Chapter 8 - The Desperate Plead
By Friday, the rumors had swept through our small town like a wildfire.
In a tight-knit community where everyone attended the same three churches and shopped at the same grocery stores, news of the Collinses leaving their granddaughter behind to drown while saving jewelry was the ultimate social death sentence.
The local newspaper published a front-page article: Local Grandparents Under Investigation for Child Endangerment Following Sycamore Creek Flood. While the article didn't print their names due to ongoing charges, everyone already knew the white Lexus and the house at 414 Sycamore.
When Patricia showed up at her regular country club luncheon, the women at her table stood up and moved to another booth without saying a word. When Robert went to the hardware store to buy cleanup supplies, the owner told him flatly that they were out of stock for him.
And then the hammer dropped.
The county prosecutor officially charged Robert and Patricia Collins with Class A Felony Child Endangerment and Obstruction of Emergency Services. Because of their clean prior records, they were released on bail, but their passports were seized, and a strict restraining order was issued: they were barred from coming within five hundred feet of Lily or me.
That evening, as Sarah and I were setting the table for dinner, my phone rang.
It wasn't Mom or Dad. It was Nicole.
I debated letting it go to voicemail, but the desire to hear the golden child squirm won out. I tapped speaker.
""What do you want, Nicole?""
""Jenna! You have to fix this!"" Nicole was sobbing hysterically on the other end, her voice shrill and cracked. ""You have completely ruined our lives! Do you know what you’ve done?!""
""I haven't done anything, Nicole. The law is simply doing its job.""
""The police came to my apartment today!"" she screamed. ""They had a search warrant! They seized my entire jewelry collection as evidence in an insurance fraud investigation! They took everything! The diamonds Grandma gave me, my watches, the bracelets—they took them in plastic evidence bags like I’m a common criminal!""
""Well, you are harboring assets tied to a fraudulent insurance claim filed by your father,"" I said coolly. ""What did you expect?""
""And that's not all!"" she wailed. ""Mom and Dad's insurance company denied their temporary living stipend because of the fraud investigation! They have no place to live! Their bank accounts have been frozen because of the legal fees! They're staying in a rundown motel by the highway, and Dad had a panic attack this morning!""
""Sounds like Dad needs an executive decision,"" I replied, my voice devoid of mercy.
""Jenna, please!"" Nicole dropped the anger, suddenly begging, her voice trembling in a way I had never heard before. ""You have to drop the charges. Tell the prosecutor it was a misunderstanding. Tell the insurance lady that the audio was taken out of context! If Mom and Dad go to prison, who is going to pay my car lease? Who is going to help me with my rent next month? I can't afford my life without them!""
I paused, letting her words hang in the air.
Even now, faced with the destruction of her parents' lives and the near-death of her niece, Nicole’s only concern was her car payment and her rent. The sheer, breathtaking narcissism of my family was almost impressive.
""Nicole,"" I said calmly.
""Yes? Jenna, please tell me you'll help!""
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""You're twenty-four years old. You have two working hands and a college degree that I helped finance."" I took a deep breath, savoring the finality of the moment. ""Get a second job. Because as far as this family is concerned... you're not my responsibility.""
I hung up before she could screech again, and blocked her number permanently.
