Behind The Lies by Mark Beckner (top ebook reader .TXT) 📕

championship game on Saturday. No decision has yet been made on whether to play the game, given the circumstances, but the team has to prepare until they hear otherwise. McGivens isn’t very much in the mood to practice, as he cannot get the death of Wendy Spire out of his mind. He keeps going over what happened in his mind and cannot help but think, what went so wrong? How could this have happened?

4:05 pm

By now, the news has identified the dead girl as Wendy Spire, a 16-year-old junior at Lincoln High School. The cause of death has not yet been reported. Aaron’s mom, who has been following the news all day, rushes into Aaron’s bedroom to tell him the latest news.

“Aaron, that girl who was killed was a Wendy Spire. Do you know her?”

Suddenly Aaron starts hyper-ventilating and can’t find a way to respond.

“Aaron, are you okay? Aaron, what’s wrong?”

Finally, Aaron is able to catch his breath. “I know that girl,” says Aaron in a subdued voice.

“Oh, I’m so sorry Aaron, was she a good friend?” says his mom in a sympathetic voice.

Aaron’s shoulders start to tremble as he sobs, “in a way, yes.”

Megan Livingston continues to console her only son as she holds him in her arms. “We’ll get through this together Aaron.”

4:25 pm

Timmy Goodman and Harold Best have been trying to phone Aaron most of the day to no avail. Neither has heard from Aaron since school let out on Thursday, and neither has any idea what happened during the meetup with Wendy. After they hear Wendy has been killed, they become genuinely concerned. They can’t believe Aaron killed Wendy, but since they haven’t heard from him, they are both worried. Finally, Timmy decides to call Mrs. Livingston.

“Hello,” answers Mrs. Livingston. “Oh, hi Timmy, how are you doing?”

“Fine,” says Timmy. “But we are worried about Aaron. Is he okay?”

“He will be, but he is pretty upset right now. The girl who got killed last night was a friend and it has greatly bothered him. That, and he woke up not feeling well this morning.”

“Yeah, we kind of knew her as well. It’s really sad,” responds Timmy. “Can I talk to Aaron?”

“He’s upset right now and is resting. Why don’t you call back later.”

“Alright, did Aaron say anything more about her?”

“No, not really, just that she was a friend.”

Timmy isn’t comfortable telling Mrs. Livingston about Aaron’s texting relationship with Wendy, as he doesn’t know what Aaron wants to keep from his mom.

“Okay,” says Timmy, “just tell him we are thinking about him and if he needs anything to give us a call.”

“Yeah, I will Timmy. Thank you for calling.”

Timmy turns to Harold and says, “It doesn’t sound like Aaron’s mom knows anything about all the texting or the meetup with Wendy.”

“This doesn’t sound good,” Harold sighs.

“No, it doesn’t,” agrees Timmy.

Saturday, November 14th

Both detectives arrive at the office around 7:00 am to ramp up the second day of the investigation. Detective Baker checks with the night shift officers assigned to watch the Livingston home and it’s reported that no one attempted to leave the residence. The house went dark at 10:42 pm Friday. Detective Baker grabs the search warrant affidavit and leaves to meet with the on-call judge.

“I will call when I have the warrant and will meet you at the Livingston home,” says Baker.

“Sounds good,” Walker shouts back, “I’ll get the recorder and paperwork ready.”

At 7:35 am, Baker calls Walker with the news that the judge has approved the warrant to search the suspect's vehicle and cell phone. Both detectives arrive at the West Emory Street address at about 7:50 am. It now appears as though several lights are on in the home.

At 7:52 am, the detectives are knocking on the front door. A woman’s voice asks, “who is it?” through a Ring doorbell. “Detectives Baker and Walker with the Rockville Police Department,” announces Walker. A woman in her mid-40’s with light brown short hair, wearing an oversized gray Michigan State t-shirt and mint green pajama pants answers the door. “What is the problem?” she asks.

“Are you Mrs. Livingston?” Walker asks.

“Yes.”

“And do you have a son living here by the name of Aaron?”

“Why, yes I do.”

“Ma’am, we’re here investigating a homicide and would like to talk to you and your son,” Walker advises.

“Oh my!” exclaims Mrs. Livingston, “Is this about Wendy Spire?”

“Yes Ma’am.”

Mrs. Livingston invites them in and summons Aaron from his bedroom. Aaron comes into the living room looking disheveled in blue pajama pants and a wrinkled black t-shirt. His eyes are bloodshot, and it appears as though he has not had much sleep. Detective Baker explains the reason for being there and tells Aaron they know about the meeting with Wendy Thursday night. Mrs. Livingston is shocked to hear this news.

“Aaron, were you with that girl last night!” she asks.

“Kind of,” Aaron says.

“Mrs. Livingston, please let us ask the questions,” advises Walker. “What do you mean by “kind of?”

“I didn’t kill her!” exclaims Aaron, “really, I didn’t”

“Please answer the question, Aaron.”

“I went there, but it was Brad who met her. I didn’t see anything. He set a meetup with her and he went while I waited in the car. He came back and said she didn’t want to see me, and then we left.”

“Brad who?” asks Baker.

“Brad McGivens.”

“So, Brad drove you to the school?” responds Baker.

“No, I drove. I picked him up at Johnson’s”

“Johnson’s Café?”

“Yes.”

“What time did you pick him up?”

“About five-fifteen.”

“What car were you driving?”

“I drive the RAV4.”

“And wasn’t it you who sent all these texts? Telling her how much you liked her and wanted to meet with her?” challenges Baker.

“Yes, I mean no, not really.”

“Explain,” says Baker.

“Well,” Aaron explains, “Brad helped me with the texting. He started the texting, then later he started to dictate the texts to send her. He tried to set me up with Wendy, but in the end, she didn’t want to see me. I was nervous about doing this and then she made me feel humiliated.” Aaron starts to