Period 8 by Chris Crutcher

up this morning I forgot she was there and decided to catch a little more sleep. Like, what am I going to learn in government?”
    â€œYou’re a funny girl.”
    â€œWhen I remembered, I went into the guest room and it was empty.”
    â€œYou said the only guy not afraid of her dad is Stack?”
    â€œYeah, he says he’s taken Mary for coffee a couple of times. Walks right up to the door and starts a conversation. Mr. Wells treats him different than other boys. At least that’s what Arney says.”
    â€œArney’s a politician,” Logs says.
    â€œArney’s fearless,” Hannah says back. “Or crazy.”
    As she says it, Arney walks up. “Hey, Hannah, how strange is this?”
    â€œStranger than you think,” Hannah says. “I was with Mary last night.”
    Arney looks bewildered. “Last night? That’s not . . .” He starts to walk away, turns back. “When?”
    â€œNear midnight,” Hannah says. “I almost ran her down. She was way zoned out, walking down the middle of the road. . . .” Hannah finishes her story much as she gave it to Logs.
    â€œWow, that doesn’t sound like Mary. You took her home?” He looks at students coming out of the woods. “So how does all this happen?”
    â€œMy home, not hers,” Hannah says. “What’s the matter with you, Arney? You think I’m making this up?”
    â€œNo, no,” he says, shaking his head. “Just doesn’t sound like Mary, that’s all.”
    â€œWell, she may very well be missing from her place for two days,” Hannah says, “but she isn’t gone . And like I said, she was whack.”
    â€œWhat did she say?”
    â€œThat she didn’t want to go home.”
    â€œWhy would she not want to go home?”
    â€œShe’s Mary Wells, Arney . Would you want to go home if your dad was Mr. Wells? I don’t even know her dad’s first name, unless it’s Mister. ”
    â€œHis name is Victor,” Arney says. “And he’s not such a bad guy if you don’t let him intimidate you. Shoot, I’ve been out with Mary.”
    â€œYou guys have been out out?”
    â€œA few times,” Arney says. “A movie, whatever.”
    â€œA movie,” Hannah says. “ Little Mermaid ?”
    Arney shakes his head. “Her situation isn’t as bad as everybody thinks. Most of that stuff is rumor.”
    â€œYeah, right.”
    Arney turns to Mr. Logs. “So we calling this off?”
    â€œOfficer Rankin is on the phone with Mr. Wells now,” Logs says. “They’ll give us direction soon.” He turns to Hannah. “Can you remember anything else?”
    â€œNo. I should have asked more questions, I guess.” She looks up to see Arney next to the police car, talking with Officer Rankin. She laughs. “Arney has to be in the middle of everything .”
    A Lexus pulls into the parking lot. The driver’s-side door flies open and Victor Wells steps out. Officer Rankin approaches him from the patrol car and they exchange quick words, then approach Hannah.
    Rankin says, “Victor Wells, this is . . . I’m sorry, young lady, I didn’t get your name.”
    â€œHannah. Murphy.”
    â€œNice to meet you,” Mr. Wells says. He doesn’t extend his hand. “Officer Rankin here says you claim to have been with my daughter last night. Might I ask why it took you so long to say so?”
    Wells is a tall man, well over six feet, and athletic. Hannah stiffens. “I don’t claim to have been with her. I was with her.”
    Wells looks Hannah up and down. “What time was that?”
    Rankin says, “I told you, sir, around—”
    Wells holds up a hand. “I want to hear it from the young lady.”
    â€œI found her around midnight. She was walking on the road.”
    â€œAnd what were you doing out at