Undreamed of Question

Despite his good intentions, Alan never did call Jeff. His teachers piled on the homework, and finishing it filled the hours between the end of classes and dinner. After dinner, he was invited to play air hockey against a couple of his fellow track teammates. It seemed that every time he thought of calling his father about the note, he wasn't in a place where he could do so, and lights out came far sooner than he expected. "I'll call tomorrow," he promised himself. "As soon as the time zones are favorable."

Early the next morning, Alan went to breakfast with the team, and checked in with Coach Evans. The coach smiled. "Thanks for telling me about the plastic surgery. Just remember that you're still benched until your general practitioner clears you."

"Right, Coach. I remember. I just wanted to let you know what the plastic surgeon said."

When he and the coach were finished talking, Alan went back to his room. Dom was up, and on his way to breakfast.

"Hey, aren't you coming?"

Alan shook his head. "Already been, with the team. I'm going to check over my homework and see Mr. Mag before classes."

"Ah, okay." Dom nodded, understanding. "See you at lunch then!"

After fifteen minutes of staring blankly at his math homework, Alan sighed. He shook his head. "I can't concentrate," he muttered. Rising, he stuffed his book into his backpack. Then he picked up the letter from Sugi. "I'd better protect this with something." Rummaging around in his desk drawers, he found a used manila envelope. "This should do." Sliding the letter and the envelope in carefully, he folded the flap, fastened it with the still-sticky edges, and slid it into his backpack. That done, he headed off to the security office.

Mr. Magnuson wasn't there, but Officer Culp was. "You say you got this in your mailbox yesterday?"

"Yeah." Alan shuffled his feet a little. "My dad said he'd try and get a restraining order against the Sugimotos. I don't know if he's gotten one yet, but if he has, wouldn't this violate it or something?"

"It would, depending on when he got it." Mr. Culp carefully transferred the envelope and letter to a clear, plastic bag. "I haven't heard whether or not an order has been issued. Still, better safe than sorry, right?" He sealed up the bag. "I'll just put a sticker on this and let Mr. Magnuson know about it when he comes in. He might want to talk to you later."

Alan nodded. "Sure. I'll be around. Thanks for taking care of this."

Mr. Culp smiled. "You're welcome. Better head to class; you don't have much time."

Alan glanced at his watch, and stifled a curse. "You're right! Gotta go!" He waved at Officer Culp, and headed off at a sprint toward his classroom, arriving seconds before the bell sounded. Fermat glanced over as Alan dropped into his seat.

"Wh-What h-h-h... what's up?" Fermat whispered.

"Tell you later," Alan promised as Mr. Graboski rose to begin their class.

It was during Spanish class that Alan got the summons. Dr. Cambiaso, the language teacher, looked over at his open laptop and frowned. He pressed a key, then uploaded a translation exercise to the white board, and gave instructions. While the class worked on the exercise, he scribbled a quick note, then made his customary rounds of the class, peering over shoulders to correct those who were struggling. When he arrived at Alan's desk, he handed the note over.

Alan opened it. Mr. Magnuson wants to see you after classes are over. Glancing up, he said, "Gracias, Señor."

The teacher said nothing, just nodded and gave Alan's shoulder a brief squeeze before continuing down the row. Fermat glanced over, and Alan showed him the note. The younger boy sighed, shaking his head.

When the school day was done, Alan headed straight to the security office. He was surprised to find Kerry Larson, the detective who had first interviewed him, sitting across from Mr. Magnuson, and a middle-aged man he didn't recognize sitting next to her.

"Come in, Alan," Mr. Magnuson said, waving the student in. "Put your things down there, and have a seat. I think you remember Detective Larson, don't you?"

"Yeah, I do." Alan offered his hand, and the police officer took it.

"And this is Mr. Palmer Wolfe, your attorney."

Alan frowned. "I don't remember..."

Mr. Wolfe smiled at him. "Your father put a bug in Mr. Trumbull's ear, and here I am. I'm listed with the Massachusetts State Bar Association, and so I'll be representing you." He nodded toward the open laptop on Mr. Magnuson's desk. "I think you know who that is."

The security chief turned the laptop around to show Jeff, sitting in his office on Tracy Island. Alan's frown was quickly replaced with a look of surprise.

"Hello, Alan."

"Hey, Dad."

