Code of Silence: Living a Lie Comes With a Price

by Tim Shoemaker

  Hiro looked at him for a long moment. Like she was trying to visually test the sincerity of what he just said. “How?”

  Cooper glanced at the house for a moment. The bow of The Getaway was a perfect spot to talk. He could see anybody coming long before they got within earshot. “The police are spending too much effort looking for their mystery witness.” He pointed to himself.

  “They may not have any other leads,” Gordy said.

  Cooper leaned forward. “So we have to find a way to steer the police in the right direction, without blowing our cover.”

  Hiro slumped back. “Are we just going to rehash our situation, or do you have some way to accomplish this impossible task?”

  Cooper smiled. “I have a plan. And I think it will work.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “Okay. I type a letter to the police telling them what happened. They’re only sure about one of us being there, so I won’t mention anyone else but me. I tell them about the guys who did it. The ones they should be looking for.”

  “Wait a second,” Gordy said. “If you do that, and the cops did it, they’ll really be out to find you. They’ll figure you’re going to talk.”

  Cooper shook his head. “I’ll make it really plain that I can’t identify the men.”

  Hiro looked deep in thought. “Why would they believe it? They may have gotten dozens of letters from people claiming to have been there. People do that, you know.”

  “I’ve already got that worked out.” Cooper pulled a powdered donut from his bag and stuffed it in his mouth. He twisted off the cap of his chocolate milk and gulped down a couple of cool mouthfuls.

  Hiro jabbed him. “Are you going to tell us, or what?”

  “I give them some details only I would know.”

  “Like what?”

  “Where Frank was laying. How he was laying. That a stool was used to break the glass door. That the register change drawer was on the floor. That Frank’s glasses were on the floor by the feet of Frankenstein. Things like that.”

  Hiro thumped him on the back. “Brilliant!”

  “Almost as good as coming clean and telling the truth?”

  Hiro smiled. “Almost.”

  It was good to see her smile at him again. And there was something more. Respect. “Well, it’s as close as we’re going to get.”

  Gordy wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Sounds good to me. Then we just drop it in the mail?”

  “Yeah,” Cooper said. “The bad thing is we’ll lose a whole day or so before the police get it.”

  “Why don’t we deliver it ourselves?” Hiro said.

  Gordy snorted. “And risk getting caught?”

  “No, not at the police station.” Hiro stood and paced the bow. “The night drop slot at the library?”

  Cooper thought about that for a moment. “We address the letter to the police. The librarian will get it in the morning and call them. They’ll probably send a squad car right over.” He nodded. “Great idea. What do you think, Gordy?”

  Gordy didn’t look so convinced.

  “What if the librarian doesn’t call the police? The mail is safer.”

  “But slower,” Cooper said.

  Hiro shrugged. “Why not do both?”

  “Perfect.” Cooper threw a powdered donut to Fudge. “If the library idea works, the police will get a head start on finding the men. If the library sits on it, the police still get the letter in the mail.”

  Hiro stopped pacing and leaned against the rail. “One problem.”

  Cooper popped another donut in his mouth and looked at her.

  She fingered her necklace. “It might actually make things worse. I mean, if I were a cop—”

  “But you’re not,” Gordy interrupted.

  Hiro glared at Gordy.

  Cooper held up one hand. “Let her finish.”

  “If I were a cop—” she glared at Gordy as if daring him to interrupt again “—this letter would make me want to question whoever wrote it. Maybe I’d find out even more details if I questioned the witness in person. Right?”

  “Well that’s not going to happen,” Cooper said. “They’ll have to be satisfied with the letter.”

  “But they won’t be. Not unless they can talk to you.”

  Cooper thought about that for a second. “And if they really want to talk to me, they may try even harder to find me.”

  “And,” Gordy said, “the letter may give them some clue as to who you are.”

  “Great.” Cooper twisted off the cap of his chocolate milk and took a long drink. “We’re back to square one.”

  Hiro sat back down between them.

