Code of Silence: Living a Lie Comes With a Price

by Tim Shoemaker

  Back down on the ground, he ran to the shed and pulled out his bike.

  “Almost done, girl.” He slipped back into the house and held the door for her to follow. “The rest I do on my own.” She looked at him and cocked her head to one side as if questioning his judgment. Cooper questioned it himself. He kneeled down and gave her a quick hug.

  He was right on schedule—but hopelessly late at the same time. Days late. He should have done this sooner. He pulled his phone out and dialed his dad, praying he’d pick up.

  When the recorded message started, Cooper felt weak. The beep sounded, and he outlined the final details of Plan B. He finished with a simple, “Please forgive me. I’ll never lie to you again. I love you and Mom. Mattie too.” He disconnected—and felt strangely distant from his family. He was all alone in this—God help him. And he was going to need it.

  Suddenly Fudge stiffened, ears alert.

  “What is it girl?”

  Fudge let out a howl and bounded down the hall.

  “Fudge,” Cooper hissed. “Come back.”

  She didn’t even look back. Cooper followed at a distance. She was in the family room now, barking at the window.

  Kids trick or treating?

  Cooper moved silently through the hall, staying completely within the shadows. A silhouette darkened one pane. Somebody was there. Cooper could make out hands cupped around a man’s face, trying to see inside. And he wasn’t looking for candy.

  They found me. Please help me, God. Please help me.

  Apparently Fudge’s barking shook up the intruder, because a moment later the head was gone. But where?

  Fudge ran to another window and barked. By her tone Cooper knew she didn’t see anything. She was still trying to scare the guy off. Cooper prayed it worked. It certainly was doing a number on him.

  Suddenly she bolted to the front door again, barking like crazy. Somebody was there. It’s one of them. They have the key.

  Arms out in front of him to feel the walls, Cooper hurried to the kitchen, thankful he’d left all the lights off. He had to get out of here. Now.

  Fudge barked like mad in the other room. Maybe she would provide just the diversion he needed to get away.

  He crawled to the back door and wished he could stay. Just hide here in the darkness until his dad got home. But that wouldn’t help Frank now. And the man out front wasn’t about to wait either.

  After straining to see any movement in the backyard, Cooper reached for the handle and opened the door. Fudge never saw him sneak out the back. And he hoped whoever was creeping around outside didn’t see him either.

  CHAPTER 54

  Silently, Cooper crept to the back gate with his bike. He peered through the cedar slats toward the front yard. A bright Halloween moon gave him a clear view, but that also meant he’d be easy to spot. The guy could be in any of the shadows along the house and Cooper would never see him.

  He lifted the latch and opened the door just a crack. A gust of wind swirled a gang of leaves out from the darkness. Cooper raised his hands, ready to fight. Nothing came at him. He stared into the shadows.

  This was nuts. Either he had to get back in the house and lock the door, or get on his bike and ride. He had no protection here. Whoever was out front would likely circle to the backyard. Cooper would be trapped. He could hear Fudge barking inside. Even she wouldn’t be able to help now.

  Okay. Okay. Let’s do this. Cooper heaved open the heavy wooden gate. The hinges moaned as he swung a leg over his bike and stood on the pedals. Every muscle strained as he pumped to get up speed. Cutting across the lawn, he kept wide of the shadows along the house and raced straight for the street.

  Out of the corner of his eye he saw something move. He glanced over his shoulder. Someone ran right for him.

  “Stop!”

  Legs churning, he picked up speed.

  “Stop!”

  Lunk’s voice. But Cooper wasn’t about to stop now. And certainly not for him. Where was Lunk’s dad? He pedaled harder.

  The wind howled in his ears, drowning out everything but the sounds of his own prayers looping through his head. Please, God. Please, God. Please, God.

  He banked the corner off Fremont and onto School Drive, staying in the middle of the street. He didn’t dare look back. As much as Lunk claimed to care about Frank, his loyalty to his dad was greater.

  If Lunk’s dad was with him, they’d give chase by car. Cooper cut right onto Campbell Drive, jumped the curb and flew through Kimball Hill Park. They’d expect he’d be heading to the police and try to head him off—but that’s where they’d figure wrong. Instead of taking the footbridge, Cooper flew out of the park and through the parking lot toward Kirchoff Road. The same route he’d taken home just a week before. There was no time to take the tunnel.

