Chapter 13

Waiting for days without any news was depressing especially when there are no good news on any of the news channels. Even ZJ can't stand it but she still watches it no matter how frustrated she gets not because she's bored, it's because she can't just ignore it. If everyone turns off the tv because they can't stand it, what do you think is going to happen? She's right. If everyone turns off the tv because they can't stand what the orange lunatic says, this country is doomed. The only way to make sure he doesn't turn this country into a dictatorship like Russia and North Korea is to listen and try to make his gullible supporters see his lies. If the Russians, opportunists, and enemies of the US can use the internet to spread misinformation, spread conspiracy theories, get into the heads of the uneducated, then there's only one way to fight back.

"ZJ just called." Blake said as she continued to take pictures.

As logical as the reason is to be here, it would be difficult to lie to ZJ. "Well, she said it herself, we can't just wait and see how it plays out." ZJ wasn't referring to this last night but she should know it applies to this situation too. Besides, this is outdoors with lots of fresh air. There is no risk of getting shot here. As long as we don't get near any strangers, the risk of getting infected is minimal. Look at all these people. They don't care. They're partying and having fun like they haven't in years.

"This is a bad idea."

"Is that what she said?" Well, waiting for the law to get him will take forever. She should know. Many people are still waiting for their lawsuits to take place against the conman in the whitehouse.

"I think this is a bad idea."

Blake is never shy in saying how she feels but this time, she's not blaming me. She agreed to this. Darrell agreed to this but he obviously still doesn't understand the real reason for this trip. He's as thrilled to be here as these people are, relaxing, breathing freely without a mask.

"all right, let's go" It is 3. If he's not here by now, then he's not coming. It's just a possibility since he comes here often. That's what ZJ's informant's sister said.

"maybe it's too hot"

It is hot today. Staying inside with the ac on would be more comfortable than being here even with the breeze. Now that the beach is re-opened, maybe he'll come on a weekday when it's less crowded. Let's hope Blake is right.

As relaxing as the atmosphere in the Atlantic private beach was, taking a rest afterwards is necessary. Everyone is tired, everyone except ZJ who's staying in the condo downstairs and getting better day by day. She may not be fully recovered but she has the energy to go online to do what she can to save democracy from the racist pervert, traitor, cheater, misogynistic, narcissistic, sick phuck ahole.

Has she been talking to Lucy? ZJ swears too but a lot less often than Blake does so what did he say this time? Did he scold the reporters for asking a question he couldn't answer so he calls them stupid like a teenager would? Did he say I know it, you know it, or as you know right before every sentence like a recording put on repeat? Did he say he can shoot anybody he wants and still wouldn't get in trouble because he's the president? Or did he again deny knowing the women he sexually assaulted years ago yet there are witnesses, videos and pictures showing that he does know them. How many is accusing him of sexual assault now? Two dozen? This is 2020, yet this country seems to be going backwards. No one would put up with his bullshit in the old days.

"So what did you find?"

Okay, looks like ZJ had enough of ranting about the orange madman egomaniac dictator wannabe. She sounds frustrated and tired, probably tired from reading and responding to the posts online. It is hard work especially when there are so many Russian paid trolls out there, posting misinformation to try to create chaos within the US. One hundred dollars for ten posts, who wouldn't want that job? Even citizens of the US would, the greedy ones, the uneducated and sadly, the poor gullible ones who are too ignorant to understand that they're being used to destroy their own country.

"nothing yet" Amy responded. Three hours of rest helped. Blake is clearly very hungry since she's already finished with dinner that just got here 7 minutes ago. "ssss"

"What's wrong?"

"sunburn" It wasn't a joke but it's good to hear ZJ's laugh. Hours under the sun on the beach with shorts and short sleeves is definitely a bad idea.

"Send it to me."

"okay but don't spend a lot of time on it, you need rest." Amy said before hanging up, then immediately noticed Blake's odd stare. "What?"

"Girl, you don't look like my mother but you sure sounds like her."

Usually when someone mentions their deceased mother, it's one way to make a compliment. That does not sound like a compliment. "I'm just worried about her."

"You do that to your hubby?"

Blake's intention is now obvious. She's being nosy again. "Can you send it to her?" Since she's finished with dinner, she can do that and start looking at the pictures and recordings. She should get the hint. She did. No more personal questions but a lot of cursing about ZJ's informant whom she still doesn't trust entirely. Can't blame her. Today didn't turn out the way she wanted. She has as much patience as Lucy does. Well, maybe just a little bit more.

As helpful as the videos are, it's still difficult to see. The people there aren't wearing masks but they have sunglasses and caps. Like Blake said, looks like he didn't go there. (sigh)

"guess we just have to follow him."

Guess so. That would be the only way. We have his name. We know where he lives. If he is there, then stalking him wouldn't be difficult especially nowadays when most people are wearing masks. It would be dangerous to do so at night time though. ZJ won't like the plan. Let's hope he's still in New York. Let's think about this tomorrow. It's almost time to sleep. The mind is too tired to think about this now. Maybe he would be at the beach tomorrow. Tomorrow is a weekday. There will be less people. It might not be as humid as today.

Sometimes Blake is right and sometimes Blake is wrong. This time, she's dead wrong. It's not only humid, it rained the next morning. Should've listened to ZJ because this would not be happening.

"I don't know." Amy repeated for the third time to the same question asked by three different people, ZJ, Danika and now him. Being questioned like a criminal brought back memories of that day over a year ago but this time, Max isn't here. Mr. P isn't here. The only one here is the same stubborn person who's still not good at his job, Mr. P's boss.

