Chapter Twelve

Henry was talking, but Sophia put up her hand. She didn’t want to hear his excuses. Her entire world was crumbling and she feared she would have no family left.

Even that fear was over-shadowed by Javier Escobar, the boy her brother insisted was “totally cool,” but Sophia knew he was dangerous down to his soul.

She unlocked the front door and went to the kitchen, where Mrs. Edgar usually greeted them after school. “Hi, Mrs. Edgar. You said my brother could come over?”

Sophia smiled and hoped it didn’t look like a grimace.

“Yes, of course. Henry, so good to see you again. Sophia, dear, help yourself to a snack. Don’t forget you and Ana have kitchen duty, but it’s easy today. Mac and cheese casserole, the instructions are on the board.”

“We’ll have it ready, thank you,” Sophia said. She retrieved a plate from the cupboard, took some fruit and crackers from the snack shelf in the refrigerator, and a couple cookies from the jar. Mrs. Edgar had been teaching them all to bake, and Sophia loved to cook. Mrs. Edgar said she was a natural and had let her help with the decorated sugar cookies she gave out to her neighbors for Christmas.

Sophia took the plate out to the front porch. Henry, even though he was her brother, was only allowed in the living room, kitchen, and on the front porch. She was the only girl here who had a brother. Ana had no family at all, and the other two residents were sisters whose mom was going through drug rehab. Their mother came to visit once a week. Sophia tried not to be home when she did. She was glad their mom was trying to stay clean, but seeing her reminded Sophia that her own mom loved drugs more than her three kids.

Henry scowled when she closed the door. “You have too many chores here. You’re her slave.”

“We all help. I like it. Mrs. Edgar is teaching us to meal prep and how to budget and make healthy food. I like cooking.”

“She uses you. They all use us.”

She was near tears. She didn’t want to argue with her brother. “Henry, what happened? Please tell me. I know something happened between you and Sergio after dinner last Wednesday. Did it have anything to do with Sergio telling the police he killed a man? I know he didn’t—he wouldn’t. And I know you had his hoodie that weekend. I know because you gave it back to him on Wednesday!” Sophia hadn’t meant to shout, and she put her hand over her mouth.

Henry finally looked contrite. “Look, I don’t know why Sergio said he killed someone when he didn’t.”

She stared at him. He was lying. She could always tell when her brother was lying. He wasn’t very good at it.

“Tell me the truth! What did you do?”

“I didn’t kill nobody.”

But the way he said it. She didn’t like his tone. The casual shrug in his voice. As if he didn’t kill anyone, but it wouldn’t matter if he did.

He grabbed a cookie and chewed, stared out at the street. Sophia willed herself not to cry, but the tears escaped.

“Why was there gun residue in the hoodie you borrowed? Why did Sergio tell the police he killed someone? What do you know, Henry?”

“Shh,” he said, glanced around. “Okay, look, it was an accident. I didn’t do it, I swear to God. Javier said the guy was pulling a gun, and he just reacted, you know? Self-defense.”

“You’re making no sense. You can’t say you shot someone in self-defense when you’re...you’re robbing them.”

“Shut. Up. Do you want to get me in trouble?”

“But why would Sergio protect Javier? You, yes! But you should tell the police the truth, tell them about Javier. He’s bad.”

“He’s my best friend,” Henry said defensively. “He’s always been there for me.”

“You’re saying that Sergio is taking the blame for a murder Javier committed because he’s your best friend? I don’t believe that.”

Henry’s expression darkened. “Look, Sophia, the world is a fucked-up place and you really pissed Javier off when you threatened him.”

“Wh-what?”

“When you left last summer you told his mom that he was in your room. How could you?”

“He was in my room!”

“He got smacked around because Brenda lost money when you left. He likes you, Sissy. You act like you’re better than everyone. You should be happy that a guy like Javier wants to take care of you.”

None of this made sense. Henry had changed to the point where she didn’t even recognize him.

“I’m thirteen. I don’t want a boyfriend, and I don’t want Javier in my life. He scares me.”

“And he promised to leave you alone as long as Sergio didn’t tell the police about the robbery. And Sergio didn’t. I didn’t know he was going to tell the police he actually whacked the guy.”

