‘That’s not what I need to know. I’m asking if you’ve seen it before.’
Longer puzzled look, slow head-shake. ‘Don’t think so.’
I said, ‘We have a witness who saw you drop it in the lost-and-found bin, the day after Chris Harper died.’
Total blank; then realisation dawned across Holly’s face. ‘Oh my God, that! I’d totally forgotten that. Yeah. We had a special assembly that morning, so McKenna could give us this big speech about a tragedy and assisting the police and whatever.’ Talky-mouth hand sign. ‘At the end we were all coming out of the hall into the foyer, and that phone was on the floor. I thought it was Alison’s, but I couldn’t see her; everything was a mess, everyone was talking and crying and hugging, the teachers were all trying to get us to shut up and go back to our classrooms… I just shoved the phone into the lost-and-found bin. I figured Alison could get it herself; not my problem. If it wasn’t hers, then whose was it?’
Flawless, even better than the real thing. And – clever clever girl – her story kept the whole school in the frame for having owned the phone. Conway’s jaded look said she’d spotted the same thing.
I took the phone back. Put it to one side, for later. Didn’t answer Holly’s question, but she didn’t push.
I said, ‘Julia and Selena must’ve told you: we know you guys used to get out at night, last year.’
Holly shot a fast glance at Mackey. ‘Don’t worry about me, chickadee,’ he said, pleasant grin. ‘My statute of limitation’s run out on that one. You’re OK.’
Holly said, to me, ‘So?’
‘What’d yous do out there?’
Her chin was out. ‘Why do you want to know?’
‘Come on, Holly. You know I have to ask.’
‘We just hung out. Talked. OK? We weren’t doing bath salts or having gang bangs or whatever you think the young people do these days. A couple of times we had a can, or a cigarette. Oh my God, shock horror.’
‘Don’t smoke,’ Mackey said severely, pointing. ‘What’ve I told you about smoking?’ Conway gave him a warning stare and he lifted his hands, all apologetic, all responsible dad who would never mess with the interview.
I ignored the pair of them. ‘Ever meet up with anyone? Guys from Colm’s, maybe?’
‘Jesus, no! We see enough of those morons already.’
‘So,’ I said, puzzled, ‘you were basically doing stuff you could’ve done indoors, or during the day. Why go to all that hassle, risk getting expelled?’
Holly said, ‘You wouldn’t understand.’
‘Try me.’
After a moment she sighed noisily. ‘Because out there in the dark was a better place to talk, is why. And because probably you never ever broke any rules in school, but not everyone always feels like doing everything exactly like they’re supposed to. OK?’
‘OK,’ I said. ‘That makes sense. I get that.’
Thumbs-up. ‘Wahey. Good for you.’
Almost four years of her teens left. I didn’t envy Mackey. I said, ‘You know Selena was sneaking out on her own to meet Chris Harper. Right?’
Holly pulled out the teenage vacant stare, bottom lip hanging. Made her look thick as pig shite, but I knew better.
‘We’ve got proof.’
‘Did you read it in your favourite gossip mag? Right under “R-Patz and K-Stew broke up again”?’
‘Behave,’ Mackey said, didn’t bother looking up. Holly rolled her eyes.
She was being a bitch because, for this reason or that one, she was scared. I leaned forward, close, till against her will she caught my eye. ‘Holly,’ I said gently. ‘This morning, you came to me for a reason. Because I was never thick enough to patronise you, and because you thought there was a chance I might understand more than most people. Right?’
Twitch of her shoulder. ‘I guess.’
‘You’re going to end up talking to someone about this stuff. I’d say you’d love to go back to your mates and pretend all this never happened – and I don’t blame you – but you don’t have that option.’
Holly was slumped in her chair, arms folded, eyes on the ceiling, like I was boring her into an actual coma here? She didn’t bother answering.
‘You know that as well as I do. You can talk to me, or you can talk to someone else. If you want to stick with me, I’ll do my best to live up to your good opinion. I don’t think I’ve let you down yet.’
Shrug.
‘So. You want to stick with me, or you want someone else?’
Mackey was watching me, under his eyelids, but he kept his mouth shut, which couldn’t be a compliment. Another shrug from Holly. ‘Whatever. Stick with you, I guess. I don’t care.’
‘Good,’ I said, and gave her a smile:
