Code of Silence: Living a Lie Comes With a Price

by Tim Shoemaker

  Dad glanced at Gordy’s feet. “Shoes sure cleaned up nice.”

  “I wish,” Gordy said. “These are my old ones.”

  “Did either of you boys see anything that might help the police?”

  Cooper shrugged. “It was dark.” He needed to get the focus off last night. The permission slip. “Here, Dad.” He held out the bright yellow form.

  Cooper’s dad took the form and frowned as he read it. Mom stood behind him and read over his shoulder.

  “They may ask for DNA testing?” Cooper’s mom said. “Isn’t that a bit extreme?”

  Cooper’s dad kept reading the form. “They intend to find out who the witness is, whether he wants to offer the information or not.”

  “Do we sign it?” Cooper’s mom look concerned.

  Carson MacKinnon nodded. “I don’t see why not. One of us will be there. We need to do everything we can to help. We’ve got nothing to hide.”

  Maybe you don’t. Cooper watched his dad sign the form. But I sure do.

  CHAPTER 15

  How Cooper fell asleep, he had no idea. Long after everyone went to bed he lay there thinking about the man wearing the clown mask. He slipped down the stairs and double-checked the dead bolts on the front and back doors. He even left the hall light on and jammed his desk chair under his bedroom doorknob. Fudge curled up next to the bed. His baseball bat went under the covers with him. Flat on his back and eyes wide open, he watched the fish in his tank and listened to the house creak and snap in the cold night air. That was the last thing he could remember.

  Saturday morning Cooper dug out the hard drive and climbed onto the faded teak deck of The Getaway to meet Gordy and Hiro. He didn’t have to wait long. By the time he flipped open his dad’s laptop Gordy walked through the opening in the fence with Hiro at his side. Gordy grinned and waved, then trotted to the ladder propped against the stern of the boat. Hiro looked like she’d had a rough night, too.

  Gordy swung a leg over the railing with Hiro right behind him. “I caught Hiro up to speed with what happened here last night.”

  Cooper hoped she’d be impressed. He held to the Code. “I guess my dad’s baloney detector was out of commission.”

  “Because he trusts you,” Hiro said.

  The words burned a hole in Cooper’s gut. He ducked inside the cabin, set the laptop on the table, and slid onto one of the benches.

  “I can’t believe you didn’t just tell him.”

  Cooper stared at her in disbelief. “We agreed to the Code, remember?”

  “We agreed to keep quiet.”

  “That’s what we’re doing.”

  Hiro shifted. “We’re lying.”

  Cooper instantly felt his face heat up. He didn’t like being dishonest with anyone, especially his parents. He liked being reminded of it even less. Lying was wrong. He knew that. But this situation made it different. It had to be done.

  Her eyes bored into him. “Doesn’t that make you feel just a little bit guilty?”

  “No,” Cooper lied. “I’m doing him a favor. I’m doing all of us a favor.”

  She tossed her braid over one shoulder. “How do you figure?”

  “I’m protecting them.” Cooper pulled the hard drive from the pocket of his cargo shorts and connected it. “Look. I thought we were going to do some detective work together.” He tapped the hard drive.

  She nodded, her mouth formed one tight line. She didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t argue either.

  He’d take what he could get. “Let’s get on with it.”

  Hiro didn’t speak for a moment. “You’re not going to bring this to the bell tower Sunday night, are you?”

  “Not unless I bust it in pieces first.”

  She seemed satisfied with that.

  Cooper focused on the laptop screen. The computer recognized the external drive immediately. Thankfully the fall didn’t damage it. A part of him dreaded the images he might see.

  “Uh-oh.”

  Gordy leaned in closer to see the screen. “Uh-oh, what?”

  “I can’t open the file.”

  “Click on it again.”

  Cooper gave it another shot. A window popped up for Silent Sentry Surveillance Systems with a $1500 introductory offer for the program. Dead end.

  Hiro groaned. “We need the program. We’re never going to get these files open without it.” She slumped back in the booth. “Now what?”

  It didn’t exactly sound like a question. More like a test question.

