The three men head toward the door but Zebulund is a big guy and drags his feet.
“This is a lynching. There’s no justice here. I demand you call my lawyer.”
I make a concerned face and lean toward him.
“You know, when I told Kyle and Craig about how you blackmailed me and the dirt you had on them, they decided to sever ties. You’re going to need a new lawyer. I forgot to mention that earlier.”
“You can’t arrest me. You have no proof.”
“Actually, that’s not true. Your lovely wife sent all the evidence to us early this morning.” The first officer smiles warmly at Nancy, who blushes. “We just needed some paperwork.”
“I have men who’ll protect me,” Zebulund insists.
“Not with this publicity,” I say. “Nobody will touch you with a ten-foot pole.”
He glares with so much heat my eyebrows are at risk of singeing. As he’s being taken away, he trips on nothing and falls face first into the gravel. When he stands up again, his face is bloodied.
“That’s abuse. I’ll sue.”
The cops exchange an eye roll before continuing to lead him to the car. He folds forward with a wheeze as if he’s taken a blow to the gut.
“Look you can beat yourself up,” The taller cop says. “In fact, I encourage it. But only because there are cameras everywhere recording what you’re doing.”
“I’m not doing it. Can’t you see that—” He’s cut short as his head whips to the side and his cheek reddens instantly. His eyes are wide and wild. He looks all around and finds me. “You! This isn’t possible… How are you?”
“It’s a ghost,” I say, dead serious.
His color drains and his eyes remain wide as he’s lowered into the police car. I scan all around the area for Maggie. But she must have gone for another dip because she’s invisible even to me. I make my way through the crowd and talk to a few reporters but I can’t find her anywhere. Or Mrs. Jenkins.
Maggie’s gone. I wanted it to be enough. I wanted to tell her, only her, how much I love her. How’s she changed me. I wanted to wrap my arms around her and never let go.
By the time the chairs are all put away the only people left are Rachel and me. She comes up to me and smiles.
“I think we can agree that went better than expected.”
I hug her and she blinks her surprise. She deserves a raise. Big time.
“Thank you for helping get them all here on such short notice.”
“Us PAs stick together. We also talk. A lot.” She blushes.
“I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Least I could do after you saved me from being another person in this crowd.” She shrugs.
I wave it off, that was lifetimes ago. Pre-Maggie. Everything is pre-Maggie or post-Maggie. I look around with despair weighing on me.
“She’s gone, I think. I saw her walking her older friend to the car.”
“I can’t blame her.” I slump. “I fucked up royally.”
“She might need some time. Don’t be too hard on yourself.” She pats me on the shoulder and says goodbye.
After I walk her to her car, I grab a beer and a bag of chips and head back outside to wallow. In the lounge chair under a deep black sky with twinkling silver stars I lie back and let myself think of nothing. I’m halfway through my beer when I think I hear a soft splash.
“Maggie?”
I’m greeted with silence. The water is still. I groan and sit back.
