Page 129 of What Boys Learn

“You look good,” Robert said to Ewan—one liar to another—while I stayed off-screen to avoid getting our call shut down.

“You too, dude. How’s work?”

“Changing careers, actually.”

From jobs they segued into sports, and then Ewan started talking about the appeal he planned to make, in relation to his conviction for assaulting the prison dentist, which would require a lawyer and tons of money, of course.

“You think my sister would help with that?”

“Not likely. But speaking of,” Robert said, then went conspicuously quiet.

Ewan cocked his head. I could tell he’d picked up on Robert’s silent message. In the corner of the screen, a timer had been running down from fifteen minutes; now only five minutes remained.

“Here’s a question,” Robert said, glancing my way to remind me to stay quiet and let him lead. Ewan focused, lips tighter, eyebrows lifted with anticipation. We were alleviating his boredom, at the very least.

“Your frequent visitor,” Robert said. “We need to find him. Do you have any idea where he might be?”

Ewan answered quickly, like he was on a game show and determined to win. “Menkoka, near Madison, or Fond du Lac. Those are my best guesses.”

“Okay. But we need an address. Not for Fond du Lac. We’ve got that one—”

“Not the father’s house. He sold it.”

I nodded, satisfied. He knew things, and he didn’t seem hell-bent on pulling our legs from the start.

Robert said, “We could use help narrowing it down. Did your visitor explain what he planned to do . . . on his vacation?”

“Just more of what he usually does. Coaching. Teaching. Young men, especially. Fresh meat.” Ewan moved closer to the screen, head angled down, so his forehead and eyes looked too wide. “I tried to warn you in my letters. Why didn’t you listen when I said someone was asking questions about you?”

I pulled my chin into my chest, feeling suddenly vulnerable, my gut still remembering the punches he’d land if I wasn’t careful.

“I wasn’t supposed to tell,” he said. “But if you’d come in person, if you’d cared, I could have told you that someone was asking about Benjamin. I could have told you to be more careful about the men you let into your life. What do you say about that?”

We both knew the call might get cut off if I answered him.

Remembering his role, Robert said, “So, you’re saying that we’ve been missing some important information.”

“Not my fault.” Ewan grinned, lips split wide enough that I could see two molars missing, behind his right canine. Fight probably. Or maybe just rot. “About the appeal . . .”

“Yeah, maybe we can help with that. Especially if we sort out some other things. Get the family back together, first.”

“I know my sister has money—”

“Dude.” Robert’s voice changed. He’d dropped the roleplaying voice. “I’m serious. I’ll pay for your lawyer myself, if we can just get through this week with no damage. I care about this kid. With your help, we can find him. Then I’ll take care of the bill.”

“Your ‘career change’ will allow that?”

“I’ll sell my condo if I have to.”

“Swear on . . . oh, I don’t know. What should we swear on, Robert? You fail me and the Cubs never win another World Series?”

Robert answered with more patience than I could have managed. “I’m talking man-to-man, here. I’m making a pledge. We get everyone home safe, and you get a lawyer.”

Ewan sat back in his chair. “Well, we have an arrangement, then!”

Robert nodded, with a grim smile that said he was calm but still meant business. “We need a location.”

“I’d like an apology,” Ewan said primly. “A real one.”