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Gina releases another sob. O’Leary pulls out the sheet of notebook paper. Pendleton watches as he sets it on the desktop. “Yes, but it doesn’t tell us anything.”
The headmaster puts on his reading glasses and examines the note. He doesn’t pick it up but leans in close enough so he can make out the words:
I’m sorry.
I tried.
I love you.
O’Leary continues: “Have any of the students said anything? Any of his teachers?”
Pendleton shakes his head. He gestures to a file box sitting on a wing chair. “We have Anthony’s things from his locker. I’m not sure if they will provide any answers…” He lets the sentence fade.
“So, you’ve heard nothing? Nobody has any clue why my son committed suicide,” O’Leary says, daring Pendleton to correct him.
“I spoke with the students before and after this tragedy about Anthony,” Pendleton assures him. “And I’m sorry, no. He was new at the school. He was quiet, still acclimating, but no one had any idea he might do this.”
This is going nowhere. O’Leary stands, gently helps Gina out of her chair. Without saying anything more, O’Leary takes the file box and they leave.
After getting Gina buckled up in the car—she’s still in a near-catatonic state—O’Leary picks up the phone, dials Chaz.
“Hey, boss.”
“You hear from the doctor?” O’Leary’s concern about Gina’s mental state is growing.
“Yeah, he’ll come to the house whenever’s convenient for you.”
“This afternoon, before the wake.”
Chaz nods.
“And how about the tech guy?”
Anthony’s cell phone and laptop are password protected. Chaz took them to one of the tech scammers they work with to see if he could get inside. It’s their only chance for real answers. O’Leary knows it won’t bring him back. But maybe understanding will help Gina.
“I’ll let you know as soon as I hear. This guy’s good. If anyone can get inside, he can.”
“Well, tell him to step on it,” O’Leary says.
“Yes, boss.”
“And I want our boys at the force to interview this twat headmaster at the school, talk to some kids.”
“I reached out. They said they don’t usually investigate cases where—” Chaz stops himself. “The kids at that school have parents who aren’t gonna just let them be interviewed. It’s complicated.”
“You tell Doyle it’s gonna get a helluva lot more complicated if they don’t do what I say.”
“Yes, boss.”
“I’m leaving the school now. The headmaster lied to me.”
“Lied?”
“He said he talked to the kids about Anthony before what happened, but has no idea why Anthony was having trouble.”
“Yeah?”
“Why in the hell would he be talking about my boy before if there wasn’t somethin’ up?”