Page 25 of Broken
“So you didn’t smoke it.”
“I swear to God, Mom.”
“Were you going to?”
Silence.
Of course he was going to. He’s fourteen, and he’s curious. Fuck it all.
“Fine. So you’re suspended, but that’s just your school punishment. When I get home, we’ll discuss your home punishment. And I hope they took the thing.”
“Yeah, and I’m pretty sure Mr. Harvey is getting stoned right now.”
I sigh. Grady’s probably not wrong. His principal, Jonas Harvey, was a classmate of mine in college. He was a huge pothead. I never told Grady, but apparently it’s not a secret.
“How long is the suspension?” I ask.
“Two days, including today.”
“All right. Let me talk to Grandma, please. And Grady?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
“I love you too, Mom. And thanks for not going ballistic.”
“Oh, I’m going ballistic,” I tell him. “I’m just too far away for you to notice.”
He doesn’t reply and I hear some fumbling through the phone.
“Avery,” my mother’s voice comes soft and clear.
“Hey, Mom. I’m sorry you had to deal with this while I’m not there.”
“He’s a good boy,” she says. “I feel certain this is a one-time thing.”
“I hope you’re right. I knew that Monty had a bad streak. I don’t know why Grady and Luke took up with him. Imagine, giving week to someone who’s only fourteen.”
“It’s just growing pains, sweetie. He’ll be all right.”
“God, I hope so. He’s everything to me, Mom.”
“I know he is. To me as well.”
I draw in a breath. “Mom, I need you to do me a favor.”
“Of course.”
“Go into Grady’s room and find his comb and hairbrush. See if there are any hairs on them that have a viable root. It’s that tiny white part at the end of the hair.”
She’s quiet for a moment. “Avery, what are you doing?”
“You know why I’m here,” I tell her. “You’re a smart woman. You know what I’m looking for. If you find what I need, overnight it to me at the hotel. The sooner the better.”
“And how am I supposed to snoop through your son’s things when he’s home on suspension?”
I sigh. “I don’t know. I suppose I could just have him do a cheek swab, but he’ll ask why, and I made a promise to him long ago never to lie to him.”
