Page 77 of Hoodoo House
“You did well down there, you know,” Declan said, sitting beside him and patting him on the knee.
“I felt like I was coming across a bit like Miss Marple.”
“You were. And there’s nothing wrong with that?” Declan replied. “Look at how successful she was.”
“Funny.”
Charlie slid over and rested his back against Declan’s shoulder. He tilted his head and stared up at the ceiling in silence.
“What’s wrong?” Declan asked.
“Did we do the right thing? With Henry, I mean.”
“In what way?”
Charlie turned around to face him.
“He confessed to trying to kill someone.”
“There was no way he would have killed Tull with that dosage. You said it yourself.”
“But the intention was there,” Charlie continued.
“Look, he showed remorse for what he did. He’s young and didn’t think things through. Didn’t you ever do something stupid when you were a kid that you regretted later?”
“I got caught shoplifting when I was his age and I got grounded for a month. But stealing a chocolate bar is a far cry from trying to kill someone.”
Charlie got up and looked out through the window. “What would happen to Henry if the police found out he was involved?”
Declan shrugged. “He’d probably wind up being referred to therapy and possibly could see some charges laid against him. There’s a chance he would be assigned to a youth detention facility. The court could deem Mrs Cameron as being incapable of caring for him, given what’s happened under her watch. On the whole, I think it’s likely the system would do him more harm than good.”
“He’s a bright kid,” Charlie said. “I wish there’s a way we could help him. I mean, he’s going to have to carry that secret for the rest of his life.”
Declan stood up. “I have a thought. How about I give Michael a call? She might be able to talk him through his problems, or at least know someone who can.”
Charlie nodded. “Yeah.”
Declan tilted his head. “There’s still something else bothering you.”
“Keeping secrets is hard.”
Declan joined Charlie at the window.
“Yup,” Declan agreed. “It can be, and if you’ve got a conscience—which you do—you’ll always feel that way about some secrets.”
“Why does everything have to be so difficult?” Charlie groaned.
“Keep in mind that if you really want to get into this work, you’ve got to accept that keeping secrets is part of this business.”
“I know,” Charlie said.
Charlie faced Declan. “And what about us?”
“Us? I’ve been giving that some thought.”
“And?” Charlie asked.
“I’mdefinitelygoing to keep you on at the office. Your work on this case was so good that, if you’re up to it, I was thinking that the firm could put some resources into getting you your P.I. license.”
