“Now, this is an unusual situation we have here, and our office generally does not publicly discuss an investigation at this point. However, I know that we have a lot of concerned, involved parents here in New Falls, and I want to personally assure you that the school, the police force, and the district attorney’s office are handling everything in accordance with all of our rules and procedures. There is no indication that the person or persons throwing the party had any right to be there. Several local youths were ticketed nearby in conjunction with underage-drinking. In addition, evidence taken from the house indicates that the party was mainly attended by local high school students, from New Falls and the surrounding area.”

Hal continued. “No charges have been filed yet. However, the police are actively investigating leads. Now, here’s the important part: I want every parent here to talk to their child about this incident. Whether or not your child was involved, this is an opportunity to impress upon them the seriousness, and the possible consequences, of what can start out as typical teenage behavior. If you believe that your child attended or was involved with planning this party, I encourage you to come forward. Our office, and the police department, are committed to finding solutions here for everyone, but especially for the homeowners. I know that if any of you were in their shoes, you’d want the same. Thank you so much for your time. I won’t be taking any questions tonight, but if you would like to discuss the matter further, my door is open. Goodnight.”

Hal shook hands with Dr. Johnson and then exited through the stage door. Dr. Johnson saw Jake Tillman and the woman with him get up and head out the back of the auditorium. The temperature in the room had noticeably cooled, and the parents no longer looked so sure of themselves. In fact, many of them looked downright concerned. Good, thought Dr. Johnson, now we’re getting somewhere.

On the sidewalk outside of the school, Maja released a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

“That was tough,” Jake Tillman acknowledged. “But it’s good that you came. Now you can see what we’re up against. Communities like this, when they sense an outside threat, they close ranks.”

“I’m not a threat,” Maja said. Her heart was still racing. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected, but it hadn’t been a debate over how fairly the kids were being treated. “I thought I was the victim here,” she said, thinking of the handout Jake had given her.