  “What if I put a phone number in the letter?” Cooper said. “We could pick up one of those disposable phones at Walmart.”

  Hiro’s eyes brightened. “We buy the phone with cash and there’s no record of who owns the phone!” She clapped him on the back again. “Let’s do it.”

  “I feel like a spy or something.” Gordy smiled. “So when do we get this letter out?”

  Cooper looked at Hiro, then back at Gordy. “Tonight.”

  CHAPTER 26

  Cooper felt energized. He was playing offense now. The three pooled their cash for a phone. Hiro and Gordy left on their bikes for Walmart. Cooper stayed back to write the letter.

  He worked at the computer right in the family room. It was either that or the library—which didn’t seem like the best idea. Every time his mom walked through the room, his heart pounded out a warning. He wanted to work fast, but he had to be careful with every word. He had to give enough information to prove he was at the scene of the crime, yet not give away his identity while he was at it.

  “Homework?”

  Mom’s voice startled him. Cooper whirled around in the desk chair. She walked toward him, her eyes on the screen. Cooper stood, blocking her view.

  “Yeah, I’m trying to get this done so I can go riding with Gordy and Hiro later.”

  Lies and deception. They came easy now. Cooper pushed the thought out of his mind.

  “Need any help?” She moved her head to one side as if trying to see the screen.

  Cooper reached over and gave her a hug. “Thanks, Mom.”

  “What brought this on?” Mom hugged him back. She seemed pleasantly surprised. And distracted.

  “Let me finish this up, and maybe I’ll have you proofread it when I’m done.”

  “Okay.” She gave him a squeeze. “Just let me know when you’re ready.”

  Cooper didn’t sit until she left the room. He banged out the letter, printed three copies, and had another thought. He made some quick changes, printed one copy, then deleted the file. He found envelopes in one of the desk drawers and printed those too.

  He didn’t start to relax until the letters were safely tucked away in his backpack.

  Now all he had to do was add the phone number and wait until dark.

  Cooper met Hiro and Gordy in the cabin of The Getaway after dinner. Cooper laid the copies of the letter and the four envelopes on the small built-in table.

  “Don’t touch them,” Cooper said. “If they dust them for fingerprints, we only want them to find one pair.”

  “Good thinking,” Hiro said. “Maybe you’ll make a good cop yourself.”

  Cooper didn’t want to be a cop. He wanted to get as far away from them as he could.

  Gordy counted the envelopes. “Why the extras?”

  “One copy for me to keep. One for the Daily Herald.”

  “The Herald?”

  “I was thinking.” Cooper picked up the envelope and slapped it on his open palm. “If the police don’t take the letter seriously, maybe the paper will. I just had to make some changes to this copy.”

  “I’m impressed,” Gordy said. “Looks like you’ve covered all the bases.”

  Cooper printed the phone number on the police copies of the letter and added “Between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. ONLY.” He didn’t want anyone trying to call him while
he was at school or at the dinner table. He wrote slow and neat. If the police showed it to any one of his teachers, they definitely wouldn’t recognize the writing as being his.

  “Maybe we should say something about Lunk,” Hiro said.

  “And if they find he’s not involved they’ll really think we’re trying to mess up their investigation,” Cooper said.

  “You still think he had nothing to do with it. I think that’s a problem.”

  “Let’s just say I’m not convinced. Besides, I’m not going to risk retyping this.”

  Hiro didn’t argue, but she didn’t look happy either.

  “What about the printer?” Gordy pointed at the envelopes. “Can they trace it back to you by looking at the text under a microscope or something?”

  “We’re okay,” Hiro said. “The police have his fingerprints and DNA. If they suspect him enough personally to bring him in for questioning, they won’t need the printer to tie him to the crime scene.”

  She pretty much summed it up. Not exactly a comforting reminder. They hung around The Getaway until just after the library closed. Cooper felt a strange mix of excitement and fear when he pulled his new bike from the shed, like he was on some kind of secret mission. The fear? He just might be dismantling part of his cover at the same time.

