Is She Serious?

                Amy is a freshman in college home for summer break.  She lives in Naperville, Illinois, which is a northern suburb of Chicago.  Standing at 5’10” with long legs, long blond hair curvaceous body, she turned heads.  Amy was the daughter of a well-established surgeon so grew up comfortably.  Her father was happy that she was home so decided to go to a high end restaurant in celebration.  He cited that since she had been eating dorm food for the last nine months, a high end meal would be much appreciated.  Amy agreed and took the ribbing by her dad well as her and her parents went to the restaurant and got their car valet.  This routine activity would lead to a situation that most well-off people spend a lot of money to avoid.

 

                Franceso has grown up across the street from Amy.  He works out with her and plays on a community soccer team with her.  Francesco’s mom is Mexican and his dad is Cuban so he was fluent in Spanish.  He was into finance and studied it at the University of Miami but he was home for the summer.  Francesco loved sports but wasn’t that coordinated so was more of a spectator than a player.  Due to his love of numbers, he had multiple sports statistics memorized and used them when he watched.  He had a crush on Amy but Amy was always clear that they were just friends and turned down his subtle flirtations.  His bedroom faced her house and although he knew it was odd, he found himself staring over there a little too often.  In some contexts, however, creepy can become heroic.

 

                Amy and her parents sat down at dinner and made small talk.  Like many kids, Amy rebelled against her conservative parents by being a liberal.  She decided to pick a fight and said, “Well, it looks like your president is at it again”

                Amy’s dad said, “What do you mean?”

                “Well, he’s saying that the Brits were involved in spying on him.”

                “That’s because they were.  It’s very well documented.  Why do you think the head of GCHQ resigned after Trump won?”

                “I don’t even know what the GCHQ is”

                “it’s the British version of the NSA.  His name is Bob Hanigan, you can look it up on that thing you use to watch cat videos.  I hear it has other uses.”

                “Well, I saw on CNN the British deny it ”

                “That’s funny, why don’t you look up this headline, “British intelligence passed Trump Associates’ Communications with Russians on to US Counterparts”

                “Is this from your vaunted Fox?”Amy’s dad merely smiled. Amy took out her phone and plugged it in. What came up was a CNN article from April 13, 2017 saying exactly that.  Her shoulders sank and she looked up to her dad who was looking at her smugly.  “Fine, whatever”

                “No, not whatever.  Remember when your fake news outlets got mad at Trump when he shook and acted retarded because he was making fun of fake news reporter.  Well, the context of that is Trump referenced an article that guy wrote and that same guy told him it wasn’t true.  I mean, the dude forgot his own article.  This is like that moment, CNN forgot their own story if they say what you say they said.”

                “Okay, well it’s been two years, so maybe they know it’s false now.”

                “Well, normally what newspaper outlets do when they realize a story they made is false, they write a retraction.  Open the article; see if they did that.”

Amy did and sure enough CNN hadn’t.  He gave her dad a dirty look.  She knew she was losing but she wasn’t going to concede that easily.  “Well, you always tell me CNN is the worst news organization so why should I believe them now?  Because it suits your argument?”

                “I forgot, even in America, people think the British are the sophisticated and honest ones.  Let’s see what they have to say about.  Why don’t you try the Guardian, that’s a major newspaper over there.   Just for shits and giggles put the same date and Trump’s name”

                Amy did it hesitantly and what she found was an article saying, ‘British spies were first to spot team’s links with Russians.’ Amy rolled her eyes and Amy’s mom spoke up, “Looks like the British were trying to brag that they knew first.  Too bad it was all a hoax.”

 

                While they were eating, the valet driver noticed the expensive jewelry that Amy was wearing and knew they had money.  He pulled up the in car GPS and clicked ‘home’ and took a picture of the address that popped up.  His name was Serge and he emigrated to American from Russia at a young age.  He was set to get off in a couple hours and he was going to go home to the south side of Chicago.  When he got off, he called his Arab friend Osama and told him of his plan. 

