Chapter 15

 

In the first light of dawn, Jennifer roused to Connor’s crying. Harvey stirred and said faintly, “I’ll get him.”

“No, I’m up.” She jumped out of bed and went quickly to the crib.

“Hey, fella. I think it’s time you moved upstairs,” she whispered as she changed his wet diaper. She had it down to a few seconds now, even in near darkness. “I really do. You keep your daddy from getting his REM sleep.”

She carried him out to the sofa and settled there under the plaid afghan, putting the baby to her breast and stroking his silky hair.

“Yup, you’ve started eating cereal and bananas, so you’re big enough to have your own bedroom. Aunt Leeanne’s over to Uncle Jeff’s half the time, and she’s really getting married now, anyway, so she won’t be up there much longer. You won’t be waking her up.”

Connor stared up at her solemnly, and she laughed. “Five months old. You’re definitely old enough to move out of Mommy and Daddy’s room. But will I be able to stand it?” She leaned back and closed her eyes. Connor was so much a part of her existence, it was hard to remember what life had been like without a crib in the master bedroom. She would worry about him. What if he cried and she didn’t hear him? Harvey had talked about getting a monitor, so she could hear him downstairs. It would be strange, though. How long since she had been truly alone with Harvey?

She looked down at her son. He was huge, compared to that night in April when Harvey had held him for the first time, whispering, He’s perfect.

“Separation anxiety,” she said aloud. “That’s what I’ve got. But I think it’s time, young man.”

She slipped into the bedroom an hour later for her clothes, and Harvey didn’t stir. She turned off the bedside phone’s ringer and put his cell phone in the breast pocket of her denim shirt, then bundled Connor up and took him across the yards to Beth’s for breakfast. Leeanne wasn’t up, but Beth was ecstatic over the news of the reinstated engagement.

“Maybe we shouldn’t hold our collective breath until they set a new date,” Jennifer said drily.

“No, I’m not thinking negative thoughts. They’re going through with it this time, and soon,” Beth predicted. “Leeanne wants Thanksgiving Day.”

“That’s your due date.”

Beth shrugged. “Margaret says I may go early, the way things look. Besides, hardly any babies are born on the due date.”

When she went home again, Jennifer puttered around, running a load of laundry and dusting, and Harvey slept on. It was nearly ten o’clock when she heard a vehicle in the driveway.

Eddie, she thought. He’s slept it out and wants Harvey to work on the case with him. She headed for the entry, determined to keep Eddie at bay for another hour. The bell rang just as she reached the door, which startled her. Eddie never rang.

“Travis!”

She stood staring stupidly at her little brother, and he stared back, his eyes darting past her toward the kitchen, then down at his sneakers. She glanced toward the driveway and saw his red truck.

“What are you doing here?” He had never driven to Portland alone, never visited unannounced. She eyed him carefully, looking for a clue. Should she be overjoyed to see him, or apprehensive?

“Jenn, I—is Harvey here?”

A bad feeling settled on her chest. She opened the door wide. “Come on in. He’s asleep.”

He followed her into the kitchen, unzipping his black jacket.

“Have you eaten?” she asked.

“No. I was going to go home, but I changed my mind.”

Automatically, she began measuring coffee. “Sit down. I’ll fix you some eggs.” He looks so much like Jeff, she thought. She wasn’t used to thinking of Travis as full grown. He and Randy were her two little brothers, and he had been only ten when she’d moved out of the farmhouse for college.

He was well over six feet now, and was bulking up a little. His hair held the same deep gold sheen as her own and Jeff’s, but he seemed less tractable than Jeff had been. He was more at odds with his father, she knew, and had yet to come to terms with God. Her heart twisted as she wondered what had brought him here.

“Hey, Travis.” Harvey stood in the sun room doorway in his boxers and T-shirt, rubbing his eyes. “What’s up?”

Travis had begun to sit, but he stood up quickly and faced Harvey squarely.

“I—I need to talk to you.”

Harvey nodded and glanced at Jennifer. “Real coffee, gorgeous?”

“Absolutely.”

“All right, I’m going to get dressed. Be right back.”

Travis watched him go, then looked at Jennifer. “I’ve never seen Harvey so wiped.”

“He’s okay. He and Eddie have a couple of really tough cases going, and they’ve been putting in a lot of hours, is all. He’ll be fine when he gets his coffee.” She watched Travis peel off his jacket. A fine stubble blurred his chin, but he had an air of defenselessness that caught at her. Connor, at eighteen?

