Retaliation

Questions

He waited patiently for the kid to stop crying, and when he did he wiped his eyes on his sleeve.

Then looked at Ruiz, he had a disappointed look on his face, like all he wanted to do was disappear.

What had he said to Zack that made it seem as if he was at fault for it? Was it that bad?

"You ready to tell me what you warned him about?" Ruiz asked.

Todd just nodded, "I am."

"Good, now tell me."

"The last time I saw Zack was two weeks ago, I waited for him at the top of the stairs. I told him that he had better watch his back because Angelo and Blaze had been talking crazy."

"How crazy?" Ruiz asked.

"Crazy as in they were going to pull something real risky on him." Todd seemed to look troubled and Ruiz had a feeling that he wasn't telling him the whole truth.

"How well did you know Zack?"

"He used to be my friend, and so I know all there is to know about him. From his favorite things to do and all his dislikes."

"Okay, but I want to know. Now answer this truthfully, why did you stop being friends with Zack?" Ruiz stared at Todd and that seemed to make him uncomfortable because he started fidgeting in his seat.

"Because...Angelo and Blaze told us that if we stayed friends with Zack. They would beat us up and make our lives a living hell." Todd looked down at his lap.

Ruiz nodded, he knew that normal behavior. Kids grew older and if they noticed one of their friends to be the black sheep of the group, they would kick them out, all because they were different from the rest.

Anyone who didn't like it had to leave too.

To Ruiz he felt that kids were jerks, yeah he used to be a kid too. But what set him apart from most was that he was courteous and nice to everyone he met.

He had things that a kid in high school would want: girls, popularity, the looks.

Everything, but he never saw the point of bullying others especially if they were different.

"Angelo and Blaze bullied Zack huh?" Ruiz asked.

Todd didn't answer, but he didn't have to hear him say it to know that his hunch was correct.

He was going to let it rest but then he decided that he actually needed him to say it in some way, he wasn't accusing Angelo and Blaze of the murder. That would just be absurd, he didn't have any evidence. But he had to at least see if Todd would tell him.

"Did they? Todd, did they bully Zack, or were you a part of it?"

"I'm done with us, let me leave right now!" Todd was on his feet his backpack in his hand.

"Okay."

Todd looked at him suspiciously but he didn't bother saying anything else, he just walked out the door. He heard Cranfield ask where he was going, Todd had muttered something and the door closed after him.

Cranfield came into the office looking at him in bewilderment.

"You just let him walk away?" Cranefield had closed the door and he heard the remaining boys start to converse with another.

"I did." Ruiz stood up out of the chair.

"Why?"

"Because I can't keep a student away from class no matter the situation. I know how to do my job and I asked him the questions that needed to be asked, and I'm sure he's old enough to tell me if he'd like to talk more. But he didn't so I can't keep him here, it's not an interrogation." Ruiz looked at Cranefield, Cranfield looked back at him then gave a curt nod before walking out without another word.