Page 5 of The Perfect Son
But thank God Hannah is in the car with us. “Just a girl?” She snorts. “Liam is totally in love with her.”
He laughs. “No, I’m not.”
“Oh my God, yousoare. Don’t even deny it.” Hannah gives me a look, like I’m her new confidante. “You should see the way he looks at her. He’stotallyinto her.”
“Whatever.”
I glance in the rearview mirror one more time to look at my son. Liam is the most composed sixteen-year-old kid I’ve ever known. That’s why he’s so good at debate, in addition to his natural intelligence and his diligent preparation. Heneverloses his cool. He never lets anyone know what he’s thinking. But I’ve known him long enough that I can usually tell. Usually.
I’m really glad I’m going to this debate after school. I wanted to see Liam perform. That was the reason I toldhim I wanted to come. And I meant it. But now I’ve got a new, more important reason for going.
I’ve got to figure out who Olivia is.
And I’ve got to keep something terrible from happening to her.
Chapter Three
Transcript of police interview with Sharon Anderson
“Can you tell me how you know Liam Cass?”
“He attended kindergarten at the school where I work as the principal.”
“For how long did he attend?”
“About four months.”
“And this was eleven years ago?”
“That’s correct.”
“So you still remember a child who attended your school for four months over a decade ago?”
“Yes. I remember Liam. Very well.”
“And what was your impression of him?”
“At first? He seemed like a great kid. Real cute. Smart—certainly the smartest kid in the grade. I remember he got up during assembly and gave this long speech he memorized. I couldn’t believe a kindergartner couldremember all that. I was impressed.”
“How come he only attended the school for four months? Isn’t the school year nine months long?”
“Liam was… expelled.”
“A kindergartner was expelled?”
“It’s unusual. But the circumstances called for it.”
“I see. And why was that?”
“There was an incident.”
“Can you describe the incident to me?”
“Yes…”
“Will you please describe the incident, Mrs. Anderson?”
“It was… there was a girl…”