“Let me hang that up.” She reached for his jacket and took it to the closet in the entry. She wanted to ask him if something was wrong, but she thought she knew the answer to that. On a Saturday morning, he had driven three hours from Orono to talk to Harvey.

He watched her dolefully as she took eggs and milk from the refrigerator and began cracking eggs into a glass mixing bowl.

“How are the folks?” she asked after a moment, her voice catching.

“Okay, I guess.”

Jennifer grabbed a whisk and beat the eggs rapidly. She had probably talked to her parents since Travis had.

Harvey returned, wearing jeans and a faded Harvard T-shirt, in his stocking feet, with Connor gurgling on his shoulder and flailing his arms.

“The boy wants brunch,” he said to Jennifer as he stooped to strap the baby into his seat on the table.

“I’ll get it,” Jennifer said, pouring the eggs into the frying pan.

“If you want to mix it up, I’ll feed him. Hey, fella, look over here. Uncle Travis is here.” Harvey sat down, and Jennifer slid two English muffins in the toaster oven, then reached for the box of rice cereal.

“So, Travis, how’s school going?” Harvey asked.

“Uh, okay.” Travis glanced nervously at Jennifer. “Jenn said you’ve been really busy. I’m sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have come down.”

“No, that’s okay. Tough case, is all. I hope we’re going to wrap it up pretty soon.”

Jennifer stirred the cereal and handed Harvey the bowl, then went back to the counter for his coffee.

“Is Beth okay?” Travis asked timidly.

“She’s not feeling great.” Jennifer had the feeling the conversation was not going to move beyond family chitchat until she vacated the premises. She set Harvey’s mug on the table.

“Thanks, gorgeous.”

“Coffee, Trav?” she asked, smiling at her brother.

“Uh, sure—I can get it.” He stood and walked across the room.

Harvey reached for Jennifer’s hand and pulled her in close. She bent to meet his kiss. “Are you praying?” he whispered.

She froze, realizing she hadn’t. She had let Travis’s precipitous arrival unsettle her, but she hadn’t sought God’s peace. She ran her fingers over Harvey’s scratchy cheek. “I am now. Thanks.”

He smiled and kissed her. Travis was regaining his seat when he released her, and he winked at Jennifer, then smiled at her brother.

“Coffee and kisses. Can’t face the day without ’em.”

Travis blushed a little.

“Milk, Trav?” Jennifer asked.

“Uh, yeah, thanks.”

She went to the refrigerator for the jug, praying silently as she went. Dear Lord, thank you that he came to us. Give me wisdom here. Harvey’s got it already, but I’m a bit short of a load. Whatever it is, show us how to help him.

She tended the eggs and muffins, setting butter, jam, and sugar on the table.

“Sausage, honey?”

“No, no sausage,” Harvey said. “Well, maybe Travis would like some.”

“I’m good,” he said quickly.

When she set their plates before them, she took the feeding spoon from Harvey. “Hey, Connor, almost done. What a good boy.” She scraped the last of the cereal from the bowl and scooped it into his mouth. A truck drove in at Jeff’s driveway, and Harvey half rose to see out the window.

“That’s Eddie. Going to see Leeanne, I guess.”

“The engagement is back on,” Jennifer told Travis.

“Really? Super. I told her to make up with him.”

“I guess she listened to you.” Jennifer wiped Connor’s face gently. “Maybe I’ll take him over there for a few minutes and get an update. I want to know if they’ve called Mom and Dad yet.”

“Sure,” Harvey said, and she thought Travis looked relieved.

 

*****

When the door closed behind Jennifer and Connor, Harvey spread his English muffin with jam, no butter. He glanced toward Travis, wondering how long it would take him to spill it. The boy stirred his coffee, his brow creased in a frown.

“I’m listening, brother.” Harvey took a bite of his muffin.

“I—well—something happened last night, Harvey.”

Harvey nodded and chewed silently.

“In Orono.” Travis put down his spoon. “See, I have this roommate, Brett.”

Harvey sipped his coffee, saying nothing.

“He took my truck last night.”

Harvey was startled. It wasn’t at all what he had expected.

“You loaned your roommate your truck?”

“No, that’s just it. I went over to the library to study after supper. I was going to go home, but I needed to do some research, so I thought I’d spend a couple of hours at the library, then head home around eight or nine o’clock. But when I went back to the room, I realized I’d forgotten my keys, and I was locked out.”

“Brett wasn’t there?”

“No. I hung out in another room across the hall for a while, hoping he’d show, but he didn’t. I was going to break down and go get the monitor to let me into my room, but then this guy Brian said he’d pick the lock for me.”