Sophia couldn’t believe the words coming from Henry. She loved her brother...but he was scaring her almost as much as Javier.

“Sergio thinks he’s doing this for you,” she said. “For you, Henry, because he loves you. He’s giving up his whole life for you.”

“No, he’s doing it for you. He wouldn’t lift a finger to help me. He doesn’t care. He doesn’t listen!And besides, he didn’t do it so he won’t be convicted.”

“He confessed. He’s going to plea!”

“That’s on him then.”

“You have to tell the truth,” she begged. “Go to the police and tell the truth. That Javier killed—”

Henry grabbed her by the arms so quickly that she stifled a scream, cowered by the look of rage on his face. This wasn’t her brother. Someone had taken her good, kind brother and turned him into a monster.

“Shut up! We’re protecting you. And you’re being an ungrateful little bitch.”

He pushed so hard she fell off the chair. He took the plate of snacks and threw it to the ground where it broke. Then he left.

Mrs. Edgar came out and helped Sophia to her feet. “Honey, what happened?” Mrs. Edgar was a kind person, but right now she sounded angry. “Did your brother do this?”

Sophia didn’t know what to say, what to do, who to trust. She nodded and cried. Mrs. Edgar hugged her tightly. “Oh, baby, I’m sorry. You need to tell me what happened.”

“I can’t.”

Mrs. Edgar put her at arm’s length and said, “He hurt you. I don’t know why. He has always been a polite young man, until recently. The last few weeks I’ve seen a change. I know you have, as well.”

“He’s hanging out with the wrong people. I should never have left him in that house with those boys. I should have stayed. Maybe...maybe he wouldn’t have changed.”

Mrs. Edgar’s face hardened. Sophia had told her what Javier did to her in her bedroom. She said, “No, you were right to leave, and I thank God every day that I had a place here for you. You know Javier would not have stopped at simply touching you. You know that, right?”

Sophia nodded, feeling miserable.

“What have they done?”

“I think—Javier might have killed someone.”

“We need to tell the police.”

“The police think Sergio did it.”

“Sergio?” She looked as confused as Sophia felt.

“He confessed. I don’t know what’s going on, Mrs. Edgar. But I’m scared. For Henry, and...for you and everyone here.”

Mrs. Edgar bristled. “Do not be scared for me. I am the adult. I am responsible for you.”

“A private investigator talked to me today.”

“Where? At school?”

“Over there.” Sophia motioned to the corner. “She said that Sergio told the police he killed a clerk at the Cactus Stop. She thinks he’s innocent, that he’s protecting someone. The killer wore the sweatshirt I gave Sergio for Christmas. And...and I know, the weekend this all happened, that Henry had the sweatshirt. We’d gone to see the Christmas lights at the zoo before they took them down, remember? Henry was cold and Sergio gave him the sweatshirt to wear. That was two weeks ago Friday. And the man was killed that Saturday. And then last week, Henry gave it back to Sergio. The investigator said it had gunshot residue in it. But why would Sergio protect Javier? I asked Henry about it, and he says it was self-defense. But that doesn’t make sense. And Henry claims Sergio is protecting me, but why? I didn’t do anything!”

“I want this investigator’s name.”

Sophia reached into her pocket and pulled out the rumpled card, handed it to her.

Mrs. Edgar looked at it, put it in her apron. “First, we call the police. Then we’ll see what options we have. I think you should stay home from school tomorrow, just to be on the safe side. And Henry can’t come over right now. I’m sorry, I know he’s your brother, but I do not tolerate violence.”

“I’m sure he feels bad about it.” But Sophia would never forget the anger in Henry’s eyes. She had never seen him like that before.

“Maybe, but he still needs to apologize with sincerity. And if he’s hanging out with a murderer—he cannot be here. This home is your sanctuary, and it is the sanctuary for the other girls, as well.”

Sophia bit her lip and nodded. She felt so lost and alone, but Mrs. Edgar was right.

Until Henry was away from Javier Escobar, he wasn’t safe to be around.

Mrs. Edgar put her arm around her and led her inside.