“I heard everything,” Kelly said. Suddenly eager to rat on Bryan, she came around to Maren’s window. “I heard him try to assault you, and I heard him confess to running Winnie off the road. It was awful.”
Maren was seething. So Kelly really had heard the whole exchange. How could someone stay silent after hearing an adult admit to nearly killing an innocent teenager? But today, Maren was fixated on one goal and one goal only. She would not be distracted by her outrage. If Kelly could help her achieve her aims, Maren would use her without a second thought. “Fine. If you want to make amends, meet me at Vital at noon and sit in the far corner away from me—and make sure Alicia doesn’t see you. When I wave to you, come over and only answer the questions I ask. Got it?”
Kelly was nodding her agreement when a commotion nearby caught their attention. A fistfight was under way between two dads. What had been a honking insurrection only a minute before was suddenly a silent rubbernecking assembly. All Maren could hear was the word “Yale” being grunted between punches. She watched as Ted Clark sprinted from the admin building to break up the fight, suffering a glancing blow to the side of his face in the process.
An instant later, Ted must have spotted Kelly standing at Maren’s car. He immediately approached, grim with purpose. “You need to leave the school grounds now, Kelly.” Ted pointed toward the parking lot. “I have far more important things to deal with today. And don’t come back until your disciplinary hearing.”
Kelly, for once, did as she was told.
Then Ted leaned down to Maren’s window and with one hand pressing on his cheekbone said, “Are you OK?”
“I’ll be fine, thanks,” Maren said, trying hard to suppress a highly inappropriate smile. “I’ve dealt with worse. How ’bout you?”
“These fucking parents,” he muttered. Then he caught her eye and shot her a crooked grin that gave her goose bumps as he waved her car on.
* * *
Maren sat in the corner of the crowded acai bowl café Alicia had designated as their celebration spot, her limbs fidgeting with nervous energy. She scanned the room and briefly marveled at the dozen or so diorama-style boxes hanging on the walls. They hung vertically, like paintings, and featured square dividers similar to those in Alicia’s jewelry drawer. But instead of being filled with necklaces and earrings, they were filled with soil that somehow defied gravity and live succulent plants that grew outward from the boxes, enveloping the room in a lush green hug. Maren actually found herself reaching a hand toward the wall and rolling one of the succulent leaves between her fingers to confirm that the plants were real. With that mystery solved, she fixed her eyes again on the front door of the café. For fuck’s sake, this woman would be late to meet Michelle Obama.
Maren played with the napkin in her lap as she attempted to slow her galloping heartbeat. After more than ten years answering to Alicia’s every whim, Maren usually knew what Alicia would ask her for before the thought occurred to Alicia herself. So she had not been surprised by Alicia’s text in the wee hours of the morning professing an out-of-the-blue but unquenchable desire to stock up on her inventory of personal essentials—immediately. And neither did Maren harbor any mistaken notions about Alicia’s plans for this unusual midday meeting. In a few minutes, Maren would be relieved from her duties and cast from the Stones’ lives for good. For the past several hours, she’d dashed from one store to the next, like a hostage suffering from Stockholm syndrome, vacillating between wondering how in the world Alicia would ever manage life without her and realizing that what was about to happen would render that question irrelevant.
Maren heard the bell on the café door jingle and looked up to see Alicia marching in with the untouchable confidence of a superhero floating miles above the pedestrian worries that plagued mere mortals, even top-one-percent mortals. Maren watched as Alicia unwound her scarf and sat down in front of the acai bowl and bee pollen smoothie Maren had ordered for her prior to her arrival. Smiling tentatively at Alicia, Maren handed over two giant shopping bags with the makeup and various other cosmetics she’d purchased for Alicia that morning. Sort of like a last supper, but for Alicia’s face.
“From what I hear, congratulations are in order.” Alicia’s smile was brittle, even a little sinister.
“Thanks, Alicia.” Maren spoke softly, attempting to disguise her jitters. “I’ll pass that on to Winnie.” Maren allowed her gaze to take in the hunched-over form of one Kelly Vernon, who had shown up as promised. She hoped Kelly would stay tucked away in her corner until Maren was ready for her.
