Crossing the Line (7 page)

F
abi flinched as she heard the sharp click of the handcuffs locking around Santiago's wrists. She turned away, still unwilling to believe it. “You can't let them do this, Dad. Dad?”

Her family stared from the sidelines as Officer Sanchez bowed Santiago's head down and into the cop car. It was so surreal. Fabi wondered if she was dreaming. She turned to her mother. Magda's face was ghost white.

“I have to call Consuelo,” her mother mumbled in a daze. She was still in her night robe and slippers.

“What happened, Fabi?” Alexis asked, hugging the baby tightly to her chest. She'd forgotten, in all the panic, that she wasn't speaking to her sister.

“I don't really know. Chuy called me and told me to come over. I guess they were trying to catch whoever jumped him and they caught Santiago.”

Chuy motioned for them to sit at a table. He brought coffee.

Leonardo plopped into a chair. He rubbed his thick fingers through his close-cropped hair in frustration. “I don't understand. What was Santiago doing here in the middle of the night? What were you guys doing here?” He gestured at Chuy and his friends. “How did he get in?”

Fabi squirmed. Her father noticed and turned to her, waiting for a response. She thought about lying, but Santiago was already in enough trouble.

“I gave him my keys.”

“You did what?” her father shouted, jumping out of his seat, while his chair flew back, crashing onto the floor.

“Dad, it's Santiago.
Our
Santiago. He was storing some stuff in the storage unit out back and he was just coming by to pick it up.”

Chuy cut in. “I know nothing about a storage room. I saw beams from a flashlight and heard laughing and the sound of something breaking.”

Leonardo slammed his fist down on the table, making all the cups of coffee jump. “That boy has gone too far! I defended him at first. Poor kid has had a hard life, but this,
this
, is too much. My nephew needs to learn that there are consequences for his actions.”

“What are you saying?” Fabi asked, alarmed. Looking around the table, she could tell that everyone thought Santiago was guilty of attacking Chuy. “It doesn't make sense. If Santiago wanted to mug someone, why would he come into the restaurant when no one was around?” She turned to Chuy. He stared back at her, confused. “You were mugged in front of the store, not inside, right?”

Her dad crossed his arms. “What are you trying to get at?”

“Well, we're talking about muggings, not robberies.”

“Is there a difference?”

“I know Santiago looks really guilty right now. And I'm sure the hubcaps back there are stolen.” She motioned toward the storage area.

“Hubcaps,” her father repeated in a low growl.

“Santiago may be a lot of things. But I can't believe that he would beat you up, Chuy.” Fabi reached a hand out to Chuy, but he jerked away from her.

The cook stared at her with a cold expression and said in Spanish, “I knew your parents wouldn't believe me unless Santiago was caught and they saw it with their own eyes. But you, Fabiola, I thought you were different.” Chuy got up and cleared the table.

“Chuy,” Fabi called out, but he refused to look at her. He gathered his stuff and went home.

 

Fabi had to wait until nine in the morning to visit Santiago. The police had thrown the book at him. They were accusing him of breaking and entering, destroying private property, and receiving stolen property. They had also thrown in, for good measure, assault and battery on several undocumented migrant workers who had ended up in the hospital with severe beatings, based on Chuy's testimony.

Everyone was so quick to blame Santiago, Fabi thought as Delia Zavala, the police secretary, let her into a small, windowless room. Grandma Trini and Abuelita Alpha had come along, too, each dressed for the occasion — in black.

When they brought Santiago in, he was quite a sight: His face was all black and blue, and one eye was swollen shut. He had bloody scratch marks on his forehead and cheek. It was horrible, and made Fabi sick to her stomach.

“Oh, my baby,” Grandma Trini cried, rushing over to him. He winced at her touch. “Have you seen a doctor? Delia,” she cried over her shoulder, “you better call the doctor quick. If my baby gets an infection, I'm holding the police department responsible.” She pulled out something to wipe his face, spitting onto it first. Santiago flinched when he saw that she was holding a maxi pad.

“You are not putting that on my face,” he cried.

Trini sighed in annoyance. “Ay, it's not mine.”

Abuelita Alpha grabbed his hand, inspecting it for marks. “Did you sell your soul?” she asked sternly.

“What?” Santiago squirmed under her gaze.

