Leave a Trail (Signal Bend #7)(37)

He held out his hand to Len and they shook. “Len. How you doin’?”

“We’re okay, Andy. Got some trouble today, I guess, huh?”

“Yeah, a little.” He turned to Badger. “Justin. Good to see you.”

They shook hands. “Hi, Mr. Parks.”

“Just ‘Andy’ now. And I guess you’re ‘Badger’ now, that right?”

“Yes, sir.” He felt kind of stupid adding the ‘sir,’ but it wouldn’t stay in his mouth.

“Heyyyy, Badge. How’s it hangin’, my man?” That was Nolan. Badger looked over Mr. Parks’—Andy’s —shoulder and saw Nolan hanging his head backward over a chair in front of Mr. Parks’—Andy’s—desk, looking at them upside down. His nose and mouth showed signs of having been recently punched.

Andy sighed. “Yeah. Come in, and we’ll try to get this settled without causing anybody any more trouble.” He stepped back, and Len and Badger went into his office.

Andy pulled up another chair so that there was a row of three in front of his desk, and Len and Badger sat down next to Nolan. On closer inspection, Badger saw that Nolan’s t-shirt was torn, his nose had obviously been bleeding, and his eye was swelling. But he was grinning like a dork. Hammered in every way.

As the vice-principal sat in his own chair behind his desk, Len leaned forward. “Thanks for callin’ us, Andy. I know it’s not kosher, but Nolan’s mom has a lot to deal with these days, and it’s better if we handle this one.”

Andy nodded. “That’s what I thought. I don’t figure Nolan’s mom for filing a complaint, so we’re okay.

Nolan, take a seat outside for a few minutes. Mrs. Grenell will get you some water.” He picked up his phone and asked Mrs. Grenell to do exactly that.

“Okey dokey, Smokey.” Nolan stood, rocked a little, then climbed over Badger’s and Len’s legs and went out.

“Sorry about that, Andy. Nolan’s having trouble, too.”

“I know, Len. I get it. It’s not the first time he’s been in my office, but it’s happening more. Kid’s got a helluva mouth on him. He was pretty quiet when he first got here—a loner, but not much trouble. This semester, though…I’ve been letting him sit it out here in the office, trying to keep it off the radar. I know some of what’s been going on with the club. You don’t need more trouble.”

“No, we don’t.”

“But he started a f*cking riot in the lunchroom today. Really went after a couple of boys. They’re *s, and I got no doubt he was provoked, but all witnesses say Nolan got physical first. And he used a lunch tray to beat the shit out of one of the boys.”

“Jesus.” That was all, so far, that Badger had added to the discussion. Andy turned to him and smiled grimly.

“Indeed. Guys, the kid he hurt looks a lot worse than Nolan. His folks aren’t here yet to collect him, but they’re gonna want it called in. And that’s Nolan going in the system.”

“Can we talk to the kid’s folks? Make it right?”

Andy nodded. “That’s what I was thinking. The kid is Hunter Benes.”

“Benes—that Darryl Benes’s boy?” When Andy nodded, Len smiled. “I know him. I’ve bred my mares with his stud a couple times. If it’s him picking up his boy, I think I can make it go away. Don’t know his old lady, though.”

“It’ll be Darryl. His wife works in Springfield, so it’s Darryl picks Hunter up. Not the first time the kid’s been in trouble.” Andy smirked. “First time he’s been on the receiving end, though.”

Badger realized they weren’t talking about part of the problem. “How’d he get drunk on school grounds, though?”

Andy leaned to the side and pulled up Nolan’s backpack—a tattered, black pack, over most of the surface of which Nolan had drawn with silver and gold Sharpies. He pulled a tall, plastic bottle from a side pocket. One of those refillable bottles, this one red and probably quart-size. It had about an inch of clear liquid in it. He passed it across the desk and Len took it, opened the cap and sniffed, and took a drink.

Then he laughed. “That little shit. That’s vodka.” His face went suddenly serious. “Are you saying he drank all of this at school today?”

Andy shrugged. “I don’t know how long it takes him to down a quart of vodka. But you saw him. Safe to say he’s taking hits off it throughout the day.”

“Okay. Two problems.” Len turned his head to the side and addressed Badger. “I’ll deal with the other kid and his parents, keep law off Nolan’s ass. You—you think you can handle him? Talk him down some?

Cory doesn’t need him going off the rails. We just got her back on ‘em.”

“I don’t know, Len. I’m probably not the guy to—”

Len cut him off with a wave of his hand. “You’re exactly the guy, little brother.”



oOo



While Len and Andy went off to the nurse’s office, to deal with Hunter Benes and his father, Badger sat down next to Nolan, who looked like he was trying to decide whether to puke or pass out. He had an empty water bottle—the kind that came sealed, with the water already in it—in his slack hand. They were sitting on basic, waiting-room chairs in the main office area, and Mrs. Grenell, the grey-haired secretary, regularly cast them annoyed looks. Other than her, there were a couple of student workers, both of whom were eyeing him and Nolan openly, looking for the good gossip.