Mrs. Caldwell, nice to see you again,” says Perry Hamlin, the school principal.
“It’s actually Agent Caldwell.”
“Oh yes, of course, my apologies.” Hamlin looks over at Paulie. “And you are?”
“My colleague, Agent Andrews,” says Tania.
“Okay. So good to have close friends at work. Please take a seat.”
“Thanks.”
Hamlin looks at Paulie, then back to Caldwell.
“May I speak freely?”
“Please do. So, what is this regarding? No one explained it to me when I picked Tyler up yesterday.”
“For the most part Mrs.—I mean, Agent Caldwell—your son Tyler is a great kid. Very upbeat and well adjusted—in short, he’s a pleasure to teach. But recently he’s become increasingly sullen and antisocial. And yesterday, of course, the nurse wanted to send him home. He said he was sick. She spoke with me afterwards, and she believes Tyler may be depressed. Has something changed at home? Anything that we should know about?”
Agent Caldwell takes a moment.
“Actually, yes. Tyler’s father came by the house recently—after walking out on the two of us several years ago. I let him see Tyler, because he’s the boy’s father, but Edgar is bad news. There was a physical confrontation between the two of us, and Tyler saw it all go down.”
“I see. Did you call the police?”
“I’m an agent in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Principal Hamlin. I’m perfectly capable of handling myself. Of course, I feel awful that Tyler had to witness any of it. But at least he saw his father’s true colors. In any event, Edgar won’t be a problem anymore, I can assure you of that.”
“Yes, of course. But as regards Tyler, I think he should speak with someone. I have the names of a couple of very highly respected therapists he could speak to.”
Caldwell sighs.
“I will have a talk with Tyler this evening. And yes, I’ll take those names, thank you.”
“Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.”
“Yes, thank you, Principal Hamlin.”
Paulie and Tania walk out to the car.
“You never told me any of this,” Paulie says.
“It’s not your business, Andrews. I must have been crazy to bring you along.”
“Stop. Stop!” He reaches out for her arm, which she pulls away fiercely.
He looks her dead in the eye.
“I’ll kill that guy if he puts another hand on you.”
“You’re not allowed to say things like that, Andrews. This is my problem to handle, not yours. Get in the car.”
They drive back to the office in silence. Paulie thinks about how they would solve this situation back in the Neighborhood. For the first time in his life, Paulie thinks that there might be something to the Outfit’s particular brand of justice.