The Silent Confession

Chapter Nine

"Forget about it, Nancy," Clayton said. "I won't be here much longer anyway. Mr. Richardson found me out and I need to leave." He turned towards the door, looking back at Nancy one last time. "Although, it was nice meeting you. Maybe we'll see one another again sometime."

Nancy sat at the dinner table, staring at the glass doors Kelsey and Frank had just exited from. Too many thoughts were racing through her head, but the thoughts also fueled her to move forward.

Was Clayton responsible for Mr. Smithers' condition? What motive could Clayton possibly have if he had nothing to do with the convention?

"I'll be right back," Nancy said to Joe and Fenton, making her way across the dining room to find Mr. Richardson, who spoke to a group of detectives. Nancy waited for their conversation to subside before stepping in.

"Mr. Richardson, could I speak with you for a moment?"

The wealthy man turned to Nancy. "Of course, Nancy. Please, excuse me, gentleman."

The two walked to a private corner of the dining room. "Mr. Richardson," Nancy said. "Has Clayton been found?"

"No," he responded. "However, I do have some information on the boy, if you're interested."

Nancy nodded, eager to learn the truth.

Mr. Richardson lowered his voice. "The police identified him as an imposter named Jason Reynolds. He has a criminal record, Nancy."

She frowned. For some reason, she was hoping that wouldn't be the case. The evidence was stacking up against Clayton. "What's on his record?"

"Misdemeanors. Public intoxication, theft, trespassing, vandalism. It's possible he was involved in gang activity, but that has yet to be confirmed. However, there may be one connection between his past and the explanation he gave you."

"What's that?"

"Interestingly, Jason's father was a police officer in New York, but he passed a few months ago. It's possible that Mr. Brown may have invited Jason's father to the convention, but I will need to speak with him privately about that."

"That would explain how Clayton knew about the convention," Nancy added. "He told me he wanted to find his father. Wouldn't he know if his father has passed?"

Mr. Richardson shrugged. "I'm not sure what's going on in that boy's mind, but I will feel much better when the police track him down." He took a sip of his drink. "Please let me know if you learn anything more."

"Of course," she said, watching as Mr. Richardson walked away.

Nancy sighed, confusing questions wrapping around her mind. Although it was unlike her to place emotions over logic, she ached with sympathy. Nancy had lost her mother at a young age, leaving a piece of her feeling lost. Perhaps Clayton's childhood had been a dark one, leaving him feeling lost in a way Nancy couldn't quite understand.

At the end of the day, these thoughts didn't make Clayton any less dangerous, and they also didn't answer any of her questions.

Nancy returned to the dinner table to join Joe and Fenton just as Kelsey and Frank entered the dining room.

"Nancy!" Kelsey said, approaching the table. "We have to talk. In private."

"We do?"

"We do," Frank added, holding up one of the rocks from Alvin Brixton's clue. "These came in handy tonight."

Joe's face lit up. "You found the next clue?"

"Keep your voice down, Joe," Fenton said in a whisper. "You're lucky I'm not participating in the mystery this year."