“Answers to what?”
“I’m not sure he knows yet, Kathy. Tyler told me that his dad was in the reserves now but he’d been in the regular Army as well.”
“I remember when I was in second grade Mr. Wingo came to our class and spoke about serving our country. He was in uniform then. He told my mom about it and she came in and spoke to us too.”
“So your parents knew him well?”
“My mom knew him pretty well because of the military connection. And like I said, they came over for dinner quite a few times after Tyler’s mom died. And we’d bring care packages over. And Tyler sometimes stayed with us. He’s a good cook. He even taught my mom a few dishes to make.”
“You live near each other?”
“Not in the same neighborhood. But it’s only about five minutes by car.” She brightened. “Tyler has his permit but he gets his real license soon. He was talking about us driving to school together sometimes.”
“He’s a year older than you?”
“That’s right. I’ll be sixteen next month. He turns seventeen in May.”
“He ever talk to you about something troubling him?”
“I haven’t really spoken to him since his dad died, if that’s what you mean.”
“Before that, was everything okay with him?”
“Seemed to be. I mean, he and his stepmom didn’t get along.”
“How about his dad? Anger still there over his dad getting remarried?”
“There was. But I think Tyler had finally just accepted it. He loved his dad. He wouldn’t stay mad at him long.”
“But now with him gone?”
“Yeah, now it’s just him and his stepmom. Not good.”
“He have any other relatives in the area?”
“Not that he ever talked about.”
“Would you mind giving me a call if anything occurs to you that might help me help Tyler?”
“Like what?”
“Hard to say at this point. But you might know it when you see it.”
“He’s not in any trouble, is he?”
“Any reason why he should be?” asked Michelle.
“No. He’s a really good person.”
“That’s what I think too. And that’s why I want to help him, if I can.”
Kathy slipped the card into her coat pocket. “Maybe you’ll hear from me.”
Michelle said, “Fair enough.”
CHAPTER
12