Later that evening, after dinner, when both of his parents were home, they had what his mom called a “family meeting.” It was the first and only, but she pretended for some reason that it was a common occurrence, that their house was a democracy and this sort of Brady Bunch practice was perfectly normal. She did it, he supposed, to soften the edges of what they’d gathered to talk about, and she began the conversation, telling them that the sheriff had caught the man who’d hidden cameras in their house and that he was in jail. It was Steven Hollister, the man who owned the nursery out on the highway.

Your mom’s getting boned by the gardener.

He remembered seeing his mom’s Kia parked there, and he tried to read her face as she spoke. He knew he shouldn’t put stock in anything Victor said, but he couldn’t help wondering, and he was grateful now that the only expressions he saw on his mom’s face were ones of fear and relief.

His dad was frowning. “Why would the guy from the nursery put cameras in our house? It doesn’t make any sense.”

“He’s starting a new security business. I guess he had the equipment and…” She threw up her hands. “How would I know? He’s crazy.”

His dad shook his head. “Well, at least it’s over.”

They both quizzed Nick in more detail about what had happened with Victor at school, but he didn’t have any more to add than what he’d already told them, so he basically retold the story over again. He paused for a moment, deciding whether or not to go further, then told them that he hadn’t been able to get ahold of Aaron all afternoon.

“Do you think something happened to him?” He could hear the worry in his dad’s voice.

Nick shrugged.

“Nicholas?” His mom prodded.

“What’s your gut tell you?” his dad asked.

He looked from one to the other. “It reminds me of when Victor didn’t show up at school.”

“Okay,” his dad said. “I’m dropping you off and picking you up at school every day until…well, for the whole year, maybe. We’ll see. And when you’re at school, stay on campus and try to stay around teachers or adults…”

Nick hadn’t told them about the bank scholarship Mrs. Nelson had nominated him for, and he decided not to do so. He didn’t want to worry them even more.

“…All of us, if we see something, say something. Got that?”

“What about you?” his mom asked. “The bank’s right next door to the store. You’re on the front lines.”

“All quiet on the western front.”

“So far,” she said.

“So far,” his dad agreed.