 

                After dinner, Amy’s dad gave the ticket to the valet driver and shortly after his car pulled up.  He gave the driver a generous tip and Amy’s family got in the car and drove home.  A few days later, Amy was craving ice cream so she called Francesco and asked him if he wanted to go.  He readily agreed and she crossed the street and Francesco started his car and drove to get ice cream.  Francesco asked, “So how’s school?”

                “It’s awesome.  It’s so nice to be on my own without my parents.  I got decent marks and my classes are really interesting.  How about you?”

                “I love it”

                “I bet, I mean Miami!  Do you go to Southbeach like every day?”

                “No, I mean when it’s right there you don’t really go”

                “Why?  If I went to school in Miami, I’d be on the beach every day.  I’d study there, do all my reading.  How are you not really tan?”

                “It’s the same reason why you don’t go to Lincoln Park every day or visit the bean.”

                “You can’t compare South Beach to the Bean”

                “I’m just saying in every city the people who live there don’t do tourist things.”

                “I go to the beach here”

                “Not touristy ones”

                “It’s Lake Michigan, there are no touristy beaches.  People don’t come to Chicago to swim in Lake Michigan!”

                Francesco laughed, “Yea, I guess you’re right.”

                “But now that I’m getting an education, I really wish Hillary won.  I mean history is already telling the story.  A new AP History book coming out in 2020 has Trump listed as a racist.”

                “You don’t think that’s a little biased?”

                “No, he is an obvious racist”

                “Minority unemployment is at an all time low.”

                “Don’t tell me you’re conservative.”

                “Not really, I just go with facts.  Sometimes it’s the left position, sometimes it’s the right.”

                “Did you vote for Hillary?”

                “No, I didn’t”

                “Well, she’s a lawyer and she said that if anyone else did what Mueller found out, he would have been indicted.”

                “That’s special coming from her.”

                “What do you mean?”

                “She got a complete pass for sending classified information over a private e-mail server.  I mean, Trump’s investigation was two years. The e-mail investigation wasn’t even two weeks.  I think it was less than a week or something.  Then you have the obstruction.  She deleted 33,000 e-mails during an investigation in which her e-mails were being investigated.  How is that not obstruction?”

                “It’s just hard being a woman in this country.”

                “Not a Clinton.  Like Giuliani said, “What guideline is she talking about, the one that says never charge a Clinton for anything?”

                “No, she was talking to the office of legal services saying that you can’t indict a sitting president.  That’s the only reason he wasn’t indicted.”

                “Wow, Clinton just never stops lying.  I mean that guideline is true, that’s why we have impeachment.  But, I mean Bill Barr asked Mueller three times if that was why he didn’t indict Trump and three times Mueller said ‘No’  Hillary knows that.”

                “Well what about Trump’s lawyer?  He said that Trump talked to him about firing Mueller, how is that not obstruction.”

                “Many reasons.  One, he didn’t fire him so thinking about firing is worthless if you don’t follow through.  Second, MeCabe said accurately that if you fire a prosecutor, someone picks up where they left off and it’s seamless.  He said that about Comey’s firing but same concept.  Third, Trump is the president. The president can fire any subordinate, which Mueller was, as he deems fit.  So, he’s well within his constitutional right to fire him.  Mueller knows all his.  Also, Trump let McGhan, his lawyer that you mentioned, talk to Mueller.  It’s not like McGhan did it behind Trump’s back. Trump told him to talk to Mueller and answer his questions honestly.”

                Amy frowned and scooped some ice cream in her mouth. “Can we not talk about politics?  I get enough about this from my parents.”

                “Sure, who do you think will win the NBA finals?”

                “Well, I don’t know much about it, but Golden State.”

                The conversation went casually and then Francesco drove home. 

 

                It was a weekday and Amy’s dad was on call so he would be at work late.  Amy and her mom were used to this but it didn’t stop Amy’s mom from cooking.  She put a pot on the stove to boil water.  Amy was in her room watching TV waiting for her mom to tell her that dinner was ready.  It would be a while. 

