When I return to the living room, the two officers are sitting on our loveseat, while Jason is on the couch. He’s talking to the officers, but he doesn’t look nervous or anything. He doesn’t look like he’s going to throw up any second, which is the way I feel. He truly believes Liam has nothing to hide.
Liam sits down beside Jason on the couch, sitting up straight as he always does. He doesn’t look nervous either. He doesn’t fiddle with the hem of his shirt or the hole in his jeans—his hands are completely steady and he flashes the officers a brief, disarming smile. It almost makes me wonder if I’m worried over nothing. If Liam could look that calm around two cops, he must have nothing to hide.
“Liam?” Detective Rivera says.
Liam nods. “Yes.”
“Would you mind answering a few questions for us about Olivia Mercer?” she asks.
“I already talked to a police officer at school,” he says. “I told him everything I know.”
“Yes, but we have a few more questions. Just routine stuff.”
“Of course.” Liam looks her straight in the eyes. “I’ll do anything to help find Olivia. Please go ahead.”
Rivera crosses her legs as she leans forward slightly. “Do you know Olivia Mercer?”
“Yes. She goes to my school.”
“And are you friendly with her?”
He doesn’t hesitate. “She’s in my math class. I’ve spoken to her before.”
His answers sound rehearsed. As if he knew what they were going to be asking him and had mentally prepared for it the same way he prepares for his debates. I wonder if they notice.
“Is Olivia your girlfriend?”
“No.”
Rivera raises an eyebrow. “No?”
“I don’t have a girlfriend.”
Rivera lets out a laugh. “A good-looking boy like you? That’s hard to believe.”
“He’s only sixteen, Detective,” I say.
“When I was sixteen, I had two girlfriends!” Murphy says. His ruddy cheeks grow pinker.
Liam doesn’t react to any of this. He flashes a brief smile but says nothing.
The smile vanishes from Rivera’s face again. Her eyes are so sharp, it scares me. I want to tell Liam to be careful, that she isn’t going to be taken in by his charm. “So Liam, when was the last time you saw Olivia?”
“Some of the people from track team were hanging out at Charlie’s. She was there too.”
“Was it a date?”
“No.”
“I see.” Rivera nods. “And that’s the last time you saw Olivia?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have any idea at all where she could be right now?”
“No,” he says without hesitation. “I’m really sorry. I wish I did.” And then, in an incredibly sincere voice, “I’m worried about her. I really hope she’s okay.”
“We do too,” Rivera says.
