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Chapters (42)
  1. CHAPTER 1
  2. CHAPTER 2
  3. CHAPTER 3
  4. CHAPTER 4
  5. CHAPTER 5
  6. CHAPTER 6
  7. CHAPTER 7
  8. CHAPTER 8
  9. CHAPTER 9
  10. CHAPTER 10
  11. CHAPTER 11
  12. CHAPTER 12
  13. CHAPTER 13
  14. CHAPTER 14
  15. CHAPTER 15
  16. CHAPTER 16
  17. CHAPTER 17
  18. CHAPTER 18
  19. CHAPTER 19
  20. CHAPTER 20
  21. CHAPTER 21
  22. CHAPTER 22
  23. CHAPTER 23
  24. CHAPTER 24
  25. CHAPTER 25
  26. CHAPTER 26
  27. CHAPTER 27
  28. CHAPTER 28
  29. CHAPTER 29
  30. CHAPTER 30
  31. CHAPTER 31
  32. CHAPTER 32
  33. CHAPTER 33
  34. CHAPTER 34
  35. CHAPTER 35
  36. CHAPTER 36
  37. CHAPTER 37
  38. CHAPTER 38
  39. CHAPTER 39
  40. CHAPTER 40
  41. CHAPTER 41
  42. CHAPTER 42

"Suits and weenies and other assorted bullshit artists," said Walkowicz. His mouth tightened. "Kinda people send their kids to a place like this."

As we headed to the car, Milo reached into the blue bag and drew out last year's Windsor Prep yearbook.

Three-hundred-plus gilt-edged pages bound in royal-blue calfskin. Each student's headshot in full, high-def color.

I said, "Nice production values."

"Only the best for show-pooches." He inspected a few photos. "Some of them even look happy."

Gilberto Chavez remained curled on the floor of his cell.

"He been that way all this time?" Milo asked the uniform on duty.

"For the most part. He peed once, we made him clean it up. Hey, Dr. Delaware, how come the deceptive ones always sleep like babies?"

I said, "Minimal or no conscience."

Milo said, "Pop the lock on Rip Van Winkle."

The uniform opened the cell, made sure the door clanged loud. Chavez stirred but but didn't awaken. When Milo called out his name, he opened his eyes briefly before clamping them shut.

Milo toed his shoulder. "Sit up. Now."

Chavez groaned, struggled to his elbows, finally complied with theatrical sluggishness. Milo took him by the shoulder, propped him up, slid him to the edge of the bench. Flipping the yearbook to the freshman page, he placed it on Chavez's lap.

"Start looking."

"Uh-uh."

"Uh-uh, what?"

"I dint do nothin'."

"I know you didn't. But those two girls you got weed from were involved in something bad so unless you want to take all the heat and go up for murder, you'll show me who they are."

"I dint--"

"Show me who they are, Gilberto, and we're finished. Don't cooperate and you're never getting out of here."

"I dint--"

"Shut the fuck up," said Milo, softly. "Now start looking."

Seventy minutes later, Chavez had been through every photo three times.

Same baleful head shake after each pass.

He tried to return the book to Milo.

"Again, Gilberto."

"I don lie," Chavez whined. "No in here."

"You ever wear glasses, Gilberto?"

"No way."

"Try again. And take your time."

Fourth pass, same result.

Chavez looked ready to cry. "I wanna go home but they no in here."

"Let's talk about them, Gilberto. What makes you think they were eighteen?"

"I dunno--they wasn't fifteen."

"How do you know?"

"In a car."

"What car?"

"Black Honda." Retrieving memories that had eluded him.

"Anything different about the Honda?"

"No."

Milo flipped to the front of the senior class. "These are eighteen-year-olds. Take another look."

"Mister, they no in here. These white girls."

"The girls who wanted ice weren't white."

"One white, yes. Other Mexicana."

"She speak Spanish to you?"

"English. But Mexicana."

"A white girl and a Latina," said Milo.

"Yeh."

"First time I asked what they looked like you said you couldn't remember."

"I couldn't."

"Now you remember one was white and one was Latina."

Chavez touched the side of his head, gave a dreamy smile. "I wake up, you know?"