Free Frozen Past by Richard C Hale

closeness between them. He spotted, more than once, whispers and giggles among their friends and even a few evil looks from some of the other girls, but for the most part, his eyes were only on her. She had slept a little better on Sunday night and so had he. She looked beautiful with her short hair pulled back in a red band and her blue eyes clear and bright. He whispered to her that he really wanted to kiss her here in front of everyone and she smiled and turned red.
    “Well, why don’t you, Mr. Harrison?”
    “I think I will, Miss Pemberton,” and he plopped one on her right there in the cafeteria. It was cool.
    Luke, Jimmy, and John walked her home from the bus stop, keeping to the plan of sticking together. Patrick, who still looked pissed asked, “What the hell are you guys doing with my sister?”
    “I’m walking her home,” Luke said, “and they’re with me.”
    “What are you guys? Stupid or something?”
    “Shut up, Patrick,” Ellie said.
    He laughed at them but didn’t push it.
    They dropped Ellie off, and as they turned into their court, they saw the cop, Jaxon, and the woman, talking to Ralph and his sister. They were showing him a picture. They looked up at Luke and seemed to dismiss Ralph while they turned and walked to their car. They got in and drove off without a second glance.
    “Hey Ralph!” Luke yelled. “Wait up!”
    Luke, John, and Jimmy jogged up to Ralph and his sister and Luke asked, “What were they doing?”
    “Asking us a bunch of questions,” Ralph said.
    “Like what?” John asked.
    “Did we notice anything weird or any weird people around lately, and did we see anything at the pool that was strange or suspicious?”
    “What else?”
    “They showed us a picture of a boy and asked if we knew him or recognized him, but we didn’t.”
    “Did they ask anything about us?” Luke asked.
    “No. Why?”
    “Nothing,” John said. “See ya’.”
    Ralph looked at them funny but didn’t say anything more. They walked the rest of the way home, slogging through the slush in the road and Luke said goodbye as Jimmy and John turned into their house. Luke’s dad was waiting for him at the top of the drive and he looked angry. Oh crap, Luke thought. Now what?
    Luke and his dad had an ordered relationship at best. His dad ordered him around and he did whatever he was told. He learned a long time ago not to question his father. It didn’t go well when he did.
    “Hey, Dad,” Luke offered as he made his way up the icy drive.
    “What kind of crap have you boys been up to?” his dad asked.
    “We’ve been at school.”
    He gave Luke a look that said, ‘Don’t take me for an idiot.’ “I’ve been watching those two cops for the last hour and they stopped every kid coming home except you four. As a matter of fact, they almost ran off when they saw you. What the hell is going on?”
    Luke hesitated for a second, then said, “I don’t know, Dad. Maybe they got the information they needed.”
    “What do you know about this boy in the pool?”
    “Nothing.”
    “Who was he?”
    “I don’t know. Nobody at school knows.”
    His father eyeballed him and he tried to keep eye contact but finally had to look away.
    “You seemed awfully nervous when you saw the cops at our house.”
    “Everybody gets nervous around cops,” Luke said.
    “But how did you know they were cops? They could’ve been anybody visiting your mother and I.”
    “I recognized the one from Ellie’s dog and the pool. The woman was at the pool too.”
    His dad frowned, and then said, “You had better not be lying to me. This is serious stuff and you could get yourself into big trouble. Now, get on in and get your homework done.”
    Luke nodded and went into the house relieved the confrontation was over. His dad could usually see right through him. Maybe he was getting better at lying or his dad was willing to let it go for now.
     
    * * *
     
    The next day Luke was at Ellie’s house watching TV in her