Vance,” she said, “a squad car just arrived at your residence in Royal Oaks.” Arthur frowned, still trying to occupy the posture of a man in charge.

“On what grounds?

This is absurd.” “Because your grandson, Mason,” Officer Torres said evenly, “just confessed to the responding officers that he planted the watch in Lucas’s backpack himself.” Arthur blinked.

For a moment he seemed unable to process the words.

“That,” he said, “that can’t be right.”

“According to the officer on scene,” Torres continued, “Mason admitted he did it because he was angry.

Lucas had been selected for the regional science fair team.