Dave Karofsky was trying to concentrate on the final question of the English test, to make his mind think clearly about friendship and loyalty in Julius Caesar, when the classroom speaker buzzed. "Will David Karofsky come to the Principal's Office immediately?" Heads immediately swiveled to watch him shrug, gather his books, hand the mostly-complete test to Mr. Sayed, and leave.
He had no idea what was going on and, truth be told, didn't care much. But when he turned into Principal Figgins' office and saw his father there, looking alarmed and heated, and two police officers, he clenched his fists in fear. Something had happened to his mom or his sister...
"What's happened, dad?"
Before his father could answer, the female officer stepped forward. "You're David Karofsky." Dave nodded, still ignoring Principal Figgins, who was pressing his chair as far back from the desk, Dave and his father, and the police officers as he could. "I'm Officer Hammond and this is Officer Slane. We have some questions for you."
"Dad, are mom and Stacey all right?"
"Yes, son...they need to ask about-"
"Have you seen or spoken to Kurt Hummel lately?"
His gut had unclenched when his father answered, but now it seemed as though somebody had grabbed it and squeezed, hard. "No, not since he transferred. What-"
"Dave, are you sure?" His father was looking directly into his eyes, with an expression that Dave had never seen before and never wanted to see again. There was worry, which wasn't even that new, but underlying them, suspicion and even fear in them. "He's disappeared."
"What? When?"
"So you're saying that you know nothing about his disappearance." Officer Hammond glanced at his partner.
"Yeah, that's right. Why, is somebody saying that I...because I didn't."
"Have you been near Dalton Academy in the last 72 hours?"
"No, and I wouldn't have any reason to go there." Dave heard his voice start to rise and tried to take deep breaths to calm down. He saw the two police officers exchange a longer glance and could feel the sweat break out on his hands. "What...what happened to him?"
Officer Slane looked at him for a long moment, pursing his lips and narrowing his eyes. "We were hoping you could tell us. There was blood near his car. A lot of blood and it was all his. We've got plenty of people to say that you bullied him. He complained that he was afraid because you threatened his life. His father says he transferred to get away from you. And now we've got a lot of blood, no Kurt Hummel."
His father had barely waited for Slane to finish. "That's enough. Son, you don't have to answer any more questions."
"That's right, you don't. And you can have a lawyer present." Slane paused. "Do you think you need one?" Dave hated the way Slane was looking at him, the taunting eyes and stance of somebody who's got all the power and likes using it.
Dave put a hand on the back of a chair. Hummel had disappeared and there was blood. Hummel had to be all right. He reminded himself that he couldn't stand the little princess, even if he wanted...well, wanted everything. He only barely heard his father saying, "Unless you're going to arrest my son, I'm taking him home."
"Oh, no, that's fine. Just, Dave? Don't leave the area without letting us know, okay?" Slane was smirking in a way that said all too clearly that he wasn't asking.
His father tugged at his arm. "Come on, Dave, I'm driving you home." Dave felt like he had when he had a bad flu. Everything was foggy and off center as he followed his father out the building. When they got into the car, his father turned to look at him.
"David, answer me honestly. Did you have anything to do with this boy disappearing?"
"Dad, no! I...I wouldn't do that."
"All right, then." His father didn't look at him again during the drive home.