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CHAPTER NINE

THE AKANAS

Ken and Amy hurry into the restaurant. Between waiting for the tow truck and finding a garage to repair their slashed tires, they’re more than an hour late for the dinner and Ken’s feeling anxious about it. He despises tardiness. In his courtroom, he fines lawyers $100 for every minute they’re late for an appearance. Few have been late since he started the practice. Lawyers respond better to the stick than the carrot.

Ken looks around The Hut. It’s a small place and it’s packed for Parents Weekend. He searches through the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of his daughter’s beaming smile. But he doesn’t see Libby.

He feels the skin-prickling sense of eyes on him. The media frenzy has died down since the Rock Nelson verdict, but he still draws attention. He wouldn’t admit it out loud, but it was fun at first, getting recognized. Though it quickly grew unsettling. The stares, the requests for selfies, which he always politely declines. And some of Rock Nelson’s fans were intense. He wonders how real celebrities deal with it all.

Amy points to a sign that says that the capstone dinner is on the patio. They make their way to the covered outdoor dining area and it’s even more crowded. Loud with chatter and laughter. Parents and students drinking beer and playing Jenga and other games on the long tables.

Ken spies a table with a sign for CAMPISI HALL . As they approach, the other parents smile. A few stand to shake hands.

That’s when Ken notices it. Everyone at the table is a parent.

Their kids are nowhere to be seen.