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“Oh Well” Abigail fumbled with the hem of her shirt, unsure what to say, when he stepped closer, lowering his voice

“What do you ith this case?” His eyes bore into hers, seeing through the lies

“Nothing I just We really orking on this for a school project That part was true, but the detective had researched randht her explanation “We were hoping if he had next of kin, they randrandpa for his birthday, as a gift”

Mr Oliver pinched the bridge of his nose “Listen, Kaden’s a good kid I don’t knohat you’re getting hiht nohat he needs is to focus on school He has a real future in front of hie in the fall, and the last thing he needs are outside distractions”

No, what he needs is a social life Some friends A break from responsibility

Abby wanted to say all those things and then some Instead, she said, “Mr Oliver, we’re friends Kaden needs friends There’s nothing wrong with that”

Mr Oliver grunted, and a flicker of ht her eye She watched as Kaden snatched her phone off the table and opened the case file Flicking through the docu the papers and repeating the cycle Was he

Mr Oliver started to turn, but Abby gripped his ar,” she blurted, as he stared down at the hands on his arlanced up at her with a raised brow She dropped her hands “I wouldn’t want hiht you should know that he’s lonely He confided in me about hoished he had more friends He needs a life, Mr Oliver You need to let him have one”

“Do you—"

“Hey, are you two done yet?” Kaden poked his head out the door

“Yeah,” his dad said, distracted He shot Abby one last warning glare before nodding toward Kaden “I expect you’re heading home now?”

“Yeah Sure thing,” Kaden said, s Abby’s hand, despite the way his father’s gaze zoned in on the gesture

With a yank on her arh the main office of the precinct As soon as he pushed open the door to the outside, they burst into the bal air

“Were you taking pictures?” Abby asked

With a glance behind him, Kaden said, “Yeah And there’s more he didn’t tell us A lot more”