Beneath the Lies

When everything changed

My mum had already spoken to our lawyer, Mr. Whitmore, who was heading to the police station already. “I have to go meet Mr. Whitmore at the station,” she said as she slipped her coat on.

It had only been an hour since my dad’s arrest, a freaking hour. Just an hour ago, everything about my life had still made sense.

My mum took a quick shower before leaving, hoping it would calm her nerves, but her teary eyes told a different side. “Should I come with?” I asked her.

She paused by the door before turning to face me. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, baby.” She puts her hand on my cheek. “You have school tomorrow. Let me see your dad first and find out exactly what the police have on him, then we’ll know what we’re up against,” tears still filled her eyes. I didn’t bother arguing with her, “Okay,” I whispered.

She reached for the doorknob, turned it but suddenly paused. She turned back to face me, she hugged me, really tight, like she was afraid she'd lose me if she let go. She smiled at me, picked up her handbag, and walked out the door.

As soon as she shut the door, I pressed my forehead against it, all strength leaving my body. I kept breathing in and out. I told myself not to cry. My mum had done enough crying for both of us tonight. But the moment I turned my back to the door and slid down onto the floor, the tears rushed.

I saw my dad this morning, he kissed my mum goodbye. He smiled and blew me a kiss before leaving for work and now, he might spend a night in a cell? How did our lives change so quickly? It was almost two in the morning. I needed to talk to someone.

Anyone, this was a lot for me; my fingers trembled as I unlocked my phone.

Isaiah

It went straight to voicemail, I sighed. That wasn’t astounding. He’d never been much of a night owl, always amazes me, but I wish he was up.

Next, Melissa, also voice mail.

I closed my eyes. Can someone please answer? My vision blurred as I scrolled through my contacts until I reached Jaden’s name and pressed call. It rang once, twice, three times.

Finally, “C?” Her voice was sleepy. “ … Cierra?” The moment I heard her voice, another sob left my lips. There was a pause, her tone changed to worry. “Cierra? You’re crying,” I covered my mouth, trying to stop myself from breaking down completely.

“C baby, talk to me. What’s wrong?” I tried to answer, but all that came out was another shaky breath. “No, no …” I wiped my face with the sleeve of my hoodie. “Cierra, you’re scaring me.” I squeezed my eyes shut.

“Everything was going great,” I started. “My dad was about to become CEO. We were finally going to celebrate, so why …” My voice broke.

“Why did this have to happen to my family?” There was silence on the other end. Jaden spoke softly, “What happened?” I can’t bring myself to tell her, at least not this night.

“Something terrible,” I just said to her. Jaden didn’t hesitate. “Cierra, I’m coming over.” “No,” I replied. “I’ll ask my brother to drive me,” she fought back. Jaden is always so sweet. Although we don’t live near, the distance isn’t too crazy, but it's 2:00am. I’ll just see her tomorrow.

I tell her, “J, it’s two in the morning.” She answers quickly, “I don’t care.” I let out a small laugh, I needed this comic relief.

“No baby, I’ll see you tomorrow or so,” I say quietly.” I just … needed someone to speak to, I mean cry too,” I tell her. There was a brief silence. “You’ll always have me forever,” she says.

I smile.

***********************************************************************

A knock at the door woke me up.

For a second, I was confused by my surroundings. I remembered falling asleep on the floor after my call with Jaden, now I’m in my bedroom. “Baby?” I heard my mum’s soft voice coming from the other side of the door before she slowly opened it. “Mum?” I pushed my weak self up and walked to meet her.

Her eyes were still swollen, but she looked a bit better, like she had gotten sleep. “I made breakfast,” she said, smiling a little. “Come out, we need to talk.”

I frowned, “What time is it? I’m going to be late for school”. She gently squeezed my hands.

“Don’t worry about school today, just come and eat first,” something about her voice made me worried. She slowly let go of my hands before turning to leave, quietly closing the door behind her.

She was acting a little … different. I walked over to my nightstand and picked up my phone, I’d switched it off after talking too much. Everything had become too much for me to handle.

The screen lit up. “11:03 a.m.”

Almost immediately, my phone filled with notifications. Missed calls from my boyfriend and best friends, text messages, news alerts, unknown numbers, questions rush in.

