Lexi’s eyes flooded with tears as she watched the TV alongside her mother who had
begun to sob uncontrollably. What had been a normal morning up until a few minutes ago had
turned into a life changing moment for Lexi and her family when they turned on the TV in the
kitchen.
On any other day this upper-class modern family would be watching the news in the
kitchen while eating breakfast. Her Father, Tyler Arlington, would be watching the TV while
muttering something about stocks and the housing market as he watched. Tyler was in his late
40’s and in decent shape with looks that could pass him off as 30 if it weren’t for his grayish hair
and a Sam Elliot style mustache. Meanwhile Lexi would eat with one hand and be texting all her
friends in the other while her Mother ate her egg whites and drank a kale smoothie across from
Lexi who she would be trying to connect with, but that would overall be a one-sided
conversation because Lexi would have her eyes glued to her phone. Her mother, Ness Arlington,
was a late 30’s stay at home mom and trophy wife, spending most of her time at yoga or power
walking through the neighborhood with her friends. She worked her best to keep her aging body
looking as young and fit as possible.
Today was the exception because when her Father flipped on the TV the news headline
drew the attention of everyone in the room's attention, even their maid Shelby who would
usually be too distracted cleaning up after the family to care about what was being said. The
headline read ‘Mayoral Scandal: Prejudice, Corruption, and Murder’
The plain looking 40-year-old reporter spoke with a dramatic yet serious tone. “While we
are still getting updates, here is the situation for those of you just tuning in. Last night we
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received hundreds of emails, texts, recordings, and other documents linking a high-profile
member of our community to extreme racial prejudice and money laundering with his local
businesses and political assets. But what was even more shocking was a testimony that
potentially linked this member of our community to the cold case disappearance of 20-year-old
Jacklyn Clark back in the summer of 2002.” The news broadcast then pulled up an image of
Jacklyn Clark at her High School graduation. It was the same school Lexi had graduated from.
Jacklyn was a slender young beautiful African American girl with hair that was eerily similar to
Lexi’s. You all are wondering who it is we’re talking about. Who could be such a heinous and
vile person? Well, it’s someone we all know. Our freshly reelected Mayor and founding family
member Tyler Arlington.”
As the reporter uttered that name, Lexi’s heart dropped and her mother dropped her Kale
smoothie onto the ground spilling its contents everywhere. Her father’s face turned 10 shades
whiter. Then their maid Shelby spoke with a broken voice “Mister Arlington?”
Lexi’s Mom looked at her father and could barely speak “Ty, what did you do?”
“Nothing, that’s slander! They’re lying, I don’t know who did this, but they’ll pay with
everything they own.” Her father exclaimed, jumping out of his chair and pulling out his phone
and began making a call.
“Dad?” Lexi looked up at him confused and heartbroken.
He didn’t look her in the eyes and instead shouted “Not now Lexi!”
Lexi flinched and sat in silence, staring at the ground. Her father rushed into the other
room and began yelling on the phone, Lexi could partially make out what was being talked
about. Defamation, forged evidence, and suing the news station and everyone involved with this
whole distasteful situation. All Lexi could keep thinking of the picture that was shown of the girl
around her age who went missing and how her father might be responsible for it.