Jeff's gaze searched Alan's face, then he smiled. "You're looking better, son."

Alan's smile was more tentative, and confusion was still in his voice. "I'm feeling better. Things don't hurt as much."

"Good!" Jeff paused a beat, then said, "We're here to discuss the note you received yesterday. I wish you'd called and told me about it first."

"I'm sorry, Dad." Alan shook his head as he sat down, his expression concerned and apprehensive. "It seemed that every time I remembered to call, something else was going on and I couldn't stop." He sighed. "Besides, I was a little... um... nervous about how you'd react."

Jeff opened his mouth to say something, then paused. He huffed out a breath, and shook his head. "Never mind. We can discuss it later." Another pause, and he glanced over at the detective. "I think Detective Larson has some questions to ask, and perhaps some information for us."

"Yes, a little of both." Kerry Larson opened up her PDA, and crossed her legs at the knee. "We've had a good look at the letter you received, Alan. The school's been very helpful; they've given us samples of Lee Sugimoto's handwriting. It doesn't match what's on the letter, unfortunately. We think we have a lead on the paper; the fact that it's been cropped top and bottom means it's likely from one of the local hotels. And..." she glanced over at Jeff, "...Mr. Tracy has promised us copies of Dr. Sugimoto's handwriting."

"Ah, yes." Palmer opened his briefcase. "Here is one of the contracts Dr. Sugimoto signed for Professor Hackenbacker." He handed over a sheet of paper. "Hopefully you'll find this helpful."

"Thank you." The detective took it by a corner, and slid it into a manila envelope.

"Mr. Tracy, if this letter is indeed from Dr. Sugimoto, there's a possibility of a restraining order," Wolfe said as he closed up his case.

"You mean there isn't one?" Alan asked, sitting up suddenly.

"Not yet, Alan," Jeff explained. "Mr. Trumbull was of the opinion that one visit didn't warrant an order. But this new development... well, you heard what Mr. Wolfe said."

"Even without a restraining order, you'll be safe, Alan." Mr. Magnuson spoke up. He shifted uncomfortably behind his desk. "I know it seems that our security has been lax, but we've added new officers..."

"The fact that Dr. Sugimoto was under escort on his visit to Alan gives me an optimistic view of your security procedures, Mr. Magnuson," Jeff said firmly. "But I think the detective has something more to say."

"Yes, thank you, Mr. Tracy." Kerry turned her attention to Alan. "I'm curious, Alan. Do you have any idea of how you might help Lee Sugimoto? Any reason he'd want to talk to you?"

"I don't know," Alan admitted. "I suppose it depends on what the police have charged him with."

"Well, there are two cases, really. Yours, and the one stemming from the previous assault," Mr. Wolfe had pulled out his PDA. "He's pleaded guilty to assaulting you, as have the the other three men, so there won't be any trial." He glanced up and smiled slightly. "The judge admitted the recording into evidence, which made the difference there."

"That's good," Alan said with a relieved sigh. "I really didn't want to go through a trial or anything."

"You still may have to appear before the court, Alan," Kerry said. "It depends on the other assault and how that's going to be handled." She sat forward, keeping her eyes on Alan's face. "Why do you think Lee Sugimoto and his friends assaulted you?"

Alan's answer was quick. "Because he hated me. Hated that I was rich. Because I stood up to him and he didn't like that."

"Was there any other reason? Any other reason at all? You've mentioned 'he'. Are you talking about Lee?

"Yeah. That's who I was talking about.

Kerry frowned a bit, and made a note in her PDA. "What about the others? Can you think why they might have been in on the assault?"

This time, Alan thought carefully, then he shrugged. "I don't really know. I just figured they were helping him out."

"You didn't have any conflict with them?" she pressed.

"Well, with Steve, yeah. He wasn't very happy to be training me to throw javelin. He kept making comments..." Alan's voice trailed off as he put two and two together.

"What kind of comments, Alan?"

"About... about a rumor he'd heard." Alan's voice was soft. "Sugi... Lee, he said he'd make my life miserable because I stood up to him. I figured he started the rumor that my friend Fermat and I were... gay." He glanced up, his face bleak. "That's what you want to know, isn't it? If they attacked me because they thought I was gay."

