The Lifeguards(63)

I can’t believe I’m in the middle of this drama!



BOYMAMA I have been on the wait list at Hola, Amigos for two years!



NYCMOM

Same here! The dude who runs that place is hot.



OAKLANDMAMA

Do you think a Barton Hills kid could have murdered someone?



MAMATOCHLOE

Their house is a monstrosity. Just FYI. I feel like the dad must have designed it himself. NO coherence. Appalling.



VICKI B

Dad is white and blasts Travis Scott from his truck. Need I say more?



MAMATOCHLOE

No! Ugh.





-3-


    Whitney


WHITNEY WAS PUTTING ON her earrings when she heard someone press the buzzer at their front gate. She affixed the gold backings on her diamonds, peered into the surveillance camera, allowed the sedan entry. When she opened her front door, Detective Revello was walking up her driveway.

“Detective,” said Whitney. She felt dizzy, put her hands on her knees, then righted herself.

“Are you all right?” said Detective Revello.

“I’m sorry,” said Whitney, trying not to faint. “Xavier has a lawyer, and any questioning you have will have to be conducted through him. Do you need the number?”

“I’m not here for Xavier,” said the detective. Whitney took a deep breath, her heart hammering.

He looked at her, his deep blue eyes calm and wise. Could he hear the thudding, the blood rushing in her ears? Here it was. Here it was. She tried to imagine him saying the words. He shook his head once, slowly.

She gazed into his eyes, thinking, Please.

In a barking command, Revello said, “Go ahead.”

From either side of him, two officers emerged. Was Whitney dreaming? They walked past her, into her house. Whitney said, “What the hell do you think you’re—”

But they were handcuffing Roma, who was standing in the hallway in pink pajamas. “You have the right to remain silent,” said a female officer, as Roma began to scream. “Anything you say can and will be used against you.”

“Mommy! No! Mommy!” shrieked Roma.

“We’re arresting your daughter for drug trafficking and possibly homicide,” said Salvatore.

“I’m calling our lawyer,” said Whitney.

“Feel free,” said Revello.

Roma had collapsed, shrieking. “I’m handcuffed!” she cried. “Mommy, stop them!”

Whitney picked up her phone from the counter. She dialed a nonsense number, pretended to be doing something to help her daughter. But she had already done everything she could to help her daughter.

This plan was the final plan, her last resort.

Pretending to wait for someone to answer, Whitney watched as the officers pulled Roma to her feet. Roma looked at Whitney, shaking her head. “I didn’t do anything, Mommy!” she cried. “At least let me get dressed!”

Xavier entered the hallway in his lifeguard shorts and T-shirt. “Mom, what’s happening?” he said, alarmed.

“Go back to your room,” she said.

The officers walked Roma to a squad car, helped her inside. She continued to cry and scream at her mother. “Why aren’t you stopping them, Mommy!” she screamed. “Mommy! Why aren’t you doing anything? Why are you standing there and letting them—” The officers closed the car doors, cutting off Roma’s voice.

Detective Revello watched Whitney. “You seem very…” he said.

“What?”

“You seem very calm,” said the detective. He turned and walked toward his car. Whitney put down her phone. When Detective Revello drove away, Whitney stood in the doorway of her home.

There was silence.

Finally, finally, there was silence.





-4-


    EVIDENCE FILE 202


   THE STATE OF TEXAS VERSUS ROMA BROWNSON



TEXT STREAM RECOVERED BY APD TECHNICAL FORENSIC DEPARTMENT


Conversation between Lucy Masterson and Roma Brownson (MEX), dated May 31, 2019:

Lucy Masterson Hi I saw yr post and I would like some candy.





MEX

How much and what?





Lucy Masterson All 80mg u have





MEX

I will leave candy in white bag by dumpster at 7-11 Barton Hills 7pm Venmo @romamex $80 per. I have ten





Lucy Masterson Thank you.





MEX

Got Venmo thx





-5-


    Annette


ANNETTE WAS STARING AT her home bar and trying to decide if any of the glittering bottles held a liquid that would fix her. She heard Louis’s phone ring in the bathroom, heard him turn off the shower and answer.

“Oh my God!” cried Louis, and Annette ran upstairs screaming, “What? What is it?” She grabbed his arm, breathing in sharply. Louis was dripping wet, holding his cell to his ear in one hand and his towel around his waist with the other.

“Is he OK?” said Annette, thinking of Robert in jail. “What’s happened?” she repeated desperately.