Harvey said carefully, “And he did?”

“In five seconds flat. It made me feel real secure, I’ll tell you.”

Harvey nodded.

Travis licked his lips. “Well, it was nearly nine when I got in there, and I couldn’t find my keys. At all. I tore the room apart. So then I’m thinking, where was the last place I had them? I was sure I’d left them in the room, but I decided to go check the truck, just in case. And my truck was gone.”

“I see.”

“Yeah, well, you’re quicker on the uptake than I am. I just stood there staring at the place where I’d left it, but there was another car there, and I’m thinking, What on earth? Did I park someplace else? Then it hit me. He took my truck.”

“What did you do?”

“Went back to the room and called home. I told the folks I was really tired and I’d decided to sleep at school and go home today instead.” Travis sighed and picked up his coffee mug, looked into it, then set it down.

“Do you need to call them now and tell them you’re here?”

“I probably should. I don’t want Mom to worry.”

“I take it there’s more I ought to know first?”

Travis bit his lip. “Brett didn’t come in until 2 a.m. I gave up waiting up for him and went to sleep. He came in stoned. I woke up and said, ‘Where’s my truck?’ He threw the keys at me and said, ‘Don’t worry, your precious heap is in the parking lot.’ I was really mad, but I could see it wouldn’t be the best time to have it out with him, so I decided to let him sleep it off and go into it today.”

“Probably wise.”

“Yeah, well.” Travis shook his head. “When I got up, I was still mad, you know? I started to wake him up, but he was so out of it, I gave up and grabbed my stuff and went down to the parking lot. That’s when I saw the fender was caved in.”

Harvey’s innate radar began to blip. “Brett had an accident with your truck and didn’t tell you?”

“Right. That tore it, Harvey. I was so mad. I just wanted to go back and pound him.”

Harvey looked him over judiciously. No bruises, and the timing wouldn’t allow for much of a fracas before Travis hit the interstate. “You didn’t.”

“No. I decided to go home, cool off, and maybe tell Dad and get his advice.”

Harvey nodded and carried his coffee mug to the counter for a refill. “Okay, that’s good. But on your way to Skowhegan, you changed your mind. Because you didn’t have time to go home and then come here.”

Travis’s smile crooked. “That’s why you’re a detective, I guess. On the way home, I turned on the radio.”

Harvey slowly raised his head and stared at Travis. The radio becoming an actor in the drama was not good. He cocked his head to one side.

Travis turned his mug around aimlessly. “It was on the Bangor station. There was a hit and run in Orono last night, after midnight. Somebody ran down a guy outside a—a bar, I guess, and—Harvey, the guy’s dead.”

Harvey exhaled slowly. “Is that it? Or is there more?”

“They’re looking for witnesses, and—and a dark pickup.”

“Did you see any activity on the highway?”

“Some. No roadblocks or anything. Just lots of cruisers up there.”

Harvey nodded. “Well, one thing at a time.” He gave Travis what he hoped was a reassuring smile and picked up the cell phone Jennifer had left on the table. He punched in George Wainthrop’s home number, hoping he could get by without a lengthy explanation.

“Marilyn, hi, it’s Harvey. Listen, Travis is down here with us.”

“In Portland?” She was obviously startled. “He said he was coming home this morning.”

“I know, but he decided to pop down here and visit, and we didn’t want you to worry. I think I may run up there with him later.”

“Well, sure. Okay. Is Jennifer coming?”

“Ah, well, I’ll ask her. She took Connor over to see Beth for a few minutes, but she’ll be back soon. I’ll see you later, okay?”

He hung up before his mother-in-law could ask more questions.

Travis was watching him, hardly breathing. Harvey punched more buttons.

“Sergeant Miles,” came a calm voice.

“Dan, this is Harvey Larson. I’m at home, but I need a quick report on a hit and run that occurred in Orono last night. Put someone on the computer, please, and get me anything and everything, ASAP.”

“Orono?”

“Yes, that’s right. Hit and run fatal. Could be S.P. involved. And use my cell number. I may be traveling.”

“Sure, Harvey. You want us to contact Orono?”

“No, I’ll do that, once I have the particulars. Thanks.”

He closed the connection and stuck the phone in the pocket of his T-shirt.

“Are you up to driving some more?”

“I guess so.” Travis seemed a bit stunned.

“All right, let me get my shoes on, and we’ll go out and look at your truck. You tell me everything. Everything.”

“I told you, Harvey.”