“Yes, well. No child gets into Stanford completely on her own. There’s always a parent in the background pulling some strings, no?”
Maren leaned back in her chair. “I wish I could take some credit for this. But really, Winnie did it all on her own. She wanted Stanford more than she’s wanted anything her whole life. You know she’s always idolized you.”
“If only my own daughter felt that way,” Alicia said.
“Brooke’s a good kid, Alicia. Just give her time and a bit of space. You’ll see.”
“About Brooke…as everyone knows, she was deferred. But I’ve been assured that if anyone from EBA declines their spot, Brooke will be admitted.” Alicia stabbed at a piece of fruit in her bowl like she was imagining it was one of her husband’s testicles. Or maybe Maren was just projecting. “I can see to it Winnie gets into a different Ivy Plus school, and I’ll pay all her expenses—if she declines Stanford.”
“Thanks for the generous offer, Alicia. But I don’t think that’s going to work for us.”
“Do I need to remind you that you’ve worked for me, Alicia Stone—Fortune 100 CEO, Top Ten Reviewed TED Talker of all time, bestselling author and feminist icon—for the past ten years? If I fire you without a reference, there isn’t a person of means in this country who will hire you. Or perhaps you’re prepared to go back to your previous profession?”
That didn’t take long. “Winnie has her heart set on Stanford. At this point, it would take a lot more than threats to talk her out of it.”
“Fine. I’ll also write you a check for a million dollars. So we have a deal?”
Maren tapped a finger on her chin. “Tempting, but no. You see, Winnie’s still a tad upset over your little genetics stunt.”
Shock flickered on Alicia’s face, but she expertly transitioned to her trademark PR smile. Maren doubted anyone else would have noticed the momentary slip, but Maren knew Alicia’s facial tics better than anyone.
“I tried to tell her not to sweat it,” Maren continued, “but she’s just so oversensitive since learning her father’s identity. Come to think of it, we’re both pretty pissed off about that.”
“Did you snoop on my computer? I could have you thrown in jail, you know. And what do you mean you didn’t know her dad’s identity? How’s that even possible?”
Maren stayed silent.
Alicia shifted in her seat and took a measured sip of her smoothie before continuing. “Anyway, I didn’t do it to hurt Winnie. I adore her. I meant to get your permission for the DNA test but just forgot. It’s not like you would have refused. And it was years ago. No big deal,” Alicia said, waving her hand through the air.
“That’s debatable,” Maren said. “But then you decided last month to access the DNA account again—this time to dig for dirt on Winnie’s father, didn’t you? And you still didn’t tell me about the account.”
“You left me no choice, Maren. After all these years, I know almost nothing about you other than the escort conviction I found on your criminal background check when I first hired you, which as you know I agreed to overlook and keep secret all these years. But when someone texted me that Winnie’s first-generation hook was a lie, how else was I supposed to figure out if you were lying to EBA and Stanford—and me? For all I knew, maybe you’ve been conning me this whole time. And I’ve trusted you with everything—my wor
k, my daughter, my husband, my life. All I did was run Winnie’s genetic information through a database and peek at her family tree. It was harmless. Stop overreacting.”
“Alicia,” Maren said, shaking her head, “I have to know. Do you feel even the slightest remorse about withholding information that could help save Winnie’s half brother’s life? You put an innocent child’s life at risk.”
“That’s all nonsense, and you know it,” Alicia snarled. “I didn’t cause that boy’s illness. I just chose not to help. There’s no law compelling someone to be a Good Samaritan.” To her credit, Alicia blanched ever so slightly before recovering her equilibrium. “Maren,” she said sternly, “do I have to remind you that you are bound by the strict NDA you signed years ago?”
“Oh right, you mean the one you had me sign after you stole my eleven-year-old’s identity and made her take the SSAT exam under Brooke’s name to cheat her way into EBA?”
“Lest you forget, I paid for Winnie’s entire education at EBA after that.”
