With Malice (5 page)

“What are you going to tell them? You don't remember the accident. Hell, you don't even remember being in Italy,” Dad snapped.

I pulled back, his words like punches on my bruised ribs.

Mom fluttered closer. “I think what your dad is trying to say”—she shot him an angry glance across my bed—“is that until you're feeling better, you shouldn't worry about any of this.”

Dad closed his eyes like he wanted to pretend neither my mom nor I was in front of him. “I need you to promise that you won't call Simone's family again,” he said finally.

“I get that they're upset with me, but—”

“No buts,” Dad said. “You need to trust your mom and me on this one and know that we're doing the best for you. Okay, kiddo?” He looked down at his Rolex. “I've got to get going. Are we covered here?” He didn't wait for an answer, but instead kissed my forehead. The smell of his Tom Ford cologne filled my head, like leather and cigars. “I'll be back tomorrow for your move over to the rehab center.” He nodded at my mom and left.

Mom sighed and slumped into the seat next to my bed.

“Dad's making it worse by getting a lawyer,” I said. My headache ratcheted up a notch as I tried to force myself to remember the accident. I was there. I had to know. I had been with Simone when she died. I owed it to her to at least remember her last moments.

Mom's mouth was pressed into a tight line, and she looked on the verge of crying again. She patted my hand absently. “We're going to sort it out together. Don't you worry.”

But I was worried. Simone was dead, and I had no idea how it happened.

Taken from the Junior Yearbook of Simone McIvory

To my best friend Si—

If I could choose you as a sister I would. Here's to an awesome summer and a kick ass senior year!

XOXOXO Jill

Taken from the Junior Yearbook of Jill Charron

Jilly my sister from another mister! We are going to RULE this school next year. Always remember Peach Schnapps at Formal, dancing at Turner Field, ragers at the spot, and you carrying me home (ha!). BESTIES BEFORE TESTIES!

Love you—Simone

EXCERPT FROM POLICE INTERVIEW WITH NATALIE MCIVORY

Date: 30 April  Time: 13:00

Present: Natalie McIvory, Detective Linda Winston, Detective Jonathon Reid

Transcript to be provided to Italian police

Continued from page 2

NATALIE McIVORY: I don't think Jill wanted Simone to go to Italy. It bothered Simone that Jill didn't seem excited she was going. Simone had expected Jill to be over the moon they would be able to travel together, and it hurt her feelings when Jill didn't act happy.

DETECTIVE REID: Did Simone say why she didn't think Jill wanted her to go?

NATALIE McIVORY: No. She went over to Jill's house to tell her just a few weeks before the trip. She'd finally talked her grandparents into letting her use the money they'd saved for her college for this program. She wasn't planning to go to college in the fall, not that she couldn't have gone, of course, but she wanted to work instead. No one in our family is afraid of a little hard work. She knew her grandparents would like the idea that the money was being used for an educational opportunity, and they couldn't say no to her when she put on the charm. Almost everyone found it impossible not to give in to Simone when she really wanted something.

Simone shouldn't have been able to go on the trip. The program had all these requirements, and you had to apply in the fall. One of those jump-through-a-million-hoop things. Simone just kept calling them. Over and over. She was like that when she got an idea in her head. Stubborn as a donkey, just like her dad. The program had a last-minute cancellation, and they'd already put down deposits on everything, so they accepted her. To be honest, I think they were just bowled over by her. Simone was thrilled. It wasn't so much that she cared about going to Italy. I remember she used to call everything over there “Europeland.” (Chuckles.) She was a beach-vacation kind of girl, not so much into museums and old buildings. Simone wanted to go on this trip because Jill was going. She wanted them to have the experience together. When she got in, I was happy for her. (Pause.) If I had told her she couldn't go, she'd still be alive. (Cries. Tape is turned off.)

TAPE RESUMES 13:08

NATALIE McIVORY: Sorry. I'm okay now. What I was trying to say is that Simone wanted to go because of Jill, but Simone said that when she told Jill she was going, Jill didn't seem that excited. If you ask me, it was because she was jealous. Jill was always jealous of Simone. You could tell even when they were young. Jill hated that Simone was prettier, a cheerleader, popular. Our family doesn't have a bunch of money like hers, but there are some things money can't buy, and I think it ate Jill up.

Ask anyone—everyone loved Simone. Back when the girls were fourteen, we took Jill with us on vacation to Kentucky to see some family on my side. The girls were hanging out at the hotel pool, and you could tell the boys who worked at the restaurant were flirting with Simone. I saw Jill push Simone into the pool. She
pushed
her. She acted like it was a joke, but I could tell there was anger there. I never thought things would end up like this.

DETECTIVE REID: Would you say that Simone was the leader in their friendship?

NATALIE McIVORY: Simone was always a leader. I remember when I went back to work when she was still a toddler, the daycare told me that she used to organize the other kids. She was the one who picked the activities and who could use what crayon. Not that she was bossy; Simone just always knew what she wanted. She was incredibly confident for someone her age. She was cheer captain at school. They made her captain in her junior year. (Pause.) You might not know it, but that's a pretty big deal.

