Silence. Just the lake, just the bubbles rising and popping.
Derek pulled out his phone, hands shaking so badly he nearly dropped it. I’m calling the police, he said. I didn’t blink. Go ahead, I said. His finger hovered over the screen. When they come, I said, I’ll file a report about Tyler destroying my guitar. I’ll explain how you told a nine year old to test whether it was fake. I’ll explain how an adult turned a child into part of this. Derek froze, the phone still in his hand. I continued in the same even voice. That becomes a serious problem for you, Derek. Especially when adults use children to destroy other people’s property.
Clare’s face drained of all color. She grabbed the phone out of Derek’s hand. Don’t call, she said. Please don’t call. Derek stared at her. He destroyed my car, he said. And you helped destroy my guitar, I said. So call. Let’s both explain our sides. Let’s both face the consequences together. Derek slowly lowered his arms. He couldn’t risk it. Clare couldn’t risk it either.
Richard tried stepping between us. Both of you need to calm down, he said. I am calm, Dad, I told him. He had no response to that.
