High School Hockey Boys

19

"Hello?" I said as I answered the phone.

"Hey, Fin."

"James?"

"Yeah. Your number was the only one I could remember. Could you and Mom come down to the police station?" He asked.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine, I just need you guys down here," he said.

"Okay. We'll be there soon."

With that the call cut off and I sat on Harper's bed, mildly shocked. James was at the police station. Why? Harper was looking at me silently, waiting for me to say anything.

"Do you think you could ask your dad if he'd drop me off at the police station? I need to call my mom."

"Uh, sure," she said and climbed out of the bed.

Once the door closed and I heard Harper walk away from the door I pulled up my mom's contact and pressed 'call'. I listened to the phone ring for a couple of seconds before the sound of the line connecting was heard.

"Finley? I'm at work," Mom said a little hurriedly.

"I know, and I'm sorry. But James is at the police station for some reason and he called to ask us to meet him there."

There was silence on the other end as she processed what I said. I heard muttering on her end and figured she was either talking to a coworker or her boss. Harper came back in while I waited for Mom to come back to the phone. She sat beside me and nodded to tell me her dad would drive me down.

"I won't be able to get of work for another hour," she told me.

"That's fine. I have a ride. I'll see you soon."

We said our goodbyes and hung up. I released a shocked sigh and sat in place for another minute. Harper asked if I wanted her to come with me and I told her I would be fine on my own. I pulled myself out of the warm covers and we walked down to the main hall together.

Mr. Stevens and I got ready to leave together. I swung my backpack onto my shoulder, then gave Harper a hug goodbye.

"I'll see you tomorrow," I said as I walked out the door.

She waved, and then the door was closed. Mr. Stevens didn't ask me why I needed to go to the station and I appreciated it. I didn't have an answer anyway. On the drive over I wondered what could of possibly happened to land James with the police. He didn't know anyone in Arnam outside of my family and friends. He kept to himself and wasn't a troublemaker. So what on earth happened?

I thanked Harper's dad for the ride and stepped out into the freezing January evening. I hustled to the station's door and once I was inside, I stood there for a minute. There was a collection of navy vinyl chairs off to the left that looked more or less like a waiting room. To my right was a short hall with two washrooms, and a little farther in along the right wall was a reception desk. But no James.

I paused, hesitating about walking over to it. There were a few officers hanging around it, chatting with each other and the officer manning the computer behind it.

"Do you need help, miss?" A voice asked.

I jumped and looked over. On my left was a young female officer looking at me carefully.

"Um, I'm looking for my brother," I said quietly. "He said he was here."

"Does your brother have a name?" The officer asked kindly.

"James Masterson."

"Alright, well, let's go ask Donny."

I followed the woman up to the reception and stood quietly behind her as she asked 'Donny' to look up James' name on the computer. There was a slightly awkward moment as we waited for their program to load.