Keeping Her Safe

Chapter 5

Fin and Olivia walked into the classroom, and were immediately gawked at by about 25 8th graders, as well as a very confused teacher.

"NYPD," Olivia said, flashing her badge.

"Can I help you with anything?" The teacher asked.

"We'll need to speak to Danny McCarthy."

A boy with dark hair and green eyes slowly raised out of his chair.

"Me?" he asked. "What's this about?"

"How about we talk outside?" Fin said.

Danny  just shrugged casually and followed him.

As soon as they got into the empty hallway, the boy started talking.

"Yo, don't I have like, the right to remain silent or something?"

"You're not being arrested," Olivia assured him. "We're just here to ask you some questions."

"Hey, I kinda got to go, though. I- uh- I have a math test or whatever."

"If you don't cooperate with us that math test is gonna be the least of your problems," Fin said, ignoring the glare he got from Olivia once he said it.

"Okay, so...what exactly do you want to ask me? 'Cause I really don't have all day."

"We heard you're not exactly a big fan of this school," Fin said.

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I wanted to shoot it up."

Olivia's jaw dropped a little. She hadn't expected him to be quite so forward, even though she probably should have. "We never said that."

"Oh come on, like there'd be any other reason you'd be here, the week after the shooting, asking questions and being all police-ish."

"We're just trying to get to the bottom of this and keep the school safe. But we're not accusing anybody."

"Okay, so...what? You want a DNA sample or something? I'll give it to you, I don't care."

"We will be taking a DNA sample, but first we'd like to ask you some questions..."

"Okay, okay, ask already!"

"Calm down, junior," Fin said. "We're getting to that."

The boy just scowled.

"Where exactly were you when the shooting occurred?"

"I was in Mrs.Harrison's room. She's my math teacher. I was in the hallway when the lockdown alarm went off, and her classroom was closest so she pulled me in."

"You didn't leave the room at any time?"

"No, how could I? It was on lockdown. So it was kinda, you know, locked down? We weren't even allowed to go to the bathroom," Danny said. "God, I thought cops were supposed to be smart."

"Hey, I don't like your attitude, you arrogant little-"

"-Calm down, Fin," Olivia said, restraining him as she saw his eyes go dark with anger.

"Sorry. He was pissing me off."

Danny just laughed. "Well, it was lovely talking to you both," he said sarcastically. "If you want the DNA sample, I'll give you the DNA sample. But I'm done talking, gotta go to class and get a good education, you know? You wouldn't want to get in the way of a boy and his dreams, would you?"

"Get outta here," Fin sneered.

"Have a wonderful day, Sir. Ma'am," he said, giving them a horribly cheesy smile as he walked away. Fin just made a face.