 

                Serge had called his friend Osama and told him about the address he got.  Osama was really excited because he figured it would be a big score.  They had picked a time during the day because they thought the house would be empty.  A few days earlier, they drove by the scope out the house and figured it was a standard house but were relieved to find it didn’t have a gate.  They parked on the street and placed guns in their pants and walked toward the house.  Osama knew how to pick a dead bolt with a credit card so he took out a card and did exactly that.  Both Serge and Osama pulled their guns out and skulked through the house.  Osama entered first and Serge followed him closing the door behind him.  They both walked into the kitchen and Amy’s mom had her back to them.  Serge walked behind her and clasped his hand over her mouth and tapped the barrel of the gun against her head so she could feel the steel.  Serge felt her body tense and he said, “Shhhhh, If I remove my hand, do you promise not to scream?  It’s not like anyone will hear you.”

                Amy’s mom nodded her head.  Osama said, “Are you alone?”

                Serge removed his hand and Amy’s mom said, “Yes, my husband’s at work.”

                Serge remembered she had a daughter from the restaurant but didn’t ask.  He said very calmly, “Okay, we don’t want to hurt you.  Just take us to your safe.”

                “We don’t have a safe.  We keep our money in the bank.”

                “You got to give us something.  All you rich people have safes.  If not, at least jewelry.  It’s insured so what do you care?”

                “This is not the right house.  We don’t have anything.”

                “Alright well let’s just go to your room and find out.”

                She tensed up not because of what they would take but they may find Amy.  She decided she had no choice so she led them to the stairs.  They walked up the stairs and went into the master bedroom.  Amy’s mom said, “Take whatever you want.”

Serge walked into the walk in closet and knocked shoes out of the way.  He was searching for a safe.  Osama kept his gun on Amy’s mom but his eyes glared over at the night stand.  He said, “Give me your phone”

She obeyed.  Osama glared around the room and started opening drawers.  One drawer he opened, he found a bunch of nice watches.  He started emptying the watches into his bag.  Serge was still searching for a safe.  He walked out and put his gun to the mom’s head and said, “Where’s the safe?”

“I told you we don’t have one.”

Osama perked his head up and smiled.  He said to Serge, “Watch her, I hear something.” As he glanced over at Amy’s mom who looked much more worried than she had a moment ago.  Osama walked out of the room and followed the sound of a TV.  He walked in and saw Amy.  Amy jumped back and Osama hurried towards her and grabbed her by the hair.  Amy screamed and Osama backhanded her across the face and told her to shut up.  Amy did and Osama grabbed her hair in one hand and the gun in the other and dragged her out of the room into the bedroom Serge was in.  He said, “I thought you were alone.”

Amy said, “Mom, what is this?”

“Nothing, these men just want some of our jewelry.   We’re going to let them and then they’re going to leave.”

Osama shoved Amy down to her knees and put the gun to the back of her head.  Amy’s mom said, “Hey, what the fuck are you doing?”

“Where’s the safe?”

“Get that gun away from my daughter’s head.”

“Where’s the safe?”

“I’ll tell you if you take that gun from her head.”

                “No, you are in no position to negotiate.”

                Serge said, “Take her downstairs.  You don’t need to do this.”

                Osama lowered the gun and grabbed Amy by the arm and said, “Come on”

                Amy followed Osama downstairs and Osama sat her in a chair in the kitchen.  Osama ran his hand along Amy’s lips and then grabbed her thigh, “Hmmm maybe I can show you what it’s like to be with a real man.”

                “Real men don’t hit girls.”

                “Oh, now I’m really going to enjoy breaking you.  Your mom said we can have whatever we want.  I think I’ll have you.”

                “I don’t think that’s what she meant.”

                “Who’s going to stop me?”

                Amy didn’t really have an answer to that. 

 

                Back in the bedroom, Amy’s mom led Serge down the hall and moved a dresser.  She opened the safe which didn’t have much money in it.  Serge emptied the contents into his bag and then went into Amy’s room and raided her jewelry drawer along with Amy’s moms.  He escorted her downstairs and sat her down next to Amy.  Serge said, “Osama can you go get some rope to tie them up.”

