Deena startled at the blunt accusation. “I wasn’t going to start anything.”
“You carried it for self-defense, you mean?” Deena nodded. “You felt that maybe Carmen would make trouble again, and just in case, you sharpened up that six-inch hat pin?”
Deena shrugged.
“Did Carmen threaten you Tuesday night? After the fight broke up?” The shrug had become the standard answer. “Or this morning? You walk to school, right? Did the two of you exchange words this morning? If she threatened you, that’s our concern, Deena. That’s as much against the law as bringing a lethal weapon to school.”
“It’s no big deal.”
“I think it is a big deal that you’re going to miss the second half of the school year, and have to go to the JPO as well, Deena.”
“Well, I can’t help that now, can I?” The girl shook her head in disgust.
“You’re on the honor roll, aren’t you?”
“So?”
“In fact, you’re on the principal’s list, isn’t that right?” Deena shrugged. “That means you’re smart enough to figure things out. Maybe you can tell me something.” Estelle shifted position and rested her head on one hand, studying Deena. “Carmen was suspended for six days. That means she doesn’t even come back to school until next Friday. What’s the hat pin for? She won’t even be on campus.”
“Well, duh,” Deena said petulantly. “I walk to school, you know.”
“I know that. And I already asked you if the two of you met again this morning, and didn’t receive an answer. Are Carmen’s friends giving you a hard time now?” Deena shrugged. “Have you figured out how you’re going to tell your dad about all this?” Estelle asked, trying another tack.
Deena’s eyes closed, and for the first time, the tears were right on the edge. Roy Hurtado had worked for the copper mine until it closed the year before Deena was born. He then joined the Posadas Police Department, attended the police academy, and promptly took a security job with the railroad, working out of Deming and Las Cruces.
“I’m sure Mom has that all figured out,” Deena said.
“Maybe she does. And what are you going to do now?” Estelle asked.
“I don’t know. I can homeschool. Maybe I’ll go up to Albuquerque and live with my sister for a while.”
“Did you like school here, Deena?”
The girl took a deep, shuddering breath. “Yeah. Like, some of it, anyways.”
“Where did the hat pin come from? Here in town?”
“Yeah. Sure.”
“Do you have any more?”
“You can get ’em in the store. It’s no big deal.”
“That’s not what I asked. I asked if you had any more, Deena.”
“No, I don’t have any more,” the girl replied.
“Where did you buy it?”
“I just got ’em, is all. It’s no big deal.”
“No, buying them is no big deal, Deena. I can go into the hardware and buy an axe, and that’s no big deal. If I bury that axe in someone’s head, the deal changes, right? I can buy a nice car, and that’s no big deal. If I get drunk and ram that car into someone, the deal changes, doesn’t it?” Estelle patted the briefcase. “The hat pin is sort of like that, Deena. You can buy all of them that you want. Except that both you and I know that you have no use for a six-inch hat pin other than using it as a weapon. That’s what makes it a big deal, Deena…when you carry that concealed weapon into the school. And when you intend to inflict bodily harm on someone else.”
“What am I supposed to do, just let ’em jump me?”
“Deena, I know it’s a small town, but you’re a smart girl.” The smart girl looked heavenward again. “Stay away from Carmen. Stay away from Paul. Mind your own business. You’ve got the rest of the fall semester and then all spring and summer to move beyond this nonsense. Next fall, you and Carmen will be at different schools, even.” Estelle smiled sympathetically. “And odds are good that in two weeks’ time, Carmen and Paul won’t be an item anymore, anyway. He’ll be off breaking some other girl’s heart.”
The undersheriff stood up. “What happens now?” Deena asked, and she sounded like exactly what she was-a frightened middle schooler. Estelle took a step and then paused with her hand on the doorknob.
“Deena, you made a serious mistake. You brought a concealed weapon to school. That’s not something you can do without consequences. You know what the school policy is. You’ll have a lot of time out of school to think about what you did. And during that time, you’ll be talking with Juvenile Probation authorities. They’ll want to be as sure as they can be that this won’t happen again.”
“It won’t.”
“So you say. But you haven’t been open with me, and that makes me a little leery.”
“I told you the truth.”
“Where did you buy the hat pin, Deena?” The girl didn’t answer, and Estelle said, “That’s what I thought.” She opened the door and waited until the girl’s mother had entered. Principal Tessa Dooley was on the phone and waved a hand for Estelle to go ahead. She closed the door.
“Ivana, I’ll be issuing Deena a nontraffic citation,” Estelle said, opening her briefcase. “After she signs that, you’ll receive a copy.” Ivana nodded miserably but remained silent. “The JPO will be calling to set up an appointment for a conference with Deena and with you. You all will decide where this is going to go from here.”
“She’s been such a good girl,” Ivana managed.
“I’m sure she has been, and we all hope that she will be again,” Estelle said as she filled out the ticket. “But as you know, the law doesn’t care how well she did in Algebra II or in World History when she carries a concealed weapon into school.” The office door opened and Tessa Dooley slid inside. “I’m not a counselor,” Estelle added, “but if I were you, I’d take full advantage of the school’s counseling services at this point.” She slid the completed ticket across to Deena, along with a pen. “Sign by the red X,” she said. “Think of Deena standing at the top of a long, steep, treacherous slope, Ivana,” Estelle added. “She has a lot of choices. Her job is to make sure she doesn’t step the wrong way. Your job is to help her make that decision.”
Estelle closed the briefcase, resting both hands on the locks and regarding Deena Hurtado. “All right?” When neither the mother nor her daughter answered, Estelle turned to Tessa Dooley. The principal held out her hand, grasping Estelle’s in a strong grip. At the same time, she handed the undersheriff a small note.
“The phone call was the elementary school,” the principal said. “Myra Delgado happened to look out her window and see you. She wondered if you would stop by for a few minutes when you’re ready to leave.”
Estelle glanced at her watch. She had intended to catch County Manager Kevin Zeigler when the County Commission meeting adjourned for lunch, but the county manager could wait. Estelle’s oldest son, Francisco, was passionately in love with both the first grade and with his teacher, Myra Delgado. At home, all he had been able to talk about for the past week was the parent-teacher conference coming up Thursday night. Despite her son’s enthusiasm, Estelle was well aware that, in seven short years, Francisco would be a middle schooler-and the world for him would never again be so simple.
“Sure, I can do that,” Estelle said. “Does anyone have any more questions for me?” She handed one of her cards to Deena. “Use that if you want to talk with me, Deena,” she said. “Anytime.” She was surprised when that earned a small nod from the girl.
Chapter Two
Estelle started the county car and drove around the perimeter of the macadam acre that served as both the bus staging area and playground for the elementary and middle schools.
Seventh graders on lunch break were already spreading out onto the pavement. Two duty teachers stood by one of the perimeter benches well out of range of the infamous “wall ball” court, where participants became targets for hurled tennis balls. A gaggle of four girls had joined the teachers, all apparently talking at once. One of the girls broke away from the teachers when she saw Estelle park in front of the elementary school fifty yards away. She sprinted toward the undersheriff as if greeting a long-lost pal.