The Fugitive

“Sure.”

“Well, that was a mistake, because now, if Bobby doesn’t show, the defense will move for a mistrial, and Judge Gantry will have no alternative but to grant one. A second mistrial, Theo. And guess what? Under our laws, a second mistrial means the charges will be dismissed. It means Duffy will walk on the murder charge. He’ll serve a few short years for the escape, but he’ll be out soon and living the good life. He’ll get away with murder, Theo. That’s what’s about to happen. It’s a disaster.”

Although Ike had not mentioned the reward money in some time, Theo suspected he thought about it a lot. He earned a simple living as a tax accountant, but had little to show for it. His car was twenty years old. He lived in a run-down apartment. His office was shabby and disorganized, though Theo loved it.

Ike seemed particularly upset by the fact that a second mistrial was now likely. He said, “They have to find this boy.”

Theo wasn’t about to tell anyone he had Bobby’s cell phone number; not that it would help. Theo was quite certain that Bobby, wherever he was hiding, was not about to answer his phone. Theo asked, “When do they tell Judge Gantry that the star witness has disappeared?”

“Who knows? If I were Jack Hogan, I’d keep it quiet as long as I could and hope like crazy that they find Bobby. Hogan has a bunch of witnesses he can put on the stand before he needs Bobby, so he’ll probably keep going forward as if nothing is wrong. But by tomorrow, if they don’t find him, the game is over. I don’t know, just speculating.”

“And there’s nothing we can do, right?”

“Of course not,” Ike snapped. “All we can do is wait.”

“Okay, I’m outta here. Off to school. You headed to the courthouse?”

“Oh yes. I wouldn’t miss it for anything. I’ll call you during the first recess.”

Julio was waiting by the bike rack. He and Theo whispered for a few minutes as they headed to class. No word from Bobby. He was not answering his phone. Theo said, “I’m sure the police are searching everywhere. Maybe they’ll find him.”

“You think he’s okay, Theo?”

Theo said, “Sure, he’ll be fine.” But he had no clue.

“I’m sorry I said it was all your fault, Theo. I didn’t mean it.”

“It’s okay. Let’s get together during lunch break.”

“You got it.”

Chapter 20

At nine a.m., as Theo sat through Madame Monique’s Spanish class, he watched the clock on the wall and wondered what was happening in court. The trial was starting its second day. The courtroom was undoubtedly still packed. The jury was being brought in to hear the next round of witnesses for the prosecution. Everything seemed fine. No one but Jack Hogan and his team knew the truth — that their star witness had gone missing. An hour later, Theo was suffering through Geometry with Miss Garman and thinking of Bobby, who was probably hiding in the woods somewhere watching police cars zip around Weeksburg in their frantic search. He had managed to travel all the way from El Salvador, through Mexico, across the border, and into Strattenburg, without being detected. Theo had often wondered how millions of people could enter the country illegally and live and survive. They knew the secrets of moving in the shadows and avoiding the authorities when necessary.

If Bobby wanted to disappear, they would never find him.

There was a ten-minute break between Geometry and Government with Mr. Mount, and Theo rushed to the playground to call Ike. No answer. He was watching the trial, unable to talk or text.

In Government, Theo stood before the class and gave a summary of the opening of the trial. Since the boys had seen the first day of the first trial, they had a hundred questions. Theo gamely went along, answering them all.

At noon, during the lunch break, Ike finally called. He said the morning had gone as pla

Theo found Julio and explained what was happening at the trial. Julio suggested they call Bobby on Theo’s cell, but Theo said no. “He’s too smart to answer his phone, Julio.”

The afternoon dragged by, slower than ever, and Theo suffered through Chemistry, study hall, and Debate Team practice. When the final bell rang at three thirty, he hopped on his bike and headed for the courthouse.

It was odd, watching the trial as if everything was fine, but knowing that the entire show was about to come to another shocking end. The jurors listened intently to the witnesses. The lawyers took pages of notes, sca

Jack Hogan and the prosecution team did indeed look a bit frazzled, but Theo could not detect an unusual amount of confidence on the other side of the courtroom. Everything seemed as normal as you might expect in a big trial.

The last witness of the day was a banker. Jack Hogan was walking him through a series of questions about Pete Duffy’s loans and finances, all in an effort to prove the defendant was desperate for cash. Thus, his need for the life insurance proceeds. Thus, a motive for murder. Some of the testimony was over Theo’s head, and it became quite dull.

As Theo listened, he watched Judge Gantry, and he felt a mix of sadness and anger. He was sad because the judge was presiding over an important trial, thought things were going well, and had no idea serious trouble was just around the corner. Theo was angry because the trial was about to blow up, and Pete Duffy would once again dodge a conviction for murder. He was certain the police were combing every square inch of Weeksburg, looking for Bobby as the clock ticked and a disaster loomed. And what if they found him? Could they arrest him, and haul him to the courthouse, and force him to testify? Theo didn’t think so.

Judge Gantry adjourned at five fifteen and sent the jurors home. Theo and Ike chatted for a moment outside the courthouse. Across the lawn, Omar Cheepe was smoking a cigarette and talking on his cell phone. He glared at Theo as he did so. Ike promised to call if he heard anything, and Theo said good-bye. He took his time riding back to the office. He locked his door and lay on the floor, talking to Judge, telling him how awful things were going. As always, Judge listened intently, staring at Theo with eager eyes, believing every word and ready to help. It always felt good to talk to someone, even a dog.

Mrs. Boone was in her office with a late appointment. Mr. Boone was upstairs, smoking his pipe and reworking the language of a thick document. “Got a minute, Dad?” Theo asked, interrupting.

“Well, sure. What’s on your mind?”

“You’re not going to believe this, but Bobby Escobar has disappeared.”

Mr. Boone’s jaw dropped. Theo told him the rest of the story, even the part about having Bobby’s cell phone number.

It was Tuesday night, and the Boones walked a few blocks to the Highland Street Shelter to visit the homeless. As always, Theo worked the food line, serving hot vegetable soup and sandwiches to people who had no place to go. Many of the faces were familiar, sad folks who had lost everything and somehow survived without a place to live. They slept on park benches, and under bridges, and in cheap tents hidden in the woods. They rummaged through Dumpsters and begged on the streets. The lucky ones, about fifty in all, lived at the shelter, but most would eat their di