“Don't you lie to me! Did you sell your soul in blood to the Dark Prince? I need to know for the spiritual cleansing I'm going to perform. You need a
limpia
.”

Santiago mustered a giggle.

“This is no joke,” Abuelita Alpha hissed heatedly. The two old women glanced at each other in silent communication. Then Abuelita Alpha nodded and opened her bag. She took out a bottle of holy water and a bouquet of rosemary stems Fabi knew she'd collected from the massive bush in front of her house that morning.
“En el nombre del Padre …”
she prayed loudly, throwing holy water in his face with one hand and sweeping the evil spirits off with the rosemary in the other. Santiago was really cracking up now. Abuelita Alpha smacked him hard on the head with the branches. She cursed under her breath about what a good-for-nothing, troublesome, stupid child he was.

Fabiola waited until Alpha finished her exorcism. When her grandmother fell back into the chair, Trini hurried to get her some water. Santiago was smiling, enjoying the attention.

“Santiago, do you understand how much trouble you're in?” Fabi asked, annoyed by his attitude.

“Trouble?” He looked confused. “Chuy's claims are totally bogus. I wish I
had
mugged the fool. Punk caught me off guard.” He made punching gestures in the air to show them he could not be fooled twice. “Whatever,” he said with a shrug. “I'll be out by lunch.”

“Santiago,” Fabi said sternly. She grabbed the table for effect. “They want to try you for several muggings that happened around town.”

“Huh?”

“And Delia Zavala” — Fabi motioned at the secretary — “heard that they want to try you as an adult.”

“What?” Santiago grew quiet. The severity of the situation finally dawned on him. “Where's your dad? He doesn't believe that I …”

“Santiago.” Fabi struggled to keep her voice calm. She didn't want him to know how worried she actually was. “I'm going to find a way to clear your name.”

“Wrap it up,” Officer Sanchez's booming voice called out behind her. The man was leaning casually against the wall. He was so silent she hadn't even noticed him enter the room.

Grandma Trini shoved Fabi aside with her big hips and mumbled to Santiago, “Baby,” between tight lips. “I have bolt cutters in my hair.” She squinted her left eye and tilted her head in quick jerking movements up toward her dark mass of teased-up curls. “Alpha will distract Officer Sanchez and we —”

“Grandma,” Fabi scolded in a hushed manner.

“It worked for my third husband, Timoteo. You remember him, Alpha, don't you?”

Officer Sanchez appeared behind them. “All right, I'm going to have to ask you ladies to leave now,” he said, motioning them toward the door.

Fabi stood her ground. “But, Officer Sanchez, this is a mistake. Santiago is being falsely accused. You have to stop this. He didn't do it.”

“That's not up to me to decide.”

“But I told you the other day who did it!” Fabi said emphatically. “I heard him admit it at a party. No, he was bragging,
bragging
to a bunch of people about it. It's Dex Andrews and his thugs, I'm telling you! Go ask him where he was when the attacks happened. I'm sure he doesn't even have an alibi. Just go ask Dex.
Please
.”

Officer Sanchez stared blankly at Fabi. She couldn't tell if he was asleep or listening to her behind those dark aviator sunglasses.

“Who's his judge?” Grandma Alpha asked.

Officer Sanchez smirked. “I think it's Judge Andrews — Judge Dexter Andrews II.”

 

Good gossip always traveled like wildfire in the Valley. By the following school day, everyone had heard about Santiago's assault charges and knew Fabi had accused Dex Andrews of the crime. Students she'd known since elementary school avoided her as if she was contagious. Others rudely pushed right into her, mumbling “liar” and “fat cow” under their breath. Fabi took her hurt and stuffed it deep down. She
would not
let them see her cry!

“Hey, Fatty,” a male voice called out from down the hallway.

Fabi bowed her head and walked faster, desperate to escape her tormentor.

“Fatty, yo, I'm talking to you,” Dex sneered, easily catching up. He grabbed her arm tightly. Fabi gulped as he spun her around like a rag doll and pinned her against the locker doors. The chattering noise of the hallways hummed into the background. Fabi could only hear the thumping of her heart beating wildly, pounding in her head.

“Stop, please,” Fabi murmured, unable to hold back the tears that had started to flow freely. Dex's sneer grew bigger. There was nowhere for Fabi to run, nothing she could do.