“Tell me again.”

 

*****

“So, I guess we’re not raking leaves today,” Jennifer said plaintively. It wasn’t what she wanted to say, but she knew she couldn’t change Harvey’s course of action, and she didn’t want to, really.

“I’m sorry, gorgeous. You know I have to do this.” Harvey strapped on his shoulder holster and loaded his pockets with his gear, clipping his badge to his belt.

“What if Mom calls again?”

“As soon as we leave, you call her and tell her I’m on my way, with Travis. Don’t tell her what’s going on if you can help it. I’d rather explain that in person. But I think you and Connor had better stay here with Beth. If Jeffrey were off duty—”

“I know,” Jennifer agreed. “It’s okay.”

“Good. Listen, can you put my gray suit in a bag, and give me a clean shirt and a necktie?”

“You’re staying overnight?”

“No, I hope not, but I may need to look official at some point, and I don’t think these old jeans are going to do it. I don’t really want to drive all the way up there in a suit, though.”

Jennifer went to the walk-in closet and pulled together the outfit for him. Harvey went into the bathroom, and she heard his razor humming. She was zipping the garment bag when he emerged.

“Thanks, beautiful.” He smiled, and she went unresisting into his embrace.

“At least you got a good night’s sleep,” she choked. “Harvey, is he going to be okay?”

“I hope so. You pray, though. I’ll do everything I can. And Jenny, he’s not lying. I really believe he knew nothing about it when he got in the truck this morning.”

She nodded shakily. “It could be bad, though.”

Harvey kissed her, then held her close. “I’ll call you.”

“How many times?”

He chuckled. “Fret not, gorgeous. You can call me if you want. As many times as you want.” He let go of her and leaned over the bed to grab the hanger of the garment bag. “Black shoes?”

“Yes. Harvey?”

He smiled and ran his hand the length of her long braid. “What, Rapunzel?”

“I think it would be better if Travis didn’t live in the dorm. I mean, even if this roommate is expelled or whatever—it’s not good for a kid like him. You know that. Some kids can stand up against it, but…”

“I know.” He kissed her again. “I need to move on this. If I could drive him, I would, but they’ll want to impound his truck, and I need my vehicle so I can get back here later. You pray. The Lord knows what’s best for Travis, and if we can assist in that, we will.”

They went out to the kitchen, where Travis was holding Connor upright on the table. “Look, Jenn, he’s laughing!”

She smiled and put her hand on Travis’s shoulder. “You listen to Harvey and do whatever he tells you.” She bit her lip, wondering if she should have been silent, or if she should perhaps have said more.

Travis stood up and awkwardly handed the baby to her.

“I will. And thanks for everything.”

She gave him a quick hug. “Drive carefully.”

 

*****

Harvey sat in a bleak interview room with Travis, across the table from the Orono chief of police.

“I’ve got two men going over the pickup for prints,” Chief Bowden said.

“Well, I hope they find some, but we’ve told you, Travis may have obscured any belonging to Brett Rainer, on the truck or the key ring.”

Bowden nodded. “The victim was crushed against a light pole, and the state police have recovered some paint chips. They’ll have them tested to see if they match the paint on your truck, Mr. Wainthrop.”

Travis nodded, and Harvey thought he looked a little nauseous.

“You’ll need to keep the truck here?” Harvey asked.

“For a while. Maybe a couple of days.”

“Fine. What about Brett Rainer?”

Bowden folded his hands on the table. “We’ll definitely bring him in for questioning. Of course, he’s a student. He may have gone home for the weekend, wherever home is.”

“Houlton,” Harvey supplied. He had grilled Travis for information on his roommate when they’d stopped in Skowhegan to explain things to the Wainthrops and allow Harvey to change his clothes.

“Hm,” said Bowden. “I hope we don’t have to chase him to Houlton. The state police can pick him up, I guess.”

“Sir, he hasn’t been home for the weekend since school started, and he was pretty groggy this morning,” Travis said, his voice cracking. “He’s probably still in the dorm.”

“Well, we’ll find out. These things take time, though.”

Travis looked bleakly at Harvey.

“The boy’s parents are waiting outside, sir,” Harvey said. “If they’re willing, I’d like to take Travis over to the campus to get his things. They’ve decided to take him out of the dorm, as of today.”

Bowden eyed Travis speculatively. “You think Rainer was drinking at the Jolly Roger Tavern last night, near where this incident occurred?”

“I don’t know where he was, sir. I just know my truck was gone, and then he came back drunk, and he had the keys. That’s really all I know for sure.”

