Chapter 5 - THE RUNNING
Neither boy called for help.
That mattered.
Not because a frightened child always acts rationally.
But because after seeing Emma disappear, they fled.
Jason’s attorney argued panic.
Tyler’s attorney said Tyler thought adults nearby would help.
Witnesses contradicted that.
Tyler yelled:
“Let’s go!”
Both boys sprinted toward the parking lot.
Police found them twenty minutes later behind a maintenance shed.
Jason was crying.
Tyler was not.
Sarah learned this and felt fury at the difference.
Then a psychologist warned:
“Outward emotion is not a reliable measure of remorse.”
She hated that too.
Tyler might freeze under stress.
Jason might cry from fear for himself.
Behavior mattered more than performance.
Then the juvenile court ordered comprehensive assessments.
Tyler showed:
high sensation-seeking,
poor empathy under peer competition,
history of minimizing consequences.
Jason showed:
high susceptibility to dominant peers,
anxiety,
avoidance,
strong shame once separated from Tyler.
Neither finding excused the shove.
It informed what came next.
Then Sarah asked Judge Hale during a victim conference:
“Do you think children who kill other children should get second chances?”
He answered:
“I think the court has to consider who they are now and who they may become.”
Sarah stood.
“My daughter doesn’t get to become anything.”
Judge Hale lowered his eyes.
“I know.”
“No, you don’t.”
He did not argue.
That helped more than explanation.
Then the prosecution decided not to seek adult transfer for Jason.
They did seek a transfer hearing for Tyler.
Sarah wanted it.
She wanted Tyler in adult court.
Then Laura showed her something Sarah had not expected.
Adult transfer could actually shorten structured rehabilitative supervision depending on charge, plea, sentence, and release rules.
Juvenile jurisdiction in their state could retain Tyler under intensive placement and supervision into early adulthood.
Adult court was not automatically harsher.
Sarah stared.
“So even revenge has paperwork.”
May you like
Laura almost smiled.
“Yes.”