  Cooper unhooked the hard drive and tucked it back in the pocket of his cargo shorts. “I’ll bury this again. And for now, we stick to the Code.”

  “And do nothing?”

  “Sticking to the Code is something.”

  Hiro stood, threw her arms in the air and slapped them down at her sides. “The police are closing in. Maybe those scumbags are too. We have to do something. Get help. Tell somebody.”

  “So you think we should just lock arms and skip into the police station and tell them what we’ve seen?”

  “Maybe we should.” She raised her chin and gave a slight nod.

  “And what if Elvis is Hammer—or one of the other Rolling Meadows cops?”

  “That makes no sense. Why would a police detective rob Frank ‘n Stein’s?”

  “I have no idea.”

  Hiro stood. “And I say Lunk is part of this. Or his dad.”

  Cooper shook his head. “That theory has just as many holes. I say we wait this out.”

  Hiro put her hands on her hips. “We need protection. We have to go to the police.”

  “Listen,” Cooper said. “They have my house key. Fact. Said they’d find me if I talked. Fact. It’s not just me I’m worried about. I lay in bed at night thinking about some guy in a clown mask hauling off and hitting my mom. Or Mattie.”

  Hiro folded her arms across her chest and sat back down. “I know. I get it.” Her voice softened. “But we have to do something.”

  “I just can’t go to the police. When Hammer used those same words—I gotcha boy, I just got chills, you know?”

  “You think it really could be him?” Gordy spoke nearly in a whisper.

  “It’s possible. And when he talked about having some other piece of evidence—something that could open the door to finding the person at the crime scene, also known as me—what do you think popped into my mind?”

  “The key,” Gordy said.

  Cooper shrugged. “Exactly. I felt like he was sending me a message.” Cooper pictured Detective Hammer’s face in his mind. It would be a perfect cover, wouldn’t it? Who would question a detective? And who would be able to steer the investigation away from himself any better than the guy who gave the orders? He turned to Hiro. “Until we can be sure the police aren’t involved, I think we need to stick to the Code. Let’s give this a little more time. Okay?”

  Hiro held out one hand. “Let’s think. On the one hand we hide the truth, but we stay safe.” She held out her other hand. “On the other hand, we come clean and may get killed as a result.” She shrugged. “We lie or we die. I just can’t make up my mind.”

  “I’ll take that as a yes,” Cooper said.

  She nodded. “But for how long? The truth always comes out—and when it does we may be in a lot more trouble.” She looked from Cooper to Gordy. “This is too big for us. You know we won’t make it through the police questioning Monday, right?” She looked directly at Gordy.

  Cooper didn’t answer. She had a point. A good one. But if they could just keep this whole thing quiet a little longer, buy some time, maybe they could find some other way. Why say anything until they were absolutely sure they couldn’t keep it a secret any longer?

  “Okay,” Cooper said. “If we don’t figure out a way out of this by the time they start the interviews, we’ll dissolve the Code and we’ll spill to the police. Agreed?”

  “You mean that?”

  Cooper nodded and saw the flicker of relief in her eyes. He wished it made him feel th
at good. But the whole idea of breaking the Code started something ugly churning in his stomach. There had to be another way.

  The Code of Silence was their ticket to safety. Their Getaway. A boat that would bring all of them over the rough waters of the mess they were in. They just had to keep it afloat until the storm passed by.

  CHAPTER 16

  Cooper pulled the hood of his old pullover sweatshirt up while the three of them biked through downtown Rolling Meadows. His zippered hoodie was probably still in the crime lab somewhere. Cooper missed riding his newer bike, too, but he wasn’t going to take that out of the shed until everything cooled down. Like maybe next spring.

  They rode single-file along the edge of the road, giving Cooper time to think. He’d lied to his parents. He told himself it was all about keeping them from getting too suspicious. And it was really the courageous thing to do. A way to keep them safe. But still … he deliberately deceived them. That didn’t exactly sound heroic.

  When Frank ‘n Stein’s came into view he slowed a bit. Cars filled the parking lot. True to his word, Mr. Stein was open for business. Not that Cooper had any intention of going there.

