Page 78 of The New Year's Party
Phelps thought of Will’s reaction. That gasping sob before he sat heavily on the bottom step and said,I can’t look at her.A man in shock? Or a man confronting the thing he’d done?
He glanced at Allie, who was sitting on the floor, methodically picking glass out of the carpet and putting it into one of the champagne glasses. He sensed, with chagrin, there would be no second date.
The sound of a police car siren was a relief.
“Cops are here, everyone be quiet,” said Phelps, even though no one had made a peep since the firefighters arrived. He opened the door. Two cops were coming up the walkway.
“Mr. Phelps?”
“That’s me. Welcome to the party.”
They didn’t laugh. “May we come in?”
“Please.” He stepped aside. “The firefighters are down with the... with Jenn.”
It was a tall man and a short woman. The man stepped forward to address the group.
“I’m Officer Avery and this is my partner, Officer Jones. I need to inform you all that we are both wearing body cams—”
“I don’t consent to being recorded,” said Ted. “I just don’t, man. No disrespect intended.”
“We’re informing you,” said Officer Jones in a dry tone. “Not asking your permission.”
It looked like Ted was going to say something else—damn his Speech and Debate instincts—but thankfully, there was a huge clatter as the firefighters tromped back up from the basement. The cops disappeared into the kitchen to talk to them in the semi-privacy behind the straggly party streamers.
Officer Avery returned shortly after. He stood between the dining and living room to address the group.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are working under the assumption this is a crime scene. The basement is now off-limits, and forensics is on the way.”
Bunny, of course, gasped.
Avery continued. “My colleague and I are going to take down your names and addresses as well as your statements. I’d like to ask that nobody leave until we have that information.”
“Anything we can do to help,” said Phelps. He had the sinking feeling he wasn’t going to bed tonight.
“Are we allowed to leave the state?” said Bunny. “Because I don’t even live in Indiana!”
“I think we’ll take individual statements in the kitchen,” said Officer Avery, ignoring Bunny’s question. “And let’s startwith—” His eyes scanned the room slowly. He gestured to Hellie. “Ma’am?”
Immediately, she seemed to lose the little color she had. “M-me?” she said.
Officer Avery cocked his head. “Is there a problem?”
Officer Jones chose this moment to walk back in along with the firefighters, who tromped out single file, closing the door behind them, leaving just the two officers.
Hellie stared at them both, then stood slowly, as if she was a marionette drawn to her feet by some external force.
Phelps had never seen Hellie scared. Not a day in her life. Not when Doug was up to his criminal shit, not when they got evicted, not when Doug almost died of an overdose that one time. She was made of stronger stuff than the average person. Seeing the fear in her eyes was making Phelps feel physically ill. His heart pounded in his chest. Maybe God hated him, maybe he didn’t, but he prayed anyway.Not Hellie.
“Are you alright, ma’am?” said Officer Jones.
“Actually, I...” Hellie’s voice was small.Shewas small, standing there in her sparkling green dress with her thin legs and her narrow shoulders and the delicate bone structure of her face, looking like a child. “There’s something I have to say. I want everyone to hear it.”
If the room was charged before, it went supercharged. Phelps could practically feel the hairs on his arms standing up.
Hellie licked her lips. “I—”
“Stop,” Doug burst out, leaping to his feet.
