At eight a.m., he rinsed their bowls in the sink, put the milk and orange juice back in the refrigerator, walked to the den, and kissed his mother on the cheek. “Off to school,” he said.
“You look sleepy,” she said.
“I’m fine.”
“Do you have lunch money?” She asked the same question five days a week.
“Always.”
“And your homework is complete?”
“It’s perfect, Mom.”
“And I’ll see you when?”
“After school.”
“Be careful and remember to smile.” Theo hated to smile because his teeth were covered with thick braces, but his mother was convinced that every smile made the world a happier place.
“I’m smiling, Mom,” he said.
“Love you, Teddy.”
“Love you back.”
Theo smiled until he got to the kitchen. He hated the nickname “Teddy” and mumbled it under his breath. He grabbed his backpack, patted Judge on the head and said good-bye, and left the house. He flew across town and ten minutes later was standing in front of Ike’s desk. Theo had called an hour earlier and Ike was waiting, red-eyed and looking awful.
“It’s a disaster,” he growled. “A complete disaster.”
“What’ll happen, Ike?”
Ike gulped coffee from a tall paper cup. “Remember Jack Hogan’s opening statement, when he promised the jury they would hear from Bobby Escobar, his star witness? Remember?”
“Sure.”
“Well, that was a mistake, because now, if Bobby doesn’t show, the defense will move for a mistrial, and Judge Gantry will have no alternative but to grant one. A second mistrial, Theo. And guess what? Under our laws, a second mistrial means the charges will be dismissed. It means Duffy will walk on the murder charge. He’ll serve a few short years for the escape, but he’ll be out soon and living the good life. He’ll get away with murder, Theo. That’s what’s about to happen. It’s a disaster.”
Although Ike had not mentioned the reward money in some time, Theo suspected he thought about it a lot. He earned a simple living as a tax accountant, but had little to show for it. His car was twenty years old. He lived in a run-down apartment. His office was shabby and disorganized, though Theo loved it.
Ike seemed particularly upset by the fact that a second mistrial was now likely. He said, “They have to find this boy.”
Theo wasn’t about to tell anyone he had Bobby’s cell phone number; not that it would help. Theo was quite certain that Bobby, wherever he was hiding, was not about to answer his phone. Theo asked, “When do they tell Judge Gantry that the star witness has disappeared?”
“Who knows? If I were Jack Hogan, I’d keep it quiet as long as I could and hope like crazy that they find Bobby. Hogan has a bunch of witnesses he can put on the stand before he needs Bobby, so he’ll probably keep going forward as if nothing is wrong. But by tomorrow, if they don’t find him, the game is over. I don’t know, just speculating.”
“And there’s nothing we can do, right?”
“Of course not,” Ike snapped. “All we can do is wait.”
“Okay, I’m outta here. Off to school. You headed to the courthouse?”
“Oh yes. I wouldn’t miss it for anything. I’ll call you during the first recess.”
Julio was waiting by the bike rack. He and Theo whispered for a few minutes as they headed to class. No word from Bobby. He was not answering his phone. Theo said, “I’m sure the police are searching everywhere. Maybe they’ll find him.”
“You think he’s okay, Theo?”
Theo said, “Sure, he’ll be fine.” But he had no clue.
“I’m sorry I said it was all your fault, Theo. I didn’t mean it.”
“It’s okay. Let’s get together during lunch break.”
“You got it.”
Chapter 20
At nine a.m., as Theo sat through Madame Monique’s Spanish class, he watched the clock on the wall and wondered what was happening in court. The trial was starting its second day. The courtroom was undoubtedly still packed. The jury was being brought in to hear the next round of witnesses for the prosecution. Everything seemed fine. No one but Jack Hogan and his team knew the truth—that their star witness had gone missing. An hour later, Theo was suffering through Geometry with Miss Garman and thinking of Bobby, who was probably hiding in the woods somewhere watching police cars zip around Weeksburg in their frantic search. He had managed to travel all the way from El Salvador, through Mexico, across the border, and into Strattenburg, without being detected. Theo had often wondered how millions of people could enter the country illegally and live and survive. They knew the secrets of moving in the shadows and avoiding the authorities when necessary.
If Bobby wanted to disappear, they would never find him.
There was a ten-minute break between Geometry and Government with Mr. Mount, and Theo rushed to the playground to call Ike. No answer. He was watching the trial, unable to talk or text.
In Government, Theo stood before the class and gave a summary of the opening of the trial. Since the boys had seen the first day of the first trial, they had a hundred questions. Theo gamely went along, answering them all.
