It was about a quarter till one in the afternoon when the sheriff strolled into the interrogation room, popping a piece of gum while whistling a folk tune I’ve heard before. His thick black boots and clinking keys reverberated throughout the room before stopping to take a seat in front of me. I looked away briefly, feeling nervous with the unsettling information I came to share. The truth had me fooled, had us all fooled, but I knew with all my heart that it wouldn’t make anything better keeping it in.

“Oliviah Warren! Pleasure to chat with you again!”

I felt my body flinch into itself at his deep, gravelly voice, my heart racing faster than I ever imagined it to. However, with one painful gulp, I plastered on a sweet smile and took his out-stretched hand in front of me.

“Well, the pleasure’s all mine, Officer Brody, but unfortunately I have terrible news for you. You see,” I hesitated, “it seems to me we have found a new suspect, an alleged suspect.”

“Do tell me who, Ms. Warren,” he said, leaning over the table. My heart nearly flipped out my chest when he did that, yet I tried to keep myself from getting flustered.

“Uh, it would appear that Vanessa Green is the ‘alleged’ suspect, sir.”

The room soon fell silent, except for the slow scratching sound of him rubbing his beard. His dark eyes stared into the soul of mine and I shuttered uncomfortably under his scrutiny. However, the silence persisted for a few more seconds.

“You’re saying that my stepdaughter is the person who killed Stacy McEntire in Central Park at 11:47 pm last Wednesday?”

“Yeh-Yes,” I stuttered, “I know it sounds outright crazy, but Vanessa-“

“Is a sweet, beloved little girl and can never do such a thing,” he added, now glaring at me.

“I know she is a trustworthy young woman, but I believe-“

“You believe what,” he slammed his fists on the table.

“I, believe that she’s an astute little girl and that something Stacy said or done to her pushed Vanessa over the edge,. And whatever pushed her over the edge led her to manipulate and threaten Stacy.”

“But not kill her, right,” he asked inquisitively.

“n-no. She killed her. I-I even took the evidence used to kill Stacy to the forensics team yesterday.”

“While I was not on duty?”

“uh, I guess… yeah.”

I watched him close his eyes and pinch the bridge of his nose in anger. Meanwhile, I was trying to compose my damn self. Although, I did know what I was getting myself into.

“and what did they say,” he asked, still pinching the bridge of his nose.

I hesitated for a bit before saying, “it was a match.”

“Alright, it’s time to go, Ms. Waren,” he boomed, jumping out of his seat. The loud and sudden crash of the chair startled me as he stormed towards the door, holding it wide open for me to leave. “Up up! Time to go!”

Trying to stand on my two trembling legs, I hightailed it out of the room, apparently not fast enough as he grabbed ahold of my wrist. And because I could barely walk properly, I nearly fell on top of him.

In my ear, he whispered, “make sure you keep my daughter’s name out your fucking mouth, hmmm? Maybe then we won’t have a problem,” before releasing my hand and pushing me forward. I took no time running out of the police station and hailing for a taxi.