“True…” Maren said. “But only because I caught you. And then you reneged on the college part of the deal.”
“I see what you’re angling for,” Alicia smirked. “Greedy, greedy girl. Two million dollars for Winnie’s Stanford spot. And I’ll sue your ass to kingdom come if you ever breathe a word to anyone in violation of our agreement. My lawyers will tear you to pieces.”
Maren reached into her purse and pulled out her phone, making a show of opening up her Notes app. “Hmm…interesting. According to my research, there’s something called a public policy exception to NDAs when they’re used to cover up criminal activity.”
Alicia’s eyes narrowed. In a move clearly designed to regain the upper hand, she took her time spooning a bite of acai mush into her mouth, swallowed, and said in a calm, low voice accompanied by a smile, “You conniving little bitch. You don’t know the game you’re playing.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.” Maren smiled back. “After all, I learned from the best.”
“Three million. That’s my final offer.”
“Or what?” Maren looked up and waved Kelly over. She waited the few seconds it took Kelly to appear at their table. “Or you’ll sic Bryan on Winnie again so he can finish the job he started when he nearly killed her?”
Alicia rolled her eyes. “As if. You don’t know it was him. I don’t even know it was him. But really, who knows what he’s capable of? We both know he’s such a fucking moron, anything’s possible.” Now Alicia was mopping her brow. And her upper lip. And her chest.
Maren turned to Kelly. “OK. Here’s your big shot at redemption, Kelly. Tell Alicia exactly what you heard Bryan say to me at the stress buster party.”
Kelly took a deep breath and let it rip. “He said he was the one who ran Winnie off the road. I heard him say he did it because he was sick of having perfect Winnie in his life always outshining Brooke. He saw the opportunity to scare her and took it.”
Alicia waved a hand through the air again like she was swatting flies. “Oh, please. That’s hearsay. Besides, no one would ever believe you two with your track records. It’s your word against his.”
“We’ll see about that,” Maren said.
Apparently not done with her star turn, Kelly continued, “Also, you should know…Bryan said he was drinking that night, and that’s why he didn’t stop to help Winnie. I couldn’t believe my ears.”
“Just tell me this,” Alicia said to Maren. “Why would someone like you be so fixated on one specific college anyway? Isn’t any college education for Winnie a giant leap? I mean, I get why she’s so obsessed with Stanford,” she said, sneering at Kelly. “At least she and her husband went there. But why Stanford for Winnie? Brooke’s the one who really needs Stanford. I thought you cared about her. She’s devastated, you know.”
“Of course I care about Brooke. I practically raised her.” Alicia reared back like she’d been slapped. “But let’s be honest—Brooke isn’t the one who’s devastated about Stanford. You are.” Maren raised her eyebrows. “Especially once word gets out that your personal assistant’s daughter got in when your own daughter got rejected.”
“The nerve of you. I’m a good mom. Fine. Five million.”
“Five million what?” Kelly interjected.
They both ignored Kelly. In that moment, over Alicia’s right shoulder, Maren spotted several black windbreakers swarming in through the door of the café and moving toward them, like a beehive had been smashed open. Alicia’s back was to the door, and she hadn’t yet noticed the hush falling across the room. With a smirk, Maren said to Alicia, “Are you really a good mom though? Because from where I sit, you’re nothing but a hateful shell of a person who’s about to get what she’s had coming for so damn long.”
Alicia must have finally heard the footsteps. She swiveled her head to see what the commotion was about. Whipping her head back to Maren, Alicia’s eyes betrayed a combination of wild panic, total disbelief, and utter contempt. She opened her mouth to say something, but for once, she was speechless.
“Alicia Stone, I’m Federal Agent Danforth. Pauline Danforth. We spoke yesterday about your daughter’s application to Stanford? You’re under arrest on suspicion of the crimes of federal mail fraud and wire fraud in connection with stolen genetic material. Please stand up slowly with your hands in the air.” Agent Danforth briefly glanced at Kelly and then added to Alicia, “Looks like we’ll also be referring your husband to local authorities for prosecution for his involvement in an alleged hit-and-run.”