Bowden scanned the report in front of him. “You have witnesses that you were at the library until 7:45, then at the dormitory …”

“Yes, sir, I was in room 205, with Brian and Clank for about an hour after that, then I got into my own room, and I stayed there.”

“Chief, he’s a good boy,” Harvey said. “Never had an infraction. This Rainer, though, has a record. Travis told me this morning that his roommate didn’t have a vehicle at school because his license had been suspended, so I took the liberty of asking our sergeant in Portland to check the record, and Rainer had an OUI conviction in Houlton last spring. His license was suspended thirty days, but then he was caught driving OAS, and they suspended him again. That’s why he has no vehicle of his own in Orono, and that’s why he borrowed my brother-in-law’s truck.”

“You sure he didn’t ask you?” Bowden fixed Travis with a stare.

“No, sir, I wouldn’t let him drive my truck. My dad just got it for me in August, and I promised him I wouldn’t let anyone else drive it.” Travis swallowed hard. “But if I did, I’d have taken the room key off the ring, sir. I was locked out of the room.”

Bowen nodded, scowling down at the report.

Harvey felt his patience taking wing. He straightened his necktie.

“Look, Chief Bowden, I’d be happy to work with one of your officers on this. We could go over to the dorm and see if Rainer is there now. And we could show his picture at the Jolly Roger to see if the staff recognizes him. The longer you wait, sir …”

Bowden sighed unhappily. “The state police are in on this, Larson. Manslaughter, you know.”

“But it’s not murder, sir. Your department can—”

Bowden waved his hand. “I called Portland, too, Captain. I know you’re the ace on the squad down there. But this isn’t Portland.”

Harvey leaned toward him earnestly. “I understand sir. But our unit has a very high rate of solved cases, much higher than S.P., and one reason is, we don’t let the paint dry. We move fast. Now, I know the evidence has been compromised by Travis driving the truck before he knew it was involved in a crime, but it’s not too late to get this investigation back on track.”

Bowden’s eyes narrowed, and Harvey sensed he had pushed things far enough. He’d either convinced him, or not. He waited.

“Tell you what, Larson,” Bowden said, rising, “You go do what you’ve got to do at the school, then come back here. If S.P. isn’t moving on it, I’ll ride with you.”

 

*****

Harvey took Travis to his parents in the lobby of the police station.

“We’re all set, George. They need to keep his truck for tests. Listen, I’d like to take Travis over to the dorm to get his things, then you can take him home.”

“He can go?” George asked, relief washing his face.

“Yes, and if you really want to take him out of the dorm, I think now’s the time. If you don’t mind, I’d like to go with Travis, in case his roommate is in the room.”

“Thank you, Harvey,” Marilyn said, grasping his hand. The strain of the afternoon showed on her face.

“You want us to drive over there?” George asked.

“Yes, but you can wait outside the dorm, if you don’t mind.”

Harvey followed Travis’s instructions and parked his Explorer in a visitor slot outside the main entrance at the dormitory.

“You okay?”

Travis nodded. “What do I say if he asks me questions?”

“Tell him you’re moving out. You’ve had enough dorm life, and your brother-in-law came to help you move.” Harvey unpinned his badge and slipped it into his coat pocket. “Don’t say anything about last night. If he brings it up, okay, but otherwise, just act like nothing happened, you got me?”

George Wainthrop had found a parking place a few spaces down, and Harvey waved as he followed Travis up the steps, carrying a couple of empty boxes. At the door to Room 208, Travis stopped and tried the knob.

“Locked.” He reached in his pocket, took out the key the police chief had removed from his key ring, and opened the door.

Harvey braced himself, but he still wasn’t ready. The stale stench was overpowering. The two single beds were unmade, with the covers spilling onto the floor and clothing heaped on them. The desk, chairs and dressers were buried in books, clothes, and beer cans. Everywhere, there were empty beer cans, ninety percent Coors. They marched in rows across the window ledge, one dresser and the radiator. They lay in clusters on the floor and filled a clothes basket and a string bag that hung from the open closet door.

“He collects them,” Travis said apologetically.

“Is he planning to cash them in for next semester’s tuition?” Harvey asked.

Travis snorted. “Thanks for not letting Mom and Dad come up here.”

“Pay me back by being quick. What do you want me to pack?”

“Well, those are my books over there.” Travis nodded toward the desk, and Harvey took one box and approached it gingerly. Dried up pizza, a dirty sock, and a jumble of papers obscured the books.

