by Alex Tully
Parker knew it was probably about the phone, but he still couldn’t help getting nervous. As he sat across from the detective, he could feel his heart start thumping, and his hands start sweating.
“I’ll be quick Parker,” the detective smiled, but it didn’t help, “your grandma told me that you had a cell phone, and that you—uh—misplaced it yesterday. Do you remember where you last had the phone?”
“At the dock, I think.”
“The dock out there,” he motioned out toward the direction of the water.
“Yeah, I was fishing and I remember I used it a couple times.”
“To call or text someone?” the Detective asked.
“Um, to play Clash—it’s a game,” he looked at Grams who just smiled back at him reassuringly. At least she wasn’t pissed at him.
“And did you bring it back to the trailer with you?” he asked as he scribbled in his notebook.
“Well, I thought I did, but later when I looked for it—when we both looked for it,” he glanced up at Grams again, “we couldn’t find it.”
“So, when did you realize it was missing?”
“It was when we were getting stuff ready to go to the fireworks. I wanted to bring it with me.”
“Around six,” Grams added, “Are we almost done here?”
The detective turned to Grams, “So most of the folks around here were down at the dock by that time?”
“Well, I didn’t really keep track,” Grams snapped, “But yes, there were several people down there when we arrived.”
“Parker,” the Detective turned back to him, “Did you have a password on your phone?”
“No,” he shook his head. Dumb move by him, he wished he had.
“Any chance you had Mr. Crawford’s number in your phone?”
Before he could say anything, Grams jumped in, “Seriously? I think it’s time we wrap this up.”
The detective looked at him, still waiting for an answer, so he said, “No.”
“Mrs. Webb, I appreciate your patience, just one more question, for both of you really,” he put the notebook and pen back into his pocket, “Did you notice anyone at the dock acting unusual? Was there anyone there, who normally wasn’t there? Or, was there anyone missing, who usually was there?”
Parker had thought about it, but really couldn’t remember every single person, “It just seemed like all of the other Fourth of July’s,” he shrugged.
“It was the same people, Detective,” and then Grams came closer and put her hands on the table. “Except this time,” her voice was quiet—scary quiet, “everybody was feeling a little less enthusiastic, considering they’re all going to be out on their asses in a couple of months.”
The detective leaned back in his chair just slightly, but his expression didn’t change, “Of course.” He stood up, “Well, thanks again for your time. I’ll be in touch if I need anything further.”
“I’ll show you out,” Grams was out the door first, and the detective followed behind her.
Parker immediately went to the edge of the doorway where he strained to listen from inside.
Grams was trying to be quiet, but her quiet voice was still pretty loud, “You need to be aware, the only thing I care about in this world is that little boy in there.”
Little boy?
“And I will do whatever it takes to protect him, Tom.”
Tom?
Parker peeked through the crack between the half-opened door and the wall. It was pretty dark outside, but he could still see their shadowy figures against the detective’s white car. They were standing pretty close together. Grams had her arms crossed in front of her, and her head down. “I know things haven’t always been …you know what I’m trying to say.”
Oh no Grams, what the heck are you trying to say?
The Detective stepped closer to Grams and put his hands on her shoulders, “I know.”
Ewww!
“This whole thing has been a lot for my grandson to deal with, and I want some assurances from you that he’s not going to be badgered continuously.” Grams didn’t sound like Grams anymore, “Can we please be done with the questioning?”
“Yes, we’re done,” the detective sounded totally different too, “But Shirley you know I’m just doing my job. I’m truly sorry Parker had to go through all this.”
“I know, it’s just a lot. For both of us.”
“Look,” the detective stepped even closer to Grams, “if you ever want to talk, when all this blows over, you have my number.”
Double-ewwww!
Thankfully, Grams just nodded and stepped away. That was Parker’s cue to leave.
He rushed into the TV room and flopped on the couch, trying to act normal. He quickly changed the channel to Discovery, one of the few channels they both liked. With basic cable, the choices were limited, but Gold Rush and Mythbusters were two shows they watched together.
Grams came in and went to the kitchen sink. She poured out the cups of coffee and shut off the coffeepot, “Are you hungry Parker? You want me to make you a grilled cheese?”
“Um, I’m not really hungry,” he couldn’t help it, but his stomach just felt queasy, ever since—since he saw Mr. Crawford on the beach.
Grams came over and sat next to him, just as Naked and Afraid came on—the one show they never watched—hello, awkward. He quickly changed the channel again.
“What ya watching?” Grams asked.
“Uh, nothing really, just flipping through the channels.”
“You doing okay, Parker? This has been such a crazy day. I know we haven’t talked much about—what happened.”
“I’m okay,” he did feel okay. Not really good or bad, just okay.
“Do you want to talk about anything? Anything at all?”
He shrugged, “Grams, what do you think happened to Mr. Crawford?”
She was quiet for a little bit and then said, “I think it was probably some unfortunate accident. But we need to leave all of that to the police.”
“Yeah,” Parker guessed she was right.
“C’mon, I’m gonna make you an ice cream sundae—they had Breyer’s on sale, so I got some hot fudge and Reddi-Wip too.”
