Free Damaged by Lisa Scottoline

shook his head, no.
    â€œWas anyone else around the time that he pushed you against the wall?”
    Patrick shook his head, no, again.
    â€œWhere did this take place, the first time?”
    â€œIn a room near the classroom at school.”
    â€œAnd the second time, was it the same place or a different place?”
    â€œThe same place.”
    â€œWhat room was this?”
    â€œI don’t know. It had cleaning machines.”
    Officer Lee consulted her notepad. “Now, I understand that the time he hit you in the face, that was on Wednesday, on September the 16. Does that sound like the right day to you?”
    Patrick shrugged. “I don’t know.”
    Officer Lee continued, “Well, let’s try and figure it out. How many days were between the first time and the second time Mr. Robertson hurt you?”
    â€œLike a few days.” Patrick flushed again. “He doesn’t like me. He says I’m stupid and retarded and I don’t know how to read.”
    Officer Lee frowned. “That’s not very nice. It’s mean to call people names, and I’m sure you know how to read.”
    Mary bit her tongue. Before she practiced special-education law, she would have assumed that all fifth-graders could read, too. Edward looked down, linking his hands in his lap.
    Officer Lee cleared her throat, in a final way. “Well, that’s all the questions I have for you, Patrick. You’re a very brave boy and you did the right thing, talking to us today.”
    Patrick flushed. “Mr. Robertson told me not to say anything. He told me if I told anybody what he did that he would kill me. He said he would kill me and he would kill my grandfather. He would kill my whole family.”
    Officer Lee frowned. “You don’t have to worry about that. We’re not going to let him do that. He’s just being a bully.”
    â€œWould you guard our house? I don’t want him to kill us.”
    â€œWe’ll keep an eye on you both. You don’t have to worry about that.”
    â€œMy Pops says, ‘don’t be a tattle-tale.’”
    At that, Edward looked up. “That’s only something I say, that’s what my mother always said. I told him that when he was little.”
    Officer Lee nodded. “Of course, Mr. O’Brien, we understand. There’s a generational difference here, and times have changed, especially with respect to school violence.” She turned to face Patrick and leaned over toward him. “Patrick, that is not the way things are anymore.”
    â€œThe sixth-graders say, ‘snitches get stitches.’”
    â€œI know, but they’re wrong,” Officer Lee said, in a new Mom-tone. “You mentioned the terrorists before, remember? Did you ever hear people say, ‘If you see something, say something?’”
    Patrick nodded, yes.
    â€œWell, that’s the right thing. Saying something is the right thing, always. If a bad thing happens, or if you see a bad thing, you have to tell the teacher. Or your grandfather.”
    Patrick nodded, yes, but started sucking his lip again.
    â€œGood, thank you, Patrick.” Officer Lee flipped her notebook closed and stood up, returning it to her back pocket. “Mr. O’Brien and Ms. DiNunzio, thanks.”
    â€œFolks, thank you very much.” Officer Muniz rose, putting his notebook away. “Patrick, you did the right thing today. I’m proud of you.”
    â€œThank you,” Patrick said in his polite way, looking up at Edward for approval, but Edward was already rising and walking stiffly to the door.
    â€œOfficers, let me show you out, and thank you very much for your time.” Edward reached the door and opened it wide.
    Mary got up, but stayed with Patrick. “Thank you, Officers,” she called to them.
    â€œYou’re welcome.” Officer Lee stopped at the door. “Call the Philadelphia Children’s Alliance. They