Code of Silence: Living a Lie Comes With a Price (36 page)

C
ooper heard someone swear. “Get me something to pry open this door.”

He tried to think. If they got the door open, it was all over. Staying low, he reached into his pocket and dug out the phone, now silent.

Where is Hammer?

Someone tugged at the door again. “Together now. Heave!”

A sliver of light came through.

No! God, please, save us!
Cooper flipped open the phone.

“Slip that pipe in there.”

The sound of metal on metal—
they have their pry bar in place.

“We’re g-going to d-die!” Lunk’s voice came in a choked whisper.

Cooper missed the button. Cleared it out. Tried again. Pushed SEND.

“On three, two, one—HEAVE!”

The wedge of light widened, then with a loud snapping noise, the room flooded with light.

Lunk clutched onto him. Cooper dropped the phone and held him right back. Too late for phone calls now.

He heard a phone ring—in the doorway.

“You rang?” Hammer’s voice. “Cooper—you okay?”

Cooper looked at Lunk and smiled. “We’re o-okay. Frozen, but okay.”

He stood and squinted into the light. Detective Hammer never looked so good. And other policemen in deep blue uniforms. Here to protect and serve. And save.

“Let’s get you out of there.” Hammer pulled a box off the makeshift barrier wall, handed it to a cop behind him and pulled off another to make a narrow pass-through.

Lunk squeezed through first, with Cooper following on shaky legs. The insulated door looked like a screen door now. The bullet holes riddled the door from top to bottom. The robbers obviously weren’t taking any chances.

Hammer inspected the wall of frozen hotdogs. “Did you two build that wall of wieners?”

Lunk threw an arm around Cooper’s shoulders. “That was my buddy’s idea. Tying the door shut too.”

“Brilliant.” Hammer squinted and cocked his head to one side. “Saved your lives.”

“And I’ll never forget it,” Lunk said.

“Detective Hammer,” Cooper said. “Frank Mustacci needs protection. He guessed who was behind the robbery. That’s why they tried to kill him.”

“I got a call from a couple of your friends right after you called me. Two of my boys are already with Frank.”

Relief swept through him, but he instantly tensed. “Hiro and Gordy—they’re the ones who called—they need protection too.”

“Not anymore.” Hammer pointed out the front window. “The two dirtbags who shot up this place are sitting in one of the squad cars out front. Nasty characters, both of them.”

“You sure you got the right guys?”

“Oh, yeah.” Hammer smiled. “One of them had a latex Elvis mask in his pocket.”

Lunk strained to look past them. “What about Mr. Stein?”

“We’ll get him. He won’t get far.”

“He had this beautiful place.” Lunk looked around the kitchen.

Hammer put a hand on Lunk’s shoulder. “Seems Joseph Stein liked the casinos better.”

Lunk still seemed to be in a state of disbelief. “So he robbed his own store.”

Hammer shrugged. “For him, it was the perfect solution. He just didn’t figure on witnesses.” He clapped Cooper on the back.

Several officers moved aside so a team of paramedics carrying medical cases could get through. Cooper recognized one of them instantly. The guy from the Rolling Meadows fire station who always waved when Cooper rode by.

“Hi,” the man smiled. “I’m Dave Rill. I need to check you out here.”

“And as soon as he’s done, I’ve got more questions for you two.” Hammer said.

“I’ll tell you everything you want to know,” Cooper said.

Hammer gave him that sideways look and nodded.

“And you won’t need that baloney detector either.”

Officer Hammer took off his mirrored sunglasses and smiled. “Looks like you finally got yourself a chest.”

T
he parking lot looked like some kind of emergency vehicle light show. At least eight police cars, two fire trucks, and two paramedic trucks—all with lights flashing. Cooper stepped out the front doors of Frank ‘n Stein’s alongside of Lunk and Officer Hammer.

“Coop!” Hiro called from the other side of the yellow POLICE LINE DO NOT CROSS tape barrier. Gordy stood next to her waving.

Cooper pointed. “They’re the ones who called you.”

“They were with you the night of the robbery?”

“Yeah.”

Hammer motioned for Hiro and Gordy to join them.

Gordy ducked under the tape and raced over. Hiro hesitated for just a moment to wipe her cheeks, then ran to catch up.

