Clandestine

eighty two

-julia-

Diane calls the police on her cell phone. It takes a lot of arguing for them to even consider sending an officer out. They think it's just another crazy party where someone got a little too drunk. But the second the words Marcia Quintana and dead leave Diane's mouth, they dispatch an officer right away.

Two police officers come and find Marcia Quintana lying in her pool of blood, little fires glowing beside us.

One officer burst forwards and immediately cuffs Diane. Diane cries out and tries to explain the story, but he shoves her forward and shouts that she has the right to remain silent.

I step forward, crying, "Sir, could we just explain?"

The police officer focuses on me. I'm wearing a shirt and skirt that I borrowed from Diane. The officer squints. "Aren't you Julia Quintana?"

"Yes, this is my mother."

I can't look at her. I choke back a sob.

"What happened, miss?"

"My mother...snapped. As I'm sure you know, there has always been a rivalry between our families, the Quintana and the Tinsley. My mother decided to get rid of that rivalry by killing off the Tinsleys. She murdered Alan Tinsley, Diane's father, after throwing him in jail as a 'precautionary measure'. She wanted to do the same to Diane, but I caught on. I tried to protect Diane and my mother found out. She decided to use me as her own weapon. She planted a bomb on my clothes while she hugged me. It explode, that's why there is fire. Then I...I shot her."

The guard blinks, "You shot your mother?"

I nod and begin to cry harder than before. I hand over the gun that I used and the one still tucked into my waistband. The officer cuffs me as well, but he does it gently. They say it's only protocol.

While one officer goes to call in more people with various jobs that I can't keep straight, the other makes me tell the story again, taking down notes as he does. He asks me various questions, and then Diane the same ones, only a little twisted. It's clear the prejudice he has against Diane, thinking that she's criminal because of her family. It's enough to make me sick.

More people arrive and ask us more questions. I try to gauge whether they believe our story or not, but they all wear identical masks of blankness.

They eventually uncuff us, which I think is a good sign, though a police officer stands awfully close. I overhear them talking about some questions aimed at the kitchen staff. It sounds like the staff is being truthful, about how my mother did come to find us and she was acting a bit strange. Someone mentioned how scared we seemed to stay with her.

I hear a shout of "Julia!" and immediately start looking around. I would recognize that voice anywhere.

Carlotta and Rosalina run towards us. They slip by the police officers. I don't know if the police officers are too busy to care about two teenage girls, or if they are listening especially close to our conversation, to see if it lines up to our story.

Carlotta says, "When did this all happen?"

"Twenty minutes or so ago. Didn't you hear anything?" I ask.

"Nothing. I hate to admit it Julia, but your mother is an amazing DJ. She's had the best music pounding through the walls. Everyone is dancing."

Of course my mother thought even that through. She didn't want people to hear the explosion and come to investigate. So she played music especially loud to keep her double murder a secret. Instead, it kept her own death quiet.

Rosalina lowers her voice to whisper, "Speaking of your mother, where is she? Why aren't you in the kitchen? I thought I saw her go in there and then hurry out. I haven't seen her since."

I open my mouth, but tears pour out of my eyes. Rosalina moves to hug me, but an officer sets a hand on her shoulder and says, "We would appreciate it if you didn't touch."

Rosalina glares at him for a moment before nodding.

Diane says, "Marcia Quintana is dead."

"How?" Carlotta frowns.

I choke out three words, "I shot her."

Carlotta stares at me for a long time before nodding, "I hate to say it, but it's about time. This country will be so much better without her."

Rosalina says. "Julia, I want to hug you so badly right now."

I cry and shake my head, "No need for you to get in trouble."

Rosalina narrows her eyes, "Are you in trouble?"

I take a deep breath, "I'm not sure yet."