“Hey, what're you doing?” Milo called out from somewhere behind Dex. But Fabi could only hear scuffling sounds as if Milo was struggling with Dex's football friends.

Dex turned away. He smiled approvingly at Milo — and his friends holding Milo back — then he slowly leaned into the locker, right next to Fabi's face. He was so close their noses touched.

“You got a big fat mouth, you know that?” he whispered, low enough for only her to hear. “You better be careful. Don't want to end up like your dishwasher friend.” He smirked, pulling away so she could see the satisfaction in his eyes.

“Fabi? Dex! Get off her, you jerk!”

This time it was Alexis. Fabi heard a hard, demanding note in her little sister's voice.

“What's going on here?” Vice Principal Castillo asked, coming up behind them.

Dex started to laugh, pushing away from the lockers and holding his hands up innocently. “Oh, nothing, sir. I'm just having a little chat with my girl. Isn't that right, Fabi?”

Mr. Castillo waited for a response.

Fabi studied Dex a moment. She wanted to tell on him, but her mouth was numbed with fear.

Mr. Castillo frowned and glanced at the crowd of students standing around him. “Put those cell phones away,” he cried. “This is not a show! Go to class, everyone. Go now!”

Fabi heard the sound of students shuffling away from her. But she couldn't look up. The humiliation weighed down on her like a heavy stone. Why hadn't she said anything?!

“C'mon,” she heard Alexis say to Dex, leading him away. The other football guys shoved Milo to the side as they followed.

Milo stood for a moment next to her, silent. He tried to put his hand on Fabi's shoulder, but his touch made her jump. “Oh, sorry. I just wanted to see if you were okay.”

“She's all right,” Mr. Castillo said. “She's a tough girl.”

Finally, Fabi looked up — then wished she hadn't. Every face in the hallway was staring back at her. The tension in the air was maddening. It was like one of those crazy dreams where you find yourself naked — but this was no dream. People she'd considered friends were now looking away, or worse, snapping shots to put on the Internet. Melodee Stanton stood a few feet away from her, ready to pounce at the slightest provocation. Fabi bit down hard on her lower lip and ran down the hall. She couldn't face any of them, ever again.

F
abiola didn't go to school the following day. She told her parents she wasn't feeling well and couldn't get out of bed. With all that was going on with Santiago, Magda and Leonardo decided to just leave her alone. When Dex Andrews pulled up to her house to pick up Alexis, dread twisted in Fabi's stomach. She couldn't believe that her sister chose him over her — even after what he did at school! Santiago was probably going to jail. And Dex was going to get away with beating up immigrants because he could. The situation was so unfair. She wanted to claw at it, tear it to shreds.

Around lunchtime, Milo and Georgia Rae surprised her with an unexpected visit. They brought pizza and a bucket of mint chocolate chip ice cream.

“Guys.” Fabi tried to sound annoyed, but she was really grateful to see them. “What are you doing?”

“Milo told me what happened yesterday,” Georgia Rae said, giving her a sympathetic hug as she walked in. “Bastards.”

“And when you didn't show up today, I called Georgia Rae and we decided to check in on you,” Milo added, hands stuffed in his pockets. He scuffed the living room floor softly with his tennis shoes.

Fabiola's heart swelled and tears wet her eyes. “Thanks,” she said, giving them each a hug. “You guys are the best! Come on, sit down. Let's eat this pizza.” They flopped down onto the fluffy couch and dug into the meal.

They munched silently until Fabi said, “I was thinking of transferring schools. Do you think it's too late?” She picked the mushrooms off her slice for Georgia Rae.

Milo snuck a mushroom from the pile next to Georgia Rae's plate. She tried to slap his hand, but he was too quick and plopped it into his mouth. “You can't transfer,” Milo said. “Not now.”

“What do you mean? Of course I can transfer. Dex won. Santiago is going to jail. My sister hates me. No one at school wants to be near me. Why would I stay?”

“Yeah,” Georgia Rae agreed excitedly. “You can come to McAllen High with me! We can share a room. I'm sure my mom will say yes, if I explain what happened.” Her eyes were bright and she bounced a little on the couch. “It will be so cool. We'll have so much fun. Forget this town, Fabi.”

Fabiola imagined herself living in McAllen with Georgia Rae. They were practically sisters already.

