Ed shrugged. He’d gone to state school, and it had been good enough for him. “A smart kid like Will is going to make opportunities for himself,” he said to reassure her.

His mother closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. When she opened her eyes again, she seemed resigned. “Will, you’re going to have to make your own choice here. I can’t tell you what to do. Those days are long over. All I can tell you is that if I was in your shoes, I would want to take responsibility for my actions.”

Will looked over at his father, who looked grim, but didn’t say anything. They were telling him to take the plea, he knew. Do the right thing, his mom always said. And instead, he’d made bad decision after bad decision. He took a deep breath and nodded at his attorney, not trusting his voice. Ed nodded in return and called the DA and Detective Murray back over to the table.

They were about to sit down again when the police station seemed to come suddenly to life. A chorus of emergency service calls crackled over the police radios on officers’ belts and desks. Detective Murray stopped in his tracks to listen as the call went out: All available units. River Road and Taylor Road. Submerged vehicle.

Both officers who’d been sitting in their cubicles stood immediately and headed out to their cars. Detective Murray looked at Hal Buckley. “You can take this from here?” Hal nodded, and Murray spoke into his radio. “Officer in charge, here,” he said. “Number of passengers?”

“One female driver observed; other passengers unknown.”

“Can I get a vehicle description?” Murray asked, picking up his car keys.

“Green Toyota Prius.” And then: “Fire and EMT on their way.”

“Maddie!” Will yelled. Before he knew what he was doing, he’d leaped from his seat and was following Detective Murray to the door. “I think that’s my friend.”

“Whoa there,” Murray said, surprised. “Where do you think you’re going?” He turned Will around toward the table. “Your plea deal expires today. Get it done.” In the next moment, Murray was out the door.

“Mom!” Will said, ignoring his lawyer and the prosecutor, who were waiting for him to sit down. “That’s Maddie’s car. I have to go down there.”

“Will,” his mother said, sounding tired. “You don’t know that. It could be someone else.”

“It’s a Prius,” Will said, sounding desperate. “You heard him. Female driver. It’s her. Please, Mom. You know things haven’t been right with her.”

His mother looked torn. Then she stood up, nodded at his father, and grabbed her purse. “I’ll go,” she said. “But they probably won’t let me anywhere near it. You have to stay here. I’ll call if I have any information.”