  Gordy led the pack on the bike path through Kimball Hill Park and under Kirchoff Road. He looped around on the other side. Hiro followed next and Cooper took up the rear. Frank ‘n Stein’s sat deathly still. The neon in the windows reminded him of last Thursday night, only four days ago. It seemed way longer than that.

  They approached the library from the backside. Several cars were in the employee lot, but the regular lot sat empty. The lines between the spaces gave an eerie glow in the moonlight. For some reason it made Cooper think of a graveyard. He was glad Gordy and Hiro came along. He pedaled harder. Let’s get this done.

  Gordy coasted to a stop in front of the library and took lookout duty. Hiro dropped off far enough from the entrance to stay off to the side just in case the library had a camera mounted to monitor the area. Cooper left his bike with her, pulled up his hood, and hustled up to the glass double doors.

  Lights were on, but everything looked still. He fished the envelopes from his pack.

  “Give to the Rolling Meadows Police. Urgent.” Cooper whispered as he read aloud. He opened the book return night drop and hesitated for a moment.

  “What are you waiting for?” Hiro motioned for him to hurry.

  Cooper dropped the letter in the book return and closed the door. He heard the faint whoosh as the letter slid down the incline. No turning back now. He did the same with the envelope addressed to the Daily Herald.

  “Let’s go,” he said.

  Hiro nodded.

  Biking back seemed shorter. They cut over to the post office to drop the other police letter in the mail box, then biked through the park like three ghosts. The wind felt cool and clean against Cooper’s face. The wind rushing in his ears soothed him in its own way. Adrenalin still pumping, he felt like he could ride all night, but he knew he’d better get back before his parents started asking questions.

  “Great night, Coop.” Gordy rode up alongside him. “I gotta get back.” Gordy gave a quick wave and peeled off toward his house.

  He was right. It felt good to fight back, even if it was in a small way.

  Cooper rode alongside Hiro to her house and coasted to a stop. He put a foot down and looked at Hiro. “Are you okay with me?”

  “Getting there.” She smiled.

  “Getting there?” Cooper had expected something more. Like a little more gratitude. He took a risk for all of them. The letter may not have been a huge thing, but at least it was a step in the right direction.

  Her smile changed. A sad smile. “I hope this works. I really do. But even if they catch those scumbags, I don’t think I can be truly happy until we come clean. To actually go, like in person, to the police, or our parents, or somebody.”

  The good feeling he’d enjoyed melted away. “Look. I’m doing what I can. I want those guys caught too. But I’m not going to risk you or Gordy or my family to do it.”

  “Or you. You left yourself out of it,” Hiro said. “A lot of this has to do with protecting you.”

  “Okay. Yeah. But I’m the one they saw. It’s my house key they have.”

  Hiro nodded—like she agreed but not totally. “If you’re wrong about police being involved—what then?”

  “You seem to have all the answers. Why don’t you tell me?”

  Hiro paused. “You’re risking all of us to protect you.”

  “What?” He felt his face heat up instantly. “That’s crazy. I’m trying to protect all of us.”

  “But you can’t. Don’t you see that? We need police protection. We need our parents involved. You may think you’re some kind of protector here, but you’re putting all of us in danger—and that’s the truth.”

  “The truth?”

  “Yeah,” Hiro said. “There was a time that meant something to you.”

  He didn’t want to hear any more of this. Not another word. Cooper pushed off and started pedaling. “G’nite, Hiro.” After the effort he’d just made, he didn’t want to be told that it wasn’t enough—or that it was all about protecting him.

  “Coop!”

  He didn’t turn around.

  “C’mon. Don’t be mad. Friends are supposed to be able to talk.”

  Friends. Right. He pedaled harder. He wanted to get away from her. From everyone. But the faster he went the more miserable he felt. Riding off like this had to hurt her. Something he never wanted to do. He turned the corner and slowed his pace. Her words echoed in his head. He couldn’t stand the thought of being around her right now. Couldn’t stand the way she looked at him—like he wasn’t doing enough. But the thought of not being with her was worse.