  “I guess we won’t be going back there for awhile,” Gordy said, almost as if he’d been reading Cooper’s thoughts.

  Hiro pulled up alongside Cooper. “And how would that look?”

  “What?”

  “We go to Frank ‘n Stein’s two or three times a week,” Hiro said. “Now suddenly we don’t show up. Wouldn’t that look a little suspicious?”

  “You think too much.” Gordy waved her off with one hand. “Nobody will even notice.”

  Cooper stopped pedaling and coasted along the sidewalk. “Hiro has a point.”

  “Hiro has a point?” Gordy said. “What about me?”

  Hiro shrugged. “All I’m saying is that if we do go, it shows we have nothing to hide.”

  Cooper slowed to a stop. The Code wasn’t just about keeping quiet. It was also about not looking guilty. About keeping suspicion away from them. “Actually, that makes sense.”

  “That’s crazy.”

  “And I’m not crazy about going,” Cooper said.

  “So don’t.” Gordy wheeled his bike around and pointed it up the street. “I say we go back to Taco Bell, order some of those cinnamon twisty things, and drain the pop machine with our free refills.”

  “Hey,” Hiro said. “We’re all a little spooked.”

  “Spooked? Me? I just feel like Taco Bell right now, that’s all.”

  Sometimes the easy way wasn’t the best way. Cooper knew that. He also knew the longer he waited, the harder this was going to be. “I’m going to Frank ‘n Stein’s.” He hoped by saying it out loud he’d feel as confident as he sounded. Not this time.

  “I’ll go too,” Hiro said. “Maybe we can find out how Frank is doing.”

  “Have a great time.” Gordy circled around them once. “Count me out.”

  “Sure you don’t want to come with us?” Cooper pulled a quarter out of his pocket. “I’ll show you those moves.”

  “I’m going to Taco Bell.” Gordy didn’t smile. “If you’re smart you’ll come with me.” He jerked his bike toward the fast food restaurant and stood on the pedals.

  Cooper watched for a minute, hoping he’d turn around. Gordy never even looked back.

  “You changing your mind?” Hiro said.

  “Uh-uh.” Cooper started pedaling for Frank ‘n Stein’s. “I just thought he would.”

  They coasted into Frank’n Stein’s parking lot and propped their bikes against a pole.

  “You ready for this?” Hiro practically whispered.

  “Sure,” Cooper lied. A sheet of particle board replaced the broken window in the door. Chips of glass winked at him from cracks in the asphalt like they knew his secret. He reached for the door and tried not to think about the last time he stood in that spot.

  The familiar smell of seasoned beef and Chicago hot dogs charring on the grill welcomed him in.

  “Hiya, kids.” Mr. Stein stood behind the counter and smiled. “What can we get you?”

  Cooper ordered a chocolate Monster shake and wiped sweaty hands on his cargo shorts before handing Mr. Stein the money. Stein took one of the dollars and stuffed it in a giant pickle jar on the counter nearly half filled with coins and dollar bills. A hand–printed sign taped to the rim of the jar read “Hospital fund for Frank Mustacci.” A picture of the co-owner flipping a burger on the grill was clipped to the sign. Cooper’s throat burned.

  Mr. Stein did the same with the money Hiro handed him for her iced tea.

  “How is he?” Hiro whispered.

  Stein’s smile faded. “Still in a coma.” He grabbed a rag and wiped off the counter. “But when I saw him this morning, his color looked better.”

  “That’s good.” Hiro tapped two straws out of the dispenser and handed one to Cooper. “Think I could go see him?”

  Cooper’s heart slammed into his chest.

  “You’d be like an angel to him if you did.” Stein leaned across the counter toward Hiro. “You a churchgoer?”

  Hiro nodded.

  “You say a prayer for our friend, will you?”

  “I have every hour since it happened.”

  Mr. Stein’s smile returned. “Atta girl. Say one for both of us, eh?” He turned to the drive-thru window.

  Hiro reached in her pocket, pulled out some cash, and added it to the pickle jar. She looked at Cooper as if she totally expected him to do the same.