But then she thought about her parents. Who would make sure her dad didn't skip lunch? Who would be there to help her mother with the tables? The waitstaff was always so unreliable. And who would keep the peace between her grandmothers? And make sure Grandpa Frank got his coffee just below tepid?

“You sure Dex said that stuff about beating up, you know, immigrants?” Milo asked, playing with his crust.

“Yes!” Fabi said firmly. “I was right on the other side of the window. I heard him say that they were easy targets. That they wouldn't resist or complain to the cops because they were undocumented. That sounds just like what happened to Chuy.”

Milo bit the top of his crust, thinking. “So why don't we try to catch him in the act? Get some evidence.”

“You mean, like, go undercover?” Fabi asked curiously. Milo nodded. She looked at Georgia Rae.

Georgia Rae shrugged. “It would be nice to see Dex get what he deserves.”

“But don't you think Dex will be lying low now? He knows that I think he did it. My big mouth blabbed it to the whole town.” Fabi wanted to hit herself for not thinking of this sooner.

“Dex does have a huge ego,” Georgia Rae said, holding out her hands for emphasis. “And you know how he gets when he drinks …”

“Maybe Chuy can help us set a trap,” Fabi mused, thoughtfully tapping her finger on her lips. “I'm sure Chuy will want to get at the real culprit. What we need is someone Dex trusts. Someone he can confide in.” Fabi and Georgia Rae locked eyes. Was this a stupid idea? Dex didn't trust any of them. Fabi could only think of one thing to do. “I have an idea.”

 

“No! You're crazy. I'm not going to do it. Get out of my way,” Alexis cried.

But Fabiola wouldn't budge. Alexis grabbed her by the shoulder and tried to pull her away from the door. She tugged with all her might, but couldn't move her older sister. “Get out of my room! I'm going to tell Mom.”

“Go ahead,” Fabi said, crossing her arms in front of her chest. “Tell her all you want. Then we can have a nice chat about how you've been ditching your vocal lessons to hang out with Dex after school. I'm sure Mom and Dad would love to hear all about your extracurricular activities.”

Alexis jumped as if she'd been stung. Fabi regretted her words. They were said out of anger, but they were also true. She didn't want to blackmail her sister into helping. But Fabi was desperate. Time was running out for Santiago.

Alexis balled her hands into fists, pure hatred shining in her eyes. She jumped on Fabi, clawing at her like a wildcat. When Fabi still refused to move, tears flowed from Alexis's eyes like a dam being released.

“What is wrong with you? Why do you hate me so much?”

Fabiola was taken aback. “What's wrong with
me
? What is wrong with
you
? You're the one who's always running off with Dex and your new friends ever since you started high school. You've become this totally different person. You don't care about Chuy, you don't care about Santi —”

“Will you just stop acting so jealous? I like who I am. I like my new friends and I like Dex. Why can't you just accept me the way I am?”

“I do accept you,” Fabi insisted. “I accept that you are your own person.”

“Then why are you so mean to me? You said all those horrible lies about Dex. You don't even know him.”

“Lies? You think I made up that stuff about Dex to hurt
you
? Oh, c'mon, Alexis. Are you for real?”

Alexis stared back blankly. “Well, didn't you? I know you don't like him,” she said.

Fabi burst out laughing.

“Hey, that wasn't a joke,” Alexis said. “I'm really mad at you. Stop laughing. I mean it. I'm going to tell Mom.”

“I'm sorry, Alexis,” Fabi said, wiping the tears from her eyes. “You've got to believe me when I tell you, I did not make up those things about Dex to make you look bad. I don't hate you. I could never hate you,” she said softly, wanting to take her sister in her arms and hug her. But she didn't dare.

Alexis sniffed loudly. She looked like a raccoon with her mascara smudged everywhere. Fabi wondered about what other kinds of issues her sister might be facing. It seemed like years since they'd talked. She noticed that her sister's cell phone was thrown across the room. “Well, I don't know why you don't like Dex! Or my friends! What did they ever do to you? They're not bad people. If you weren't so crazy judgmental, you'd know that. If you just took the time to get to know them, maybe they could be your friends, too.”

