Page 41 of Wired Target

The laptop tuned into the meeting with Dawnhorse, Leong, and young Bernard “Nard” Valas was set on the corner of Dawnhorse’s desk.From her vantage point, Sophie assessed the young man seated in a chair across from Dawnhorse and Leong.

Valas was short, afflicted with acne, and had the kind of bulky build that some men never grew out of.Small brown eyes blinked from behind thick glasses as the boy blew his nose on a tissue; he’d been crying since he walked in and saw that Dawnhorse wasn’t alone.They’d got through introductions and the purpose of the meeting as the boy wept; so far, he hadn’t spoken a word.

“Our goal is to help you,” Sophie said gently.It was important to get Valas talking with something Sophie could spin to a positive.“We have the names of the other two boys involved with the crime, and Ms.Dawnhorse has told us how badly you feel about what happened.If you confirm the other two names and are willing to give us a confession, I feel confident we can get the district attorney to reduce charges against you.How old are you, Bernard?”

“Seventeen.”The boy’s voice was a hoarse rasp.

“Oh good.Still a minor.Your criminal record can be kept sealed,” Sophie said.

The boy cried harder, wrapping his arms around himself, hunching over and rocking.

“I’ve looked up the other boys involved,” Sophie said.“They’ve both had their eighteenth birthdays.That means they’ll be charged as adults.”

“He wasn’t there.No one can touch him.He made us do it,” Valas sobbed.

The boy must be referring to the ringleader, Oz.

“We’re recording this meeting, as I first informed you,” Char Leong said.“But we’d like you to make a formal statement to the district attorney rather than just telling us what happened.Are you willing to do that?”

Bernard Valas nodded.“Can you make them leave me alone?I just want them to leave me alone.”

“That we can do,” Sophie said.“I’ve already contacted Mr.Chang, the District Attorney.I’m going to link him in on this call right now if you’re willing to talk to us.”She’d tried to reach Marcus Kamuela to join them for the meeting, too, but he was out in the field and not available.

“Yes.”The boy gave a single, emphatic nod.

Sophie’s fingers flew on her keyboard as she sent the link to District Attorney Chang in his office; moments later, the prosecutor appeared in a window beside her.

“Thank you for doing the right thing, Mr.Valas.”DA Chang, though chilly in person, could project sympathy when he chose to.“Have you been informed of your rights?”

The boy shook his head.

Chang quickly recited the Miranda warning.“Do you still choose to go ahead with this confession?”

“Only if you keep me out of it,” Valas said, a glint of something in his expression quickly masked by bleary eyes and heavy glasses.

Maybe the boy was playing them, after all.

Chang harrumphed.“I can’t promise that.This was a serious crime.What I can promise is that your charges will be reduced to accessory, and your record sealed as a minor.”

Valas appeared to think this over.“Can I get it in writing?”

No, the kid wasn’t as obtuse as he’d initially appeared.

“I’ll fax that over right now,” Chang said.“I have a statement prepared.”

“Let’s wait, then.”Bernard was no longer weeping.

Dawnhorse spoke for the first time.“I’d also like you to make a commitment to me that you won’t act upon the statements you made to me earlier, about committing suicide.”

“I won’t have to die if I still have a future,” the boy said.“This is the first time I’ve felt like that might be possible since—that night.”Tears welled in his eyes once more.“I’m so sorry.If I could turn back time, I would.”

Sophie shifted in her seat as a clerk came in, carrying the faxed document from the District Attorney’s office.

Valas signed it.Dawnhorse and Leong also signed it as witnesses.

“I’d like to write out my confession,” Valas said.“I don’t want to talk about what happened.”

“That’s fine,” Chang said.“But we do need a confirmation of those names right now, and a brief sketch of how things unfolded.”

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