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STEVE WALKED BACK INTO the family room of their house. “CJ’s on his way home and we’d like to lodge a complaint against Bear Whipple for the assault on Tom.”
Detective O’Keefe tapped the arrest warrant against his palm and his gaze dropped to the semi-conscious boy on the couch. “Are you sure?”
“Six stitches, a broken cheekbone, four broken ribs, a broken wrist and a concussion? You bet your ass I’m sure. What they did to him is inexcusable.”
Tom’s unblemished eye opened.
“Did Bear Whipple do this to you?” Detective O’Keefe asked Tom.
Tom’s gaze dropped to the floor and his eye closed. “Ya,” he mumbled through swollen lips and gave a single nod.
“You’re not just saying that to protect your brother?”
Tom’s eyelid fluttered up and he shook his head. Leaning forward he grabbed the pad and pen on the table, scribbling and then turning the sheet so the detective could see. “No. If CJ hadn’t stepped in, they would have killed me.”
“They?”
Tom scribbled again and turned it back toward the detective. “Bear led the charge. He’s responsible for the pack mentality.”
O’Keefe turned back to Steve. “Bear said CJ attacked him without provocation.”
“I doubt that. CJ’s not the type to throw the first punch,” Steve said and crossed his arms. He got enough from Bear’s memories to understand what happened.
O’Keefe nodded and pocketed the arrest warrant. “I’ll talk to the Whipples.”
“I still want Bear charged with assault,” Steve said.
“Even if they are willing to drop the charges against CJ?”
“Regardless of whether they drop the charges or not I want that kid to understand what he did was wrong.”
Tom scribbled on the paper. “The entire lunch room witnessed what they did.”
“That’s good, because a situation where it’s your word against his isn’t going to bode well for someone charged with murder,” O’Keefe said, he turned his gaze from Tom to Steve.
Steve refrained from commenting and crossed to the door, opening it for the detective. “I’ll call you when CJ gets here.”
O’Keefe nodded and headed outside. The press went into action at the sight of the detective, shouting questions through the fence at both Steve and O’Keefe.
Steve closed the door and crossed, taking a seat next to Tom. “How are you feeling?”
“My head hurts.”
Steve nodded and looked down at his hands. “CJ got his fair share of bruises as well,” he said and glanced at Tom, smiling at the shock reflected in his eyes.
“He didn’t use his power. It was a fair fight,” he said and huffed. “Well, as fair as seven on one can be.”
Tom rubbed his eye and then signed, “If I had seen them coming...”
“You would have fared a lot better. I know. Clocking you with a tray was the act of a coward. Bear ambushed you and his intent was to kill, not just send you to the ER.” Steve shook his head, unable to believe the audacity of Tom’s ex-best friend. “I got the whole download of what happened when I saw him at the hospital.” He met Tom’s gaze. “I know he was your friend and maybe when this whole thing is over, he might be again, but I want to be very clear. Bear is not welcome in this house.”
Tom didn’t argue and Steve squeezed his shoulder.
“Are you going to fix me?” Tom signed.
“I can’t. Not since I’m pressing charges,” he said. “Both you and CJ are just going to have to live with this for a little longer. If Bear’s family drops the charges against CJ, I may reconsider, but until then, you two will have to suck it up.”