Page 31 of The Catcher
“Bullying. Peer pressure. They have to be here five days a week. We may only have to see them a few times in that time, but they have to see their fellow students countless times. It’s easier to stay tight-lipped than to speak up. We are trying to change that, but it’s a slow process,” Wright acknowledged, recognizing the complexities of addressing these issues within the school system.
As they entered the office, Wright swiftly directed his secretary to arrange for Nicholas to be brought down. With a nod of acknowledgment, she set about her task while Wright opened a nearby door, gesturing for Noah to step inside.
“This whole incident has created a ripple effect. Students are scared. Parents are terrified. I’ve spent the better part of the morning reassuring parents that we will be taking every measure to ensure their child is safe,” Wright shared.
“But yet you can’t, can you?” Noah remarked, cutting straight to the heart of the matter.
Wright let out a heavy sigh, acknowledging the challenge they faced. “Not any more than we usually do. But they don’t want to hear that. It didn’t happen on schoolproperty, but that’s not to say that people don’t think it’s related to something that has occurred here.”
“Maybe it is,” Noah suggested, considering the possibility.
Within minutes, a wiry teenager with unkempt hair and a worn-out backpack was escorted into the office.
“Ah, Nicholas, come on in,” Wright greeted him, attempting to put the boy at ease.
Nicholas entered cautiously, glancing around the room from underneath his dark hair.
Noah stepped forward, offering a small smile to establish rapport. “Hey, Nicholas. I’m Noah from the State Police. We’re investigating the disappearance of Pete Landry and Hailey Matthews. Do you mind if we chat?”
Nicholas nodded nervously. “Sure, I guess.”
Noah motioned for him to sit, and they gathered around a small table in the corner of the office.
“Two days ago, an argument was recorded on video of you and Pete Landry. Do you remember that?” Noah inquired, adopting a gentle yet probing tone.
“I do. But that had nothing to do with the disappearance,” Nicholas replied. “Landry’s an asshole,” Nicholas stated bluntly, earning a reproachful look from Wright.
“Nicholas.”
“Well, he is. I mean, he was,” Nicholas amended, acknowledging Landry’s demise with a shift in tense.
“What was it about?” Noah pressed further, seeking to understand the dynamics between Nicholas and Landry.
“He and his goons have been on me since my first year. I’m not the only one either.”
“So there was no reason?”
“I told Hailey that he was cheating on her. I saw him kissing some other girl. She got all up in his face outside science class. I figured she’d dump his ass. Leave him where he belongs, in the garbage. But she didn’t. That’s the stupid part. They never learn. They keep going back to the same assholes. Why? Because they have good looks and money, they play football, and they are the life of the party.”
“You felt a little jaded by that?”
“I don’t care.”
“Go on. What happened?”
“He cornered me in social studies. He had his goon squad jump me and hold me down. Covered my face in marker. It took me ages to get that off my face.”
Noah noted his skin was red and raw.
“Well, I, for one, won’t miss him.”
“Nicholas,” Wright said.
Noah studied the kid. Bullying was still rampant in schools. People who were different stood out like a sore thumb, but that shouldn’t have made them a candidate for violence.
“He ever whale on you before?”
“Countless times.”
