-June 19, 7:04 p.m.
“Hello?”
“Is this the home of Johnny Westing?”
“Yes, this is his dad, Ian. Who is this?”
“My name is Joshua Harlow—”
“Oh, you’re the one who just moved into the Howards’ old place?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
“What can I do for you?”
“It’s about Johnny.”
“He’s great, isn’t he? Harvard just approved his football scholarship, and now he’s completely psyched—”
“I’m afraid I’m not calling with good news.”
“What’re you getting at?”
“Johnny hangs with a group of eight others, right?”
“Yeah, he and his buddies go way back. They do everything together.”
“I’m afraid ‘everything’ includes some recent unpleasantness.”
“Hold on, they didn’t vandalize anything, did they? Johnny would never do that!”
“No…it’s far worse.”
“Okay, then what?”
“Johnny and his friends attacked my son James on his way home from school today.”
“Wait…what?”
“Thank God a car happened to be passing by. The passenger recorded everything while the driver got out to intervene. They sent me the footage—”
“This is ridiculous! Johnny’s a good boy!”
“I’ll send you the footage if you don’t believe me.”
“Why would he even do that?”
“Apparently, it was just a whim—and Johnny was the worst, according to James and the driver.”
“I won’t have my boy slandered!”
“I’m not looking to cause any trouble. All I—”
“Enough! This is garbage, and I won’t stand for it! (hard growl) You recently bought the old McNair store?”
“Yes, but—”
“Well, I’m telling everyone I know not to patronize your business! After all, who’d want to shop with a snake? Good night!” (click)
-June 30, 7:03 p.m.
“Hello?”
“Pardon, ma’am. My name is Joshua Harlow—”
“The rat who slandered my son! You’ve got some nerve for calling back!”
“I’m calling because Johnny and his pals attacked my son again, this time outside the local supermarket. He had to go to the hospital—”
“Oh, and you’ve probably got proof like last time?”
“I tried to show your husband the footage of the first attack, but he wouldn’t listen. As for the second—”
“Don’t bother. I won’t see Johnny’s future marred by lies!”
“Someone recorded the second incident too…someone you know well: Tiffany Adams.”
“Tiff? Why would she bother with a rat?”
“She was walking down the street, saw the attack, and recorded everything while trying to call the cops.”
“So, now you’re trying to bring a family friend into this conspiracy? Who’re you working for? The Dunforths? They’ve been jealous of Johnny for years! Or maybe the Youngs? They’ve tried to get their son into the Varsity squad—”
“I don’t know either family, and I don’t want to ruin anyone. James and I are more than willing to forgive and forget everything. We just want you to tell Johnny to stop. We’re both afraid he’ll do this to someone else—”
“Enough! If you call us again, I’ll have you arrested for harassment!” (click)
-July 2, 8:03 p.m.
“Hello?”
“(Sniffle) Ian?”
“Yes?”
“It’s Ed Ramirez.”
“Ed, why’re you calling so late? Are you still sore about—”
“Ian…I’m calling in my professional capacity as Chief of Police. It’s about Johnny.”
“Wait…did something happen to my son? Did that bastard Harlow do something to him?”
“You’ve got it backwards…(sniffle). Johnny’s sitting in a jail cell, along with his punk friends.”
“What?! Why?”
“They’re all facing two counts of aggravated assault and battery on a minor under 13.”
“‘Assault and battery?’”
“I’ve got the footage down at the station…and I’m warning you straight up: I’m out for blood on this.”
“Ed, come on, this isn’t—”
“Don’t interrupt me, Ian! (sniffle) After all we’ve been through together, this is the last thing I expected, especially from Johnny, who I thought of like a second son…and turned out to be a damned backstabber!”
“Ed, please calm down! You’re probably exaggerating—”
“‘Exaggerating?!’ Don’t make me laugh! Johnny and his pals were waiting outside the local movie theater, where my little girl Elena went to see that new action flick with little James Harlow, an angel of a boy who attends church with us. According to at least ten eyewitnesses, Johnny and his punk friends jumped James the moment he exited, then spent several minutes pummeling him, laughing all the while! The poor kids in the ICU with broken bones and internal injuries!”
“W-What? Then he….”
“I’m not done! (sniffle) It’s bad enough Johnny hurt that poor boy…but when Elena tried to stop them, his punk friends knocked her down, then forced her to watch them maul James, mocking her all the while! Then (sniffle) they began pummeling her! (sniffle) They even taunted her whenever she screamed! (sniffle) She’s in surgery as we speak, because (sob) they need to do an emergency appendectomy….”
“Oh God…Ed, I’m so sorry….”
“You’re sorry? After all you said about James and his dad, all the pain and suffering that little boy endured…and now the agony my Elena’s going to endure as she recovers? Suddenly now you’re sorry?!”
“Look, I made a mistake—”
“Damn straight you did…and with an angel too! You should’ve heard James as they wheeled him in (sniffle); he was begging me to forgive Johnny….”
“Oh God….”
“That boy should be a saint, especially after all he’s been through. (sniffle) My poor Elena…James begged them to hit him, not her….”
“Oh man….”
(Hard growl) “I won’t let this slide, not after all that family’s gone through…and not after what they did to my Elena!”
“Ed, please—”
“No! I told you, I’m out for blood! That demon sat at my table, was someone I trusted, and this is the thanks I get?! Hell, no! I’m pressing charges on both kids’ behalf…and I’m recommending the maximum punishment.”
“B-B-But—”
“I’m not done, Ian! I’m also filing a lawsuit against you, both for Elena and James, and asking the court to go all-out: medical expenses, pain and suffering, even punitive damages! Moreover, I can assure you everyone in town will know the truth about your boy! Good night!” (click)
Bio:
Andrew's originally from Massachusetts, and is a lifelong reader. He has a BA in History (English minor) from UMASS Lowell and JD from Mass. School of Law. He can be found on Twitter (@AndrewNickers19) daily, analyzing characters via Sun Tzu.