Off the Record Camryn Garrett (best book club books txt) 📖

“She has to head to work,” Savannah says once we’re in her room. There are two twin beds. Half the room is decorated with dozens of movie posters, while the other is cluttered with JoJo memorabilia. “I’m supposed to be watching the kids, but I figured this wouldn’t take too long.”

“Thanks again,” Alice says. “Josie has a couple of questions, but we should be out of your hair soon.”

Then she glances at me. I guess this is my deal.

“Right,” I say, reaching into my bag. “I just wanted to record this, if it’s okay—”

“Where are you putting this again?” Savannah’s eyes are narrowed, hair pulled back in a ponytail. She looks much more serious than I’ve ever seen her. “Are you putting my voice up on some website?”

“No,” I say. “It’s just easier for me than taking notes, and it’s good to have solid proof to refer back to.”

“Okay.” She glances at Alice, then back at me. “So where are you gonna put it?”

“Well,” I say, “I’m not sure yet.”

“Wait a second.” Savannah holds up a hand. “Josie.”

“It’s just—”

“I don’t understand,” she says, talking over me. “You’re seventeen. You want to write a story about Lennox groping people. And you don’t even have a place to publish it? You think that’s gonna work? Does Deep Focus even know you’re doing this?”

I swallow, forcing myself to stay calm. I can’t help but feel defensive when people talk about my age. I know I can write. I’ve been doing it my whole life.

“Deep Focus doesn’t own me; it’s not like I have to tell them everything,” I say, even though my tongue feels heavy and dry. “And I think we have a real shot at getting this published. I’ve gotten four other people to talk—two of them are Oscar winners.”

I wince as soon as I’ve said it.

“Josie.” Alice smacks my side. “What’s wrong with you?”

“It’s fine.” Savannah folds her arms. “I knew that. I’m asking if your age is going to keep the story from being seen.”

“I have a background in journalism.” I force myself to hold eye contact. “Before I won this contest, I mean. They don’t need to know my age. I have contacts already, and then some of the women I’ve spoken to can help get the story out. It’s an important story. I’m sure it’ll get attention.”

Savannah rubs her thighs. “Come on, sit down. Sorry there aren’t any chairs. I didn’t want to talk about this in front of them.”

“In front of your siblings?” Alice asks. I glance at her in surprise. I figured she would just sit back like normal. “I used to lock the bathroom door to keep Josie from coming in and spying, but she always found a way.”

“Yeah, little brothers and sisters can be like that.” Savannah snickers. I set up my recorder, trying to take notes with my brain. “But yeah. I—I’m the first one to go to college. I worked two jobs to get myself through City College. And I wanted a job in film production, but it’s not real practical, so I picked business.”

“I feel that. I worry about what I’m gonna study,” I say, flipping open my notebook. “Before you keep going, can I just ask your full name and age? I’m not gonna use it—I know you want a fake name—but it’s just so I can fact-check and everything.”

“No using it.” She raises a brow. “If you do, I’ll deny everything.”

“Promise.”

“Okay.” She takes a deep breath. “Savannah Rodriguez. I’m twenty-two.”

“So is our sister,” I say, leaning back. “And she’s going to college next year, but I’m not sure what she’ll major in.”

“Running her mouth, probably,” Alice says.

Savannah smiles, but only a little bit.

“Okay,” I say, pressing the recorder out on the bed between us. “So you go to a state college and study business. How did you get in touch with Lennox?”

“It was an internship two summers ago.” She rubs her arms. “Like the one I’m doing now with Spotlight Pictures. I wanted to get experience in film and there was an opportunity to work with his production company. I was basically another assistant—I did the coffee runs and answered phone calls and made copies. I was really excited when I heard he’d be shooting in New York. I thought the job meant he could be, like, a mentor. I thought I’d learn from him.”

“Did you?” I glance up. Her lips are pressed tightly together. “Learn from him, I mean. But take your time.”

“He wasn’t really in the office a lot,” she says. “But I still thought it was a great opportunity to get my foot in the door.”

“But that’s not what happened.” My voice is soft. It’s hard to see the emotions flickering across her face, almost as hard as the silences on the phone.

“No.” She shakes her head. “I wasn’t the only one—there were other women in the office, but they wouldn’t want to talk about this sort of thing. I don’t know when it started. Maybe when scenes were getting more complicated and we were over budget? I don’t know. But he’d always come in when there was just one of us in the office.”

“Just you.”

“Yeah,” she says. “Just me. And that’s why it feels like I imagined it sometimes. He’d come in around lunchtime and tell me not to work so hard, call me sweetheart or whatever. I didn’t think it was a big deal.”

Her lower lip trembles. My throat goes dry. I don’t know what to do, so I grab her hand in mine. She startles, staring down at our intertwined hands, but doesn’t pull hers away. Alice puts hers on top. I guess I won’t have written notes for this interview, but it doesn’t matter.

“I’m so stupid, but I liked him a little bit. He seemed nice.” She shakes her head, biting her lip. “So stupid. When he kissed me, I thought it was a little forward, but I didn’t tell anyone or anything. But then he wanted to do more and he