                “Now you’re talking.  Hear that girl, I’m going to tie you up and ravage you.”

                “No, we’re not going to be doing that.”

                “Oh come on, look at her, you know you want some.”

                “This isn’t that kind of break in.”

                “It can be”

                “No, it isn’t” Serge said sternly. 

                “Where am I going to find rope anyway?”

                “Probably the garage.”

 

                Francesco was on his phone and taking looks at Amy’s house.  He saw two people park on the street and then head towards the door.  This was odd to him.  If they knew Amy’s family, why not just pull into the driveway?  Were they having a party and wanted to make sure they could get out?  Who has a party on a weekday though?  He contemplated this for a while.  He stared at his phone and thought to call Amy but what would he say.  ‘Hey are you having a party and didn’t invite me?’ No, that was just weird.  He couldn’t ask who they were because then he seems nosy.  Something was just weird.  He thought about it for a while and then did what was probably the worst option of all.  He walked over.  He looked through the windows near the door that provided a view of the kitchen.  He saw the backs of Amy and her mom with two guys holding guns.  Francesco always had a knife on him but he didn’t seem too confident with bringing a knife to a gun fight.  He went to the garage and tried the door.  It was open.  He found a tool belt and placed a hammer and screwdriver in it.  He felt awkward because he still didn’t have a solution to the guns.  He heard footsteps approaching and he stood on the other side of the door.  Part of him thought he should have called the cops but what if they didn’t get there in time?  He took out his knife and sprung it open, Omar opened the door and Francesco jumped out and stabbed him in the sternum.  He looked up and Omar gurgled and then curled his gun hand towards him.  Francesco grabbed Osama’s arm with his left, pulled his knife out of Osama’s chest with his right and jammed it under Osama’s chin so he couldn’t yell out.  Osama dropped the gun and grasped his mouth.  He fell to his knees and then fell forward.  Franesco grabbed the gun and placed it in the back of his pants since he didn’t know where to put it in the tool belt.  He walked into the house and hid behind the wall leading to the kitchen.  He didn’t really have a plan.

                Amy’s mom saw the pot on the stove of boiling water.  At first, she had every intention of not fighting but when the Middle-Eastern man threatened to rape Amy, she had to protect her daughter.  Serge said, “So this is what we’re going to do.  We’re going to tie you up and then drive off.  When your husband comes home, he’ll untie you and we’ll be long gone by then.  Relax, it’s almost over.  We just have to wait for my associate to get back from the garage.”

                Amy’s mom said, “Why not just leave now?  We’ll wait like 15 minutes and then call the cops.”

                “Can’t risk that.” He looked around the kitchen and said, “I bet you guys are Trump supporters.”

                “Yes, so what?”

                “Well, you’re from Chicago so you support our boy Obama.  Trump is trying to tie Obama into Hillary’s shit.”

                Amy’s mom said, “They found Hillary’s e-mails in White House correspondences.  They admitted it.”

                “So, he talked to his Secretary of State.”

                “On a private server that wasn’t secure.”

                “Obama said he didn’t know that until he read it in the papers.”

                “That’s a lie.  He’s the President.  His blackberry is protected more than anyone else’s.  It’s called a white list in that only e-mail addresses that Obama and his staff have flagged as okay get through.  Every other e-mail is blocked.  That’s to stop spam and viruses from getting to him.  Wouldn’t want anything malicious to get right through to the president by accident you know.  If Obama got Hillary’s e-mail then Hillary’s private e-mail was on the white list, which means he and his staff knew about it.”

                “How do you know that?”

                “The former head of the counter intelligence community, the highest member of the FBI, Bill Prizestep told the press.”

                Amy’s mom used her defense of the President as an excuse to lunge forward.  She grabbed the pan and tossed the scalding water on Serge and screamed, “Run Amy.”