“Man, Trav, I don’t know about this.”

“Well, here, everything in the drawers on this side is mine. You do that, and I’ll sort out this other stuff.”

Harvey began opening drawers and plunking the jumbled contents in the boxes.

“I guess I’m commuting now,” Travis said woefully.

“You don’t seriously want to stay here?”

“No, but—”

“What? The dean told your father they’ll switch you to day student status, and your folks will get a big refund. Most of which you’ll spend on gas, I suppose.”

“Yeah, but I heard you say something to Dad about me transferring.” Travis turned toward him, his eyes pleading. They were the same eyes Jennifer could sway him with so easily.

“Well, I mentioned it,” he said gruffly, “but your father wasn’t sure that was a good idea.”

Travis nodded and went on piling cassettes, books, and pens in his box.

“He did ask the dean,” Harvey said. “It’s Saturday, though, you know? He wasn’t real keen on it, and he said it’s late in the semester to be transferring, and all that. Look, he said if you really want to pursue it, you can go to the academic office on Monday, and they’ll see if you could get the same classes in Portland.”

Travis asked warily, “What do you think about that? You and Jennifer, I mean?”

Harvey sighed. “We’ll talk about it later, okay? Let’s see how this whole mess shakes down.” He knocked several beer cans off a chair with his elbow and picked up a sweater. “This yours?”

“Yeah.”

“Where does he get the money?”

“Huh?”

“For the beer.”

“Oh, I don’t know. He always seems to have plenty. But he’s not above picking up any loose change I leave lying around, either.”

It was nearly half an hour before Travis was reasonably sure he had gathered all his belongings. There was no sign of Brett Rainey.

“I suppose his prints are on all these cans?” Harvey asked as they piled the boxes and Travis’s duffel bag in the hallway.

“Nearly all, I suppose,” Travis said. He looked up at Harvey from beneath his thick lashes. “Mine might be on one.”

Harvey nodded. “One out of about three hundred. Could be worse.”

“Harvey, I don’t drink. I just, well—aw, man, I’m not trying to put one over on you. I tried it once. He and his friends were kind of pressuring me. But I’m not going to do it again.”

Harvey hefted a box. “Tell me something, Rainer likes Coors?”

“Won’t touch anything else. The others are ones his friends left here, I guess.” Travis followed him, carrying a box and the duffel bag. “I don’t know what the big deal is. Beer is beer, right?”

Harvey waited until he was at the bottom of the stairway, then turned to face Travis. “It’s not that simple. Technically, yeah, beer is beer, but aesthetically, no. There’s beer, and then there’s … beer.”

“You mean, like some people are with coffee?”

“Exactly. Look, do yourself a favor and don’t ever get to the point where you care.”

Travis nodded. They went outside and down the steps, and George got out of his car and unlocked the trunk.

“Sorry it took so long,” Travis said. “We’ll have to carry down one more load.”

“Take your time,” George replied, shifting the jack and the spare tire a little to make room for the boxes.

“We shouldn’t be long,” Harvey said. He and Travis went quickly up the stairs to 208. “I think we can get this all in one trip.” He bent to pick up a suitcase.

“Hey, Wainthrop, what’s happening?”

Harvey straightened and turned slowly. A young man with longish brown hair slouched in the doorway.

“Brett. Uh, I’m heading home.” Travis glanced nervously at Harvey.

“Home?” Brett looked around the room. “Hey, you moving out?”

“Well, yeah.”

Harvey wished he could inject a little authority into Travis.

“This your old man?” Brett asked, sizing Harvey up, from his necktie to his polished shoes.

“Uh, no, my brother-in-law.”

“Brother-in-law?” Brett looked again, then smiled. “Cool. So, you dropping out, or what?”

“No, I’m just going to live at home. I’m not cut out for dorm life.”

Brett laughed. “I coulda told you that.” He sobered as he met Harvey’s gaze. “Hey, Trav, you’re not sore cause I used your truck last night, are you? I just took a little run with a couple of guys, you know?”

Travis swallowed and looked at Harvey, then back at Brett. “Well, I wasn’t real happy.”

“That’s not why you’re moving out, is it?”

“Well, not exactly.”

“Because I know you told me your old man was picky about the truck, but I didn’t figure you’d care. I mean you were hitting the books last night, right?”

“Right,” Travis said.

Harvey met Brett’s gaze. “Travis is thinking about transferring to another school, and he’s going to live at home until he decides. Come on, Trav, let’s roll.”

Travis bent for the last box and Brett said, “See you around, man.”