At noon, during the lunch break, Ike finally called. He said the morning had gone as planned without a word about the missing witness. Jack Hogan had told no one. Judge Gantry seemed oblivious. Howeve
r, Clifford Nance and his defense team seemed much more confident than the day before. “They know,” Ike said. “Something tells me they know.” But Theo wasn’t so sure. Ike tended to exaggerate at times.
Theo found Julio and explained what was happening at the trial. Julio suggested they call Bobby on Theo’s cell, but Theo said no. “He’s too smart to answer his phone, Julio.”
The afternoon dragged by, slower than ever, and Theo suffered through Chemistry, study hall, and Debate Team practice. When the final bell rang at three thirty, he hopped on his bike and headed for the courthouse.
It was odd, watching the trial as if everything was fine, but knowing that the entire show was about to come to another shocking end. The jurors listened intently to the witnesses. The lawyers took pages of notes, scanned documents, and took turns questioning the witnesses. Judge Gantry presided solemnly, occasionally ruling on objections from the lawyers. The court reporter captured every word. The clerks shuffled papers and kept things in order. The spectators watched it all, captivated by the drama. The defendant, Pete Duffy, sat surrounded by his lawyers, and never changed his expression.
Jack Hogan and the prosecution team did indeed look a bit frazzled, but Theo could not detect an unusual amount of confidence on the other side of the courtroom. Everything seemed as normal as you might expect in a big trial.
The last witness of the day was a banker. Jack Hogan was walking him through a series of questions about Pete Duffy’s loans and finances, all in an effort to prove the defendant was desperate for cash. Thus, his need for the life insurance proceeds. Thus, a motive for murder. Some of the testimony was over Theo’s head, and it became quite dull.
As Theo listened, he watched Judge Gantry, and he felt a mix of sadness and anger. He was sad because the judge was presiding over an important trial, thought things were going well, and had no idea serious trouble was just around the corner. Theo was angry because the trial was about to blow up, and Pete Duffy would once again dodge a conviction for murder. He was certain the police were combing every square inch of Weeksburg, looking for Bobby as the clock ticked and a disaster loomed. And what if they found him? Could they arrest him, and haul him to the courthouse, and force him to testify? Theo didn’t think so.
Judge Gantry adjourned at five fifteen and sent the jurors home. Theo and Ike chatted for a moment outside the courthouse. Across the lawn, Omar Cheepe was smoking a cigarette and talking on his cell phone. He glared at Theo as he did so. Ike promised to call if he heard anything, and Theo said good-bye. He took his time riding back to the office. He locked his door and lay on the floor, talking to Judge, telling him how awful things were going. As always, Judge listened intently, staring at Theo with eager eyes, believing every word and ready to help. It always felt good to talk to someone, even a dog.
Mrs. Boone was in her office with a late appointment. Mr. Boone was upstairs, smoking his pipe and reworking the language of a thick document. “Got a minute, Dad?” Theo asked, interrupting.
“Well, sure. What’s on your mind?”
“You’re not going to believe this, but Bobby Escobar has disappeared.”
Mr. Boone’s jaw dropped. Theo told him the rest of the story, even the part about having Bobby’s cell phone number.
It was Tuesday night, and the Boones walked a few blocks to the Highland Street Shelter to visit the homeless. As always, Theo worked the food line, serving hot vegetable soup and sandwiches to people who had no place to go. Many of the faces were familiar, sad folks who had lost everything and somehow survived without a place to live. They slept on park benches, and under bridges, and in cheap tents hidden in the woods. They rummaged through Dumpsters and begged on the streets. The lucky ones, about fifty in all, lived at the shelter, but most would eat their dinner, slowly, and leave to return to the darkness. Some abused drugs and alcohol. Some were mentally ill. Volunteering at the shelter always made Theo stop and remember how lucky he was.
After everyone was served, Theo, his parents, and the other volunteers had a quick dinner in the kitchen. Some of the volunteers began washing dishes and storing the leftovers. The Boones drifted away. Mrs. Boone went to her little room to meet with clients. Mr. Boone set up shop in a corner and began reviewing Medicare forms for an elderly couple.
Theo was tutoring a fourth grader in math when his cell phone vibrated. It was Julio. Theo excused himself and stepped outside where he could talk. Julio explained that he had just talked to Bobby. He was hiding in an apple orchard far from town, in an old warehouse where other undocumented workers were living. The police had stopped by once, but the workers knew how to avoid them. He was in the process of arranging a ride back to Texas where he would recross the border and head home.
“Did you tell him he needs to stay and to testify tomorrow?” Theo asked, though he knew the answer.
“No, Theo, I did not. Bobby’s gone.”
Later, when they were home and Theo was getting ready for bed, he told his