Chapter 24

Elliot squinted, trying to make out what it was. It looked like it was made out of plastic with some kind of pointy end the boy used to balance the device on, and he supported the back end with his index finger. Elliot frowned. It looked almost like…surely it couldn’t be…?

The boy picked it up. In the light streaming in from the windows, Elliot saw the item clearly

A box cutter.

His eyes widened, and he stiffened in his seat. Had the kid brought a knifeto school? Elliot took a deep breath as he glanced down on the seating chart to learn the name of the boy.

Kenny Coleman.

A small smile played on Kenny’s mouth as he kept his gaze trained out the window, looking completely relaxed, almost happy. He put the knife back down, rested it on the protruding blade, and slowly started spinning it with his thumb, index, and middle fingers. Round and round, without looking at it, the smile never leaving his face. Elliot gripped the edge of his desk so hard, his knuckles turned white.