Condemned

by Christopher Renna

  Still, an occasional tear nested in the corners of Hailey's eyes. "I'm still completely embarrassed."

  "Hailey, what happened, happened. You should feel liberated, not like, I don't know. Like you're going to hell or something."

  Hailey bit her lip and shrugged. "Maybe getting caught by the Wheelers was God's way of telling me I should wait, like I'd planned."

  "Or," Jasmine sang, "maybe last night was God's way of telling you not to lose your virginity in the guest room at a friend's house."

  Hailey cracked a smile.

  "See? You can turn that frown upside down," Jasmine said. "You'll feel better if you get on with the day and leave last night in the past."

  Sitting upright, Hailey moved the purple comforter aside and then brushed the hair from her face. "You're right. I'm an intelligent, loving, independent girl. I'm moving into full-fledged womanhood. I need to leave my girly preconceived notions and fears behind."

  Jasmine tugged Hailey out of bed. "There's the Hailey I know and love. Let's get dressed and go eat breakfast somewhere, okay? It's sunny outside. Let's enjoy the day as the intelligent and independent women that we are."

  Hailey settled on the floor and pulled the day's outfit from her duffle bag. "Um, Jazz?"

  "Yeah?"

  "Do you think I should tell my mother?"

  "About last night?" Jasmine laughed. "Uh, no. Absolutely not."

  "Isn't this something that's shared between a mother and daughter? I mean, you told your mom after you lost your virginity, right?"

  Sitting on the edge of the bed, Jasmine replied, "I told my mom after the second time I had sex. And that was because I thought I better get on birth control. You know, better safe than sorry."

  "So, you don't think I should tell her?"

  "Hailey, your parents are pretty religious. If you told your mom that Conner started going down—"

  "Gross! Don't say it like that."

  "Okay. Fine." Jasmine opened the door to her walk-in closet. "I'm just saying, if you tell your mom about last night, she'll only give you a speech about not doing anything sexual before marriage. If you told her that you lost your virginity, well, that's a different conversation."

  Hailey set her toiletry bag onto the floor. "That makes sense."

  "Let me put it this way," Jasmine said as she disappeared into the closet. "Your mom would absolutely, totally freak out."

  * * *

  Trevor emerged from the steamy bathroom and walked straight to Adam's dresser. "I need underwear," he said as he opened a drawer. "I'm not wearing mine from yesterday."

  He dropped his towel and slipped on a pair of boxer briefs.

  "Seriously?" Adam shouted. "My underwear too!"

  "I'm not wearing dirty clothes home. They probably smell like beer. My mom will notice the moment I walk into the house."

  "Unless my mom already told her."

  "My mom would have called or texted to chew my ass out."

  "Yeah," Conner said. "I didn't hear from my parents either."

  A cell phone chimed, and the three looked at each other, amused but stunned by the timing.

  "Not mine," Adam said.

  Trevor plucked his phone from the desk. He looked at his cell with confusion and tapped the screen. Several seconds later, he said, "Son of a bitch."

  "Your mom?" Conner asked. Then his cell phone alerted him to a text message.

  A moment later, Adam's phone chimed as well.

  Trevor sighed as he sat on the office chair. "You guys just got the same text I did, right?"

  Conner read aloud: "Hello. This is Lou Price. I'm a paranormal investigator in town to research the Jared Smith case. I was informed that you were a close friend of Jared's, and I'd like to talk to you about your friend. Your cooperation would be very important to the case, and I'd appreciate any information you can provide me and my team. Please respond as soon as you can. Thank you."

  He dropped his phone to his lap. "Crap. The whole world is going know about this. It's going be a big-time news story or something."

  As Adam opened his mouth, his phone signaled a new text. He checked the message and then lowered the screen. "Levi got the same text we did."

  "Now what?" Conner asked. "Are we responding to this guy?"

  Trevor continued to dress in Adam's clothes. "My first instinct is to ignore this guy. But maybe we can get some information from him."

  "We talk to him," Adam said, "and he tells us, what?"

