Linda lowered her head. Jack stepped forward and spoke. "The Squires live on Green Acres Road," he said.

"Chad's best friend Matthew."

Myron nodded. He was not surprised. He flicked on the television. "This is a bank security tape from First Philadelphia. ' '

"How did you get it?" Jack asked.

"It's not important." '

The front door opened and Bucky entered. The older man, dressed today in checked pants with a yellow-andgreen top, stepped into the den doing his customary neck craning bit. "What's going on here?" he demanded.

Nobody replied.

"I said "

"Just watch the screen, Dad," Linda interrupted.

"Oh," Bucky said softly, moving in closer.

Myron turned the channel to Three and hit the PLAY

button. All eyes were on the screen. Myron had already seen the tape. He studied their faces instead, watching for reactions.

On the television, a black-and-white image appeared.

The bank's driveway. The view was from up high and a bit distorted, a concave fish-eye effect to capture as much space as possible. There was no sound. Myron had the tape all cued up on the right spot. Almost immediately a car pulled into view. The camera was on the driver's side.

"It's Chad's car," Jack Coldren announced.

They watched in rapt silence as the car window lowered.

The angle was a bit odd above the car and from the machine's point of view but there was no doubt.

Chad Coldren was the driver. He leaned out the window and put his card in the ATM machine slot. His fingers tripped across the buttons like an experienced stenographer's.

Young Chad Coldren's smile was bright and happy.

When his fingers finished their little rumba, Chad settled back into the car to wait. He turned away from the camera for a moment. To the passenger seat. Someone was sitting next to Chad. Again Myron watched for a reaction. Linda, Jack, and Bucky all squinted, all trying to make out a face, but it was impossible. When Chad finally tumed back to the camera, he was laughing. He pulled the money out, grabbed his card, leaned back into the car, closed the window, and drove off.

Myron switched off the VCR and waited. Silence Hooded the room. Linda Coldren slowly lifted her head.

She kept her expression steady, but her jaw trembled from being so set.

"There was another person in the car," Linda offered.

"He could have had a gun on Chad or "

"Stop it!" Jack shouted. "Look at his face, Linda!

For crying out loud, just look at his goddamn smirking face!"

"I know my son. He wouldn't do this."

"You don't know him," Jack countered. "Face it, Linda. Neither one of us knows him."

"It's not what it looks like," Linda insisted, speaking more to herself than anyone in the room.

"No?" Jack gestured at the television, his face reddening.