“Is your dad really the one they arrested?” “Cierra, please tell me this isn’t true," “Call me as soon as you see this."

Then the headlines: CEO Candidate of company Arrested in Connection with Secretary’s Murder.

My chest tightened. How was this news already? The press is quick; it hadn’t even been 24 hours. I locked my phone again; I didn’t want to read another word. I can’t speak to anyone, not yet.

I calmed down a bit before heading out to meet my mum.

Mr. Whitmore was sitting on the couch, speaking quietly on his phone while flipping through the documents in his hands. He noticed me and looked up, “Good morning, Cierra.”

“Morning, Mr. Whitmore,” I forced a smile before walking into the kitchen. Mum was standing by the counter, absentmindedly stirring a cup of coffee she probably forgot to drink.

“It’s past eleven”. I said, pulling out of one of the stools by the counter. “You didn’t wake me for school.” She looked up at me. For a moment, she just stared at me with a faint smile.

Then I asked the only question on my mind, “How’s dad?”

It looked like she wanted to say something, but she paused.

“He’s okay,” she said softly. “He told me to tell you not to worry,” she reached over and gently cupped my cheek.

“Mum, please,” I pulled away, annoyed. “I turned on my phone. “My friends are calling me, the news is everywhere, they’re already saying Dad killed someone.” My voice cracked, “They’re calling him a murderer.”

I buried my face in my hands. “I don’t understand.” Almost immediately, I felt mum’s hand gently rubbing my back.

“My baby,” she whispered. “We’re going to be okay.” She waited until I looked at her before continuing, “Your dad is innocent, Mr. Whitmore believes he can get him released," Her hands still on me.

“But I don’t understand if he’s not guilty,” I frowned. “Why are they still holding him?” She sighed, a bit louder this time, “They didn’t disclose much to us.”

“Mr. Whitmore was in the interview room with him already with the officers. I waited a bit”. With a shaky breath, she continued, “Then … one officer escorted your dad out. He was still in handcuffs." I felt my chest tighten.

“I ran to him almost immediately.” I could see the faint smile on her face. “We spoke for a bit, he kept telling me not to cry” she took a short breath. “He said this was all a misunderstanding. That Mr. Whitmore will clear it up”.

“He said he’d be home soon, that he missed you.” I lowered my head, trying to hold back my tears. “This cannot be happening,” I whispered.

“After they led him away, Mr. Whitmore came to me”. She paused, “He told me your dad, with the amount of evidence, had officially been charged with first-degree murder.” My eyes widened, “Charged?” She nodded.

“So dad’s really going to trial?” tears gathering in my eyes. She nods, “Yes.”

“His arraignment is on Monday. Unfortunately, he has to spend the weekend.” She cups my cheek, tears in his eyes too.

“Oh my God.” The tears I’d been fighting broke free as I broke down into her arms. This is very devastating. My dad was supposed to be appointed CEO today. Now, he’s behind bars.

My mum wiped the tears from my cheeks and held both my hands, “For now,” she smiled faintly, “We pray.” “Your father is innocent; Mr. Whitmore will fight for him.” Before I could say anything, Mr. Whitmore walked in.

“Sorry, the fingerprint result just came back; the detectives need me at the station.”

“Okay, should I come with me?” my mum stood. He shook his head, “No.”

“The press is already aware of the case. The last thing you need right now is reporters following you”. He looked at both of us, “For now, please don’t speak to anybody about the case”. “If reporters come or the police have any other questions or anyone is snooping, tell them to speak to me.”

“We don’t know how this case is going to play out please, I can only hope for the best.” We walked him out of the kitchen and headed towards the front door. Before he leaves, he says, “Once I’ve seen all the police have gathered, I’ll explain everything to you”. “We’re not giving up,” he nods and lets himself out.

The house fell silent. My mum walks with me to the couch, and we sit in silence, hugging.

***********************************************************************

“Thank you, Sam,” my mum said to the phone before hanging up. She didn’t move, just stared at the screen in her hand. “Sam from the company?” I asked.

She nods, “The board is still holding the meeting; they’ve appointed Lewis as the new CEO”. “Already?” I stare at her in disbelief.