                Amy got up and ran towards the door.  Serge grabbed his face but adrenaline fueled him he grabbed Amy’s mom and threw her into the cabinet head first and then to the ground.  He picked up the gun where he dropped it on the table and took aim at Amy.  Francesco turned the corner and Serge fired a bullet into his shoulder.  Francesco went down and Amy was out the door.  Francesco ignored the pain and pulled out the screwdriver and threw it at Serge hitting him in the chest.  The screwdriver pierced Serge’s midsection but not very deep.  It did, however, distract him long enough for Amy’s mom to grab a knife and stab him in the back.  Serge turned around and slammed the gun against her head knocking her out.  He didn’t last much longer as he collapsed on the ground dead. 

                Amy ran across the street and banged on Francesco’s door looking back at her house.  Francesco’s dad answered the door and Amy said, “I need to use your phone.”

                “Sure, where’s your cell phone?”

                “Someone broke into my house, they took it.”  She grabbed a phone and dialed 911.  It appears they already had calls from people who heard the gunshot and sent a car over.  Amy gave more details about what happened and then sat on a couch and buried her head in her hands.  She started crying and Francesco’s dad came over after hearing the conversation.  He grabbed a shotgun he owned and sat pointing it at the door.  He said, “Don’t worry, if they come here, I’ll be ready.”

                Amy looked up and saw him sitting in a chair with the shotgun readied at the door.  She nodded and felt safe.  Francesco’s dad said, “Where’s Francesco?”

                “I’m sorry, I don’t know. I only saw him out of the corner of my eye.  I really was focused on getting out the door.  Even the gunshot didn’t distract me from leaving that house.”

                Francesco’s dad frowned.  “You can stay here until the cops come.”

                “I’m so sorry sir.”

                “Don’t be.  I raised Francesco to value women and children’s lives over his.  He was protecting you.  We don’t know that he’s not okay.  He could just be consoling your mom.”

                Amy didn’t say anything.  Three cars pulled up and one approached the door.  Amy walked out of the house and approached the cars and told them she was the one that called.  They sat her in the front seat of one of the squad cars and an officer interviewed her while four others had their guns drawn covering the officer at the door.  The officer knocked loudly and said, “Hello, it’s the police. We have the place surrounded.  Please answer the door.”

                There was no answer.  The officer said, “I’m going to open the door if you don’t say anything.  He rang the door bell a few times.  He heard a faint, “Come in, the door’s open.”

                The officer opened the door and found three people on the ground.  They walked over to Francesco who was grabbing his arm hissing in pain.  The officer called in the paramedics and they tended to Francesco.  The other officers entered the house and asked Francesco if anyone was in the house.  He said, “No, the mom is knocked out in the kitchen, there’s a dead guy in the garage and the other dead guy in the kitchen.  They’re the ones that broke in.  Is Amy okay?”

                “Yes, she called us.”

                Francesco relaxed and said, “Good, good.  I didn’t know if the bullet went through me and into her.”

                The paramedic said, “There’s no exit wound.  The bullet is still inside you.  We’re going to have to get you to the hospital to take it out.”

                “That’s fine.”

                The other police officers searched the house and when they decided nobody else was there they loaded Amy’s mom and Francesco on a stretcher and wheeled them out.  Amy’s mom was beginning to come to and asking about Amy.  Amy ran to her as they wheeled her out and cried out, “Mom!” and grabbed her hand.

                Amy’s mom smiled, “Are you okay honey?”

                “I’m fine.”

                “Good good.”

                “Are you okay?”

                “I will be.”

                Amy went with her mom to the hospital and their house became a crime scene very quickly.  They called Amy’s dad and he insisted they take him to the hospital he worked at.  The ambulance did exactly that.  When they arrived, Amy’s dad came in and gave Amy a big hug.  Amy said, “I’m fine dad, go to mom, she’s the one hurt.”

                Amy said, “I’m going to go check on Francesco”

                Amy’s dad nodded and Amy went to Francesco’s room.  She shyly said, “Hi:

                “Hey Amy” he said weakly.

                “How are you feeling?”

                “Well, it hurts to be shot.”

                “I bet.  I’m really sorry this had to happen.”

