The next morning I walk down into the lobby, stretching my arms only to see a collection of mourning faces. Damn, I wonder who died. I find Lance in tears as he walks past me with Samantha, Justin and Andrea follow. What was going on? I rubbed my stomach feeling it cry to be fed and head towards the little restaurant in the back of the hotel. A hand grabs my elbow, I think it’s a fan as I turn around, “Let go.”nextJoey looks at me, his brown eyes saddened, “I’m sorry JC.”
I frown, “For what?”
“Livvie.” He took a step back and sucked a sharp breath, “You don’t know do you?”
A police officer excuses himself as he walks between us towards the elevators. I watch him from the corner of my eyes as he soon disappears, “Know about what?”
Joey stepped towards me and pulled me into a large hug. The big guy starts crying into my shoulder. I don’t know if I should hug him back, or push him off me. What was going on? What happened to Livvie? I end up patting his shoulder, “It’s okay Joey. It’s okay.” I look up over his shoulder to see Gennie walk towards us. Her eyes were slightly reddened letting me know she was crying along with everyone else. Tony sat in her arms playing with the ends of her hair not knowing what was going on. I felt like that child. Clueless.
Joey let me go as he wiped a few tears and walks back in the lobby with everyone else. Gennie walks towards me, “What did you do to her?” Her face was white and motionless as she looked at me.
I smile and play with Tony, easily taking him out of his mother’s arms. He takes hold of my necklace and plays with it while I start walking towards the back as Gennie follows. “What are you talking about? I haven’t seen her since yesterday morning.”
We reach the entrance and wait for the hostess. If Gennie doesn’t walk away, I’m asking for a table for two. A breakfast date. I love it. I smile at the little drooling ball in my arms and can’t help but laugh at his innocence. Gennie reaches up and touches my cheek, causing me to look into her eyes, “JC, do you have any clue what happened to her?”
I shrug, “What, Lance broke her heart?” Another cop walks past us. What in the world happened that I’m not aware of? Sheesh, cops are everywhere.
The hostess comes and I quickly say breakfast for two. We’re seated near a window looking over the pool area. Yeah, I get to watch a fat eighty-year-old beach himself in bikini briefs. Disgusting. I’m still holding Tony in my arms as the menus are placed before us. “So,” breaking the silence the beautiful woman started before we were seated., “What happened to my precious girlfriend?”
Gennie is hesitant to answer me, “She was found dead in Lance’s bathroom.”
I sit still and in silence for what seems like hours. I can’t feel Tony wiggling around in my arms as my eyes fill with tears, “Oh… do they know who did it?”
She shook her head. “The cops are thinking Lance, but Chris was with him the whole night along with a few of the guards. Joey and I are cleared as well as Justin and Andrea.”
I can’t help myself think about the police, “And me?” Flashes of last night rain in my head. I remember Gennie and Joey. I remember jacking off to their sounds. I remember calling her and saying that I loved her. I remember drawing a bath. But that was all. I never saw Livvie.
“I think I got you cleared but they might still want to question you.”
“How did you do that?”
“I told them that you called me around the time they thought she died. And I heard you radio playing so I knew you were in your room.” She took a sip from her water and licked her lips before making eye contact again, “I’m really sorry JC. The end of the tour and Livvie was murdered.” She was doing a great job of trying not to cry. She was amazing. At least I had an alibi now.
The waitress comes to our table looking to take our orders but was interrupted by a young man in a light brown suit, no tie. “Hello. Are you Mr. Chasez?”
Ugh, he mispronounced my last name. I hate that. “It’s Chasez and yes, please take a seat.” I give Tony a soft kiss on his head as I hand him a spoon to play with. Bang the spoon little man and bang it loud. Annoy everyone in this God awful place. I look up at Gennie, her eyes softened when she saw me kiss Tony. I wanted to question her but the young man interrupts us again.
“I’m really sorry to hear about your girlfriend, sir.”
“Me too.” I want food. “So the questions you wanted to ask.”
“Ah, yes. Where were you last night from 3 to 6 am?” He pulls out a little pad and a pen. How movie like.
“In my room listening to my radio.”
“What were you listen to?”
“New Kids On the Block.”
Laughs. “Serious sir.”
Fuck. Me. “I am being serious. Do you think I’ll fuck around when I just found out my girlfriend was murdered in my best friend’s hotel room?”
He moves around in his chair. Oh cool! I made a cop nervous. “I’m sorry. I just didn’t think anyone listened to them anymore.”
“I was in a bad mood. I listen to them to help out with stress.” Tony bangs the spoon on the table. Good boy. Maybe Joey does have some good genes.
“Why were you in a bad mood?”
I glance over at Gennie then back at the cop, “Because my…” Holy shit! I killed Livvie! I finally remember everything I did last night. Damn, how could I forget an exciting night like that? “Livvie was cheating on me with my best friend. I lost the only woman I have ever loved to another of my best friends. Lance’s girlfriend was mad at me for telling her that he didn’t love her so she was taking all her anger out on me. And I had no hot water this morning.” And because you’re a fucking faggot.
“So you knew that your girlfriend was cheating?”
“Yes.”
“Who was the woman that you loved?”
I nod towards Gennie, “Gina.”
He pointed towards Tony, “Is he your son?”
What?!? “No, he’s Joey’s.”
Gennie cuts in, resting her elbows on the table, “Excuse me officer…”
“Buck.”
“Officer Buck, but what does my son have to do with this case?”
“I was just wondering. He’s a beautiful boy though.”
She nods and sets her jaw. I start talking once again, “Anymore questions?”
“Yes.” I wait for him to continue, “Didn’t you care at all that your girlfriend never came back to your room?”
“No, to be honest, I didn’t. She always went out late at night with Lance. She always left me behind. She always did her own things. I just fucked her from time to time.” I slam myself back into the booth’s padding clenching my jaw.
Officer Buck is silent for awhile before standing up, “Run by me what you did last night.”
“After dinner, I headed up to my room to get some sleep. When I couldn’t, I turned on my radio and listened to New Kids. A few hours later, I heard Joey and Gina talking through the thin walls. They were having sex.” I start to get annoyed with the officer and I could tell Gennie was as well. “I haven’t gotten laid in a long time so I took their moans for advantage. I jacked off to hearing my friends have sex. Then before I almost fell asleep, I gave Gina a call and told her goodnight. I do that every night.”
I can tell that Gennie is fighting back a smile of amusement as the officer looks at me strangely. “Thank you sir. If we have anymore questions, we’ll give you a call.” He walks away leaving us alone once again.
“So, you get turned on by my moaning?” Gennie reaches across the table for her son.
I hand her Tony and smile softly at her, “You turn me on.” I motion for the waitress to come and take our order. While we were eating, I couldn’t help but think how I fooled everyone around me. Livvie was dead. Forever. And I was the one to blame. God bless America.