Chapter 65

“I don’t care if I go to jail,” Daniel declared.

“You’re too young for jail,” said Kendall.

“Okay, reform school. I don’t care.”

“Your father,” Jennalee began before Harley cut her off with a shake of the head.

“Your father,” he repeated, “shouldn’t have treated you so badly.” It took a second for Jennalee to see she wasn’t to tell the boy his father hadn’t burned up.

“He won’t anymore,” said Daniel.

“So what are we going to do, guys?” Kendall asked. Turning to Daniel, he added, “We told your mom we’d find you. She’s very worried about you, so I think we should take you to her.”

“Will she find out about the fire?” he asked.

“Not unless you tell her,” said Harley. This caused Jennalee’s head to snap around. He met her challenging gaze with a half nod and she got the gist.

“Right, Daniel,” she said. “It’s your call.”

“Nobody knows I did it?” he asked.

“No, they don’t,” said Harley. “Firemen have to get the fire totally out, and then they have to examine the scene and write reports, which all takes time. It could be days before they decide it was set, if they ever do. You’ll be back home by then.”

Daniel’s mouth had fallen open on hearing this and Jennalee saw he had no idea what to make of it, having accepted jail as a consequence of his actions.

“That okay with you?” Harley asked. “Go see your mom?”

“I guess,” replied Daniel. “Except…”

“Except what?”

“I don’t know. Nothing.”

“Okay, let’s go see your mom now. She’ll feel much better when she knows you’re safe.”

Harley looked to Kendall, who nodded. “Come on, Daniel,” said Kendall as he stood. Daniel rose, and his cousin who-knows-how-many-times removed put an arm around the boy and walked him out.

Jennalee and Harley followed at a distance while Kendall talked to Daniel as they went along. “You guys want him to tell his mother he set the fire, right?”

“His mother or the cops, yes,” said Harley.

“Is that what Kendall is saying up there?”

“Probably.”

“It’s cool how you handled it,” she added.

“He doesn’t really want to kill,” said Harley. “This was a huge cry for help. He gets none from the inside so he took it public in the most dramatic way he knew.”

“He really thinks that?”

“No, but it’s how I think he feels. He’s too young to figure himself out. Kendall and I just helped him get a grip.”

She grabbed his arm and held on. “My heroes.”

“It’s not over yet,” said Harley. “But I think he’ll tell somebody, probably a cop instead of his mom, get it more public, get others involved, people who can help him. He’s willing to be locked up to stop Noel.”

“Noel,” said Jennalee. “I almost forgot him. He’s going to shit when he finds out what really happened.”

“I think Daniel is counting on that, and for authorities to protect him because Phyllis is no help.”

“She’s as beaten down as the boys.”

When Kendall patted Daniel’s back, it appeared a decision had been made. “Look,” said Harley. “I think Daniel just grew an inch taller.”

Firemen were mopping up the scene at Building Eight. Police milled about, talking to guests, when the two approached the scene. Phyllis let out a cry, jumped up, ran to Daniel, and hugged him to her. “You’re all right,” she said over and over, while Jane came to her daughter.

“Where was he?” she asked.

“Hiding in the Oak Room,” was all Jennalee said.

She waited for Jane to press for more and was grateful when her mother simply said, “Thanks for finding him.”

“How’s Dad doing?” Jennalee asked, not seeing her father around.

“Lying down. I had to get him away from this and I think he was grateful. There’s quite a bit of damage.”

Up ahead, Daniel gradually freed himself from his mother and turned to Kendall, who remained close by. Harley and Jennalee stepped up and heard Kendall say to the boy, “Ready?”

“Yes.” As Kendall led Daniel to a police officer, Harley and Jennalee followed.

“Sir,” Kendall said to the officer, “this is Daniel Sutherland, the missing boy, Noel’s middle son, and he has something to tell you. If you decide to take him to the station, I’d like to go along. I’m his cousin and he’ll feel better if I’m there. I’ll go ask my dad’s permission.”

Kendall stepped into the crowd as the officer asked Daniel, “What is it, son? Let’s go over there and talk.” He put an arm around Daniel’s shoulder and led him to a bench in a grassy area behind Building Seven.