Page 84 of Goodbye Days

“I—”

“My client exercises his rights under the Fifth Amendment and Article One, Section Nine, and declines to answer.”

“Were you aware that Thurgood was driving at the time you texted him?”

I wait a couple of seconds before even trying to answer. With good reason.

“My client never told you that he texted Mr. Edwards. You said that. Also, he exercises his rights under the Fifth Amendment and Article One, Section Nine, and declines to answer.”

Sergeant Metcalf sighs.

Lieutenant Farmer speaks softly. “Look, Carver, we’re just trying to get to the bottom of this. We’re not trying to trip you up.”

Mr. Krantz chuckles. “Dan, you can’t start playing good cop after you’ve already started out as the bad cop. Also, baloney. You’re trying to pin something on my client—a kid—so His Honor will stand down. Let’s acknowledge what this is.”

“We’re not enjoying this, Jimmy.”

“Didn’t say you were. Next question. I have a tee time.”

“Carver, who have you talked with about this accident?”

Pause. Hold for—

“My client exercises his rights under the Fifth Amendment and Article One, Section Nine, and declines to answer. Next question.”

“Jim,” Ms. Curtis says, “Carver’s cooperation would go a long way toward defusing this situation or giving you bargaining leverage down the line. Especially if our investigation eventually turns up something. Then it’ll be too late.”

“It would also go a long way to giving y’all the only hook you have to hang your hats on. This is your only chance to talk to Carver, so I suggest you keep things moving.”

Lieutenant Farmer’s eyes bore into me. As though daring me to stand up to Mr. Krantz and blurt something out. “Carver, is there anything you wish you’d done differently on August first?”

Oh, the ways that I could answer that question. Oh, the ways that question has come to define my entire existence. And my shocking, stunning answer is…

“My client exercises his rights under the Fifth Amendment and Article One, Section Nine, and declines to answer.”

There we go.

Ms. Curtis touches Lieutenant Farmer’s arm and stands. “Okay. This isn’t a productive use of anyone’s time.” She glares at me. “I can’t make any promises about how the DA will react to your lack of cooperation if we decide to go forward with the case.”

Her tone chills me.

Mr. Krantz chuckles an asshole-ish chuckle. “What case?” He stands. “Folks, always a pleasure.” He doesn’t offer his hand. Neither do the two officers or Ms. Curtis.

“We’ll be in touch,” Ms. Curtis says as they start to leave.

“I expect so. And, folks?”

The two officers and Ms. Curtis turn.

“I better not hear of any back-alley attempts to trick Carver into saying something he shouldn’t. No pretty young undercover officers in low-cut blouses. No forty-five-year-olds pretending to be sixteen-year-olds in chatrooms. No shenanigans; no bullshit. From here on out, my client is unequivocally and unambiguously exercising his right to remain silent. He ain’t interested in helping Fred Edwards steamroll him. We understand each other?”

None of the three respond. They walk out.

Mr. Krantz looks at his watch as he gathers his things. “Sorry to be in a rush, y’all. I wasn’t blowing hot air about that tee time.” He claps me on the shoulder and squeezes. “You hang in there, son.”

Hang in there. That’s always helpful advice, especially because it always comes when you feel like you’re standing at the gallows.

When I get home, I tell Jesmyn I plan to approach Eli’s parents about doing a goodbye day. What I don’t tell her is that I’ve decided to do this because I’m worried about two things: (1) I go to prison before I have a chance; (2) I don’t go to prison and instead chew myself up from the inside before I have a chance. Either way. It’s something I need to do sooner rather than later.