Elliot had no idea what time it was when he finally got home. The afternoon had been an endless stream of one meeting after another, with scared kids and angry parents, security and the school counselor. It had been dark outside a long time when he was finally allowed to leave. His predictions about the snow had come true, and he’d trudged through gray slush to the bus stop.
He’d intended to call Mick while he waited for the bus to arrive, only to notice that the battery on his phone was dead. He’d cursed thoughtless kids, the sluice penetrating his shoes making his feet wet and miserable, short-lived cell phone batteries, and the world in general.
Mick would be worried. They had dinner reservations, and he would know something was wrong when Elliot didn’t show up as agreed. Elliot was t
