said Keating. “Of course we have drug problems here; most every school does. But these boys didn’t run with that crowd.”
“The parents gave us the names of the boys’ girl friends,” Jake said, sliding the piece of paper across the table. “We’re thinking about interviewing them to see if they might know anything.”
“I thought you might. I already checked and neither of them is here today,” said Keating. “They’re upset, I’m sure. A lot of the kids are. We’ve had to bring in grief counselors from several other schools to help deal with this. I doubt the girls will come back to school until after spring break, which is next week. I can send you their home addresses and phone numbers if you want to reach them there.”
“We’d appreciate that,” M.J. said. “Is there anything else any of you can think of that might help us?”
The three men looked at each other and shook their heads.
“I guess we’d like some information from you, if possible, Detective,” said Principal Chambers. “Can you tell us anything about how the boys were murdered? There hasn’t been much in the papers.”
“That’s intentional,” M.J. replied. “We’re holding back a lot of information while we conduct our investigation. The only thing I’m able to tell you right now is that the boys suffered trauma to their necks and I’d appreciate it if that went no further.”
“Of course,” Principal Chambers replied. “We’ll certainly get in touch with you if we hear anything that might be useful.”
M.J. and Jake shook the men’s hands and M.J. gave them her card. Principal Chambers walked them back to the front entrance. “Thanks for all you’re doing,” he said when they reached the doors.
Jake drove M.J. back to her car in Great Falls Park. As she was getting out, she asked, “Got any plans tonight?”
“None. What did you have in mind? A movie and dinner?” he asked with a smile on his face.
“A late dinner, but instead of a movie I’d like to go for a nice walk,” she replied.
“A walk? Where?” he asked.
“Difficult Run. I’ll pick you up at your place at eight sharp,” she said.
CHAPTER TEN
M .J. PICKED JAKE UP AT EIGHT, as promised. They were both wearing casual clothes and windbreakers to hide their gun belts. It was an unusually warm night for early April; so warm that under other circumstances they might have skipped the windbreakers.
The parking lot for Difficult Run was filled with cars. At first, M.J. wondered about this until she remembered that it was spring break for a lot of the colleges in the area. She suspected that Difficult Run was a popular place to gather and party.
Her suspicions were confirmed when they entered the trail and could hear music and voices. When they rounded the first curve, they saw a large gathering of college-age kids around a bonfire that had been built in a hollow surrounded by high rock walls. To the right, they could hear the sounds of splashing water and uncontrolled laughter and giggling.
“Well, Detective,” Jake said as they walked past the area, “we seem to have several violations of the law going on here. An open fire and the consumption of alcoholic beverages in a national park . . . and I wonder just what is going on down in the stream. I think I should investigate.”
“Bullshit, Jake. You know what’s going on down there. You’re just looking for the chance to see some naked college girls,” M.J. said.
“You know, there are probably naked college boys too,” Jake replied.
“Hmmm . . . tempting, but we’re here for other things. If you feel really strongly about it though, we can call it into Fairfax County on our way out. Let them be the party poopers,” M.J. said.
“You’re no fun,” Jake said. “By the way, just what are we here for?”
“Just keep walking and let me think,” M.J. replied.
Jake knew M.J.
“The parents gave us the names of the boys’ girl friends,” Jake said, sliding the piece of paper across the table. “We’re thinking about interviewing them to see if they might know anything.”
“I thought you might. I already checked and neither of them is here today,” said Keating. “They’re upset, I’m sure. A lot of the kids are. We’ve had to bring in grief counselors from several other schools to help deal with this. I doubt the girls will come back to school until after spring break, which is next week. I can send you their home addresses and phone numbers if you want to reach them there.”
“We’d appreciate that,” M.J. said. “Is there anything else any of you can think of that might help us?”
The three men looked at each other and shook their heads.
“I guess we’d like some information from you, if possible, Detective,” said Principal Chambers. “Can you tell us anything about how the boys were murdered? There hasn’t been much in the papers.”
“That’s intentional,” M.J. replied. “We’re holding back a lot of information while we conduct our investigation. The only thing I’m able to tell you right now is that the boys suffered trauma to their necks and I’d appreciate it if that went no further.”
“Of course,” Principal Chambers replied. “We’ll certainly get in touch with you if we hear anything that might be useful.”
M.J. and Jake shook the men’s hands and M.J. gave them her card. Principal Chambers walked them back to the front entrance. “Thanks for all you’re doing,” he said when they reached the doors.
Jake drove M.J. back to her car in Great Falls Park. As she was getting out, she asked, “Got any plans tonight?”
“None. What did you have in mind? A movie and dinner?” he asked with a smile on his face.
“A late dinner, but instead of a movie I’d like to go for a nice walk,” she replied.
“A walk? Where?” he asked.
“Difficult Run. I’ll pick you up at your place at eight sharp,” she said.
CHAPTER TEN
M .J. PICKED JAKE UP AT EIGHT, as promised. They were both wearing casual clothes and windbreakers to hide their gun belts. It was an unusually warm night for early April; so warm that under other circumstances they might have skipped the windbreakers.
The parking lot for Difficult Run was filled with cars. At first, M.J. wondered about this until she remembered that it was spring break for a lot of the colleges in the area. She suspected that Difficult Run was a popular place to gather and party.
Her suspicions were confirmed when they entered the trail and could hear music and voices. When they rounded the first curve, they saw a large gathering of college-age kids around a bonfire that had been built in a hollow surrounded by high rock walls. To the right, they could hear the sounds of splashing water and uncontrolled laughter and giggling.
“Well, Detective,” Jake said as they walked past the area, “we seem to have several violations of the law going on here. An open fire and the consumption of alcoholic beverages in a national park . . . and I wonder just what is going on down in the stream. I think I should investigate.”
“Bullshit, Jake. You know what’s going on down there. You’re just looking for the chance to see some naked college girls,” M.J. said.
“You know, there are probably naked college boys too,” Jake replied.
“Hmmm . . . tempting, but we’re here for other things. If you feel really strongly about it though, we can call it into Fairfax County on our way out. Let them be the party poopers,” M.J. said.
“You’re no fun,” Jake said. “By the way, just what are we here for?”
“Just keep walking and let me think,” M.J. replied.
Jake knew M.J.
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