Beyond the Reasons || JUSTIN FOLEY

Twenty

PRESENT TIME
JENSEN HOUSEHOLD
IMOGEN'S POV

"So, you didn't see Bryce after that?" Mom asked Clay. He opened up about what happened when he brought the gun to his house and Justin and I had to talk him down. "Over the summer? This fall?" Mom asked.

"No." Clay said.

"You had no contact with him at all?" Mom asked. Clay looked over at me and Justin before he looked down at his lap and shook his head.

"No. No contact at all." Clay said, before looking back up.

"Never went over to his new house? Threatened him again?" Mom asked. My dad looked at her, like he wanted to say something, but instead took another sip of his coffee.

"No." Clay said.

"Can you think of any other reasons why the police would suspect you?" Mom asked, which is a good question. Why are they focusing so hard on Clay? Because he hated Bryce? A lot of people hated Bryce.

"It's Mrs. Walker. She's out to get me. Look, you have to believe me. I didn't do anything." Clay said, and this time, our dad spoke up.

"Clay, we believe you. We just. . the more we know, the better we can protect you." Dad said.

"There's nothing to know." Clay said.

"Dennis has agreed to represent you. He started out in the PD's office. He knows criminal defense." Mom said.

"I'm not a criminal." Clay defended.

"We know." Dad said.

"Clay, we need to take action. We need to protect you." Mom said.

"So. . what. .-what can I do?" Clay asked.

"Nothing. Dennis was very clear about that." Mom said.

"You don't want to give the police or Mrs. Walker anything they can use against you." Dad said.

"And we'd like you to see Dr. Ellman." Mom said.

"Wait. . do I have to go too?" I asked. Dr. Ellman was mine and Clay's therapist. No, he didn't counsel us together, because I'm pretty sure that wasn't allowed, and of course he never revealed what either of us talked about in sessions to the other sibling, because that's illegal, but. . yeah, that's my therapist.

"Maybe it would be good for you. Just to check in. This is a tricky time. It might be useful to talk it through." Dad said to both of us. I talk to Dr. Singh at school, but I will admit I don't and haven't told her everything that I've told my actual therapist.

"So, you think we're like. . crazy?" Clay asked.

"Clay. . crazy people aren't the only ones who seek out therapy, you know?" I said.

"We don't." Dad said.

"Mental illness might come up." Mom said.

"We don't!" Dad said in a more firm voice. "We just thought it might be worth talking to him. Right now, you kids have to get to school."

―

OUTHOUSE

I grabbed my stuff from my room, before meeting the boys back in the out house, and Justin was packing his duffel bag, while Clay still wasn't happy about what just happened in the kitchen and I don't blame him, but I also understand where mom and dad are coming from. They know Clay didn't do this, but if the police name him as a suspect, he's going to need someone to defend him.