Fabiola felt her cheeks redden. She didn't know what to say. Alexis wiped her nose on the back of her hand. It reminded Fabi of when Alexis was small and the kids would pick on her because she always wore big, puffy dresses to play in. She was no longer that little girl who needed protection. “I'm sorry,” Fabiola finally said. “I'm sorry for being …”

“Judgmental?”

“If I hurt you.”

Alexis flopped onto her small twin bed and sighed. “I guess that's the best I'm going to get, huh?”

Fabi looked down at her shoes. Then she followed her sister's gaze to the cell on the floor. “Is everything all right?”

Alexis shrugged. “I guess, if you call getting nonstop text messages all day and night from some crazy girl who threatens to cut you if you don't stay away from her boyfriend
all right
.”

“Melodee?”

Alexis nodded, then stared out the window. “So you really think Dex is responsible?”

Fabi nodded and held her breath.

“I'm really sorry about the other day at school. I thought —” Alexis paused and started again. “When Dex grabbed you like that, I got really scared.
That's
not the Dex I know. He was like a whole different person … and it made me wonder …”

“If I am wrong about this,” Fabi said desperately, “I promise to never speak badly about Dex again.”

Alexis crossed her legs and arms, thinking. Fabi pressed her lips together really tightly, not wanting to disturb her sister's concentration.

“Fine,” Alexis huffed loudly. Fabiola breathed out the air she hadn't realized she'd been holding. “But!” Alexis added as an afterthought. “If Dex is innocent,” she warned, wagging her finger in Fabi's face, “I want a public apology and your tips for the rest of the year.”

 

The plan was brilliant in its simplicity. All Fabi needed was a confession. If Dex confessed, then Santiago would be free. And if Dex got what he deserved, everything would go back to normal, Fabi assured herself.

Alexis was the only one who wasn't convinced.

They all gathered at Fabi's house the following Friday to set the trap.

“How do you know your plan is going to work?” Alexis asked Fabi.

Fabiola looked up from helping Chuy and said, “I don't.”

Alexis frowned. “Great.”

Fabi continued to fidget with Chuy's hoodie. She didn't want Dex to recognize him.

“Don't you think the hoodie with the big Mexican flag is a bit much?” Alexis commented. “It's like eighty degrees outside. Why don't we just give him a big mustache and sombrero?”

“Hey,” Fabi snapped. “I'm the mastermind here, not you.” Then she turned to Georgia Rae and murmured, “Do you think it's too much?” Her friend shook her head. “Okay!” Fabi clapped her hands for attention. “Let's go over it again from the top.”

Alexis looked around the group nervously. She was clearly starting to regret this deal, but was now in far too deep to back out. “I'm going to call Dex and invite him to get
raspas
.”
Raspas
were Fabiola's favorite treat. It was a cup of shaved ice with flavoring, whipped cream, chopped nuts, and a cherry on top.

“Don't worry, we'll be watching you from my truck,” Georgia Rae cut in excitedly. Alexis still looked plenty worried.

Chuy cleared his throat. “Then I walk … near. I have … money … and count,” he added. Fabiola was so proud he agreed to be a part of this. Although he was responsible for Santiago being in jail, he didn't want the wrong person to pay for it.

“But,” Alexis interrupted, “before you walk by I need to steer the conversation to wanting to do something crazy. So don't come real fast, Chuy. Give me some time.”

“Make sure you order the piña colada
raspa
,” Georgia Rae reminded Alexis as she dabbed green and brown face paint around her eyes. “I hear the lady with the short hair adds real booze for extra flavor.” She'd brought a big duffel bag filled with hunting apparel with her for surveillance — and scent-controlled camouflage jackets, face masks, night-vision binoculars, and gloves, just in case.

Alexis pulled the earphones from her ears and asked, “Are you even sure these things are going to work?”

Milo grabbed her earphones. “Of course they'll work. See the little mic right here?” he said as he pointed. “Just make sure the volume is all the way up and you're standing about a foot away from him. Here, look.” He showed her how to record on his cell phone.

A trickle of sweat ran down the side of Alexis's face. She looked like she wanted to throw up.

“You'll be fine.” Fabi put her hand on her little sister's shoulder in a reassuring way. “We'll be right there. We won't let him touch you, okay? All you need is a confession. The minute you hear it, I want you to blow the whistle and run.” Alexis still looked uneasy, so Fabi added, “We'll be right there in the truck. Everything is going to be fine.”

She just hoped she was right.