Suddenly Parker felt like he could eat again, “Yes! Can I have a big one?”
“Okay,” Grams stood up and headed to the kitchen, “Two extra-large Shirley Specials coming up!”
CHAPTER 37
ETHAN
Ethan pulled on a t-shirt and swim trunks and grabbed his phone. He had been sleeping at home for the last two nights. Ever since the Mr. Crawford incident, as his parents liked to call it, they insisted on an eleven o’clock curfew, and also that he sleep at home.
But, that was better than the first alternative they proposed—going back to Cleveland for the rest of the summer. After some serious pleading by Emma, they agreed to stay.
At Crystal Waters, things seemed to be getting back to normal—sort of. The pool was set to open again, and that’s where Ethan was headed in a little bit. Zoe had decided to go back to work there after she found out she wasn’t fired.
Heather had called to tell her that not only was Zoe not fired, but they actually wanted to give her a raise. Which Zoe could only attribute to Gayle Crawford feeling bad about her rant the night of the party. It was her best option, and since Marty wasn’t there anymore…
But, the reminders of Crawford were still there.
Yellow crime tape went up at the Crystal Waters Marina the day before—around the entrance to one of the docks. The police had also cordoned off one of the boats at the end of the dock.
Ethan asked Zoe to come over, and along with a bunch of other curious residents, they spent most of the day watching the investigation unfold before them. Just like on the beach where Crawford’s body had been found, uniformed police officers, along with men in suits, and a photographer in white, descended down on the dock to do their thing. They walked up and down the dock, between the boat and a tent they had set up onshore.
It went on for hours.
Obviously, something happened on that boat. As soon as Ethan saw the yellow tape, he was on the phone trying to find out whose boat it was.
He texted Emma first: Did you see the yellow tape? Do you know whose boat it is?
Emma texted back: Yes, just found out it’s the Hortons (the family with the ginger triplets) they haven’t been here all summer!
Obviously, the Horton’s weren’t the ones meeting Marty Crawford on that boat. So they could only guess that whoever was meeting Crawford just picked that boat at random, or maybe even Crawford picked it.
The police hadn’t released any new information about the case. But, they also hadn’t bothered Ethan or Parker anymore.
News about Crawford’s death had also reached the media. White TV trucks with things like Action News painted across the sides, had parked themselves up at the entrance to Crystal Waters.
They weren’t allowed on the property, but they would try to catch residents going in and out. “Ma’am, did you know Mr. Crawford? Could we get a few words on camera?”
Ethan went into the kitchen to make a bowl of cereal before he headed over to the pool. He sat down at the kitchen island, and as soon as he took his first bite, his mom came through the front door.
“Oh, hello Ethan,” she dropped her bags by the door, “I’m glad I caught you, are you heading out soon?”
“Um, yeah, I was just gonna go to the pool for a little bit.”
She smiled, that I-don’t-want-to-say-the-wrong-thing-so-I’m-going-to-be-very-careful, smile, “How are you doing?”
“Fine.”
“Good, I’m glad to hear that,” but she wasn’t done, “are you feeling okay, with everything that’s happened? With…”
He looked up, “The incident?”
God, she looked nervous, “Okay, well, I just wanted you to know, if you ever want to talk about it—about anything—I’m always here.”
He almost spit out his Cheerios. He couldn’t help it, it just happened. He could feel the milk dripping out of the corner of his mouth, and down his chin, as he tried to suppress a smile.
“Is something funny Ethan?” She looked so hurt, and somehow surprised at the same time.
“No,” he wiped his chin on the back of his hand, “sorry.” He stared down into his bowl and watched the few remaining O’s float around. He didn’t dare look at her, not because he felt bad, but because he was afraid he’d go off on her.
“No?” But there was no way she was letting it go, “Obviously something is bothering you, do you have something you want to say to me?”
He could feel a swell in his chest, like there was something inside of him, ready to burst out—like the scene in Alien, “Just forget it.”
“What do you want to say, Ethan?”
He put his spoon down and looked at her, “Well, for one, you aren’t always here. You’re never here.”
Her face fell, but he didn’t care. It was all coming out—the Alien burst free. “You and Dad treat me like…a fricking two-year-old—worse than a two-year-old! So worried about Ethan’s fragile little head! We can’t say anything to upset him!”
He stood up, and he was getting louder, “You guys are just so—fake! This whole charade you got going on,” he waved his hands through the air, “You and dad, happy little marriage! Jesus! Holding hands—it’s not fooling me, and it’s not fooling Emma!”
“Ethan, please—,” she tried to get a word in, but it wasn’t happening.
“I just want you guys to be real!” He tried to take a deep breath and calm himself down, “No more tip-toeing around me. Just be real, please!”
“Ethan,” his mom started to say something, and then stopped, like she again was trying to choose her words carefully, “We were just concerned about you, and we didn’t want to upset you. This isn’t a charade, as you like to call it.”
“Really mom? Are you going to look me in the face and tell me this whole thing—you and dad—isn’t a big joke?”
