it the right evidence or simply circumstantial? Sorry, I justâ¦itâs a gut thing.â
She couldnât discount that. Not when her gut had saved her life more than once. Instead, she turned her thoughts toward arresting the kid, telling herself she was doing the right thing. Doing what she had to do.
Like her job.
No matter what anyone else said or argued. She was a good cop. Sheâd do a good job. Period.
If the kid was innocent, his lawyer would prove it.
Joseph got into contact with the school resource officer and put the man on notice that they were on the way to arrest one of his students.
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They arrived at the school and Joseph noticed the activity on the campus. Hands gestured, fingers flew in conversation. Students walking to and from class. A lot of laughter going on. Unfortunately, one student wasnât going to be laughing when he was arrested.
The deaf school principal knew they were coming and stood outside the building to greet them. In his early thirties, he stood around six feet tall, had a dash of gray at his temples and a commanding presence. He welcomed them with a pained smile and a handshake. âIâm Cole Pierson. Are you sure youâve got the right person?â
Catelyn sighed. âThe evidence says we do.â
Shaking his head, he led the way back inside, saying, âIâm having a hard time with this one. I know Iâve only been here a short time, a couple of months since the last principal retired, but Iâve gotten to know these kids pretty well. Dylan comes from a tough background, but I canât see him doing this. Especially not to poor Tracy. He worshipped that girl.â
Catelyn cocked a brow. âIn certain circumstances, worship can turn to hatred real quick.â
âThatâs true, I suppose. I justâ¦â Cole shook his head again. âWell, letâs get to it. We didnât put the school on lockdown, but our school resource officer has gone to get him. Heâll bring him to the conference room.â
As they headed in that direction, a young woman came hurrying down the hall, speaking and signing at the same time, âDylanâs gone. Kevin came by to get him, but he wasnât in my classroom. I think he figured something out and has run.â
Catelyn demanded, âWhich way did he go?â
âHe came in my classroom for a brief minute, then left. When he went out, he turned left, so he either went to the restroomâ¦or out the end door.â
Joseph ran for the exit, Catelyn bolted for the one on the opposite end of the hall, thinking they could close in on him and catch in the middle.
Twenty minutes later, they gave up the search on the campus.
âIf heâs still on school grounds, weâll never find him,â Joseph declared with disgust. âWeâd have to get the K-9 unit out here to track him down.â
âYeah, I bet he knows this place like the back of his hand, including all nooks and crannies to hide in.â Catelyn stood for a moment, thinking. âAnd if heâs not on campusâ¦where would you go if you were a scared deaf kid?â
Joseph watched her, seeing the wheels clicking in her mind. He answered, âSomeplace Iâd feel safe, to someone I could count on to help me out and not turn me in.â
They looked at each other and said, simultaneously, âAlonso.â
Realizing it was probably a waste of time, but having to check in spite of his gut feeling, Joseph raced back into the school building asked the secretary to call Alonso to the office. In the meantime, Joseph tried to text message his brother, however, he got no response even after several attempts. But then, Joseph reasoned, if Alonso was in class, he wouldnât have his phone on.
And if he was trying to help Dylan, he wouldnât bother answering
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