The River King Page #3

we can both be buried

in the Haddan School cemetery.

How did you know

I was the one for you?

What made you so sure?

What do you mean?

What sort of a question's that?

You just sort of know,

don't you? I just...

I just feel happier.

Ice-cream

makes me feel happier.

Here it is.

The water's clean and clear with only

trace amounts of fish eggs and algae.

Nothing more. You could

practically drink the stuff.

Thank you, Matt.

Oh, one other thing.

I found this Haddan School scarf

down by the bridge.

Probably nothing,

but why not run a test on it?

Yeah. Okay.

Take a look at this.

Human excrement.

Found in the boy's lungs

but not in the Haddan River.

So does that make

any sense to you?

Mary Beth wants me to work

weekends as a security guard...

to bankroll a trip

to Disney World.

That makes any sense?

The kid didn't commit suicide, because

he didn't drown in the Haddan River.

So you think the kid

drowned some place else?

And then was dumped

in the river.

The kid drowned in the river.

Suicide. End of story.

I'll handle it.

- Can you believe this?

- Yeah, I know.

Let's grab our civvies

and go for a beer, okay?

I thought you said

we were gonna go get some beer?

Hang on here for a second.

Here, have a chocolate.

You have to f***ing be kidding me.

Now you're taking pay-offs too?

Moron.

This town gets plenty from

the school. Why shouldn't we?

Because we're cops.

How about that?

They treat us like their own

personal security department.

We should at least get paid

for our services, Abe.

What are those services?

Don't go digging around

when they tell us not to?

Come on!

You heard what the Chief said.

It's out of our hands.

It's a done deal.

Maybe for you.

You don't have three kids,

do you?

You don't have a wife barking up

your ass every day...

for cash.

It's f***ing mind-blowing.

That doesn't change anything, Joey.

Now do me a favor and stop the car.

- For Christ's sake, don't get all...

- Stop the goddamn f***ing car!

I brought you something.

Can I come in?

Yeah, be my guest.

What do you think

about these?

Do you think maybe Gus

is trying to tell us something?

Either that

or we're both crazy.

Why come by to show these

to me tonight?

Why not wait till morning?

Because I couldn't wait.

Really?

Really.

Come on.

Please.

Well, folks, we got

a quick weather warning here.

A cold front has really come down

and it is cold out there.

Hi, it's Carlin,

Gus's friend.

Can I see you?

Great.

They have some stupid

'hazing' ritual.

Part of a secret society.

It's based on the doctrines

of some 16th century French guy...

called Martin de Pasquale.

They call themselves The Order

Of The Elect. It's pathetic.

And your friend Gus,

was he a member of this club?

Harry said Gus

was a mistake.

He used to have this nickname

for him. Faker.

Because you just didn't know

if he could be trusted.

Nathaniel Glass...

and Gus Pierce.

One hateful exploit...

will bind these two young men

to us...

they're brothers...

forever.

This night...

you must kill a rabbit

and drink its blood.

What if I don't wanna kill

a rabbit?

There is only one way

to avoid initiation...

and still retain membership

with full privileges.

And that is to perfect the trick

that our illustrious founder...

Doctor Howe insisted

his wife execute...

in exchange for her freedom.

All you have to do is take one

of the white roses...

that grow

by the girls' dorm...

and before our very eyes

turn the bloom red.

Turn a white rose red?

It's winter, they aren't

in bloom at the dorm.

Any white rose then.

As long as you turn it red.

I wouldn't try it, Faker.

It's easier to kill

the rabbit.

You see, Gus liked that.

He could do tricks,

his father taught him.

And he was desperate

to get one up on Harry.

- You in there?

- Come on in, it's safe.

- You ready?

- I'll just get my coat.

Why are you taking pictures

of empty rooms?

Do you think it's weird?

What's weird?

The smudge.

It's a thumb print,

isn't it?

Yes. It's a thumb print.

Now come on,

we're gonna be late.

Mr. Pierce,

thank you for speaking with me.

No problem.

How can I help you?

I'm just trying to collect as much

information about Gus as I can.

I was told that he liked

to do magic tricks.

Yeah. I taught him some.

I used to do it on weekends.

Kids' parties,

that kind of thing...

when I was younger,

when I taught high school.

Was Gus any good?

He had a gift for it.

Sleight of hand, card tricks.

Why do you ask?

What about a trick where

he could turn a white rose red?

You mean change its color?

It's not an illusion that I ever

taught him. I haven't done it.

Does he have any brothers

and sisters I could speak with?

No...

he was an only child.

Okay.

I'll give you a call

if I have any news.

Thanks again for your time.

I should never have sent him

to that damn school.

I'll give you a call

when I hear something.

- Mr. Herman's office?

- He's in there, sir.

- Eric Herman?

- Yes. Can I help?

Yeah, I'd like to ask you

a few questions about Gus Pierce.

Yeah.

This way.

I'm curious if Gus ever mentioned

The Order Of The Elect?

- The what?

- Order Of The Elect.

A secret society

at Chalk House.

Is it?

No, I've never heard of it.

He did pay me a visit

at one point.

Began to spin some far-fetched

tale about his mistreatment.

He had some bruises,

granted, but...

I felt that they could

have been self-inflicted.

So you just assumed

he was lying?

We felt that he was unstable, that

his work in class was wretched.

His behavior was anti-social.

Frankly, I didn't think

he'd last the semester.

Well, he didn't, did he?

I didn't mean it like that.

That was a stupid thing to say.

Perhaps I could have been

a little bit more sympathetic.

You have some responsibility

to these boys, don't you?

Isn't that what teaching's

all about?

No, education

is not just about learning.

It's about learning to live.

I always take the Spartans

as an inspiration for this.

- The Spartans?

- Yeah. You familiar with them?

Citizens of Sparta,

4th century BC.

Yeah. I know who they are. I'm just curious

as to what they have to do with Gus Pierce.

They taught their young men...

that individualism

is highly overrated.

You're stronger as a whole.

I like to think that we try

and achieve that here...

in some small way.

Thank you, Mr. Herman.

I am so sorry. I made a terrible

mistake the other night and...

I got carried away.

It was rash and...

I've started something that...

that I can't finish.

Okay.

I understand.

I'm sorry.

No, I can't.

Why? What is wrong?

I can't do this.

I can't lie to him.

Well then, don't lie to him.

Just tell him the truth.

Tell him about us.

I don't wanna screw things up.

I like my life here.

I like my job.

Teaching

means everything to me.

I don't know what one

has to do with the other.

I'm not asking you

to quit your job.

I can't.

Why aren't you packing?

I'm not going.

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