  The hard drive pressed against his leg with every turn of the pedals, and the rhythm kept him cranking like a machine. Pain stabbed his side but he still didn’t let up his pace.

  He saw the OPEN sign switch off at Frank ‘n Stein’s. Perfect. Checking for cars, he whipped across Kirchoff. Frank’s set of keys were in his pocket. He’d use them if he had to.

  Cooper saw Mr. Stein shuffle into the kitchen. “Mr. Stein!” Skidding to a stop, he dumped his bike by the front door.

  “Mr. Stein!” Cooper stood panting on cement legs and banged on the glass door.

  Stein turned and smiled. He pointed to his watch and shrugged.

  “Let me in. Please.” He glanced over his shoulder. “I’m being chased.”

  The smile slid off Mr. Stein’s face and he rushed to the front door, fumbling with keys as he went.

  Cooper heard the bolt slide and he yanked the door open.

  “Cooper?”

  “Lock it!” Cooper pulled the door closed behind him.

  Stein locked the door and scanned the lot as he did. “Who’s chasing you?”

  Cooper held up one hand, trying to catch his breath. “I’ll explain. But I need to hide.”

  “Behind the counter.” He pointed. “Hurry.”

  Scooting through the opening, Cooper ducked behind the counter. He was back. Hiding behind the very same counter but on the other side this time. The side Frank had been on.

  Mr. Stein squeezed through the counter and stood, back to the kitchen, but still looking out the front windows. “So what happened? You break a window or something?” He grinned.

  Cooper shook his head. “Somebody was at my house—trying to get in, I think.” He could see the confusion on Mr. Stein’s face.

  “So you came here?”

  “My parents are out. And I had to talk to you, and then someone was sneaking around the house.”

  Mr. Stein still looked confused. Cooper took a deep breath. Time to break the Code, for the second time.

  “It’s, ah, about the robbery.”

  Stein’s jaw opened slightly and his eyes bored into Cooper.

  “I saw everything. And they’re on to me.”

  “You?” Stein took a step back. “Exactly what did you see?”

  “I didn’t hurt Frank. Honest. There were three men.”

  Mr. Stein eyed him. Like he was trying to decide if Cooper was telling the truth.

  “Look, they came to my home. They’re going to kill me. And Frank, too, unless we can stop them.”

  “Frank?”

  “He knew who was behind it. I could tell by something he said. And now he’s coming out of his coma.”

  “What?”

  Cooper nodded. “Look, we have to do something before they find me, or hurt Frank.”

  Mr. Stein reached under the counter by the register and pulled out a handgun. He jammed it in the back of his pants’ waistband.

  Cooper stared. “Is that real?”

  “Sure is. And loaded.” Mr. Stein wiped his palm on his apron like the gun left some invisible film on his hand. “I borrowed this after the robbery. Nobody is ever going to rob us again. Don’t worry. I’m not going to let anybody get at
you or hurt Frank.”

  Cooper felt himself relax. He was safe now. He’d done the right thing.

  Someone banged against the front windows, making both of them jump.

  “Mr. Stein,” Lunk’s voice called from outside. “I know MacKinnon’s in there. Don’t trust him. He’s playing some kind of game. He was here the night of the robbery. I’m sure of it.”

  Mr. Stein hesitated.

  “He’s hiding something, Mr. Stein. Let me in or I’m going to the police.”

  The co-owner moved toward the opening.

  “Don’t do it,” Cooper pleaded. Lunk would never go to the police. He’d be turning in his own dad. “He’s lying.” It seemed strange, him accusing someone else of being a liar. “I-I think he may be involved in the robbery.”

  “Neil Lunquist?”

  Hiding was pointless now. Cooper stood. Lunk was at the door, his face pressed up to the glass between cupped hands. What was Lunk up to? This had to be a trick to get Stein to open the door. Maybe his dad was hiding around the corner.

  “Open up. Please.” Lunk shrunk away from the door and raised his hands as if to show he came in peace.

  Cooper shook his head. “I don’t like this.”

