Page 113 of My Favorite Secret
With a deep breath, I stand tall, composing myself. “Stay with Harper. I’ll go to the office.”
“No. I’m not leaving you alone in this. She’ll be fine.”
My throat tightens. I nod, thankful to have him by my side.
As Tyler and I make our way downstairs, every inch of my body pounds with dread, anticipating my future. The moment we step inside the office, I find my father sitting behind his desk with a police officer standing either side.
Before I have a chance to speak, Dad opens hismouth, his voice low but stern. “Felix, a very serious matter has occurred.”
“Tyler filled me in.” I fight to keep a level tone. “Do you know Paul Ferguson attacked Harper? He had her pinned beneath him. He was violating her. I stepped in before it went any further.”
“I’m well aware of what has happened. But Paul has died in hospital due to injuries caused by you, which means you have murdered a man. Luckily for you, I have connections with powerful people in the police force. They approached me when learning my son is involved in a serious crime. I’ve paid a lot of money to keep your name out of this. Tyler and Harper’s too.”
My jaw twitches. My first instinct is to be filled with relief, but something doesn’t seem right. The silence in this office is too heavy. Tyler said the police are here to arrest me.
“The Fergusons don’t know their son attacked Harper,” Dad continues. “They don’t know you’re involved in Paul’s death. CCTV and private security footage has been buried. The witness who saw you punching Paul has been silenced. Paul was drunk and got mixed up in a group brawl at a party—too many fists, too many faces, and no way to tell who threw the punch that would have led to his death. The cops arrived to break up the fight, but everyone fled before they could be identified. That’s the story we’ll hear.”
“I understand. Thank you for your protection. Why are the police here now?”
Dad’s fist bangs against the desk and his voice rises with anger. “They’re here at my request, because you never learn, son. Your life choices are horrendous. Selling drugs. Gambling. God knows what else I haven’t been informed of. Now, killing a man. I warned you, right after I saved youfrom being expelled from school, that I wouldn’t save you again. Yet here I am, saving you because I don’t want to see my son charged with homicide. I’ve tried disciplining you. It doesn’t work. I sent you to live in the Winslow residence where I thought I was finally starting to see some changes in you. Yet when I come looking for you, I find an empty apartment. I contacted the school. They tell me I’ve sent in a letter of approval for you to have time off?—”
“The letter was my fault,” Tyler interjects.
“Stay out of this, Tyler,” our father orders, never taking his eyes off me. “I track you down at the beach house and find you’ve thrown a party. What are you doing with your life, Felix?”
My hands clench. My insides boil, wanting to snap back at him. The two of us only know how to communicate with each other through arguing. But I work hard to maintain my calm, needing him to see the truth. “Clara’s death has changed me. I’m not involved in any of those things anymore. I’ve been attending school. I’ve been studying. I’ve cleaned up my life.”
“How can you say that when you’ve killed a man?”
“What was I supposed to do about Paul, let him have his way with Harper?”
“Pull him off her,” Dad shouts. “Report the crime. Let the police deal with him.” He stands from his chair, placing two hands on the desk to collect himself. When he speaks again, his words are low and assertive. “You’re out of control. I’m at my wits’ end with you, Felix. I’ve come here tonight to give you two options. Either I send you away to a behavioral correctional institute across the country where you will complete your education and get your act together.”
It’s the most idiotic thing I’ve ever heard. But myconcern isn’t about the institute. It’s that he wants to send me away for almost five months.
“I can’t leave. Ineedto be here for Harper. There has to be somewhere closer. Whatever correctional program you want me to complete, I’ll do it, just don’t make me leave.”
“You’re in no position to negotiate. I’ve already enrolled you at Westbridge Institute. If you refuse to attend, that means you choose the alternative option. I’ll hand you over to the cops and you’ll be charged with homicide. I don’t want that for you. Your life will be ruined. But perhaps it’s the only way you’ll learn.”
Nausea rises within me, slow and sickening, as I hear the two options.
He won’t listen when I try to tell him I’ve changed. This is just like him, letting money deal with his problems. I suppose I should be grateful. Iamgrateful that he’s saving my ass. I just wish he didn’t have to be such a dickhead about it.
My nails bite into my palms. I want to argue, to fight, to tell him I won’t be forced into either of his choices. But I have no leverage.
Tyler steps forward, defending me. “None of this is necessary. You’ve always trusted me. Trust me now when I say Felix has changed?—”
“Tyler, I told you to stay out of this,” Dad snaps back.
“No,” Tyler raises his voice. “You’re not listening. Felix didn’t do anything wrong. He protected Harper. If he hadn’t taken care of Paul, I would have. Would you be giving me the same treatment? Felix isn’t the screw-up you think he is. Now, when he needs you, you’re throwing him away?”
“Goddammit, Tyler. Do not test me.”
Beside me, I can feel Tyler ready to fightback. Heat pricks behind my eyes. I never asked Tyler to defend me, but hearing him stand up for me means everything.
Tyler opens his mouth to retaliate. I grab his arm, shaking my head, warning him to back down. My father holds all the power right now. I hate that he’s forcing these two options upon me, but one is clearly better than the other.
I can bide my time. It will only be a few months. I’ll be back with Harper and Tyler soon.