She slammed into Cooper and hugged him tight. “I saw all the police cars and the paramedics.” Hiro looked up at him. “I thought you were dead.”

“God answered my prayers.”

She squeezed him tighter. “Mine too.”

“We came back to the boat early,” Gordy said. “Hiro had that spooky feeling. Found your note.” He stared at Cooper’s face.

“Looks like you’ve moved from arcade games to the real thing. Can you see out of that eye?”

“Clearer than I have in a week.”

Hiro clenched her fist and shook it at him. “If your face wasn’t already so messed up I’d let you have it.”

Hammer laughed. “Oh I can see this is going to be a fun night.”

Lunk stared at his shoes and suddenly looked awkward. Out of place.

Cooper pointed at him with his thumb. “And God sent Lunk along like a guardian angel.”

Lunk raised his eyes and stared at Cooper through strands of dark hair. “An angel?”

“It took two belts to keep that door closed. And both of us working on that wall.”

The faintest smile crossed Lunk’s lips.

“Well, next time, NEXT TIME, we all stick together,” Hiro said, poking Cooper in the chest. “That’s what we always do. Right?” She hooked one arm through Gordy’s arm, and the other through Cooper’s. “And that goes for you, too, Lunk. Seems to me we
all
need to stick together.”

“Yes Ma’am.” Lunk held up his hands in mock surrender. “Whatever you say, Hiro.”

She nodded her head toward Cooper and Gordy. “With friends like these I could use a guardian angel too.”

Lunk grinned and jammed his hands in his camouflaged pants.

Gordy reached up and swept an arm around Lunk’s shoulder.

“Alright gang,” Hammer said. “I hate to interrupt this little reunion, but it’s time we all
stick together
and get down to the station. We’ll get your parents to join us. Then comes the really hard part. I’m going to need statements from all of you—and nothing but the truth.”

Cooper started toward Hammer’s police car. “The truth? That’ll be easy.” He smiled at Gordy, Lunk, and Hiro. “It’s the lies that are really hard.”

T
he night before Frank ‘n Stein’s
Grand Reopening Celebration Week
began, Frank threw a private party. Cooper stood at the back of the dining area, taking it all in. The diner didn’t seem to have a “creep factor” anymore—and not just because all the Halloween decorations were down. Likely it was because the room was filled with so many of the people Cooper cared for most in the world.

His mom sat at a table with three other ladies. Hiro’s mom. Gordy’s mom. And the big surprise was Lunk’s mom. Cooper had seen her before, but never looking as happy as she did right now. They chatted away, laughing and talking over each other.

Mattie sat at a table by herself, humming and drawing pictures of ponies on a sketch pad.

Cooper’s dad stood near the ordering counter with Gordy’s dad and Detective Hammer. They all looked toward the kitchen while Hammer pointed and motioned with his hands. Probably going over some of the events of Halloween night. A night Cooper would never forget—and in some ways, didn’t want to.

Like the moment his mom and dad burst into the police station. Dad hadn’t gotten the phone message until after the circus.
He said that after hearing Cooper’s confession, he busted every speed limit getting to him.

Cooper never wanted to forget the way his dad rushed to his side and held him. Or the way his mom wept, thanking God over and over for answering her prayer. Cooper never wanted to forget how good it felt to confess everything to them in person, and to know his parents forgave him completely.

But most of all he didn’t want to forget a promise he made to himself that night—never to lie to his parents again.

“Coop, get over here,” Gordy called from their usual table. Hiro sat next to him.

Just as Cooper slid into the booth, Frank Mustacci stepped out of the kitchen carrying a large tray of monster shakes. He looked like himself again. Strong. His cheeks had good color, and the bruising around his eye was nearly gone. He wore a new white apron for the event. No blood stains. Lunk followed with a tray in each hand, loaded with orders of fries.

Frank stopped at Cooper’s table. “Okay, my dear friends. Time to celebrate.”

“Oh yeah!” Gordy stood and reached for a shake.

Lunk helped Frank distribute the food around the room.

Frank circled back to where he started. “And now,” he said, raising his voice so everyone could hear, “I want to thank each of you for joining me tonight at this little party.”

Lunk set down the empty trays and glanced at Cooper. He stood in the aisle, looking a little stiff. Like he wasn’t quite sure how to fit in—but he wanted to. Cooper slid over and motioned for Lunk to join him.