  Mr. Stein patted his belt. “I can handle him. But I need to get down to the bottom of this.” He scooted through the opening in the counter.

  If Mr. Stein knew about Lunk’s dad, he wouldn’t go near that door. Cooper had to say something. Stop him.

  Mr. Stein slid the key into the lock and turned the latch.

  “Wait, you don’t understand,” Cooper practically shouted.

  Stein cracked open the door but held it there. He gave Cooper an over-the-shoulder “this better be good” look.

  “I think his dad was one of the robbers—and that Lunk told him about the safe.”

  Lunk yanked the door open and glared at him. “I never did anything to hurt Frank Mustacci.” He shook a finger at Cooper. “And neither did my dad.” He pushed past Mr. Stein and charged Cooper.

  CHAPTER 55

  Cooper took a step back. Lunk vaulted over the counter and grabbed fistfuls of Cooper’s sweatshirt. Staggering backwards, he tried to regain his balance. Something caught his legs and he slammed to the floor.

  Lunk followed him down, his weight knocking the wind out of Cooper when they landed. Pinning him to the floor with one hand, Lunk cocked back his fist.

  Cooper closed his eyes and jerked his head to one side. Searing pain exploded below his right eye. He couldn’t see, could hardly breathe.

  Lunk’s fist hammered him again.

  Cooper felt like his eye would burst. He raised his head, squirmed to get free.

  Lunk landed a punch squarely on Cooper’s nose, snapping his head back to the tile floor. Then Lunk was gone.

  Through bleary eyes Cooper saw Mr. Stein drag Lunk to his feet.

  “Let me go!” Lunk struggled to get loose.

  Mr. Stein held him steady. “Back off, Neil, or I’ll give you a taste of your own medicine.”

  Cooper felt warm blood running from his nose to his chin. Tasted it on his lips. His face burned and tingled like he’d been dragged across the parking lot. He propped himself on one elbow and lightly touched his eye.

  Lunk’s shoulders slumped, and he stopped fighting.

  “Now,” Mr. Stein relaxed his grip. “I’m going to lock the door so we don’t have any more visitors. Don’t move. Understand?”

  Lunk nodded, but glared at Cooper.

  Mr. Stein was back in seconds. He hefted the stool from the arcade game over the counter and walked through the opening himself. He set the stool in front of Cooper and motioned Lunk toward one in front of the drive-thru window several feet away. “Sit.”

  Cooper got up and sat on the stool. Lunk retreated to the drive-thru window several feet away and did the same.

  Mr. Stein handed Cooper a small stack of napkins and studied his face.

  “You’re going to have one nasty shiner. Let’s get some ice.”

  Cooper blotted his nose and mouth and stared at the bright red blood on the napkins. The image of Frank’s bloody apron flashed in his mind.

  Ice cubes rattled through the soft drink dispenser and Mr. Stein caught them in a white dishtowel. He twisted the towel and handed the pack to Cooper.

  “Alright, Cooper.” Mr. Stein crossed his arms across his chest and leaned against the counter. “Explain what’s going on.”

  Cooper eased the pack onto his throbbing eye. He took a deep breath, and broke the Code of Silence for good. Shattered it. Every detail—except the facts that Hiro and Gordy were with him.

  When he’d finished, Mr. Stein shook his head and whistled. “So you think it was cops?”

  “They wore cop pants.” He put the ice pack down and traced the swelling with his finger.

  “And you believe Neil gave his dad, also known as ‘Mr. Lucky,’ information about the safe. Is that right?”

  Lunk jumped off his stool. “That’s a lie!”

  Mr. Stein took a step forward like he expected Lunk to start round two.

  “Honest, Mr. Stein, I didn’t know anything about the safe—and if I did, I wouldn’t have told anybody, especially my dad.”

  Cooper watched Lunk with his good eye. The other was closing up fast. “Frank figured out someone on the inside was involved.”

  “Baloney.” Lunk sat back down, an angry scowl creasing his face. “I wouldn’t do anything to hurt him.”

  He sounded convincing. And Mr. Stein seemed to be buying it. “What about your dad?”

  Lunk glared at Cooper. “My dad is a total loser. I admit that. But he never hurt Frank either.”