Alicia sat paralyzed in her seat with a look of helplessness Maren had never seen before.
“Ma’am? Stand up please. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.”
“Jesus Christ—I know my fucking rights. You’re making a huge mistake.” She stood up and barked over her shoulder at Maren. “Call Bryan and tell him to contact our lawyer. Now!”
“Really?” Maren leaned back in her chair. “By the way, I have to confess. I lied to you. Winnie didn’t get into Stanford. She was deferred just like Brooke.” With her eyes glued to Alicia’s, Maren unbuttoned the top two buttons of her blouse, ripped out the wire taped to her chest, and threw it on the table.
“So only Tenley got in?” Alicia said as the FBI agent handcuffed her.
“Yup,” Maren said.
“Wait, what?” Kelly asked bewildered.
Maren turned to Kelly. “You can go now.”
“But what’s going on?” Kelly persisted. “I don’t understand. Is she being arrested because of that professor she hired to write Brooke’s essays?”
“She wasn’t up until now.” Agent Danforth’s ears perked up. “But that sounds like another potential federal crime. You wouldn’t happen to know the name of this professor, would you? Stanford reported an anonymous tip to this effect, but without the professor’s name, we had difficulty corroborating.”
Alicia looked at Kelly with pure hatred.
Kelly tore her eyes away from Alicia’s and sheepishly shook her head. “I don’t know his name. I wish I did. I’m sorry.”
“Wait, but I think I do,” Maren said, searching her memory from the night she’d stopped by the Stones’ just before Winnie’s accident. “Bejamaca. Professor Bejamaca from Boston.”
Agent Danforth nodded at Maren. “Excellent. We’ll be following up on this.”
Alicia emitted a shocking noise resembling Maria Sharapova’s infamous tennis grunt. The agents took that as their cue to escort Alicia out of the café, with Alicia vigorously protesting for the duration of the delicious perp walk that she’d done nothing wrong, or at least nothing worse than all the other parents at EBA were doing. Maren couldn’t help the shit-eating grin that forced its way onto her face as she turned on her heel and followed the agents, leaving a slack-jawed Kelly behind, hopefully forev
er.
When Maren emerged from the café, she was pleasantly surprised to find that the morning rainstorm had given way to rare December sunshine. Squinting in the bright light of the afternoon, Maren waited for her vision to adjust. Finally, her gaze landed on its target. Grandpa Jack was waiting for her outside the FBI’s unmarked van. Overcome with emotion, she crossed the street and collapsed onto his chest.
“Perfect execution, my dear,” he said, wrapping his arms around Maren. “There should be more than enough on tape to lock Alicia up in a federal penitentiary. In fact, my law enforcement contacts tell me the U.S. attorney for Seattle is champing at the bit to use this case to establish precedent for applying the federal criminal code to theft of genetic material and identity. It’s been happening more and more, and the state criminal codes aren’t equipped to tackle this twenty-first-century problem. And they may even have enough evidence to charge Bryan. It’s a long shot given the lack of physical evidence, but your brilliant stroke bringing that Kelly woman to the sting should at least provide fodder for a full investigation. You should feel good. Your work will help prevent a lot of innocent victims down the road.”
Maren didn’t know exactly what road she’d be traveling from here, but at least it would be her hands on the wheel navigating her future from this point forward. As for Winnie, Maren was confident she’d raised a resilient daughter who was well-equipped to forge a life on her own terms. She may not have been a perfect mother, but she’d gotten that part right. And for now, that—and Winnie and Gramps—was more than enough.
Epilogue
EBA PARENTS SECRET FACEBOOK GROUP
Amanda Russell: Hi all! Now that we’re all recovered from our temporary college insanity, I’m reactivating this old secret Facebook group from last year (this time, I got the privacy settings right, I promise!). I miss you all since our kids graduated and was thinking it would be fun to reconnect. See my Facebook event invite to make care packages for the kids as they study for their first college finals!
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