  The adrenaline high he’d gotten from delivering the letter was long gone. He felt drained. Empty. He pedaled and coasted. Pedaled and coasted. The darkness surrounded him. Went through him. Suddenly, in his world of lies, the truth came to him. It wasn’t Hiro he’d wanted to get away from. It was himself.

  CHAPTER 27

  Cooper woke with a heavy sense of dread in his stomach. He lay in bed and checked the clock. The alarm was due to ring in just a few minutes. Normally he’d roll over and wait for the alarm to ring. And hit the snooze button when it did. Instead, he turned off the alarm and stared at the ceiling.

  Fudge sat up and laid a groggy head on the edge of his bed. He worked his hand under her collar and gave her a good scratch. Why hadn’t he just turned around when Hiro called him? Maybe he wanted to punish her. Make her feel really bad. But he ended up doing a number on himself at the same time. Stupid.

  The first chance he could, he was going to make it right. He’d see her at the bus stop and say he was sorry the moment he saw her. Cooper imagined the scene in his mind. It made him feel a little better, but the dread still hunkered down in his stomach.

  He knew the incident with Hiro was only part of the problem.

  It was the lies. The deception. Enough to fill a backpack. And when he woke up every morning he put the pack on and carried it until he drifted off in sleep. The pack felt heavier today.

  He forced himself to think of the letters to the police and the newspaper. It was a good move. Even Hiro admitted that. It was also a step toward detection. He reached under his pillow and pulled out the phone Hiro and Gordy had picked up.

  Would the police or the newspaper actually call today? He hoped not. The letter should be enough for the police to go on. The newspaper too. The details about the robbery should be enough to prove he was actually there. But what if they called to try to get more information? Could they put a trace on a cell phone? Would they try to keep him on the phone long enough so they could track him down?

  “Hello. Hullo.” Cooper tested his phone voice. What if Hammer recognized him?

  Cooper sat up and swung
his legs over the side of the bed. One thing was certain. He would keep the phone off until after he was out of school. Until 3:30, just like he put in the note. He stepped over to his desk and slipped the phone in his jeans pocket. And he’d be sure to be in Kimball Hill Park before he turned it on. Someplace far enough from the house in case the police were able to trace the call.

  He’d need some way to disguise his voice. Cooper shuffled into the bathroom. The toilet paper roll was nearly empty. He changed out the roll and stuffed a wad of toilet paper in the tube.

  Fudge stood by his bedroom door and looked at him.

  He put the tube to his mouth like a bullhorn. “Want to go out, girl?” The words sounded muffled and echoed through the tube.

  She cocked her head and wagged her tail.

  “Wish I could stay here with you today,” he whispered, pocketing the tube. “Or maybe just hide out in The Getaway all day.”

  Only Gordy met him at the bus stop. Hiro still hadn’t showed up when the bus lumbered around the corner. She’d never missed the bus as long as Cooper knew her. Maybe she was sick. Sick of him. He hated the thought that he couldn’t straighten things out with her. That he couldn’t apologize for getting mad at her the night before. But she’d asked for it, hadn’t she? Why did she have to keep pushing him to break the Code?

  Hiro didn’t show for class either. Maybe she really was sick. Cooper’s stomach wasn’t feeling so hot either—but he knew it had nothing to do with a bug. Now he’d have to wait until after school to make it right with Hiro.

  He felt the phone in his pocket. He’d hoped Gordy and Hiro would both be with him if a call came after school. Now it might be just Gordy.

  Cooper tried to function with a mind that stayed divided all morning. Even while in class, he kept checking the clock. The library opened at 9:00 a.m. By 9:30 he figured the police had his letter. They’d be checking out the details.

  And waiting to call him.

  No. He pushed the thinking out of his mind. Not waiting for anything. The police would start looking for Elvis and the clown and Mr. Lucky. Why would they waste their time trying to talk to him?

  By the time he made his way to English, the idea of a call from the police consumed him.