The Third Victim Part 61

"Did you talk to Charlie Kenyon?" Mann asked curiously.

"Was Charlie involved?"

"We talked to him." Rainie regarded him coolly. The more she tried to study the counselor, the less she knew what to think.

"I'm afraid that's a dead end, though, Mr. Mann. Charlie doesn't appear to be involved."

"Really? I was so sure .. .." Mann's face fell. He sighed heavily, then rubbed his face. That quickly, he looked haggard, and Rainie was shocked to realize that he was much more upset than she'd realized.

"I'm having real issues with this," he said abruptly.

"What kind of issues, Mr. Mann?" Quincy inquired.

"I've been turning things over and over in my mind, and I just can't see Danny instigating a murder. And not just because I'm his counselor and I feel guilty. It's more.. .. Yes, Danny had rage issues." The counselor made a groping motion with his hands, as if searching for better words. "But physical action just isn't his style. Danny's a computer geek, not a schoolyard bully. If he was angry with the school or even authority figures in general, I could see him doing something sophisticated. Maybe hacking into the school's databases and giving everyone straight As. Or working his way into the DMV computers and revoking Princ.i.p.al VanderZanden's license. Something clever. I just ... I just can't see him resorting to murder."

"Danny was raised with guns," Rainie said.

"He's as comfortable with them as he is with computers."

"I guess." Mann, however, didn't look convinced.

"What about Mr. Avalon?"

"He claimed the body," Rainie said.

"It appears he's planning services for his daughter."

"Oh." Mann appeared surprised again.

"I guess I heard wrong. Isn't Melissa an only child? How horrible for her parents."

Rainie nodded, but her attention was already beginning to drift.

Richard Mann knew as little as she'd suspected in the beginning. No doubt he'd thought to make up for his guilt or, h.e.l.l, make up for his youth by appearing to be some kind of expert. But in the end he was simply one more overwhelmed public servant caught with his pants down.

Basically, he was like her.

"We have reason to believe someone else was involved in the shootings,"

Quincy said abruptly.

"Really?" Mann's brows shot up, just as Rainie gave Quincy the evil eye. She didn't see the need for him to be giving up this kind of information.

"So I was right! Danny wouldn't do such a thing. But who, then?

Another student? I don't remember Danny talking about anyone in particular. He didn't have many friends in school. You know, though, there's still this Volcano person from on-line. Internet relations.h.i.+ps can be very powerful."

"We think the contact might have been more than over the Internet, Mr.

Mann. We think Danny might have also met No Lava in person. Would you know anything about that?"

Rainie nearly stepped on Quincy's foot to shut him up. What the h.e.l.l was he doing? But Quincy's gaze was still boring into Richard Mann's.

He looked like a hound dog on a scent.

"Oh no," the school counselor said quickly, his gaze dropping.

"I never heard mention of that."

"Really? That's odd," Quincy mused out loud, "Here you are seeing this child twice a week. You know he's getting e-mails from someone, but he never mentions seeing him in person? And you never pried?"

Richard Mann began to squirm.

"Do you own a gun?" Rainie piped up, finally catching on.

"How tall are you, Richard? Five-ten, five-eleven? Yep, that would fit."

"That would fit? What?"

Rainie turned casually to Quincy.

"Didn't he say he's from L.A.? Chances are, he knows more about guns than you and I put together."

"I don't know anything about guns! Frankly, all L.A. taught me was to be wary of loud noises. Why are you two looking at me like that? What is this about?"

"Someone else shot Miss Avalon," Rainie said, flatly.

"We have hard evidence she was killed by someone who's at least five-foot-six. Where were you again Tuesday afternoon? And what was the exact nature of your relations.h.i.+p with Melissa?"

"You think I ' "I thought you'd be happy. You said it broke your heart to think of one of your students committing murder. Well, now you can rest easy." Rainie's voice went hard.

"Tuesday afternoon. Where were you, Richard?"

"In my office, like I said. This is nuts! Every time I try to help '

"Did Danny ever mention meeting someone in person?" Quincy continued relentlessly.

"A new friend. Someone from out of town."

"I don't remember ' "No Lava, Mr. Mann. You knew Danny was getting e-mails. And you suspected more, didn't you? Danny said all

something that made you wonder, but you never told anyone. You never told anyone and now you're afraid. You messed up. You were his counselor and you failed him."

Richard Mann had started panting. Beads of sweat covered his upper lip.

"I...!...".

Quincy leaned forward. He was firmly in control, and now he said with a trace of steel, "You're standing one hundred feet from the graves of two murdered children, Mr. Mann. You helped bury them today. You said prayers for them today. Help us solve their murders. Finally tell us the truth."

The school counselor shuddered. His gaze darted all around them, looking for escape, but there was none. There was just him and two law-enforcement officers and the secret truth Quincy had finally ferreted out from the dark corners of Mann's conscience. Richard Mann looked up. He was clearly ashamed.

"He didn't say enough for me to do anything with it," he murmured.

"I swear, if I'd known what was going to happen ' "Spit it out," Rainie ordered.