The Perfect Son by Freida McFadden(58)

“You’re aware of his history of antisocial behavior?”

“You mean that hamster he killed? Yeah, I know about that. Mom makes such a big deal out of it. Out of everything. She’s such a drama queen.”

“There were other incidents.”

“Nothing big.”

“Did he talk to you about his former English teacher, Mr. Young?”

“I heard about it. But that was ridiculous. Liam didn’t do that. He was thirteen! How would he possibly know how to give someone carbon monoxide poisoning? I barely even know what that is.”

“But you knew he disliked that teacher?”

“Yeah, but… Listen, Liam didn’t do this to Olivia. He didn’t kidnap her and didn’t kill her. He liked her. He was so excited she agreed to go out with him.”

“Why was he excited?”

“Um, because he’s sixteen and a girl he liked agreed to go out with him? Is that a serious question?”

“Several of his classmates warned Olivia to stay away from him.”

“Like who? Tyler Martinson? He is, like, the worst person alive.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because he is? He liked Olivia first, and he was mad that she wanted to go out with Liam and not him. Because Liam is handsome and charming, and Tyler is butt ugly and a jerk.”

“It sounds like you don’t like Tyler very much.”

“Let me tell you something about Tyler. One of my friends went out with him one time, and he was a jerk and she wouldn’t go out with him again. But he kept bugging her, so I told him to stay away. And then he started giving me a hard time.”

“What did he do?”

“Mostly stupid stuff. Yelling obscenities at me… Like I care. But one time when I was coming out of school, he grabbed me and wouldn’t let me go. That one kind of scared me, because he’s a big guy. A football player, you know? He could have… Well, I don’t want to think about it.”

“So what happened?”

“Liam found out about it and he was really mad. I mean, really mad. He told me he was going to make sure Tyler never bothered me again.”

“What did he do?

“I don’t know. But after he said that, Tyler left me alone. So.”

“You never asked him what he did?”

“I’m sure it was less than what Tyler deserved. Honestly, I bet Tyler is the one who killed Olivia. I wouldn’t be at all surprised. Liam was there, but Tyler was the one with the motive. He would have killed someone just to get Liam in trouble. I swear to God.”

“Olivia was in your brother’s car. There was a witness.”

“Right. Exactly. Liam goes on a date with Olivia, then he shows up at her house at night and isn’t at all subtle about it. After doing all that, don’t you think he’d realize if she disappeared, he’d be the first one blamed?”

“Sixteen-year-old boys are stupid.”

“My brother isn’t stupid. Whatever else you can say about him, he’s really smart. If you really believe that stupid story about Mr. Young, he got away without a trace. Do you really think he would do something like that when it was so obvious he’d get caught?”

“Maybe Olivia wouldn’t do what he wanted her to do when he came to see her.”

“No way. Olivia was totally infatuated with him. She would have done anything for him. He didn’t need to kidnap her. I’m telling you, Liam didn’t do this. You’ll see. The truth will come out.”





Chapter 51


Erika



My phone hasn’t stopped ringing all day. I wish I could turn it off entirely, but I’m too scared of missing an important call. That said, I don’t answer any numbers I don’t recognize. At least eighty percent of the phone calls are threatening. People likely in my own town—my neighbors—telling me my son should be locked up, that my family should be murdered.

Even the nicer calls leave me with a bad taste in my mouth. A mother I used to be friendly with, Nancy Jeffers, called me an hour ago. She told me she didn’t think Liam was guilty and that I had her “full support,” but I imagined after the call, she went back to her friends to report how tired and stressed out I sounded. Erika sounds like she’s falling apart. I wouldn’t want to be in her shoes.

As I’m settling into bed for the night, my phone rings again. I pick it up and see Jessica Martinson’s name on the screen.

I shouldn’t answer. Nothing good can come of this call.

Then again, if anyone knows the gossip, it’s Jessica.

Before I can stop myself, I press the green button to take the call. “Hello?”

“Erika!” Jessica’s voice is syrupy sweet. “It’s Jessica. Jessica Martinson.”

As if I might not know who she was. As I haven’t had her number programmed into my phone for the last decade.

“Hi.” I swallow hard. “What is it, Jessica?”

“I just wanted to see how you’re doing.”

“Fine.” I’m not even remotely fine, but she’s the last person I want to unburden myself to. “Thank you for asking.”

“Of course.”

I wait for her to say some pleasantry and end the call. If you need anything, let me know. But she doesn’t say it. She just waits on the other line, as if she’s got something to say but isn’t sure how to say it.