Free Fahey's Flaw by Jenna Byrnes Page B

at him then turned back to the son. “It’s okay. I understand that this is difficult for you. But we really need to know what happened last night, even if it is embarrassing.”
    Sam caught Wynn’s eye. “It’s not embarrassing for me, exactly, but… I guess I can tell you. Jesse was giving Ben crap about being gay. He didn’t use those words, his were much worse.”
    The father’s face clouded. “Ben was gay? How does a kid know at that age?”
    “Dad.” Sam rolled his eyes.
    Wynn wanted to do the same thing, but resisted. He looked at Sam. “So Jesse was bullying Ben, is that what I understand?”
    “Sort of. Calling him names and stuff.”
    “Negative gay names?” Wynn asked.
    Sam nodded.
    “How did the drugs come about?”
    The boy glanced at his father nervously then replied, “Jesse dared Ben. He said if he wanted to prove he wasn’t a fag he’d try them.”
    “Ah, Jesus!” Mr. Robinson exclaimed.
    Wynn scrubbed a hand over his face. “Nice. So Ben was supposed to prove how manly he was by doing a drug that had the potential to kill him. Which did, in fact, kill him.”
    “Why did you take it, Sam?” His father looked stricken.
    “I’m not gay, Dad. I was just going along with the guys. Jesse said it would get us high for a couple of hours. He never bothered to mention what could happen.”
    “So what did happen?” Wynn prompted. “How did you ingest it?”
    “Jesse sprinkled it on our pizza. I didn’t have much on mine. I think he gave Ben the most.”
    “Judging by the results,” Mel murmured softly.
    Wynn had a harder time controlling his anger. “Because that’s what the gay kid deserved, right?” He tried to calm himself down by remembering that Connor had not been there. Connor is okay . Yet the bullies and the drugs were still out there. What might happen the next time?
    “I’m sorry, Mr. Fahey,” Sam said. “I never felt that way. Ben and Connor are my friends. Were my friends.”
    Wynn took a deep breath and blew it out. “Con still is, as long as you’ve learned your lesson from this and won’t be experimenting with drugs anymore.”
    “Oh, no, sir! This was awful. I never even got high. I felt jumpy and my heart started racing. Then I felt like I needed to get outside and get some air. That’s when Ben’s parents found out. They were not happy.”
    “Do you blame them?” his father asked.
    “No.” Sam looked down.
    “One more question,” Wynn said. “Do you know where Jesse got the drugs? Did he mention a name, anybody at all? Someone at school or on the outside?”
    Sam shook his head. “No names, but one time he mentioned his brother buying weed. So maybe he got the stuff from him.”
    “Do you know his brother’s name, and how old he is?”
    “His name is Jake. He’s in high school. I think he’s about seventeen.”
    “Does he go to St. Sebastian’s?”
    “Yes.”
    “Okay, Sam. You take it easy and get some rest. Thank you.” Wynn nodded to him and his father.
    He led Mel out and closed the door, then they glanced at each other.
    She frowned. “He never even got high! Sounded kinda disappointed about it, if you ask me. I hope he’s not really going to remain one of Con’s friends.”
    “No fucking way,” Wynn muttered. “The more I know about these people, the more I want to home-school my kid.”
    “Ha!” She smiled. “I’d pay to see that.”
    “Well, not me exactly. Someone who knows how to teach. They could come to my house and keep him safe and protected from all the bigotry and bullshit out there.”
    “Good luck with that,” Mel said softly.
    “I know, right?” Wynn smiled.
    They approached Jesse Morgan’s room and Wynn knocked on the door.
    “Come in,” a woman called.
    He opened it and stepped inside. “Mr. and Mrs. Morgan? I’m Detective Fahey with the KCPD, and this is my partner Detective Riggs.”
    “Our son isn’t up to many questions, Detective,” the mother replied.
    “We’ll keep it brief,” he