Kerry sighed. "Yes. According to the other victim, it was the motive for the assault on him. We need to know if there's a connection. It will determine what kind of sentences the District Attorney can ask for." She looked at him expectantly. "So, what about the others? Steve made comments; did anyone else?"

Alan nodded. "Yeah. Pierce did. In front of witnesses. I didn't know the other guy – Mickey."

"So, do you feel they could have been helping Lee because they thought you were homosexual?"

"I – I don't know." Alan shook his head. "I always thought it was because of the steroid thing, because Sugi and Steve were expelled. I figured that Pierce knew it was just a rumor and he was getting his giggles from jerking my chain." He sighed, and lifted his hands. "Now, I don't know what to think."

"That's all right, son." Jeff's voice was full of encouragement and compassion. "It's okay."

"I appreciate you telling us this, Alan." Kerry made more notes in her PDA, then looked up to make eye contact with those around her, then settled her gaze on Alan again. "Back to the original question: can you think of a reason why Lee Sugimoto would want to see you? Why does he think you can help him?"

"I'm still not sure. Was he arrested for the other assault?" Alan asked.

"He's been maintaining his innocence in that incident," Kerry told them all. "But the others, Pierce and Mickey, have been pointing their fingers at him as well. Still, there's no evidence one way or the other." She shifted in her chair, and ran her stylus over her PDA's screen again. "I understand you were still his roommate at that point."

"Yeah, I was." Alan sat up straighter. "And I was thinking about that just yesterday, when I was talking to my friends about the letter."

Jeff frowned; it hurt a little that Alan had turned to his friends first, instead of his father. But that's why he's there, isn't it? So I can let go and he can stand on his own. The thought was cold comfort, and when he returned his attention to the conversation, he found he'd missed the detective's next question.

"He came in just before curfew, and his pants were all muddy and grass-stained," Alan was saying. "He saw me looking at them, and told me he'd been out tossing a football around with some friends."

"Did he tell you who the friends were?" Kerry was making more notes.

"No, and I didn't ask. He was snarky enough as it was. Told me it was really none of my business."

"I see. When was curfew?"

"Nine o'clock... no, wait! Nine-thirty. It was before... before they changed the time."

"You mentioned that his slacks were muddy and grass-stained. Were they dry? Wet?"

Alan stopped to think. "Damp. Not really wet. Not dry."

"Hm." Kerry made another note. "That was all? No other conversation? Nothing else you noticed?"

"No." Alan shook his head emphatically. "Nothing."

The detective took in a deep breath and let it out as an equally-deep sigh. "I'll give this to the District Attorney, but I don't think it'll be enough to include Lee Sugimoto in the first assault. I also don't think it'll be enough to upgrade the assault on Alan to a hate crime. There doesn't seem to be any connection between the two on that level."

"But Pierce made a comment to me, and Erik, he..." Belatedly, Alan remembered that no one at school was supposed to know who had gotten hurt.

Kerry raised an eyebrow as she turned her gaze back to Alan. "Erik? Where did you come up with that name?"

Alan shifted in his seat. He glanced at his father, who nodded slightly, encouraging him to tell what he knew. "Erik Tolbert. I heard that he was the one who got beat up. I went to visit him in the hospital, and he told me what they called him. He warned me, because he thought that the rumor might make me a target, too."

The detective was making notes again. "What kind of remark did Pierce make? And what did Erik say?"

"I don't remember exactly what Pierce said... he made a lot of cracks to me about being gay. But Erik stood up for me, made it clear that it didn't matter to him what a person's orientation was." Alan colored. "In fact, the rumor is kinda what made him want to be friends with me – that and track team. He thought I'd be someone who'd understand." He looked down at his hands. "I figured that was what made them target him."

"I see." Kerry shuffled through her notes again, highlighting some and moving others around. Finally, she looked at them for a long moment. "I'm going to upload this to the District Attorney right now. He might have a couple more questions." She smiled at the men surrounding her as she rose. "I'll head out to my car. Alan, if you could stay close until I'm done, I'd appreciate it."

"Sure. I'll wait." He rose, as did the other two men in the room, as the detective excused herself and left.

"Mr. Magnuson, I'd like to talk to my son, if it's all right with you." Jeff was lightly tapping a stylus on his desk. "I can phone him, if talking to him this way is a problem..."

"Not a problem at all, Mr. Tracy," Mr. Magnuson said. "I have some work to do in the communications center, so I'll be out of your way." He gave Jeff a grim smile. "The detective might want you handy when she returns, anyway."

