Page 60 of I Did Something Bad
“Well, itwasotherwise a slow night, so I was checking my Instagram, and one of my friends was livestreaming from in front of thepark where they were shooting that Tyler Tun and May Diamond movie—” Bile threatens to rise up my throat, but I force myself to seem unperturbed. “Out of nowhere, Jared perks up from his seat and asks what I was watching, so I told him, and then he demanded I show him. He was fairly drunk by this point so I didn’t want to argue, and I tilted the screen toward him, just for a few seconds. I didn’t think he would be interested in a livestream of Tyler Tun getting out of his car, but I don’t know how that guy’s brain works. And then it was like he got this rush of energy, and he downed his drink and left. Without paying, obviously. I don’t know what the fuck happened, but hey, I was glad he was gone.”
He saw me. He was wasted and angry and he saw me on that livestream and despite his inebriated state, he got lucky and managed to sneak into the park from the other side. That’s what happened.
After a pause, she adds, “You know, Carina, sometimes… you shouldletpeople walk out of your life.”
I cock my head. “What do you mean?”
She wipes her hands on her apron and leans forward. Her shock has been replaced with concern, and she’s giving me more “big sister” vibes than “bartender.” The lines in her forehead constrict as she says, “You seem like a good person. And Jared, frankly, isnot.” After shooting a quick glance at the men at the end, she lowers her voice to the point where I have to bend closer to hear her. “He doesn’t have any friends. Not even the other men who use this place as Yangon’s unofficial White Men’s Lounge want to be associated with him. Which says a lot. He comes in here already drunk and leaves even more drunk. My boss lets him have a tab because it’s easier than fighting him to pay for his fucking drinks. I’ve heard rumors that he’s also a shit gambler and owes more than a couple of people more than just a few thousand kyats. Basically, and I know how it’ll sound”—hereyes drop—“I wouldn’t be surprised if somebody refused to take his bullshit anymore and he’s lying dead in a ditch right now.”
“This is good news, right?” May says in the car. Although her place is farther out, we’re dropping Tyler off first because he has a meeting with his publicist and manager in approximately twenty minutes.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“Well, according to what Julie said, it sounds like half the city wanted him dead. That is ahugesuspect pool.”
“But I’m the only one who was the star of his camera roll,” I remind her.
“But they can’t arrest you based solely onthat.”
“Because cops are notorious for being just,” Tyler mumbles. “Apart from Detective Olivia Benson, obviously.”
I look over to make sure I heard his little quip right. It’s a good thing we’re waiting at a stoplight because otherwise his teasing half smile would’ve quite possibly led to a small crash, and the last thing I need right now is to crash a car that has Tyler Tun and May Diamond in it. “Obviously,” I say, and his smile grows into a full grin.
“Soooo what’s plan B?”
At the sound of May’s voice, Tyler and I break eye contact and whirl our heads to face the windshield. “I don’t know,” I say. “I’ve already talked to the two people anyone is most likely to spill their secrets to: their partner, and their bartender. What am I supposed to do, track down his therapist? But—” I mutter through a frustrated exhale. “I’ll try to see if I can find any other leads.”
When we near his place, Tyler directs me farther down the road to the side street that leads to his building’s back entrance. “What’s this meeting about, by the way?” May asks.
“Oh, the usual. Just movie stuff,” Tyler says, keeping his eyes ahead so he can point out the turn before we miss it.
Suddenly, I’m not giving the road the full attention a responsible driver should. I don’t need to see either of their faces to feel the agitation that’s crept in and is dissipating in the air around us, like a stealth gas leak.
“Movie stuff? Whatmovie stuff?” May scoffs. “I’minterested in movie stuff.”
Suddenly,I’minterested in movie stuff, too. Just because the focus tonight is murder doesn’t mean I can’t also be doing some (quiet) research for my article; after all, it hits me that this is the first “normal” off-set time that I’ve ever been alone with May and Tyler, the first time I’ve seen them interact when no one else is around. What is Tyler Tun and May Diamond’s relationship when no one’s looking?
“I—hey!” Despite being startled by Tyler’s yell, I maintain control of the car. When I glance over, May has Tyler’s phone in her hand—I’m guessing his “Hey!” was in response to her swiping it from his lap—and is unlocking it. “Give that back!” he presses, but May retreats to the far corner of the backseat where his seat belt prevents him from reaching her.
“Tyler,” she says. Her reflection in the rearview mirror is squinting at his phone, then over at him, then back at the phone as she scrolls up and down. “You said it was just Bolu and Christian. There are, like, thirty people on this call.”
“I said Bolu and Christian would be the only ones from myteam,” he says, still trying to swipe for his phone like a dog at the end of its leash.
“I don’t know half of these names! What is this meeting about?”
“Studio stuff,” Tyler exhales. “It’s going to be long and boring. I can give you the minute-by-minute details tomorrow if you want, but I’d like to get in a quick shower beforehand, so can Ipleasehave my phone back?”
Now that we’re parked by the entrance, I no longer have driving as an excuse to busy myself. And while a part of me is, for obvious reasons, very intrigued by this series of events, another part is aware that this feels more akin to a private conversation between the two of them.
“Promise?” May asks at last.
“Sure,” Tyler says.
At that, May hops out from the backseat, gives him a hug good night, and takes the passenger seat.
“Hey,” I say as she types her address into my phone’s Maps app. “I’m sorry again that we got you tangled in all this.”
“Pfft.” She waves a hand. “Like I said, no way in hell I was going to let my best friend try to figure out a murder on his own. Or I guess he’s more trying toget awaywith murder?” She slips on her seat belt. “You know what I mean.”