She buries her face on a pillow. “They also released an internal statement, pending the outcome of the murder investigation, the company is distancing itself from your dad.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Dad loved that job, he loved that company.

“But he gave that company all he’s got,” my voice cracked. “Now, do they repay by distancing themselves like he’s a common criminal?” She is visibly frustrated and this is infuriating to me as well.

***********************************************************************

“Hi,” I say dryly to the phone. “Babe,” he replies, “How are you holding up?” I don’t know why, but I’m so annoyed by that question. “Really? For starters, my dad is sleeping in a prison cell”.

“Wait babe, that’s not-” he tried to interrupt me, but I would not let him, “Oh, and my boyfriend couldn’t even come to the house to check on me after hearing the news.”

My voice rose with every word, “What? You think he did it too?!” I take a calm breath.

“Cierra, no-” he started saying, “Answer me! “I shouted, and there was silence. I laughed, annoyed, “Wow, I can’t believe this.” Isaiah let out a slow breath before speaking, “Cierra, the news came as a shock to everyone this morning. I figured I’d see you in school, but you were a no show.”

“Everyone kept asking me questions, I didn’t know what to say,” I shook my head. “I decided I’d come see you after school, but I needed to go home first.” I rolled my eyes at his explanation. “My mum asked if I spoke to you, I told her you weren’t at school, but I was going to your house”.

I felt a bit of hope then. He sighed, “She said I shouldn’t,” “What?” I frowned. “She said the case is everywhere. It’s all over the news, and we don’t need that type of attention”. I scoffed, “So you listened”. “Cierra—”

“No,” I laughed again, even though this conversation was not funny in the slightest. “My dad agreed with her. They said it wasn’t the best idea for me to come over. I argued with them, I really did, but …”

“They just won’t let you, right?” Silence, once again, and I’ve got my answer. “Well, what did I expect?” Another bitter laugh escaped my lips. “People always leave when things get hard, I just … didn’t expect it from you,” I hiss.

“Cierra—” I stop him, again, “So what’s next, a breakup?” and he says nothing, but takes a huge breath. “Actually, C, there’s something I need to say, that’s why I called so late.”

I already knew, I could feel it coming. “I think …” then he stopped. “Out with it please, my day keeps getting worse,” I replied, annoyed. “I think we need some time apart," my chest tightened. I knew this was coming but still, it was hard.

“Just until everything settles. My parents think it’s for the best,” he explained quickly. “Your parents, hm.” He didn’t correct me or say anything, he wasn’t even fighting for us. “So, we’re over?” I scoff. “Cierra, please understand-” “No” I say, calmer. “I understand perfectly”.

I didn’t want him to hear me cry, so I spoke quietly, “My dad is sitting in a jail cell; everyone thinks he’s a murderer, my family’s going through it and today …” My voice shook. “ … Today was the day you chose to leave."

“It’s not like that,” he said. “Then what is it like, Isaiah?” He didn’t bother answering. “Thought so,” I pulled my phone from my ear.

“Cierra? Cierra?” I hear my name from my phone, removing me from my thoughts. I picked up the phone, “Thank you for abandoning me, Isaiah, I hope it makes you feel better,” and ended the call.

My room fell silent. I stared at my phone for a while till it slipped from my hands onto the bed. For a moment, I just sat there, not crying, not thinking, and just staring. But realization hit me.

I can’t believe this. Isaiah needs a break? I’m the one who deserves a f*cking break! My dad’s locked up and my relationship just ended. Couldn’t this day just end on a positive note? A sob escaped my lips, then another, and soon I couldn’t breathe through the tears.

I stood up and ran to my parents’ room to meet my mum. “Baby?” she looked up from the bed the moment I walked in. She dropped her glass of water at her bedside and quickly stood up, “What's the matter?”

Seeing her worried face broke me, I ran into her arms, crying so hard I couldn’t even speak. She led me to the bed and we lay down. She wrapped her arms around me without asking another question, gently running her fingers through my hair.

After lying down for a while, I managed to mutter something, “Isaiah …” My voice cracked, “he said he needed space.” I laughed bitterly amidst my tears. “Perfect f*cking timing,” she held me tighter.

“Oh sweetheart,” She kissed my forehead. “I’m so sorry,” I cried some more till I finally fell asleep.