The Third Victim Part 42

"Not with Princ.i.p.al VanderZanden."

"I was not involved with Melissa Avalon," the counselor said through clenched teeth.

"We were coworkers, that's all. If you people are so concerned about her private life, talk to Steven. Or, better yet, call her father.

I've heard a rumor he hasn't even bothered to claim her body yet."

"We'll be sure to do that," Quincy said.

"So what about Danny O'grady?" Rainie pounced.

"We understand you'd been seeing him as a counselor."

"Only for a few weeks ' "Oh yeah? And precisely how long does it take to figure out that a boy who trashed his school locker has problems managing rage?"

"His parents are going through a rough time. There was no reason to think Danny's anger was anything more than an adjustment phase. When marriages turn sour, kids get mad."

"Where were you again when the shooting happened?"

"In my office!"

"Do you have witnesses?"

"How dare you!" Richard Mann lurched out of his chair, his handsome face beet red and his expression injured.

"I did everything I could to help those kids, Officer. Don't you remember? I'm the one who arranged the first-aid center. I'm the one who got the parents cleared out of the parking lot so the emergency vehicles could get through. And now I'm the one fielding dozens of

calls from parents whose children are waking up screaming. So how dare you imply that I had something to do with this? My G.o.d, this is breaking my heart!"

"Officer Conner doesn't mean to imply anything, Mr. Mann," Quincy said calmly, holding up his hands in a soothing gesture.

"It's simply her job to ask these kinds of questions. Of course we appreciate the help you gave on the day of the shooting."

Mann turned to Quincy, obviously still unsure. Quincy smiled warmly.

"I just thought we were going to be speaking about Danny," Mann said after a moment.

"I wasn't expecting this kind of ... attack."

"Police interviews can be intense," Quincy said diplomatically.

"Of course, we consider everyone innocent until proven guilty."

Mann looked pointedly at Rainie. She lifted one shoulder in a negligent shrug. Pretty boy had no alibi and got really defensive really fast, she thought. Then again, the student he'd been counseling had allegedly murdered three people. It probably didn't let him sleep well at night.

"Back to Danny O'grady," Quincy encouraged.

"I don't know what I can tell you there," Mann said sulkily.

"Some of it is privileged."

Quincy beamed at him. He said with a saccharine sweetness that nearly made Rainie roll her eyes, "Of course, I would never ask a psychologist to violate his oath by breaching client confidentiality. Even general information would be helpful."

Mann had to think about it. He finally sank back down into his seat, steepled his hands in front of him, and regarded the FBI agent more intently.

"I honestly don't know much," he said at last.

"I'd just started talking to Danny a few weeks ago, and the first few sessions were small talk. You know, establishing trust, building a rapport. We hadn't had a chance to get into things." These things take time."

"We talked a little bit about Danny's interest in computers," Mann offered.

"Danny really loved surfing the Net, playing around with programming.

He never flat-out admitted it, but I got the impression he might be involved with hacking. The computer was exciting to him, but also a challenge. He might have been pushing the envelope a bit."

"Maybe going places he wasn't supposed to?"

"Maybe. I think it's obvious to everyone that Danny has issues with self-esteem. His father is too hard on him. He berates Danny, tries to force him into doing things he doesn't want to do. He's hardly a model of support."

"He makes Danny feel dumb?"

"Dumb, inferior, weak, helpless. Honestly, I think people should be required to get a parenting license before they're allowed to have children."

"Shep may not be the perfect parent," Rainie interjected with a frown, 'but he loves his son and wants the best for him."

"Fine, but that and a quarter still won't get Danny a cup of coffee."

Mann waved his hand to silence her next round of protests. He was back on sure footing, and the parents had been right his earnestness was compelling.

"Look, Officer. I'm the one in the trenches, and I can tell you wholeheartedly that intentions don't matter in parenting. Kids don't understand what you mean. They understand what you do. And most of the things Shep does make Danny feel powerless and incompetent.

Computers, on the other hand, make him feel strong."

"Did he ever talk about people he might have met online? Places he might have gone?" Quincy pressed.

"I can't comment on that."

"Hey, Mann' Rainie began impatiently.

He cut her off primly.

"Danny is my patient and I won't violate privilege."

"Can you really exercise privilege if you're only a school counselor?"

Rainie asked Quincy.

He gave her a look that clearly told her not to take the bad-cop thing too far. Mann was getting edgy, and they needed to get more information from him.

"You should try the computers," Mann said abruptly. He leaned forward,

saying in almost a whisper, "I want to help, but I can hardly start my career by breaking confidentiality. On the other hand, Danny was using the school computers. Now, I'm not a computer person, but I thought cops had the ability to trace anything these days .. .."