Page 102 of Antagonist

Pete rubs his short scruff. “Tell me everything you did that day.”

I run through the day. The treasure hunt, Fran showing up, going home, and then getting a call from Ellis.

“So you weren’t with him from the time you left the cabin until Ellis called you.”

“No, but our journey to Stillwater was the same. How could he have time to plan all this? Pete, you can’t be serious, can you?”

My voice is all but desperate. I know Fletcher didn’t do anything. This is a setup. “Pete, you need to check on that phone number, find out where the video came from.”

“Harrison, you know better than to tell me how to do my job.”

I raise my hands. “I’m sorry, Pete. You know I don’t mean to.”

“Just as long as we’re clear.”

I nod.

“Pete,” Fletcher says with a broken voice. “I don’t know how to prove to you that I went straight home from the cabin. George was with me the whole time. We unpacked and had showers, and then George went to bed. Harrison came a little while after and spent the night.”

“There are many people with paint-stained jeans,” Principal Lewis says after watching the video.

“How many have a connection to the school?” Karina asks.

“Fletcher, wasn’t all your paint already in the store building?” the principal asks.

“Yes, they arrived the Friday before, so I dropped them in there when I picked up George. There were a lot of cans, and I didn’t have room for them at my place.”

“Pete, this needs a thorough investigation,” the principal says before turning to the rest of us. “Please take your kids and go home. I’d ask you to keep this conversation between these walls to aid Pete’s investigation.”

“You’re not going to arrest Fletcher?” Karina says.

Stella rolls her eyes and stands to leave.

“That’s not how investigations work, Mrs. Brunel,” Pete says.

Principal Lewis lets out a long sigh when they’re all gone. “I’m getting too old for this shit.”

“We’re really sorry for this mess. All we wanted was to put together a Spring Fair they'll love and remember,” I say.

“I know, Harrison. It will still be a great fair, and the kids will remember it for a long time to come. I’m sure of it.”

We leave the office just as the bell rings. Within seconds, we’re surrounded by children running everywhere, teachers telling them to walk, and I’m hit with school bags more times than I can count.

“Daddy!”

We turn around and see George waving. He runs over to Fletcher, who crouches to give him a hug.

“Hey, bud. Good day?”

George nods.

Little arms wrap tight around my waist. “Help, I’m under attack! Get it off, get it off,” I cry.

“It’s only me, Daddy,” Megan says.

“Oh, phew, what a relief.”

I pick her up and tickle her tummy until she’s wriggling to get down.