  He pulled out the only money he had—his emergency “snack buck.” He took one last look at Washington’s face with the black marker mustache and glasses he’d added and dropped it in the jar.

  Hiro nodded her approval. “He needs all the help he can get.”

  Cooper glanced into the kitchen—all the way to the back door. It was still a crime scene to him. The mop and bucket stood against the side wall. Had they used it to swab up Frank’s blood? The creepy feeling gnawed at him.

  “Chocolate shake, iced tea, large fries?”

  Neil Lunquist held the cardboard tray out to them over the counter.

  “Oh, hi, Lunk.” Cooper took the tray. “We didn’t pay for fries, though.”

  Lunk mouthed for him to stay quiet. “I take care of friends. Take it.”

  “But—” Cooper glanced at Mr. Stein working the drive-thru window. His back was turned, and it was obvious he hadn’t seen a thing.

  Lunk jammed his hand in his pocket and pulled out a couple of singles. “Here.” He stuffed the money in the pickle jar. “Feel better?”

  Cooper nodded. “Thanks.”

  Cooper took the tray and turned. Mr. Stein had decked the whole dining area out with Halloween decorations. Like some kind of haunted castle—only this one was for real. Normally Cooper would grab their booth in the back. Today? He just wanted out of here.

  Hiro nudged him. “Picnic table outside?”

  “Perfect.”

  Hiro seemed as anxious as he was to leave. She grabbed a couple of napkins and filled a small paper cup with ketchup.

  He’d done it. He showed his face. It felt good to face his fears, to push himself. It felt even better to push back out the door.

  Hiro didn’t say a word as they walked to the table. She swung a leg over the bench to face the creek. Cooper didn’t feel right about Frank ‘n Stein’s being behind him where he couldn’t see it—like he expected Elvis or the clown to rush out the door at any moment. That was crazy. Still, he positioned himself on the bench opposite of Hiro so he could keep an eye on things.

  “Glad to see your conscience still works,” Hiro said.

  “What?”

  She picked up a fry and dangled it in front of him. “The fries?”

  “Oh, that.” Cooper pulled the lid off his shake and poked the straw in deep. “I didn’t feel right about it.” He drew in a cool mouthful of the shake.

  Hiro sipped at her tea and pulled her braid over her shoulder. “It was nice
to see the old Cooper for a change.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Don’t play dumb.”

  Cooper grabbed some fries and avoided looking at her. Why couldn’t she just leave it alone? Give this a little time to work itself out? Then the lies would stop. All of them.

  “I don’t know how he can still work there,” she said.

  “Lunk?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “He couldn’t have been one of the guys at that robbery.”

  Hiro shrugged. “He’s in it somehow. And I’m going to figure it out.”

  “Give it a rest. Lunk isn’t all bad.”

  She raised her eyebrows and cocked her head to one side. “Is he changing—or is it you?”

  “What?”

  “I’m praying for you, Cooper.” Hiro said it so quietly, as if she hadn’t intended him to hear.

  But he heard it so clear that his ears burned. “Look.” He bounced his straw up and down in the thick shake. “You should be praying that Gordy doesn’t blow it, or that those men don’t find us, or that they get caught somehow.”

  Hiro didn’t say anything. But her eyes went right through him—like she was reading his mind. She looked down suddenly, like she didn’t like what she saw.

  “Do you think Frank will make it?”

  Cooper thought on that a minute. “If his color is better, that has to be good. Are you really going to see him?”

  Hiro nodded and bit her lower lip.

  Truth was, he wished he could too. But how could he face him, even if he was in a coma?

  A Rolling Meadows police car wheeled into the lot and pulled into one of the parking spaces.

  A knot tightened in his stomach. A police car at a fast food restaurant wasn’t an unusual sight, but Cooper wondered if the cop was there to get a meal or to work on the case.

  Cooper held his breath for an instant while a policeman opened the door and stood. Detective Hammer. Perfect.

  Hammer scanned the lot like a man in the habit of looking for potential trouble. When his mirrored sunglasses turned Cooper’s way, he smiled and strode toward the picnic table.