Page 84 of Defect
“Fuck no. I can’t take my test while you’re here dealing with something this fucking heavy. You always drop everything for me.”
“I know but this is important. I’m just going to be talking to the cops for the next few hours. If I need you, I’ll call. I promise but don’t miss out on this. I’m sure we already know who did it.”
“Damn, I was hoping you weren’t thinking it was her too.”
“Who else would it be?” I smacked my lips together and tossed my hand in the air.
“I agree with you,” Ezra said easily.
“Let me talk to the police but please go and take your GED test. I’d feel like shit if you missed out because of me.”
“All I’m going to be able to think about is you. All of my answers are going to be Solana.” How the fuck did he manage to make me smile on one of the worst days ever? He had superpowers, I swear. He leaned down to kiss me and I pushed him toward the front door even though he could have easily walked through the fucking hole in the window. My heart ached every time I saw it.
“You know I don’t want to leave you.”
“I know, Ezra but you have to. I’ll be okay. I’m a big girl.” Begrudgingly, he left after a few more minutes of me pushing him.
I sat in a chair in the midst of chaos and talked to a Detective Barnes about the suspects I had for who would have vandalized my studio. I only gave him one name.
Nicole Fredericks.
He told me the security cameras picked up three guys smashing the windows and tearing the place up but I still only spoke one name with certainty.
Nicole Fredericks.
“She paid them to tear up my place. I don’t know who they are but I guarantee if you find them and ask them, they’ll give you her name eventually. She couldn’t have paid them well enough to shut the fuck up about it.” I folded my arms and crossed my legs, wagging my foot back and forth just to keep the negative energy moving through my body and not festering the way it wanted to.
“Miss Monroe, why would this woman pay to have your studio vandalized this way? What would be her motive?” I laughed bitterly at Detective Barnes’ question and chewed on the inside of my cheek.
“I’m in love with her son. She has an unhealthy relationship with him. For the past two or three months, she’s been making him believe he was incapable of living a normal life without being totally dependent on her. She has every ounce of motive. I can’t think of anyone else who would take the time to do this shit but her. She’s at home right now so you can go question her. I need to start cleaning up my studio. Are we done here?” I asked.
“Um, sure. We’ll be in touch with you, Miss Monroe and I’m so sorry about what happened to your yoga studio. Hopefully, you can rebuild soon.” I nodded at him and stood by the door while they all filed out and got back in their cars.
I was left all alone with the biting pain of having my business ripped to shreds. I wouldn’t be able to have classes in the studio for some time while I got things fixed up.
I grabbed a broom and started sweeping. Each crunch of glass made my stomach twist in knots but I had to start cleaning it up. What I really wanted to do was go to Mrs. Fredericks’ house and beat her ass relentlessly. I knew that wouldn’t solve anything in the long run but it would make me feel better.
…
SOLANA
I canceled all my classes using my phone to send out mass emails and texts earlier when I walked into the disaster that was now Sun Goddess. I’d been cleaning all day, picking up anything salvageable and setting it to the side for when I started the rebuilding process. I’d never been so glad Amaris made me get amazing business insurance before in my life.
I needed a cup of tea so bad. My nerves were on edge and one of my most sacred places had been turned upside down so I couldn’t sit there and restore my energy. I decided to take a break from cleaning and walk to the store to get a box of tea. At least the electric kettle was unharmed. The nearest Whole Foods was only a twenty-minute walk. I needed it to clear my head anyway.
I hoped with everything inside of me that Detective Barnes would be able to pin the vandalism on Ezra’s mother. She needed to be in jail. She needed to be away from Ezra and definitely away from me. I couldn’t promise I’d be able to keep my cool if I saw her face again. I wasn’t a violent person but my livelihood had been disrupted.
As I walked, I mapped out ways to overcome the wrench thrown in my life. I could talk to the dean at the college and see if I could hold all of my classes there until Sun Goddess was back up and running. When I got back to the studio I would make all the insurance calls and get the ball rolling as quickly as possible.
When I reached Whole Foods, I walked in and looked around for a few minutes until I found the tea and coffee aisle. I hated the boxed brands of tea. I’d gotten spoiled with Ezra’s quality blends. I picked up a box of chamomile and a box of peppermint then headed toward the registers.
“Solo!” I heard a little voice call out excitedly. I’d know that voice anywhere. Malachi rushed over to me and wrapped his skinny arms around my middle. They were arms far too skinny to be on a six-year-old. My heart cried for him.
Wait.
If Malachi was there then that meant…
“Goddamn, Solana. Still sexy as ever,” Vince’s voice grabbed me like a skeleton’s hand dragging me through cold earth down to hell. Hair rose on the nape of my neck and forearms. My shoulders drew in tight.