“Ethan…” her eyes were pleading and sad, but any chance he was going to let it go evaporated when she said, “Dr. Malone said you were making such great progress, and we didn’t want—.”
“Stop!” he put his hands up, “Mom—.” He closed his eyes, and then he laughed. He wasn’t sure why, but it just happened, “Oh my god!”
Now there was no holding back, “I know about the affair! I know about you and Dr. Malone!”
As the words came out, his mom’s face transformed instantly from pleading and sad, to holy and shit, “What?”
“Don’t,” Ethan shook his head, “Don’t deny it—I know!”
She put her head down and said nothing, which really said it all.
Ethan had been so frantic and caught up in the moment, that he hadn’t even seen his Dad and Emma standing in the hallway behind his mom.
Shit.
Emma looked stunned, but Dad just looked—tired. In Ethan’s mindless rant, he had completely forgotten about the fact that his dad was home and could hear everything. He opened his mouth, but words wouldn’t come out.
“It’s okay Ethan,” Dad walked toward him, but Emma didn’t move, and he didn’t blame her for wanting to stay as far away as possible.
Mom sat down on a kitchen stool and started dabbing her eyes with a tissue.
Dad stood across from him, “I’m sorry that we’ve been so protective over you, but like your mother said, we only had the best intentions.” He didn’t seem upset or angry at all.
Maybe Dad didn’t hear what he just said?
“Obviously, we were wrong thinking you couldn’t handle…” he paused.
“The truth?” Ethan finished.
“The reality,” and then he sighed, “Yes…the truth.”
Then he turned around toward Emma, “Can you come here Emma, please?”
Emma walked toward them slowly, and Ethan could see tears streaming down her face—he had never told her about the affair!
Dad put his hand on his mom’s shoulder, “Your mom wanted to tell you both a long time ago, but I was the one who dissuaded her not to.”
What the hell?
“I know about Elijah—Dr. Malone.”
Ethan just stared at his dad in disbelief. What was he talking about? He knew about the affair?!
“He was a mutual friend of ours—he still is,” Dad went on, “Your mother and I love each other, but only as friends and partners and parents. It’s been that way for quite some time.”
Emma was quiet no longer, “How long?” she asked between gritted teeth.
Then mom finally looked up, “A couple of years.”
“A couple years?” Emma’s voice was shaking, “Are you fricking kidding me?”
Mom had desperation all over her face, “Your father and I had a business interest to stay together—for the firm—and we just didn’t think it would be something you two would understand. And then, last October…” she trailed off.
“Wait,” a realization came to Ethan, “So you chose, the guy you were having an affair with, to be my therapist?!”
“Ethan, Dr. Malone is one of the best in his field,” Dad quickly came to mom’s defense, “and we already knew what kind of person he was.”
“Yeah!” Ethan couldn’t control his emotions anymore, “The kind of person who would agree to this fucked up arrangement!” he shouted.
“Ethan!” Dad yelled, “Calm down! We—.”
“No!” now Emma was screaming, “We don’t want to hear any more of your bullshit! Do you two even realize how messed up this is? I’m done!” And with that, Emma turned and bolted up the staircase to her room.
Ethan looked at his parents. The exterior shell of confidence, that they had hidden behind for so long, was shattered. They looked simply—dumbstruck.
He followed his sister, and knocked on her door, “Emma, can I come in?”
The thing he was most sorry about, in all of the chaos, was not telling Emma about the affair. They told each
other everything, and he should’ve told her the day he found out.
“Emma, please?”
He heard a muffled yell from inside, “Just go away, Ethan! I want to be alone!”
“Look, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you—I just found out a couple of days ago. But I know I should have, and I’m sorry.”
Just then he got a text message, and he pulled his phone out of his pocket.
It was from Emma: not mad at you. I just don’t want to talk right now, talk later?
Ethan texted back: Ok
And then he added something he had never texted before: Love you sis
Emma texted back: Love you bro
Things would be okay between him and Emma. But as he headed back down the stairs, he heard the hushed voices of his parents below and knew he couldn’t say the same about them.
Ethan walked quickly past his parents, and out the front door, giving it a good slam behind him. He was going to the pool—he was going to see Zoe.
CHAPTER 38
ZOE
Zoe was surprised when Heather called her yesterday, letting her know she could come back to work. She figured Heather probably didn’t know about the blowout she had in front of the Crawford’s, so she had to be sure it was okay, “Does Mrs. Crawford know I’m coming back?”
“Yeah, she knows, and guess what? She’s giving all of us a three dollar raise!”
“What?! Like three dollars per hour raise?”
“Yep!” Heather said, “I guess things are going to be different around here without Crawford.”
Zoe couldn’t believe it! Not only would she not have to look for a job to finish out the summer, but she’d also be making more money than she ever thought she could.
She walked over to Crystal Waters fifteen minutes before the pool was set to open. Another nice day—blue skies with a light breeze. One of the members of the maintenance team was doing some last-minute cleaning of the pool. He pulled a pole net along, skimming the surface to catch any stray debris. Another person was setting up chairs around the perimeter. Just like it used to be, except for one obvious difference.