The Rag and Bone Shop Read Online Free PDF Page B

help,” the officer explained.
    “A detective spoke to Jason yesterday,” his mother said. “For quite a long time.”
    “I know, Mrs. Dorrant,” the officer said, his voice surprisingly gentle for such a big man. “But this is a new approach we’re trying. We have some special interrogators down at headquarters who will be asking people who were out on the street on Monday what they might have seen.”
    “But I already told the detective that I didn’t see anything,” Jason said, and instantly regretted having spoken. Saying those words would probably eliminate him from the questioning and he really wanted to be part of the investigation.
    “We realize that, Jason,” the policeman said. “But these experts can really get people thinking about what they might have seen. Sometimes you’ve actually seen things that you don’t realize you’ve seen. Or heard things that you didn’t think were important at that time. With the right kind of questioning, evidence can turn up that didn’t seem to be evidence. . . .”
    Jason sighed with relief when his mother said: “Well, I’m sure Jason would like to help. He’s a good kid.”
    “Fine,” Officer Kendall said. “I can drive him to headquarters now, where he’ll join the others.”
    “How long will this take?” Jason’s mother asked.
    “Oh, maybe a couple, three hours. We’ll drive him back when it’s all over.”
    Jason’s mother frowned, doubt appearing in her eyes. “My husband’s out of town, won’t be back until tomorrow.”
    What’s that got to do with anything? Jason wondered, afraid that his mother might change her mind about letting him go.
    The officer frowned, too. “We’re doing all we can to find who did this terrible thing to that little girl.”
    His voice was so gentle and kind that Jason wondered if he ever got up the nerve to arrest anybody.
    Jason’s mother nodded. “Well, I guess it’s important for him to do his part,” she said. But she seemed skeptical. “How many other people are involved?” she asked.
    “Four, maybe five. Mostly young people because they happened to be out on the street Monday. Jason probably knows them.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s important to move fast because time is a factor.”
    “I’d rather go with him,” she said, still reluctant, “but Emma’s got a doctor appointment in half an hour and they’re always booked so full . . .” She looked at him anxiously and Jason blew air, impatient to be on his way. The officer glanced at his watch again.
    “Well, okay,” she said, “do your best, Jason.” To Officer Kendall she said: “He’s been upset by all this.”
    This time, it was Jason’s turn to frown. “Aw, Ma,” he said.
    And she smiled wanly.
    “Be on your way, then,” she said.
    And here he was, in this barren office, wondering if his mother was right to be worried. He hadn’t seen anything unusual. He would probably be revealed as a fake.
    The doors swung open and Officer Kendall was back with two guys Jason recognized. Jack O’Shea and Tim Connors. Jocks. They usually wore turned-around baseball caps, always passing a basketball between them. No baseball caps or basketball now, although they came into the room in that loose-limbed jiggling walk typical of jocks. They were followed by a kid named Danny Edison who sometimes sat at the same cafeteria table with Jason. Danny was a thin intense kid, face raw with acne.
    Jason was glad to see Jimmy Orlando appear. Jimmy was a normal kid. Not a jock, not a major brain. Just a regular kid. Like what Jason hoped others saw when they looked at him.
    Officer Kendall said: “Lieutenant Braxton will be here in a minute and give you fellows the lowdown on everything. He’s in charge of the investigation.”
    After he left the room, they all stood around awkwardly. The two jocks meandered toward the window and huddled together like conspirators. Jimmy pulled a paperback book from his pocket and, leaning against a