Jill comes from a broken family. Her dad left a few years ago. Took off and started another family. Now, that was a big hot mess. I'd overhear Jill and Simone talking about it. You could tell it just gutted the girl. Then she had two parents without consistent rules and, if you ask me, way too much freedom. I'm not a counselor or anything, but I watch
Dr. Phil
every day, and you know, girls who lose their dads' attention early on will go out of their way to get approval from others—especially other guys. Running after boys to feel loved.

DETECTIVE WINSTON: Was Jill sexually active?

NATALIE McIVORY: Well, I couldn't really say. It wasn't something the girls talked about with me, but I wouldn't be surprised. Jill was always looking for attention. We raised Simone to know her worth. She didn't need to chase after boys. There were plenty who were happy to do the pursuing, but she stayed true to the values we raised her with. It might sound old-fashioned, but her father and I believe that sex before marriage is a sin.

Transcript to continue on next page

EXCERPT FROM POLICE INTERVIEW WITH TARA INGELLS

Date: 2 May  Time: 08:05

Present: Tara Ingells, Jennifer Ingells (Tara's mother), Detective Linda Winston, Detective Jonathon Reid

Transcript to be provided to Italian police

TARA INGELLS: Simone old-fashioned? Who told you that? The girl was a total slut! (Laughs, then stops suddenly.) I don't mean that in a bad way—that came out wrong. Simone just loved to party. You aren't going to tell her folks I said that, are you? They'd be really PO'd.

DETECTIVE REID: (Tape is unintelligible.)

TARA INGELLS: No, not Jill. It was sorta like she wasn't that interested in guys. She was kinda a bookworm. I think if she hadn't been Simone's friend, then she would have been, like, nerdy. She was really into school. Jill could be shy sometimes, but she was super funny.

DETECTIVE REID: How did you come to know Jill and Simone?

TARA INGELLS: Simone and I were in cheer together. I was friends with her first and then the more time I spent with her, the more I got to know Jill. We hung out all together, like the Three Musketeers. Simone was in charge of good times, Jill was the one you went to when you needed to talk something out, and I was . . . I don't know, I guess you'd have to ask them why they liked me. We had a good time together. We were all in drama. We were just in the school play together a few months ago. (Sniffles.)

DETECTIVE WINSTON: Would you say you were best friends?

TARA INGELLS: Totally. I probably spent more time with Simone because of cheer and stuff, but Jill's awesome. If it weren't for her, I totally would have failed chem. Seriously, Gagnon, who teaches that class, like, lives for failing people. Simone and Jill were extra close—the two of them had been friends since something like second grade, like, forever. I was their friend, but they were, like, a whole different level of friends. I can't believe Jill would ever do anything to Simone. They were like sisters. Seriously, the whole thing has to be a huge mistake.

DETECTIVE REID: Did Jill ever tell you how she felt about Simone going with her to Italy?

TARA INGELLS: Jill was psyched. Jill loved all that stuff—art, history, that kinda thing. I remember her talking at lunch one day about how she and Simone would be walking in the steps of Galileo and Roman emperors. She was always saying that kind of smart sh—stuff. Simone and I were totally rolling our eyes because, um, hello, Italy? Shopping, hot guys. You have to know Jill. That's just her. Jill was beyond excited to go; she planned on it for over a year. The trip was all they talked about for the weeks before they went. What they were going to bring, clothes, stuff like that. Jill was really worried about what to pack. They were only allowed to bring one small suitcase. It was weird, because normally Simone is the one who is totally fashion obsessed, but this time it was Jill. I think Jill wanted to have a whole new wardrobe for the trip, so she could sort of reinvent herself. (Pauses.)

DETECTIVE WINSTON: Is there something else you want to add? Maybe a comment one of them made to you?

TARA INGELLS: Um . . . well, it's probably nothing. Jill was worried that Simone used the money her grandparents gave her for college to pay for the trip. Simone was always saying that she was a terrible student, but she wasn't, really. She just preferred to spend her time on doing stuff that was fun, you know. Simone was always joking about how she was going to end up going to hairdresser school or something, but as it got closer to graduation, you could tell it bugged her. Of course Jill wanted Simone to go—but she thought Simone should use the cash to take some classes at the community college. (Sniffles.) Jill's going to Yale, you know. She got early acceptance and everything. It's a pretty big deal. She wanted Simone to be smart. Think all long-term and stuff. Simone's family isn't exactly rolling in cash. She was looking out for Simone. It was like her brain was already a grownup.

It's really sad, because they were both so excited to go. They were both so sweet. Honestly, they were the nicest people in our class. They deserved to have this epic time.

The Record Eagle,
“School Trip Ends in Tragedy,” dated 3 May

From the Eulogy for Simone McIvory, 5 May