Sweetest Taboo: A Novel by Márquez Eva

Author:Márquez, Eva [Márquez, Eva]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Terra-Mía Press
Published: 2012-11-01T16:00:00+00:00

***

I lived by the phone for the next three days, jumping out of my skin each time it rang. The phone call I was dreading didn’t come until a week later, at a very bad time. It was Saturday and we had just finished lunch. My mom was washing the dishes, and my dad sat at the kitchen table. Tony was out of the house, and I was just on my way back to my bedroom. It was early afternoon, but I’d been moping all morning and still wore my pajamas.

I froze when I heard the phone ring. A few minutes went by, and then I heard my mom shout out, “Isabel!”

There was a shrill edge in my mother’s usually pleasant voice, and that confirmed my worst fears. I ran back downstairs, my mind racing. This was it, then. What on earth was I going to say? And what could I say to my parents? My mom stood in the kitchen with the phone in her hand, a frown on her face.

“Isabel, there’s a police officer from the Hillside Police Department on the line,” she said sternly. “He asked my permission to question you about a teacher at Royal Oaks. Please tell him exactly what he needs to know.”

My mouth grew dry and sticky and I swallowed, trying to find my voice. I took the receiver from my mom’s hand, swallowed one more time, then answered.

“Hello?”

“Good afternoon. Am I speaking to Miss Isabel Cruz?” asked a male voice at the other end of the line.

“Yes, that’s me,” I said, keeping my eye on my mom. She glanced at me, frowned, and walked back to the sink to resume washing the dishes.

“My name is Officer Jeffrey Gray from the Hillside Police Department. I’m calling about Mr. Thomas Stevens, a teacher at Royal Oaks High School. He is currently under investigation.”

I made an attempt to sound surprised. “Really?”

“Yes. He has been suspended until the allegations against him are investigated further. Miss Cruz, have you ever been alone with Mr. Stevens, either in his classroom or anywhere else?”

“Yes, on a few occasions,” I replied. “He was my swim coach; I never had him as a teacher, but we were friendly during the swim season,” I noticed my dad get up from the table and walk into the living room.

“Has Mr. Stevens ever said anything inappropriate to you? Anything sexual?”

“No, never.”

“Did Mr. Stevens ever touch you inappropriately, in a sexual manner?”

“No, officer.”

“Did Mr. Stevens ever attempt to kiss you?”

“No, of course not.”

“Look, Miss Cruz, serious allegations of sexual misconduct with a minor have been brought against Mr. Stevens. We need you to be completely honest with us so that we can get to the bottom of this. Do you understand?”

“Yes, I understand. Do these allegations include several minors? I mean, why are you calling me?” I asked, trying to sound naïve while attempting to extract more information from him. I was shocked and upset, and worried about Tom, but I was also curious about how many people had come forward.

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