“Ow, ow, you're hurting me!” he whined.
“And you just tried to stab me, you lil' punk! Get the drugs out from under your shirt, now!”
“I don't know what you're talking about!”
“We saw you, Panetti,” Ben gasped as he came stumbling along, panting for breath and sweating profusely. “And what's more, I've got it on video. The drugs, and you taking a shot with the knife at Mr. James here.”
“And I believe that with those two charges put together – drug dealing and assault with a deadly weapon – you're looking at a minimum of 10 years in prison,” I said to the kid.
That was when he broke down, and tears started streaming down his face.
“I... I was just tryin' to make some extra cash, alright? My dad is a drunk, and he lost his job six months ago. My mom don't have much education, and she's tryin' to support our family on a waitress' pay. I'm sorry, Mr. Henderson, I'm sorry... I just needed the money.”
“Well how about this, Panetti,” I said. “That is your name, right?”
The kid sniffed and nodded.
“You give me the drugs, and I'll give you whatever their street value is – and we won't turn you in.”
“You... you won't?” the kid asked between sniffles.
“No, but there's one condition,” I added.
“Alright, I'll do anything man, anything...”
“We need you to help us out. I’ll make sure you have money to help your family. But we need to know that we can trust you – because you if try to feed us false information, or lie to protect those drug-dealing scumbags, just remember: we can turn you in and that means a minimum 10-year prison sentence. Got it? So, are you gonna help us?”
He nodded, still sniffling with tears in his eyes.
“I'll help,” he said. “I just have one question.”
“Fire away, Panetti.”
“Who... who are you?”
I grinned before replying.
“I'm your new principal, Mr. Panetti.”
Chapter Five
Vivienne
I watched through the window as Everett walked out of his house, holding little Jane's hand as she waddled along beside him. He seemed to be such a caring and loving father – far more so than many of the parents I had to deal with at my daycare. I couldn't help wondering what had happened to her mother.
Across the road, they got into Everett's truck and headed out. I was about to get ready to head out myself when I decided I should probably check on Mrs. Dobbins after she’d scared the crap out of me the night before, thinking she’d seen someone trying to break into my car. She felt terrible when I told her how badly she’d scared me. I looked over, but her car was already gone.
Truth was, I needed to be gone as well. My assistant, Graciela, would have opened the daycare up by now, as the kids would already be arriving. I got my packed lunch and other things together, locked up the house, and then headed over to work.
I got there in 15 minutes, only just managing to beat the morning traffic. Graciela was waiting at the gate of the daycare, which was a converted townhouse.
“Morning, Viv,” she said with a smile as I walked in. “We've got six kids here already; you better go check in on them while I do the gate.”
“Will do, Graciela.”
I hurried into the indoor play area, and was relieved to see the six kids, all aged between two and four, playing peacefully on the play mats on the floor.
“Hey, guys,” I said with a cheery smile. “How are all of you this morning?”