Behind The Lies by Mark Beckner (the chimp paradox .txt) 📗

“You will be by then,” Brad assures him.

Brad then sends another message from Aaron’s phone. I am busy most of this weekend, but will text you again next week.

Okay, look forward to it, responds Wendy.

Friday, November 13th, 5:00 pm

Detective Baker is now working with Officer Linda Ivey in gathering information on Lincoln High student Aaron Livingston. Ivey has found that Livingston is known as a good student with outstanding grades. He is also known as a shy kid, and while he does not seem to have many friends, two close friends appear to be Timmy Goodman and Harold Best. Baker conducts a criminal history on Aaron Livingston and finds no record of him ever being in any legal trouble. And according to Principal Jenkins, Aaron has no disciplinary record at the high school. Baker obtains Livingston’s home address and learns that he lives with his mom on West Emory Street. Two vehicles are listed to Megan Livingston at that address. One, a 2018 white Ford Explorer, and a second, a 2014 silver Toyota RAV4.

“We will need to talk to this Aaron kid soon,” says Baker. “He may be the last one to see Wendy alive and is certainly a person of interest right now.”

“I could go pick him up right now if you’d like?” asks Officer Ivey.

Baker gives it some thought, but believes it is still too early. He wants to get the autopsy results and maybe some information from Wendy’s cell phone before contacting Aaron. He knows the more information they have, the better.

“No, let’s wait until we get more information on how she died, and maybe we can get something off her phone as well,” replies Baker. “Document everything you’ve told me in your report.”

By now, the death of Wendy Spire is the top story on all the local news channels. Students and parents have been interviewed on TV expressing sorrow, anger, and disbelief in how this could happen in a community like Rockville.

Chief Carson walks into the office, “What’s the latest Steve? I’ve got the press, parents, and school administrators calling me non-stop.”

“Should have something from the autopsy any time now,” Steve responds. “And we have more information about this Aaron Livingston, who may be the last person to have seen her, and maybe the one who killed her. But, too early to know right now.”

“Hey Steve!” shouts Officer Ivey. “Just got a call from Sgt. Thomas. He says the neighborhood canvass found a person who lives across the street from the school who saw several vehicles parked on the northeast end in front of the school. One of them caught his attention as it had someone in it, but he couldn’t tell who it was.”

“Can he describe the car?” asks the detective.

“Yeah, said it looked like a silver RAV4.”

Monday, November 9th

Wendy has shared her texts from the weekend with Katy Anderson. Katy sees the interest Wendy has developed in this mysterious secret admirer and hopes this is not some cruel joke being played on her friend. As is typical, Katy meets Wendy in the cafeteria on their lunch break. Wendy has not received any texts since Saturday and is concerned that maybe the texts have stopped.

“I’m not sure what to think,” ponders Wendy. “Seems like I would have gotten something by now.”

“Why don’t you text him?” Katy asks.

Aaron is in his usual spot in the cafeteria corner with Timmy and Harold, but he has not seen Brad today. Aaron glances in the direction of Wendy, wondering if she has any idea the texts have come from him. “Where is Brad?” Aaron wonders aloud.

“Maybe he was just pranking you,” Harold says. “You could just text her yourself.”

“I would have no idea what to say,” Aaron sighs.

Just then, his phone buzzes. Where have you been? Talk to me.

Wendy has texted him. Aaron feels his face flush, as he senses excitement and anxiety at the same time. How should he respond? If he texts her back now, what if she sees him and comes over to confront him? That would be so embarrassing. He doesn’t know what to say. Of course, neither Timmy nor Harold is any help in suggesting what he should say. He decides to let it go unanswered.

Later that afternoon, Brad approaches Aaron in the hallway between classes. “How’s it going kid?”

“Where were you?” asks Aaron. “She texted me today at lunch and I didn’t know what to say. You’re just setting me up.”

“Nooooo,” says Brad. “I was busy, besides, you can’t only text her at lunch hour. Won’t take her long to figure out it is you hiding in the corner texting her. What did she say?”

Aaron hands his phone to Brad.

“Okay, this is good. She wants you to keep texting. See? You just have to trust me.”

Brad starts typing a new text. Sorry, I have been busy. Thx for the text. Hope you had a good weekend. Looking forward to your concert. Like your music. Maybe we can meet to talk sometime soon.

“There, that should do it,” says Brad.

Aaron is relieved to have Brad’s help, but still not sure whether Brad’s efforts are genuine or if he is being set up for disappointment and humiliation. He wishes he had the confidence of Brad.

Brad tells Aaron, “Now ask her if she likes Taylor Swift’s music.”

“Huh?”

“I know she likes Taylor Swift. It will give you something in common.”

For the first time, Aaron types his own text to Wendy. She responds in minutes, expressing surprise he has heard her play the violin and that she does in fact like Taylor Swift.

“Now tell her you will text again tomorrow afternoon,” Brad tells Aaron. “I will meet you here tomorrow at the same time to help you out.”

Tuesday, November 10th

As promised, Brad meets Aaron on Tuesday afternoon and helps Aaron send additional texts to Wendy. They text back and forth about her upcoming orchestra concert, Aaron’s interest in seeing her play, Wendy’s favorite color (yellow), and their favorite foods.

Wendy is starting to feel