The Third Victim Part 56

The world began to spin. Sandy grabbed her chair and held tight.

"Mrs. O'grady?" Quincy asked.

"Give me a moment."

She locked her gaze on the floorboards, concentrating on making them stay in focus. Minutes pa.s.sed. She didn't know how many. Time had grown slow, and she was mostly aware of an oppressive cold stealing into her body and making her tremble.

"I don't know what to do," Sandy whispered.

"I don't.. . I don't know what to believe anymore."

Quincy spoke up first.

"I imagine your lawyer has arranged for a forensic psychologist to examine Danny?"

"Yes. And the court has appointed a second. They haven't started yet.

He said it would be months before they delivered their reports. Maybe even six months before we know anything."

"He's your son, Mrs. O'grady. What do you think Danny did and what do you think he needs now?"

"I can't tell you." Sandy gave a hollow bark of laughter.

"That's the truth, you know. I'm under orders from my lawyer and my husband not to talk to you an expert on these things because you're also part of law enforcement and you could testify at trial. And my suicidal son isn't allowed to speak with anyone either. Testimony might be used against him, better not to say anything at all. Oh my G.o.d. What am I supposed to do?

Quincy didn't say anything. Neither did Rainie.

Sandy's eyes filled up. She said through her tears, "I don't understand how this can be legal. They took away my son. They've locked him up for murder, but with the waiver hearings and pretrial

motions it could be years before he goes to court. In the meantime, Danny has to stay in a place where he's not supposed to talk to anyone and he's surrounded by other convicted juvenile delinquents. Even if he's found innocent one year or two years later, how can he possibly be better off? I'm worried that the county is ruining an innocent boy.

And I'm terrified that they've imprisoned a guilty one. Oh my G.o.d, Rainie, what if he did it? What will we do then?"

Quincy had squatted down in front of her. He had such compelling eyes.

Deep, and heavily crinkled at the corners, as if he'd seen a thing or two. Sandy hadn't expected to like the man. Shep had positioned him as an enemy in their lives, to be avoided at all costs. But Sandy discovered that she was comforted by his presence. Supervisory Special Agent Quincy seemed sure of himself and the situation, whereas she felt as if the entire world were made of quicksand and she was sinking down, down, down.

He took her hand and placed it between his own. His palms were warm and rough.

"It's not hopeless," he said.

"How? Our lawyer already said that if Danny is found guilty in adult court, they'll lock him up and throw away the key. No one cares that he's only thirteen."

"But the fact that he's thirteen does put him below Oregon's automatic waiver to adult court. He is going to get a hearing designed to look at his specific case, and thank goodness, because Danny's case has some elements worth considering."

Sandy gazed at him. Quincy ticked off the points with his

"One, we have evidence that somebody else was" involved. If we can identify that person, we may be able to prove that Danny was manipulated, perhaps even threatened, into acting."

Sandy nodded faintly.

"Two, we have to look at Danny himself. The fact that he's now under suicide watch may be a positive sign. It could indicate that Danny feels remorse for his actions, that he's a troubled boy but not a budding psychopath."

"Or it could mean he's traumatized," Sandy said after a moment, her voice gaining strength. There is someone else involved. You all agree on that. So maybe Danny was just doing as he was told by bringing the guns. Maybe he didn't understand what was really going to happen, and then by the time it was all over and done with, there was nothing he could do anymore."

"But confess," Rainie said dryly.

That's the good news, Mrs. O'grady," Quincy said levelly.

"Now you have to face the other facts."

Sandy hesitated. She bit her lower lip. She knew where he was going to go, and she wished he wouldn't. Deep in her heart, she'd already gone there. Danny was troubled, and it was her fault as his mother for not doing something about that sooner. That's what everyone said when these shootings happened. Where were the parents?

I'm sorry. I was at work.

"Danny is subject to mood swings, isn't he?" Quincy said matter-of-factly.

"He goes for long periods of time without reacting, then explodes with rage."

"You mean the incident with the school lockers."

"He's alone a lot."

There are not a lot of boys on our block the same age."

"He doesn't have many friends at school."

"He's really into computers."

"Mrs. O'grady, Danny has problems coping. His anger is over-controlled, which I think you realize. He also doesn't have a good support network, and given the issues with your marriage, he's under a lot of stress. Then we get to the but also intimidated' by him. This sets the stage for displaced rage, where Danny takes all that emotion and turns it on someone else, someone who doesn't scare him."

"You mean like two little girls?" Sandy whispered.

"Or a cat or dog."

"Danny has never hurt animals," Sandy said immediately.

"Becky would never stand for such a thing, and he's very protective of his sister."

"It's good that Danny's symptoms aren't that extreme. But he still

exhibits some of the warning signs we see in kids p.r.o.ne to do these types of shooting. For his sake, we need to deal with that." Sandy hesitated.

"How?"

"Let's start with Danny's overcontrolled rage. He needs to learn to vent his anger steadily and constructively instead of letting it build to dangerous heights. Most experts would recommend daily physical exercise as a starting point."

"He's not athletic."

"What about a family walk, Mrs. O'grady? Or some teens like martial arts."