Page 27 of Gifts

They’ve hit two. Those students will be pulled into the office, and questioned by police and administrators. So far, one of the students doesn’t surprise me, but the other does.

Our radios alert us of another. When they run the locker number from the office, the secretary gives us the name of the student.

“Levi Hollingsworth.”

I still, but take in a quick breath, trying to keep my composure to cover my initial surprise. “That’s one of mine.”

“Looks like we each have one so far.” Marcia sighs. “What a mess. How stupid can they be?”

Trying to think quickly, I’m not sure what to do. I’ve worked with Levi since he was a freshman. I know him, but I don’t really know him. He’s got a full ride to play lacrosse. Dabbling in drugs—at school, no less—would be all kinds of stupid for him. He’ll lose his scholarship in a heartbeat and I’m pretty sure he’s eighteen—he’ll be charged as an adult. He gets good grades and he’s never been in trouble. This makes no sense.

I raise the radio to my mouth. “This is Lockhart. You have your hands full. Hollingsworth is my student, I’ll bring him to the office.”

I look to my coworkers. “I’m going to look up his schedule. I’ll be back.”

I move back to my office and pull up Levi’s classes. Huh. He’s in AP Statistics.

Who takes AP Stat and keeps drugs in their locker?

A complete idiot, that’s who, which I don’t think Levi is. Either way, as the minutes tick by, the more frustrated I become.

I barely know Asa and my experience with Levi is limited to helping him pick classes each year, as well as providing help with scholarships. I know it shouldn’t, but Asa talking all smooth and whatnot on the phone last night is clouding my judgment.

I calm my face and try to pull it together as I open the door to AP Statistics and say to the teacher, “I need to see Levi, please.”

I find him sitting in the middle of the class and he looks up from his textbook, appearing as surprised as I feel.

When he gets up and starts for me, I add, “Bring your things.”

This time he frowns before going back to pack his books. When he finally makes it out of the room, we start down the hall, and I slow my pace.

“Ms. Lockhart, is there something wrong?” he breaks the silence.

I hear another name come across my radio, but it’s not one of my students, so I lower the volume and stop in the hallway. “The police are here.”

He tips his head and frowns deeper. “Why?”

“The administration had some suspicions and brought in K-9 units.” I take a breath. “Levi, illegal substances were found in your locker.”

The color drains from his face as an expression falls over his features that’s so similar to his father’s, I have to try hard not to think about Asa. Levi starts to breathe deeply, so much so, I take a step toward him, not knowing what to expect.

I do know this isn’t the face of a young man who’s been caught doing something wrong. No, Levi Hollingsworth is trying to process how this could have happened.

“Levi,” I lower my voice. “Do you use your locker?”

He ignores my question and I can tell everything is starting to click because he becomes angry. “I didn’t do it,” he hisses, trying to keep his voice down. “I mean, whatever it is they think they found, it’s not mine. There has to be a mistake. It can’t be my locker. I’m not a druggie—at all.”

His anger quickly grows into fury, and if he’s telling the truth, who can blame him? “Have you been to your locker today?”

He exhales and runs a hand over his face as he thinks. “Yeah, but not since before school. I carry everything in my backpack ‘til lunch.”

I look up and down the hall, knowing we need to be on our way to the office. Looking up at Levi, I explain, “I don’t know if he’s told you, but I know your father—through discussions about Emma.”

He nods once. “Dad told me.”

Okay, good. One less thing to explain to him here in the hall while the police are waiting. “Right. Here’s what’s going to happen—the police and Mr. White are going to question you. I don’t know what exactly was found, but we’ll learn soon enough. Your dad is going to be getting a call from the school. You might want to give him a heads up on our way to the office. I don’t know if they’ll let me, but I’ll try to stay with you, at least until your father gets here. Don’t waste any time, Levi. Make that call.”

He digs his phone out of his back pocket and follows me as we slowly make our way back down to the first floor toward the office. All the while, listening to Levi explain to his dad what was happening was uncomfortable, to say the least.

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