“This has been quite a couple of weeks,” Frank said. “Actually, it seems like less than that—but maybe that’s because I spent half of it in a coma.”

Everybody laughed.

“I thank God every day that I’m alive, and for my very special friends at this table.” He took a step closer and put his hand on the
back of the booth. He looked directly at Cooper. There was life in his eyes. “And as a small token of my appreciation, I’m giving all four of you free monster shakes and fries for the next year.”

Gordy jumped to his feet and pumped his fist in the air. “Yeah!”

Cooper smiled. Maybe this would trigger a growth spurt of his own.

“I’m going to take good care of this bunch,” Frank said. “I know Hiro wants to be a cop, and Cooper a fireman, but at some point I’m going to need a new partner. Maybe one of the other boys will fill that spot someday.”

“Gordy will eat all the profits,” Hiro said.

The group laughed again.

Lunk sat up a little taller and looked toward his mom. She smiled back at him. Cooper tried to imagine Lunk as partner. Wouldn’t that be something?

Frank kept talking, but Cooper’s mind drifted. Mr. Stein still hadn’t been found, but it was only a matter of time. Life could get back to normal now. Whatever that was. With Lunk, Gordy, and Hiro around, there was likely going to be another adventure. Hopefully Hiro wouldn’t get to play cop again too soon.

He glanced over at her and found she was fingering her necklace, looking at him. She raised her eyebrows and gave a little nod. Was she reading his mind or something?

The corners of her mouth curved into the slightest smile.

Cooper smiled back. Hiro knew him so well it was spooky.

Frank finished his speech, and the room broke into applause.

Lunk stood and shook Mr. Mustacci’s hand like he’d just received a promotion. And in a way, he had.

Cooper dug in his pocket, pulled out a quarter, and slapped it on the table in front of Gordy.

Gordy picked it up. “What’s this for?”

Hiro sighed. “He’s going to teach you those trick moves on that
classic
arcade game.”

Gordy laughed and was on his feet in an instant. “You’re on.”

“Wanna join us, Hiro?” Cooper said, standing. “Just think about it. The forces of good and evil locked in mortal combat. It’ll be an adventure.”

Hiro smiled and shook her head. “I’ve done enough of that lately. And I’ve got a feeling we’ll be doing it again for real—sooner than you think.”

Cooper laughed, grabbed his monster shake, and followed Gordy toward the game. Somewhere, deep inside, he believed Hiro was right. A slight thrill rushed through him, a crazy mix of fear and excitement. He rubbed down the goosebumps forming on his arms and made another promise to himself. Whatever happened, next time he’d do the right thing.

TIM SHOEMAKER

Tim Shoemaker is a speaker and author of eight books, including Dangerous Devotions for Guys; Smashed Tomatoes, Bottle Rockets, and Other Outdoor Devotionals; and Mashed Potatoes, Paint Balls, and Other Indoor/Outdoor Devotionals. He has three grown sons and has been happily married for over 32 years. This juvenile fiction debut draws from his experience with kids as a volunteer youth leader for more than sixteen years.

Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins author.

White lies, half-truths, fibs, whoppers, and bamboozling, there are all kinds of cutesy names we use for lying. But there’s nothing cute about lies. Cooper started with a
Code of Silence,
but in the end he was determined to live by a
Code of Truth.
Smart move.

As we saw with Cooper, lies start off ugly and only get worse, leading to more and more lies. So why do we lie, anyway? Generally there are four main reasons.

1. To avoid something uncomfortable or unpleasant.
Often this has a lot to do with being put on the spot—and instead of finding a tactful way to be truthful, we tell someone what we think they want to hear. It is about making things more convenient or comfortable for us. Let’s say your friend has a small part in a play—and they totally bomb. But of course you aren’t about to tell
them
that. You’d feel like a jerk. Afterwards, they ask what you thought of their performance.
“You were great,”
you say.
“Next time you should audition for the lead.”

2. To avoid punishment or consequences.
We messed up. Did something that will get us in trouble. We decide to cover it up. But then someone questions us about it, so we put on an innocent face.
“I didn’t do that. It wasn’t me.”
This reason is all about avoiding discipline—even if we deserve it.