  Mr. Stein looked like he didn’t know what to believe. “Cooper, do you have any proof that Neil’s dad was involved?”

  “Hiro saw Lunk and his dad arguing right here the night of the burglary. Lunk wanted him to stay out of sight.”

  Lunk thumped the counter with his fist. “What does that prove?”

  “And I heard you and your dad talking after we launched the potato at your shed.”

  “That was you?” Lunk clenched his fists, but stayed on the stool.

  “You told him you wanted him to leave,” Cooper blurted out. “You said he had the money. That he got what he came for. That he needed to leave town.”

  Lunk’s chin shook. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” He looked angry enough to do more face painting with his fists. “The cops came to our house and asked my dad some questions. Then they left. If they had a shred of evidence, don’t you think the police would have hauled him in?”

  “Not if the detective was covering for him.” Maybe Lunk didn’t have any idea what really happened. He sure seemed to believe what he said. And he backed it up with his fists.

  Lunk’s head dropped forward. “My dad drifts in whenever he really needs cash. My mom gave him a couple hundred bucks. That’s it. He’ll blow most of that on booze.” He looked up through shards of dark hair. “He hurts my mom. Scares her. Makes her worry too much.” He sniffed and wiped his nose on his sleeve. “She needs me to protect her. I just wanted him to leave.”

  Cooper’s throat swelled and burned like the area around his eye. Whatever Lunk’s dad had done, Lunk didn’t have anything to do with it. Cooper had misjudged Lunk. For a long time.

  Mr. Stein took a deep breath and blew it out loudly. “So Cooper, what made you come to me?”

  “I knew you’d believe me after the things you said this afternoon. And if you didn’t, the security camera footage would back me up.”

  “And I could go with you to the police. Is that right?”

  “That was my plan. I wanted to wait for my dad and tell him first, but he took my family to the circus. When I heard Frank was coming out of the coma I knew I’d have to do it on my own. We have to hurry to protect him.”

  “Do you have the hard drive?”

  Cooper fished it out of his pocket. The connecter cables were still sti
cking out of it. He handed it to Mr. Stein and immediately felt relief. Freedom.

  Mr. Stein bounced it in his palm a couple of times like he was testing its weight. “This is all we need. This changes everything.”

  Lunk stood. “Are you going to play it?”

  Mr. Stein motioned for him to sit back down. “First I’m calling my lawyer. We’ll let him decide what to do next.”

  Mr. Stein punched a number into his cell and disappeared around the corner of the dining area to talk. An uneasy silence separated Cooper and Lunk.

  Cooper wished his dad was here. He checked his watch. 9:30. Maybe this would all be over before 11:00. He’d get back to The Getaway and get rid of the note to Gordy and Hiro. As soon as they got there he’d tell them it was done. That Frank was safe, and they had nothing more to fear.

  Mr. Stein rounded the corner, snapped his cell shut, and leaned against the counter again. “He’s on his way.”

  “Does he believe me?” Cooper shot a glance at Lunk.

  “He has no reason not to.” Mr. Stein paced again. “And what’s more important, I believe you.” He stopped and looked at Cooper. “You did the right thing tonight. A brave thing. Don’t worry. This will all be over soon.”

  This will all be over soon. How many times had Cooper tried to comfort himself with those very words over the last week? One lie followed another like links in a chain. This will all be over soon. And with every lie the chain got longer, heavier. Imprisoning him.

  Cooper’s phone rang. He snagged it from his pocket and checked the screen. Hiro. Probably wanting to talk him into meeting earlier. Too late for that now. Best to just not pick up. Stall her off. He stuffed it back in his pocket and let it ring.

  “Will your lawyer make sure Frank gets protection?”

  Lunk’s voice shook Cooper free from his thoughts.

  Mr. Stein nodded. “Count on it.”

  Cooper felt a measure of relief. Frank was going to be okay—something he never thought he’d be able to say after seeing him the night of the robbery.

  He wondered if blood still stained the carpet running along the counter. He scanned the carpet looking for the telltale marks. Frank’s head had been just about exactly where Mr. Stein stood. If he would just take a step to one side or the other with those fancy looking cowboy boots he’d be able to tell for sure.