Rhodia River - In the stream of love

Chapter 16 Miriam has a rival (2)

POLICE STATION - DAY

Carlos this time sees Sandra standing at the entrance. He interrupts his laughter.

"Have you been attended yet, miss?"

Monica turns around and sees her too, "Sandra! What a small world."

Sandra replies wryly, "Small neighborhood."

"No way, look at the size of that map!"

Sandra approaches, "Chief, since yesterday I made a complaint, but it seems that it didn’t give results. There are gathering kids in a group near my house and they just sit idly practically all day. Nobody knows what they want; if they are watching to steal us later."

"Miss, you will have to gather more neighbors to complain to Seu Tito. We are unable to do something of this magnitude. I managed to arrest one who assaulted your friend, but a gang... I hope not, but as soon as possible we will look."

"I hope there won't be a tragedy before. May my boyfriend won't cry leaning over my coffin. Excuse me."

Sandra stomps away.

Monica is thoughtful, "How strange... Kids attacking in daylight... Suspicious groups..."

"Calm down, Monica. Count on me while I'm within reach. Our neighborhood is not going to become a strip of Gaza."

Monica smiles, comforted by the officer.

CASSIO'S LIVING ROOM

Cassio tries to contain an agitated Miriam. Coffee is on the coffee table, but nobody wants to drink it. Conversation started.

"Miriam, I don't know how you heard that."

"It doesn't matter. It matters to find out if it’s true!"

"How do we do it? Do we ask the chief directly? We’ll be arrested for contempt."

"We need to know if Carina was at the police station —"

The door unexpectedly opens and Sandra is already entering, "Oops, sorry! Did I interrupt anything?"

"No way, Sandra, what is this? 'Did I interrupt something', as if we were cheating on you!"

Sandra with the same sulky face, sits on another couch, slowly.

Cassio notices her, "It's clean. Serve yourself a coffee."

Sandra pours herself, "What's going on, then?"

Miriam grabs her arm and Sandra spills a little of her coffee.

"Watch out, girl...!"

Miriam pleas, "Sandra, my friend... I need you to confirm this story! Was Carlos talking to Carina at the police station yesterday?"

Sandra makes suspense and a debauched face. She looks at Cássio, he looks like "see what you're gonna say!"

"Well, dear... Talking, they were talking. But, I was answered by another police officer and I complained about these kids who are probing us."

"Brats probing? I thought they were just hanging out."

"In a serious neighborhood like this, this is unacceptable."

Cassio rolls his eyes, "I already got that you voted for Seu Tito."

Miriam insists, "What do you mean, they were talking like?"

"Ah, Miriam, I don’t know... They were laughing, I found them very distracted... But, it should be just a joke on Carlos's part."

Miriam reacts more and more desperately, "And since when did the officer have the time of telling jokes on duty? Carina went there to do what?!"

"She, I don't know; now Monica went there today to talk about a supposed power outage that only occurred on her block."

"Monica?!" Miriam screams with wide eyes.

"Yes. I think Chief Roldão must have a great sense of humor because when I came in, can you believe that the two of them were laughing too?"

"But, this is absurd!!"

Miriam immediately stands, looks glassy, and trembles, she looks like 'Carrie'. Cassio was very frightened, his coffee is already cold. Nobody notices Sandra, crossing her legs, with a devilish smile, imagining the circus catching fire.

MONICA’S LIVING ROOM

Monica and Carina talk happily about yesterday at the stationery store.

"You have to go and see, girl. Cor-de-Rosa stationery, they have everything. You don't have to leave the neighborhood anymore."

"Yeah, I need to buy more A4 sheets for my second book. Despite yesterday's drop, I managed to get a good introduction."

"I'm crazy to read..."

"I lend you a manuscript—"

"No, are you crazy? I want to go to the bookstore and buy, brand new, smell the sheets and have your autograph."

Monica got moved, "Own, dear!..."

The two girls don’t notice Annie arriving in the background, somber, "How are the friends doing?"

Monica and Carina turn around in fright.

"Oh, Annie, lately who has been coming from behind is the odious Fábia. Get closer, do you want a cup of coffee?"

Annie is still standing, "Yeah, I'll take it. I'm still hungry because I went to my boyfriend's bakery and he didn't even want to serve me."

Monica and Carina are surprised by the harshness of Annie's words. She was unusual.

Monica risks, "Annie, I imagine you guys talked about—"

Annie interrupts her, "Did you stick your nose where it doesn’t belong and attack my boyfriend?!"

Carina is amazed; Monica is trapped; Annie is outraged...