To keep from looking at Greg and Mom, I tear my pizza into little pieces. This is the first time he’s ever been mad at me.

Greg opens a beer and takes a sip. “Going to the police about your favorite teacher, though—that was pretty gutsy, Abs. Boyce didn’t kill that poor woman, but I can see why you thought he did.” Turning to Mom, he adds, “Cut her some slack, Cathy. She’s really upset. She won’t—”

Mom looks like she’s about to throw the pizza box at him. “Don’t you dare take her side! Ever since Abbi was born, I’ve done my best to take care of her and keep her safe. You think that’s easy when you’re a single parent? And now look at the danger she’s put herself in!”

Mom bursts into tears. Greg runs around to her side of the table and hugs her.

“Cath, Cath,” he murmurs. “No one’s taking sides here. Abbi knows she and Skylar shouldn’t have been hanging out in that tree house spying on people. Don’t be so hard on her. She’s a good kid—you know that, I know that. Please, honey, you’re a great mom. Kids her age do things like this.”

Mom pulls away from him. She’s still mad, still crying, but not as hard as before. What if she breaks up with Greg because of me?

The doorbell rings. Greg goes to answer it, and Mom tries to pull herself together. She blows her nose, wipes her eyes, and sits up straighter. She looks at me, and I look at her. As long as she never learns about the much worse stuff I’ve done, it will be okay, I think. She’ll get over being mad at Greg. And at me too—but that might take longer.

When Greg comes back with Detective Klein, Mom is rinsing plates in the sink and tidying up the kitchen. Most of the pizza is still in the box.

Detective Klein has a policewoman with him. He introduces himself and Officer Delaney. They sit down at the kitchen table with us. My empty stomach churns, and bile rises in my throat. I swallow it down and wish I was anywhere but here. After getting Mom’s permission to interview me, Detective Klein puts a recorder on the table and begins.

He states his name and Officer Delaney’s name. He identifies Mom and Greg and me. He states the date and place.

Then the questions begin. I answer them as truthfully as I can. I’m not as scared as I expected. It’s like talking to a teacher when you forgot your homework or did badly on a test.