"I'll wait out in the anteroom for further instructions." Mr. Wolfe was looking over his own notes, taken during Alan's interview. "Give you two some privacy."

Jeff nodded. "Thanks."

The men left, Mr. Magnuson closing the door behind him. Jeff put the stylus down. Alan pulled his chair close to the desk so he could face his father squarely.

"You did well, Alan. You weren't afraid to speak up." He shook his head. "It would have been better to leave your friend out of it, but it seems there may be more of a connection between the two attacks than previously thought."

"Yeah." Alan made a face. "If they hadn't been caught, I wonder who would have been next. Fermat? He was part of the rumor, too."

"Just be thankful they were caught, and are in jail. They can't hurt anyone else." Jeff made a mental shift, dismissing the previous subject. "Speaking of Fermat, I've made an appointment with Dr. Gupta to see you and him on Thursday. He's got a practice in Pittsfield, and was the doctor on duty when Fermat broke his arm. I'll make arrangements for a car to pick you both up after classes. Who knows? Fermat might get rid of his cast, and you might be cleared for track again."

Alan's face lit up. "That'd be great, Dad. I know Fermat's itching to get rid of that cast."

Jeff laughed. "I'm sure he is. Has he tried using a ruler yet?"

"I don't know. I'll have to ask. Maybe we can find him some chopsticks," Alan said with a lopsided grin.

"Yeah, those would probably work." Jeff's smile was warm as he asked, "So, how is school going? Getting caught up on your homework?"

"Yeah, I guess so. Being benched has its advantages that way. Though Zave told me I should go to breakfast with the team. I did that this morning." Alan shrugged. "If Dr. Gupta clears me for sports, then I can practice with the team next week and maybe help with equipment at the meet this Saturday. It's an away game." He grinned again. "I can hardly wait to get back. It'll make things feel right again."

Jeff's smile widened. It was good to see Alan's attitude change, to see him back to his old self. The ordeal occasioned by this assault wasn't over, but he knew his son, knew his resilience. Alan would be all right; Jeff was sure of it.

"So, how's everyone at home? Did John get back upstairs okay?" Alan asked.

"Yes, he did. Things are quiet here, actually, which probably means that Gordon's gearing up for some spectacular prank. Tin-Tin seems glad to be home; I offered to pay for her schooling elsewhere, but Kyrano and Onaha feel she'd be better off with the satellite program she was using before."

"That's too bad," Alan said. "I mean, things didn't go so well for her in England, but she did make some friends and she'll miss that. Just like I'd have missed my friends if I'd stayed to be home educated." He smiled slightly. "Thanks, Dad, for not letting me have my way."

"Now that's something I'd never thought I'd hear."

Before they could continue, the detective returned, and Palmer Wolfe followed her into the office. She sat down again, and Alan turned his chair to face her.

"The District Attorney is grateful for the information you've provided, Alan," Kerry began. "It'll help with connecting the dots on how Pierce and Mickey discovered Erik's alleged orientation. But it doesn't really help us nail Lee. He's maintaining his innocence, and to be frank, Erik can't give us any solid identification."

"Yeah. He told me what happened." Alan cocked his head. "Though I'm surprised he couldn't recognize Sugi's voice. I mean, we were all on the track team together."

"That's what has been keeping us from charging Lee." The detective had her PDA out again. "Erik was a freshman, and admits he wasn't with the team very long. That makes it difficult for him to give us any idea of who beat him up. We're going with the recording you provided to charge Mickey and Pierce."

"Doesn't their testimony put Lee at the scene of this first assault?" Wolfe asked.

"But there's no external corroboration," Kerry explained. "With the fact that a deadly weapon may have been involved – the perps deny using a gun on Erik – the DA needs more evidence before this comes to trial." She glanced between father, son, and lawyer, then back at the son. "Alan, Lee Sugimoto thinks he needs you for some reason. He sent his father to talk to you, and probably asked him to send that note to you, asking for your help. We have to know why he thinks this, how he expects you to help him. It may make all the difference in whether or not we can charge him with assaulting Erik, and what his punishment will be for attacking you." She took a deep breath. "The district attorney has asked me to ask you: would you help us by visiting and speaking with Lee Sugimoto?"