                “I’m just happy you’re okay.  I’ll be alright.  Once someone can get to me, they’ll remove the bullet. I’ll get a sling and a cool scar.  Don’t worry about me.”

                “Well, I think I’m alive because you worried about me.”

                “Yea, well glad I could help.”

                “I mean, you took a bullet for me.”

                “I did do that.”

                “That’s really cool of you.”

                “You’re worth it.”

                Amy smiled.  “You nervous about surgery?”

                “Not really, it’s pretty minor.”

                “Well, this should calm you down” As she leaned over and kissed him.  Francesco kissed back and Amy said, “Get well soon.”

                “Thank you, how’s your mom?”

                “She was hit pretty hard but she’ll be okay.  My dad is with her now.”

                “Good”

                Shortly after that, doctors came in to bring Francesco for surgery.  He was back in less than an hour.  Amy went back with her mom.  Amy’s dad went into the surgery room to assist.  He said, “I know this is a weird time, but I wanted to thank you.”

                “Don’t mention it.  I’m sorry I broke into your house.”

                “You broke into my house to help my wife and daughter so yea, I’m fine with it”

                “Yea, but I didn’t know what I was walking into.  I don’t regret it but I would have felt pretty stupid if it was nothing.”

                “Well, I’m glad you did.”

                “I just wish I didn’t wait so long.”

                “Why didn’t you call the cops?”

                “I would have felt stupid if it was nothing. By the time I decided to go over there, I figured they wouldn’t get there in time.”

                “Why not call the cops and then come over?”

                Francesco seemed to contemplate this.  He said, “That would have been a better idea in hindsight.”

                A doctor said, “got it” and held up the bullet for Francesco to see.  “Glad you were distracted.  We’ll give you stitches and you’ll be as good as new.”

                Amy’s dad patted Francesco on the chest and said “Thank you again son.”

                Francesco went back to his room where his parents were waiting for him.  His mom ran over and wrapped her arms around him.  Francesco said in Spanish, “Mom, I’m fine.”

                “I’m so proud of you” his dad said, “You found a girl in trouble and you sacrificed yourself to help them.”

                His mom said, “And almost got himself killed.”

                Her husband turned to her and said, “You wouldn’t want me to do the same for you?”

                “I mean, yes I would.  We raised you to respect the lives of women and children.  I just didn’t want this to happen”

                Francesco said, “Nobody did but it’s fine.  I’m going to be released today.”

                Amy came into the room and said hi to Francesco’s parents.  His mom gave her a suspicious look but her dad made no reaction at all.  They both left them alone.  Amy said, “So, Trump may have some competition in the primary.”

                “Who?”

                “Larry Hogan”

                “The governor of Maryland?”

                “Yea”

                “He doesn’t have a chance”

                “How do you know?”

                “He’s a RINO, Republicans are sick of RINO’s”

                “Yea, this guy that my dad listens to went off against Hogan”

                “Bongino?”

                “Yea, how did you know? You don’t listen to him too do you?”

                “He’s got the 2^nd highest rated podcast.  He’s very famous.  He also ran in Maryland.”

                “Yea, well apparently he helped Hogan out and then Hogan stabbed him in the back.  He threatened Hogan that if he runs against Trump, he’ll reveal all the dirt he knows and take the gloves off.”

                “He must really be pissed because Bongino is one of the few right-wing people that understands not to make the perfect the enemy of the good”

                “What does that mean?”

                “Just because someone doesn’t have all the conservative values, don’t vilify them.  Basically everyone right of center should unite against all those left of center.  That’s the problem with Republicans and conservatives they always fight with each other for not being holy enough.  Bongino commonly calls on people to vote for RINO’s over Democrats.  Especially now that we have socialists and people who want inmates to vote taking over the Democratic Party.”

                “United we stand , divided we fall.”

                “Exactly”

                Francesco was released an hour later.  Amy’s mom was held overnight for observation.  She had a concussion and some head trauma but she would make a full recovery.  Amy and Francesco remained friends throughout their lives.