The Last Child

“I know how to drive,” Joh

“I don’t doubt it.” The answer surprised Joh

“I can’t leave the car here,” Joh

“I’ll take you home.”

Joh

“I’m trying to help you, Joh

“What people?” The bitterness spilled out.

“It’s okay,” Detective Hunt said. “It’s fine. Just tell me your address.”

“You know where I live. I see you drive by sometimes, see you slow down when you do. So don’t pretend like you don’t know.”

Hunt heard the distrust. “I’m not trying to trick you, son. I need the exact address so that I can have a patrol car meet me there. I’ll need a ride back to my car.”

Joh

“It’s like I said, Joh

Joh

Joh

“Can you say something?” Hunt asked.

Joh

Hunt looked uneasy. “Yes,” he said. “I am aware of that.”

Joh

The engine turned over, and blue smoke rolled past Joh

He put the car in gear. They rode in silence to the edge of town. No words, but Joh

A marked car was waiting in the driveway when they got there. Joh

Joh

“I’ve got it,” Joh

Detective Hunt held Joh

The groceries looked small on the counter, but they felt like more: a victory. Joh

Joh

“I’ve been looking at some houses on the west side. It’s a bad area. Real bad. Lot of ex-convicts over there. Makes sense when you think about it.”

It was an old refrain. Jack knew what Joh

“This is not some game,” Joh

“You know what they say about a gift horse, man. This is free help. Don’t take it for granted.”

Joh

“Your mom?”

Joh

“Our history paper is due,” Jack said. “You done it?”

“I turned that in last week.”

“Shit. Really? I haven’t even started mine yet.”

Jack was always late, and teachers always let him get away with it. Joh

Detective Hunt.

The wad of greasy bills by his mother’s bed.

“I gotta go,” Joh

“What about cutting school?”

“I gotta go.” Joh

He could wait.

Pouring coffee with milk, Joh

He started to turn, but she moaned in her sleep and made a violent twitch. She mumbled something and her legs thrashed twice, then she bolted up in bed, eyes wide and terrified. “Jesus Christ!” she said. “Jesus Christ!”

Joh

Joh

“Joh

Joh

“Bad dream.”

“There’s coffee. You want any breakfast?”

“Damn.” She flung off the covers and walked out of the room. She did not look back. Joh

He went outside and sat on the porch. Five minutes later, the school bus pulled onto the dirt verge. Joh

It took most of an hour for his mother to get dressed and find him on the porch. She sat beside him, draped thin arms across her knees. Her smile failed in every way, and Joh

“I’m sorry,” she said, nudging him with a shoulder. Joh