Chapter - Thanks for telling me

	Chapter - Thanks for telling me
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"Hi, come in, Constable." Mr. Ellsley held the front door as Constable Robertson stepped in.

The boys crowded around Constable Robertson as he took off his boots.

"Hi, Constable Robertson."

"Hello, sir."

Fred started in with "We want to talk about ..."

Constable Robertson held up a hand.

"In a minute. This first."

From his shoulder bag he took an electronic gadget with a dial and some lights. He walked around the room watching it intently for a few minutes, while the others watched silently.

"OK. Did you have discussions tonight in any other room?"

"Yes," said Rodney, leading the Constable to his room. The others followed silently.

"In here."

Constable Robertson looked over the room from the door, then walked in watching the meter, pointing it at the overhead light as well as the window, walls and furniture. Then he turned on the stereo quietly and scanned again.

"Seems OK. Let's go to the front room, there's more room there."

Walking back, Constable Robertson put away the bug scanner, and got out a note book and pen. He sat down on the couch and set a small tape record running.

"OK, who wants to start."

Mr. Ellsley looked ready to take over. "Perhaps I should start with a summary."

"Did any of it happen to you?"

"Well, no, but ..."

And did you know about any of it before tonight?"

"Well, no, but ..."

"Yes?" Constable Robertson had his pen at his notebook and was writing already.

"Well, I guess they can tell it in their own way."

"Thank you. Who wants to start?"

"Well, what do you know already?" Fred asked.

"What I say might influence what you tell me. I don't want to miss something because you thought I already knew it. If I can suggest anything to help you, after, I will."

For the next 30 minutes, Constable Robertson let the boys talk, writing notes and asking probing questions.

"All right," said Constable Robertson, "I have notes and a recording of everything you've told me. I'll take this printout of an IRC log from Paul's computer. I take this information seriously, and I will definitely follow up. I can't say what we may do to follow up on it. You have given me some very useful information. I must say thanks for telling me."

"But what about the bugs?" asked Mr. Ellsley. "Are the boys in danger? Especially John?"

"From what the boys said, they must have known about the bugs as soon as they were planted, and gave only innocuous information, including a discussion about the night John was attacked in which they stated clearly that they didn't know anything. I think there is no reason for anyone to try to do anything to the boys. None of them should be in any danger."

"Shouldn't their parents know? I want to know what kind of danger my son is in. I want to be able to protect him. I'm sure they fell the same way." Mr. Ellsley put his arm around Rodney and pulled him close for a moment.

"Yes, definitely. I want to meet with all of you boys and your parents. Better they hear about this from me than from rumours."

John and Fred nodded, Fred a bit reluctantly.

"You're all welcome to meet here," said Mr. Ellsley eagerly.

"Is that OK, Fred? You look a little dubious," asked Constable Robertson.

"What do I tell my mom to get her to meet with you, without her hitting the panic button and asking me what I did wrong to cause this?"

"How about if you say, 'Constable Robertson said that you three boys have been helping with a police investigation that they accidentally became part of. The three boys are not in any trouble or danger, and I will speak to all of your parents here tomorrow night?'"

"How about a note?", asked Fred.

"Well, that would make it more official," said Constable Robertson, "I'll put it on the back of a business card."

"That should help," said Fred, "She'll still panic, she always does. But maybe she won't blame me quite as much."

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