Page 118 of Muted

I can tell that Theo wants to argue, but I’ll give him credit for nodding his head once and keeping his mouth shut, except to ask, “What else do you guys know about the bullying?”

“That’s all I know,” Chester says. Turning his head to Theo, he adds, “I didn’t learn it from Susu, by the way. I’ve been in contact with a police officer from where she lived. He’s the one that told me.”

I definitely want to know more about that, but I tell them what I know. “She’s talked to me about it. They picked on her relentlessly. Some of the shit she dealt with was name calling and people making fun of her. But she was also physically assaulted often times by students insideandoutside of school. She didn’t go into a lot of detail, but it sounds like she struggled quite a bit with it. They treated her cruelly.”

Miriam walks back into the room just as I finish. “They didn’t answer. I called a couple of times, but I left a message asking them to call me back as soon as they’re able.” She glances around the room, picking up on the mood shift. “Would you like me to leave while you talk?”

“No, please stay. This is your home, and we appreciate you allowing us to be here,” I say, relying on my manners that were ground into me from the moment I could talk. Miriam tosses me a quick smile of appreciation and sits down. It’s clear she cares about our girl, even if Susu never gained a level of comfort with her to open up. It only proves to me more that she was ‘in this’ with us.

Theo is tugging on his beard while bouncing his knee up and down. “We need to figure out who she’s so afraid of. Do you think it’s one of her bullies?”

Chester shakes his head. “No. I don’t think so. I think—”

“Because it could be her ex. She was with someone who I believe was abusive toward her. I’m not sure if you guys know, but she writes poetry. She’s shared some of her writing with me, and it was easy to draw the parallels to her past with him. I know for a fact he didn’t treat her well.” Theo keeps explaining, cutting off Chester.

I frown, very much disgusted by the idea that she was with someone who treated her poorly. “Who the fuck was it?” I hiss out, ready to fight someone I can tangibly put my hands on.

“It wasn’t the ex, although I didn’t know about him either, just so you don’t feel left out,” Chester says. I appreciate his confession. Itdoesmake me feel better. “We’re certain it’s her grandfather.”

“Who’s we?” Theo asks at the same time I voice my question.

“Her grandfather? Why?”

Miriam makes a noise in the back of her throat but doesn’t add anything. She’s simply listening while holding her phone, waiting on the call from Susu’s family.

“I told you; I’ve been getting information from an officer from where she used to live. His name is Vincent Mercer. Aside from sharing what we all know now, he called me today. There’s a lot more to it. She made a report just before she skipped town that was buried, but he found it.”

Chester goes on to fill us in about how her mother went missing when she was just a toddler, and they placed her in her aunt and uncle’s care. Susu’s father’s passing from an apparent drug overdose and how it seemshisfather has misplaced blame for his son’s demise on Susu’s shoulders.

My heart pounds with every detail Chester shares, my anxiety digging its claws in deep over all the trials the woman I’m falling in love with has had to endure. It’s far too much for someone her age to have had to deal with.

“She showed up at the police station that night, injured and scared, after he attacked her. Officer Mercer didn’t detail it all, but it sounds like it was violent enough to send her running from him. I’m almost positive that’s who she’s been hiding from.” Chester finishes his explanation, and you could hear a pin drop in the room.

Eventually, Miriam is the one who speaks first. “Viejo pedazo de mierda con bolas caídas.” Her words are hissed, and I know whatever she just said was not polite.

“Translation?” Theo asks, his lips curling up in amusement at the way Miriam only insults us in Spanish.

With a roll of her eyes, she growls, “He’s a piece of shit, old fucker with saggy balls. Happy?”

I snort out a laugh as Theo covers his mouth to hold in his own. Chester’s smile grows slowly, and I love that this woman has cut the tension. With a nod, I simply say, “Agreed.”

Another moment of silence while Miriam simmers, growing more and more angry. Finally, Chester slaps his hands on his thighs in frustration.

“This is what we need to do. One of us needs to go get her aunt and uncle. One of us needs to go to her hometown in case that’s where she’s headed, which I think should be me since I’ve been talking with Mercer. And the other should stay here with Miriam to wait in case she comes back.”

“Do you think she’d go back there? If that’s where her grandfather is?” Theo asks, trying to understand his reasoning.

Chester shrugs, then sighs. “I honestly don’t know. Maybe? It’s home to her. But if anything, I can sit down with Mercer and his lieutenant. Let them know what’s going on.”

We all nod, not seeing an argument in his thought process.

“I’ll go to Florida,” I volunteer. The rest of them look at me in surprise and I feel affronted by their reaction. “Aside from the fact that I’m just as invested as the rest of you, contrary to your obvious disbelief, I can also afford it. Not only to fly there but fly her family to her when we figure out where the hell she is. She needs them. They’re important to her.”

“I can afford it too,” Theo snaps out, but I hold up my hand to wave him off.

“I’m not saying you can’t,” I sigh, not wanting to argue. “But I can afford it more easily. That’s not an insult to any of you. It’s a matter of fact.” It’s the truth. I’ve got the money I’ve made from both of my jobs, but a large trust fund I inherited from my family. I’ll never hurt for cash, and I’ll never be able to spend it all in this lifetime.

“I can’t just sit here and do nothing.” I understand his frustration, and it weighs heavily on me, but I truly think Chester is correct.

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