  "I don't know. Whatever he knows about the possession story."

  "Really?" Conner asked.

  "It's worth a shot, isn't it?"

  Conner shrugged. "I guess."

  Trevor returned to Adam's bathroom. As he searched for cologne, he thought the paranormal investigator might be the best chance they had to piece together what had happened to Jared. Maybe they didn't need to talk to Jared's parents or the priest. Maybe the investigator-guy would give them enough information they could use to convince their friends to finally let the possession story fade away.

  * * *

  It seemed that Newman was a quiet suburb on Saturday mornings. The roads were relatively bare of traffic. Driving into the Gramercy Heights neighborhood, Lou watched the rows of stone townhouses give way to block after block of well-maintained Colonial homes. Each address featured at least one enormous tree, a row of hedges either bookending the sidewalk leading to the porch or along the front of the house, and a moderately large, manicured yard.

  "Well, look at these fancy houses," Dave muttered.

  Lou shrugged. "We've investigated spooks in mansions owned by people worth millions. This is nothing."

  "Well, these folks aren't out for a quick buck with a hoax."

  Good point. "There are lots of people who consider the limelight more valuable than money, though. Especially teenagers."

  The car's GPS announced a right turn.

  A few blocks later, Lou parallel-parked along the curb at Haven Park. "Where'd the kid say? The tennis court?"

  "No. Basketball."

  "All right. Let's get to it. Remember, friendly and curious without being pushy. These kids are gonna be resistant or hopefully open to discussion. Once we figure out which, we'll know how to proceed."

  "Are we recording audio or video?"

  "Bring both. We can use either in the pilot if they sign off on it."

  They stood near the small walkway that led to the basketball court. Five minutes had passed when Dave suggested that they text the boys. But then four teens soon strutted across the park in their direction.

  "Oh, jeez," Lou groaned. "Look at these guys. They think their hot shit. Or they're totally immature asses who are gonna be giggling and high-fiving like thirteen-year-olds."

  "Well, all four guys. That's a good sign."

  "Let's hope so."

  The group of young men approaching reminded Lou of the guys who'd mocked and harassed him in high school. Typical jocks who thought they owned the high school and asserted some God-given authority around town, like the popular crowd wouldn't exist without them. Walking toward him, they appeared like four muscular, stylishly dressed teens in some catalogue fashion spread. The way they carried themselves with an air of privilege—punks, Lou considered them. And his body reacted with damp armpits and clammy hands.

  Lou's eyes settled on the dark haired, most serious looking of the bunch. He appeared to be in the lead. Perhaps he was the big kahuna within the hierarchy.

  "Hey," Mr. Serious-looking muttered. "You're Lou Price?"

  "Yes, hello." Lou offered a wide smile. "I'm glad you guys agreed to meet with us. I'm Lou, and this is my partner Dave Taylor."

  "I'm Levi." Then he pointed out the others. "This is Trevor, Adam, and Conner."

  Lou gestured to a set of park benches. "Should we sit? Or would you prefer to go somewhere like a diner or something?"

  The slightly tallest, Adam replied, "Nah. This is good for now."

  "All right. Well, let's go have a seat, and then
we can talk a bit."

  Once the group situated themselves at the benches, Lou said, "If you don't mind, we're going to record audio for now."

  Since no one objected, Dave set out a small digital voice recorder.

  "First," Dave said, "state your name and your age. Then we have documentation that you've agreed to talk. Once we conduct interviews, we'll ask you to verbally authorize the use of your interview."

  "Authorize for what?" Adam asked.

  Lou leaned back and crossed his legs, resting a foot on his knee. "Right now, we just wanna hear what you have to say. Later, if you permit, we might use your interview in a television pilot."

  Trevor tucked his hands into the pockets of his jeans and shook his head. "Ah, hell no. I don't want to be on TV."

  "We're not filming," Lou said, anxious that he'd scared one or all the boys with the mention of television. "If we want to use your interview, we'll ask your permission to use the recording. Or we can have a voice actor read your interview for the pilot. We can even change your names if you want to protect your identity."

