Carmen's Diary

The Secret Behind Her

    Screams filled the building. Everyone had stopped their work and stared at the woman being dragged inside with shock. It wasn’t her who was screaming, it was the young boy in the officer’s hand.  

    Carmen was quiet. She didn’t a want to look weak or scared. She wanted to look like she had nothing to be scared of and she definitely nailed it. 

    Whispers increased. They were about her. Everyone was gossiping about the girlfriend of the important Adrian Romano. What had she done to be taken to the police station? Everyone was wondering and one noisy guy even tweeted about it. 

    After a few minutes, Adrian rushed in, following them. He ignored the people and walked to the office Carmen was in. 

    “I have evidence that I’m not a criminal”she said sternly, looking confident. 

    Adrian smirked. He was having fun, seeing the situation she was in. But, she was no damsel in distress, she was standing bravely in front of the officer and defending herself. 

    “What is the evidence?”The policer questioned. 

    “My brother, Cody. He can fill you up with all the details that happened that day. He is a witness in the end, right officer..?”

    “You can call me Mr. Lebrant. I will have a talk with your young brother and if I hear something a little suspicious, you will be locked in a cell”he frowned. “Please Anna, take her to detective Michelle and I’ll talk with the young boy”Mr. Lebrant ordered the lady, holding Carmen’s wrists tightly. 

    The woman nodded and took Carmen away. 

    Cody frowned as he looked down nervously. Logan Lebrant noticed that and motioned for Adrian to go out and give them privacy. He hesitated a bit before leaving. 

    “I don’t bite”Logan chuckled “I will only ask you some questions. Don’t you want to help your sister Carmen?” He asked, knowing he would be able to convince the little boy by his words immediately. 

    It wasn’t the first time he had to interrogate children. Almost every one or two months, he had to listen to children talk, confessing about being abused by their parents. Some stayed silent, some talked. So, it was easy for him to persuade kids into trusting him. 

    Cody stared up at him from behind his hair and seemed unsure. He was thinking of talking to him but the man was just too intimidating to a child Cody’s age. 

    “I-I want Carmen”he whispered softly. Logan smiled and got up from his chair. 

    He bent down to Cody’s level and ruffled his hair gently. 

    “Carmen is in another room. She is talking with a woman now about the same thing you are going to tell me. Carmen is absolutely not nervous like you and is refusing to talk. She is having a discussion with a detective now. It’s because she wants to defend herself and you have to help her.”

    “It’s because Carmen is strong, unlike me. She is able to do everything and solve all hers and my problems”he muttered, pouting. 

    Logan frowned. He thought that this woman was taking care of her brother so much that she was doing everting for him. She had to make him depend on himself or he would rely on her all his life. 

    “You are strong. If you weren’t, you wouldn’t have defended your sister when the officers were handcuffing her.”

    “You think I’m strong?”Cody asked, with a big toothy grin. Logan chuckled and nodded at the little boy, making him happier than ever. “You are my new best friend”he shouted excitedly. Logan laughed at how innocent he was and placed him on the chair in front of his desk. 

    “So will you tell me what happened now? I have information that his car bumped into a tree and he hit his head. Is that true?”

    Cody widened his eyes before shaking his head negatively. “No. This is not true”he said sadly, looking like he was remembering some events. 

    “What happened then?” Logan asked, amused. 

    “H-he umm“Cody jumped in his seat, frightened upon hearing the loud ringing coming from the phone. The officer huffed and picked it up. 

    “Officer Logan Lebrant. How may I help you?”after some silence, he sighed heavily again. “Understood, sheriff”he said, hanging up. 

    He stared at Cody, debating whether to let him continue or not before walking out. A few minutes later, Carmen walked into the room. 

    She smiled at Cody reassuringly and caught his hand tightly, not letting him go away. She walked out after glaring at the officer. 

    “That was...fast?”Adrian said questioningly. 

    “You’re here!”she mentioned, not believing her eyes. From the nervousness and anger, she didn’t notice his presence. “Yeah, I don’t know why they let me go, apologizing about everything.”

    “Ms. Carmen”Logan called, rushing over”Sorry for everything. It was all a mistake”he smiled. Carmen watched him carefully and suspiciously. His smile wasn’t real, it was clearly fake and snaky. It was absolutely not a mistake, she knew something happened. 

    “You dragged me home like I’m some serial killer and then forced my brother into an interrogation and now you’re apologizing? What is wrong with you! That’s not how the police deal with people!”she yelled, frustrated. All the people were staring and a few were recording the scene. 

    “We didn’t force your brother, he was willing to talk. I’m sorry again M-“

    “Whatever, I’ll find out why you let me go so easily”she gave him one last glare and turned on her heals, storming out. 

    Adrian followed her and asked “Why do you think they did that?”

    “I don’t know but something happened that made them either close the case or start an investigation without my knowledge. But I’m not stupid to think that they would just let it go like it’s nothing. That officer is suspicious.”

    “When I was going to talk to the policer, the phone rang. Then he went out and you came”Cody said, surprising both of them. 

    “What? Someone called?” Adrian mentioned while looking at Carmen. 

    “Who could it be?”she wondered. She looked away, not noticing Adrian’s state. 

    “I think I know the caller” Adrian replied, sounding angry. Carmen frowned and stared at his face. 

    “Who do you think it is?” Inquired Carmen. 

    He glanced down at her, holding her chin in his hand. He moved her face to the left, surprising her. She stared at the man standing there with a confused look on his face. The same look she had. 

    The three of them walked to the man. The two brothers were staring at each other. The older was glaring at the other, and the younger was staring at him with a questioning look. 

    “Ronald?”Carmen asked in confusion”What are you doing here?”

    “I came to see what happened and help but looks like someone already did”he rolled his eyes. 

    “You’re the one who got her out, you douche”yelled Adrian. 

    “What do you mean I already helped? I just arrived here” He raised his eyebrows, confusedly. 

    “Wait! So you aren’t the one who called them and told them to release me?!”Carmen interrupted. 

    “No. I don’t even know what happened that’s why I came here. The internet and news are talking about you being taken to the police. Father is mad, saying some silly stuff”he answered. 

    Her eyes widened at his reply. She quickly started looking around her but nothing seemed suspicious. Everything was normal. Cars, people, and police officers were around. No familiar faces. 

    She stared down at Cody who was surprisingly staring up at her too. She gasped when she saw that he had the same look at her. That’s when she knew that he had the same thoughts too. 

    Cody hugged her hips and looked at Ronald, while smiling. “He is staring at me”he looked down shyly, pointing at Ronald. 

    Ronald laughed at his innocence. ‘So he wasn’t thinking the same as me. It’s probably nothing, I’m just overthinking’ she thought. 

    “We have to get going now. Cody is late for school. By the way, thank you both so much” she smiled. 

    “Anytime”Ronald smiled. She stared at Adrian, waiting for a reply but he looked too busy with his thoughts. “I can drive you there. Wait if Cody doesn’t have his backpack with him, we can go to your home and then to school”Ronald offered. 

    “No, you don’t have to drive us there. Thank you for the offer though”she said. 

    “I’m not taking no as an answer. I’m driving you there if you want or not”he laughed with her joining him. Suddenly, another laugh was heard. 

    Adrian was mimicking their laughter in a silly voice. He rolled his eyes and walked away, not giving them a chance to comprehend what happened. 

    He entered his car and sped off. “I wonder what all today’s action was about. I have to find the secret behind this woman” he said, talking to himself. 

    Meanwhile, the other three were literally running to the car, escaping from the reporters who just arrived.