"Where were you on June 2nd?"

His line of questioning sucks too. It's July 20th. Who would remember that? "2019 or 2020, can you be a little bit more specific?" If Max were here, she would've said something to stop me from talking this way.

"Recognize him?"

Amy takes the phone from his hand. "no" Next picture is as sharp as the first one. "Who's he?"

"So you've never seen him before?"

If Lucy were here, she would've said 'Jesus! get to the point!' "No."

"He's dead too."

What's today? Blame everything on me day. "Look, I told you, I don't know who this guy is and I didn't kill Washington. I was at the beach yesterday but I left around 3pm so his death has nothing to do with me. Check the surveillance cam. I didn't go anywhere after I came back. I didn't even know he's dead until I saw the news this morning." Not entirely true, got the news from ZJ first. If he has proof, then cuff me. Clearly, he doesn't otherwise why all the questions? Why here? With the open space, the rooftop is a good place to chat than in a room or in a car but it's humid and sticky up here. "If you don't have any more questions…" Okay then, looks like he's satisfied. Odd though, why doesn't he just call? "Hey, you haven't told me who he is." If Lucy were here, would he just walk away? If Anthony were here, would he be this disrespectful to him? Asshole.

"So he left without saying anything else? " Blake asked after getting an account of what happened. "Did he say how he died?"

He drowned? Didn't he? That's what the news said but Blake is right, the media isn't always right, especially nowadays. They might not know.

"Some weird shit is goin on."

That's exactly what Lucy would have said if she knew. It's weird alright. What's also weird is ZJ who hasn't said a word. Is she searching online to see if there are any updated news? Most likely it's murder not suicide. Can't be an accident. Someone like him would have many enemies. Can't be her informant's sister. Can it? She has a reason to kill him but would she be able to? "ZJ? What are you thinking?"

"I'm going to let Anthony know."

Oh geez. If Anthony knows, then Lucy will know. There's no need for that. "Must you? We don't know anything yet. We don't know what happened. We don't know who killed him. Let's just wait, okay?"

Begging didn't work. Blake's support helped but it was the promise to ZJ not to go anywhere that got her to agree. Two weeks already passed. Still no suspects? "What's taking them so long?"

"You…do realize what's going on now, don't you?" Blake said, then shrugged after getting an unpleasant glare. She should since she's been watching the news everyday. There is an anti-police brutality movement happening. Everywhere is talking about defunding the police. Many law enforcement workers have either quit or retired. So two weeks, that's not long. "Want one?"

"You smoke?" Any asked. That's odd if she does. Never seen her smoke.

"It'll help you relax, so you can think better." No response is given but that look says it all. "Ridiculous, I know. But it's true. It does…temporarily."

Oh thank god, she's not serious. Smoking helps you think better? Then there's a lot of stupid people.

"They never said it's addictive. Man, it sucks, it ain't cool either, the coughing at night, it burns, like I couldn't breathe."

It ain't cool all right. A lot of smokers started young because they wanted to look cool. Regardless of the reason…"it's not too late to stop." Amy said.

"It's not too late for you to stop too."

huh? "I don't smoke." Amy said in confusion.

"My mother didn't either…but she had this problem; she's very nosy."

Oh, she's like her mother then. Why is she talking about her mother again?

"I didn't realize it until a few years ago because you know, all mothers worry about their kids. All mothers wanted to know where their kids are, what they're doing at all times, that's normal."

True. My mom is the same way.

"But then one day, she had trouble sleeping, no matter how tired she is, she said she couldn't sleep, so she tried a few sleeping aids. Sometimes it worked. Sometimes it didn't."

Insomnia is very common.

"That day, my father woke me up and said…she told him she's going to kill herself."

What?

"That day…was Mother's day."

Oh my god.

"I yelled at my father, I told him to go get her. Then I got dressed as fast as I could. Then…he eventually came back with her."

Oh thank god.

"She took ambien the night before."

Oh, no wonder. Ambien is known to treat insomnia but it's also known to cause suicidal thoughts. Did she know that? Did her mother know that?

"He said she was going to jump in front of a car."

Jesus. It may not have happened but Mother's day will never be the same to her.

"I don't think she realize how she fell into that state."

All drugs have side effects. It affects some, not others. That's a really sad story but "What!" What does she mean it's not too late for me?

"I was 25. She was still treating me like a little kid. Eat this, don't eat that, do this, don't go out. She was doing the same thing to my father. She was a worry freak and a control freak. I don't know if she's always like that before she had kids but I know one thing, her worry got worse. That led to insomnia, then depression."

Oh. Now that makes a little bit more sense but worrying can't be controlled. Certainly, smoking is not the way to go. "I don't want it. "

"Try it."

"Nnno. You should stop too." Amy slapped her hand away. ...oops…That was unintentional. "Sorry" Amy bend down with the intention to pick up the pack of cigarettes until she heard the glass balcony window shattered into pieces. What the hell! Reflex immediately kicked in to stay close to the floor and against the balcony wall since running back inside would be too dangerous. That can't be an accident. That can't...

"Fuck!"

Blake is obviously pissed. Does cursing really help though?

"Give me that!"

"What!"

"Throw it to me!"

Amy did as told. "What are you doing?" Now is not the time to smoke. Now is the time to call ZJ and Darrell. c'mon c'mon pick up pick... "ZJ, someone's shooting at us from outside! get away from the balcony! Someone's shooting at us!"