  The explanation seemed to put the boys at ease.

  "Okay," Conner said. "What do you want to talk about, exactly?"

  Ah, here we go. "To start off, when one of you responds for the first time, state your name and age before you answer the question." Lou removed a small notebook from the pocket of his jacket and flipped to a page. More for show than anything else. He never wrote down a list of interview questions. He always flew by the seat of his pants. "The four of you were good friends of Jared Smith's, correct?"

  "Yeah, we were."

  "Name and age," Dave said.

  "Oh. Adam Wheeler. I'm eighteen. And yeah, we were really good friends with Jared. We all grew up together."

  Lou asked, "And was that up until the time of his death?"

  The nanosecond of hesitation by the four teens didn't go unnoticed by Lou.

  "No. Not until . . . Oh, yeah. My name is Conner Preston, and I'm eighteen years old."

  Lou signaled for Conner to continue.

  "None of us were really friends with him anymore when he died."

  "Was there a reason for that?"

  "He wasn't the same. He changed. And he's the one who basically decided he didn't want to be friends anymore."

  "He wasn't the same how?"

  Trevor stated his name and his age of eighteen, then said, "He was moody. He started getting into trouble, like at school and stuff. Jared wasn't the happy guy we all knew when we were friends."

  Lou glanced at a blank page in the small notebook. "Have you heard the stories surrounding the cause of his death?"

  Nodding, Conner responded, "Cardiac arrest. And there's a rumor that he was possessed by the devil."

  "C'mon, man," Trevor said. "That's why you're here. You wouldn't be talking to us if you didn't want to hear about a possession story."

  Lou chuckled. "Well, that's true. And I don't want to make light of Jared's death, but yes, Dave and I are interested in the possession story. We're paranormal investigators. It's our job."

  "You investigate ghosts and stuff?" Levi asked. "Oh, sorry. My name's Levi Miller. I'll be eighteen next week."

  "Happy birthday," Lou said. "Yeah, we investigate ghosts and stuff. But let's stick to the preliminary interview, then I'll tell you guys all about us and our work."

  Trevor sat, and finally all four seemed to relax.

  "Do any of you believe the story that Jared was possessed?"

  Levi shook his head. "I don't know what to think."

  The other three eyed each other, seemingly reluctant to respond. Then Conner said, "Is it even possible? I mean, does it really happen?"

  "There are documented cases of presumed legitimate possession. I'm sure you guys are familiar with the movies The Exorcist and The Exorcism of Emily Rose. Those are based on true stories."

  "Based on," Trevor stressed. "Doesn't mean they're true."

  "Well, no, it doesn't mean they're true. But it's pretty much accepted as fact. There are always going to be skeptics and people who refuse to believe no matter how much evidence is provided. But that's where Dave and I come in. We're here to confirm or debunk the story."

  "Then what?" Adam asked. "If you find out it's true, then what happens to Jared's memory?"

  "Is that what you guys are worried about? Jared's memory?"

  "Yeah," Conner said. "We don't want people dragging his name through the mud."

  Lou leaned forward. "If it turns out that the story is true, you won't be able to keep people from talking about it or him. But you guys can keep the good things about him alive without being overshadowed by the possession. This is your chance to give Jared a well-rounded story, not just a dark chapter of his life."

  "That makes sense," Adam said.

  The boys' sentiment that they must honor Jared's memory was Lou's open door. "So, are you guys willing to sit down for an interview and share your thoughts? You help us find out the truth, and we help you keep Jared's memory untainted."

  "Right now?" Levi asked. "How long will it take?"

  "Oh, no. Not here," Lou replied. "We'll conduct the interviews at the hotel. One on one." He motioned to Dave. "Well, two on one."

  Dave smiled. "And the interview will only last as long as you want to talk."

  "Maybe tonight. Or tomorrow," Lou said. "We're meeting with Jared's parents this afternoon."

  "What?" Adam exclaimed. "You're interviewing his parents?"

