Chapter 59: Vanished Voices (2)

"Yes, I know of him, sir," Erik said.

"Have you ever encountered him outside of school or elsewhere in the city?" 

Erik glanced downward and offered a slight shake of his head. "No." A pause lingered. "We weren't close..."

The officer continued with a barrage of questions for a good ten minutes, studying Erik. Then he posed a deliberate question, aiming to gauge Erik's reaction.

"Are you aware that he, along with his two friends, Conal Price and Orson Smyth, has gone missing?"

Erik knew why the police were questioning him—it was about the fight in the cafeteria. While he would normally be nervous talking to the police, all he went through helped him keep a poker face.

"No, sir, I did not know of that..." he said. The police officers didn't let their thoughts transpire from their expressions.

"Did you see them on Thursday at around 14:00? That was when they were last reported seen."