Transparency by Charles Royce (children's books read aloud txt) 📕

“Jesus, you Americans,” Jenna replies. “Yes, she’s a gorgeous black woman.”

“My buddy at the 13th Precinct talked with her about a week after the murder, I think,” says Detective Penance. “That was, what, five months ago? I’d have to check the records to know for sure.”

“But you remember her?” Shawn asks the detective.

“Tracy Heissman called the station, instigated an interview. But once she got there, she clammed up and barely gave us a description. They chalked it up to shock.”

“More like fear,” Jenna says.

“Detective Penance, could you please turn the surveillance on again? I want you to hear the rest of this.”

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TO AVOID THE constant surveillance, Micah gets up from his seat in the hospital waiting area and walks to another seat across the room. The only other people in the room are a couple who’d been stealing glances at him every chance they could.

Before he has completely settled in his chair, he sees Haylee walk back into the lobby. “Everything okay?”

Haylee smiles. “It’s fine. Baby’s fine. Everything is good. Did you know you can actually see the outline of a human at eight weeks? Little arms are growing, it’s the weirdest thing.”

“Completely weird,” Micah says, extends his elbow. “Did you get a picture? One of those sonogram things?”

Haylee takes his arm as they walk to her car. “Nah, it’s too soon. I really just wanted to check myself out.”

“I get it. I was a little concerned for the baby after your car wash trauma.”

“You and me both. I think I’m still reeling from the whole thing. I’ve been having trouble sleeping.”

“Nightmares?”

“No, just discomfort, you know? Man, it’s serious what’s happening to my body.”

“I can’t even imagine.”

Micah notices a woman just outside the building do a double take, then change her path to avoid him.

“Did you see that?” Haylee notices too.

“It’s been happening a lot.”

“The nerve. Oh, that kinda thing just makes my blood boil. Like, do these people even keep up with the news?” Haylee turns around, screams, “He’s innocent, people!”

“Stop.” Micah directs her to her car. “People believe what they want to believe.”

“People are dumb.”

“Do you think Shawn will take Jenna’s case?” Micah lets go of her hand. “Would you like me to drive?”

“I got it this time, but thanks. The morning sickness is gone.” She unlocks the doors, gets in the driver’s side of her 2016 Honda Accord. “It’s been a hot minute since I’ve driven this thing. Usually Shawn just takes an Uber or the subway, but he was late. I told him to take the SUV since it was my fault he was running behind.”

“I’m sure he woulda taken the car,” Micah says. “Where’d he have to go in such a rush?”

She starts the ignition, begins to make their way back. “I didn’t mean to avoid your question earlier about Jenna. Actually, Shawn is with Jenna right now. At the police station.”

“Really?” Micah asks.

“I know. I’ve gone round and round about it. Is she guilty? Is she not? Sure looks like she is, but I don’t think Jenna coulda done all that, at least not by herself.”

“The company?”

Haylee stops at a red light, turns to Micah. “Yep.”

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THE RED LIGHT on the corner camera begins to flash. Shawn resumes his exploration so the detective can listen in.

“What do you mean Tracy was in fear?” Shawn asks.

“Of someone at Élan,” Jenna replies.

“We think the company is behind both of these murders,” Josh says.

Shawn eyes Josh’s folder. “You have proof?”

Josh pats it. “Patience.”

Shawn shakes his head. “There’s not much left.”

Jenna notices the tension between them. “See, Tracy works in editorial for Press magazine, an Élan publication. Sometimes she writes, most of the time she manages freelancers, decides what stories are good for publication, what needs work, etcetera. For years she was used to having editorial license to print what she pleases, but about a year ago, she started being bullied about certain stories. Some getting the green light no problem, some getting the kibosh by upper management.”

“Upper management at Élan? Like what kind of stories?” Shawn asks.

“Well, here’s a current example. Tracy’s an activist in her normal life, so naturally she’s especially drawn to stories about people of color. Stories of marginalization, the black power and white privilege differential. This case? The one I’ve been arrested for? Tracy had two ideas for stories, one was an exclusive first interview with Lilith McGuire, the white detective who was crucified on the back of that door by Ghost. The other story was an exposé on Ghost himself. Tracy wanted to deep dive into who Ghost really was, where he came from, what happened to him prior to his drug dealing.”

“Which do you think they went with?” Josh interjects.

“The white woman,” Shawn answers. “Typical.”

“Yes, but it was a trick question,” Josh says. “We think that’s what Élan’s vanilla upper management wanted Tracy to think. We think it’s a bit more devious than that. The interview with Lilith would further the narrative of a deranged man concocting a plan with Jenna, therefore shifting the suspicion away from the organization. And the other would inevitably bring up all the evidence they have, including Ghost’s face on the videos found on Jenna’s old work laptop, which would reintroduce the whole camera idea, a proven surveillance technique that the company uses to spy on its employees. Élan’s stock would tumble even more than it already has.”

Shawn leans back, looks back and forth at Jenna and Josh. “Pfft.”

“What?” Jenna asks.

“You people are crazy conspiracy theorists, aren’t you?” he says. He looks up at the camera. “Are you getting all this? Sorry, detective!”

Josh plops his folder open on the table, begins pulling out photos and laying each one on the table between them. A close-up of Josh and Jenna talking with Angelina and West at the party, Josh and Micah bumping into each other on the stairs, Mrs. Gordon fainting on the floor, Tracy and Jenna