  Somewhat of a curious reaction. "We'll see how much they want to talk," Lou said. "But we're meeting with them in a couple hours."

  The teens exchanged glances as if reading minds. Geese honked at a nearby pond with a blanket of autumn leaves on its murky surface. Then Conner said, "Okay. I'll do the interview."

  The others agreed to the sit-down as well.

  "Great." Lou lit a cigarette. "All right, stop the recorder."

  Dave listened to a moment of the recording with headphones before placing it in his backpack. Then he dropped his butt to the bench and occupied himself with his cell phone.

  "Okay, boys," Lou said as he exhaled a puff of smoke. "What do you wanna know about the work Dave and I do?"

  ELEVEN

  Conner stood on the curb with the others and watched Lou and Dave drive away. Then he said, "Everyone's going to do the interview, right?"

  "Sure," Levi said, leaning against his car. "Why not? I don't think there's a lot we can offer anyway."

  "No?"

  "Well, we can talk about Jared, but we don't know anything about him being possessed by demons." He pulled his car's fob from the pocket of his coat. "Do you? I know I don't."

  Conner shook his head. He'd never discussed the possession rumor with Levi, and he didn't want to compare details.

  "I never knew anything," Adam said, "until Kayla told us."

  "Same," Trevor said. "We heard the rumor just like everyone else. And we didn't know anything about his life after he was kicked outta school."

  Levi unlocked his car. "It'll be interesting to hear the whole story."

  Trevor gave Levi the one-armed bro-hug, and then they bumped fists. "Let us know how the interview goes. And we'll do the same."

  "Sure thing." He bumped fists with Adam, then Conner. "What are you guys doing now?"

  Conner said, "Probably go eat somewhere. Wanna go?"

  "I gotta pick up Miguel. My parents invited him to Thanksgiving dinner. So he wants to go shopping for his outfit."

  "Nice," Adam said. "Let us know if you wanna hang later."

  "Not at your house." Levi chuckled as he opened the car door. "I don't think your mom wants any of us around for a while."

  They stood on the curb and watched Levi drive away, just as absentmindedly as they'd watched Lou and Dave.

  "I'm starving," Adam said.

  "You're always hungry," Trevor replied. He stepped toward his car. "C'mon, let's go get something to eat."

  Settled in the car, Conner asked, "W
hat are you guys going to talk about during the interview?"

  "What do you mean?" Trevor asked. "Just answer his questions."

  "But what if he wants to know everything about Jared? When we were friends and everything. Are you going to mention your freaky story about the black eyes?"

  Trevor regarded Conner with a hint of curiosity. "Are you going to tell him about the bathroom–at–school thing?"

  "I don't know. I kinda feel like I should." He turned toward Adam in the back seat. "What about you? You going to tell Lou about the blood incident?"

  Adam shuddered. "Beats me. Should I? Should we?"

  For several seconds, no one spoke. Then Trevor steered the car onto the street. "Maybe we should feel it out first."

  "You think?" Conner asked.

  "Yeah. We don't know what this Lou and Dave are all about. He mentioned that cable show he has in the works. What if he's using us just to get a good, spooky story out of us?"

  "Jared's parents could probably tell him creepier stuff."

  "Maybe."

  Conner took a deep breath. "What about the man?"

  "What man?" Trevor asked.

  "The one from the camping trip."

  Trevor averted his eyes to the street outside his window and then merged into the left lane. "You want to tell Lou about him?"

  Adam slouched in the back seat. "Lake Bantam. You think that's where the whole thing started?"

  "Jared wasn't the same after that trip," Conner said. "We all know that's where it started."

  Neither Trevor nor Adam responded.

  Conner sighed out of frustration. "Right?"

  "Because of the man?" Adam said in a tone that seemed half-declaration and half-question.

  "I don't want to talk about that," Trevor said.

  "Why not?" Conner asked.

  "Not now anyway."

  Conner pulled out his phone and tapped the screen to life. "Okay. But you know we should talk about it before we do these interviews. Maybe Jared mentioned it to someone. He could have told his parents for all we know."