Ghost Time

little nose, and thin lips, tidy, short hair, parted on the side, and beady eyes—kind of reminds me of a weasel. Actually, that’s exactly what he looks like, a weasel man in a fancy suit. Seriously, I took one look, and I was just like, Who knew the bogeyman wore bespoke? Besides, like, how could he be FBI and afford a suit like that? Then he smiled, like he knew what I was thinking, but I just looked at him. I go, So you’re here because you think Cam’s been kidnapped? Not exactly, he said. No, I’m here because we believe Cam’s been kidnapped because he was breaking into top-security government sites, and then he disappeared the very day that the NSA was about to arrest him. I go, NSA? And he goes, National Security Agency, and I didn’t mean to, but when he said that, I go, Oh, bullshit , and I started laughing, but he just stared at me until I stopped.
    Honestly, I was speechless. Because it was so totally and completely outrageous, but Foley just stared, and then my heart stopped. It stopped for, for I don’t know how long. Then it started up again. Beat. Beat, beat. Beat, beat, beat, thump, thump, thump, like my heart was going to pound right out of my chest. Then my stomach made a fist so tight, I couldn’t swallow, I couldn’t even move. Theadora, did John ever mention any work he was doing, anything special he was working on? Yes, I said, looking up, not knowing why he called him John. All the time, I said. Oh? he said, raising his brow, tilting his head to the side. Can you tell me about that work? he asked, smiling at me like we had all the time in the world. Yes, I said, smiling back and then leaning forward: his car. He likes to work on his car. Cam stays up all night working on his car sometimes, I said. Yes , Foley said, almost drawling the word. I see, he said, winking like we had some inside joke. Interestingly enough, he said, We’re looking through his car now, and I almost shivered at the idea of that guy touching Cam’s car. Speaking of his car, it seems his mother found it at your house, is that right? Yes, I said. But you didn’t see him after he left your house Monday afternoon, is that also right, Theadora? Yes, I said. Strange, don’t you think? he said, and I just bit the inside of my lip. I wonder if maybe he returned to see you again or he had something to tell you… ? I don’t know, because I didn’t see him again, I said, locking my jaw and looking away.
    He goes, Tell me, did John ever talk to you about hacking? I looked up at him, shocked to hear him say the word, but then Icovered, and I go, No. And he goes—he raised his brow, because I think he knew I was lying, he goes, Never? And I go, No. Never . And Foley goes, How odd, considering you two seemed so close, and I said, How would you know? Foley cocked his head and he goes, Yes, you have a point, Theadora. How would I know that?
    Foley sat there, staring at me, until I looked up at him like, What? Say it, if you have something to say , and he said, What I do know is John’s computer is also missing. Do you know where it might be, Theadora? I said, It’s probably with Cam, and then he smiled that twisted smile of his, and Foley goes, Indeed, his voice sidewinding across the table, totally creepy. In any case, Theadora, I need to ask you a few more questions about John—. Cam, I said, correcting him, and Foley smiled. Ah, you call him Cam. Yes, he said. Well. Trust me, Theadora, I want to find John just as badly as you do. And I will find him, he said, swirling a black leather portfolio with his index finger before opening it, fanning it out with both hands. And then, like he’d been practicing this move his entire life, he pulled a silver pen from his inside pocket and removed its cap with an expensive popping sound. Then questions, the same questions over and over again: How long have you two known each other? How did you meet? Over and over…
    When I got outside, right before second bell, the whole school was buzzing, and when I walked past the library, heading to my locker, I saw there was a crowd gathered. I could tell something big was going down, and honestly, my first thought was a terrorist attack or something, but when I finally got a peek and saw the television on the movable AV stand, it was a broadcast ofthe Albany news. They sent a crew to report on the hole in the dividing wall on the highway, and if that isn’t enough, they even sent in a helicopter to show an aerial view of the tire