“Ms. Banta. I am here to ask you about father’s murder.”

“Murder?” I ask.

“Yes. The department believes that your father was murdered.”

I stare at her.

Mom isn’t looking at me.

“Why do you think that?”

~6 YEARS AGO~

“Why do you think that?” Dad would ask when I was about 11 years old.

“Well, if you take away the bear then you only have the elephant!” I said expecting him to agree.

“But you still have the tiger. And the giraffe.”

I slumped in disappointment.

“I’ll never get it!”

“But if you take away the giraffe then what are you left with?”

“But the giraffe is behind the elephant!”

“Then we’ll have to take away the elephant too.”

Then it made sense.

~PRESENT DAY~

“Because he had a drug induced stroke in the middle of the road. Then he was hit by a car. And the driver fled. All point to foul play.”

I nod along.

“And do you think I have something to do with it? You think I murdered the only person that made me feel loved? Yeah, I definitely did it.”

“Jennifer…” mom says in a serous voice.

The officer looks taken aback.

“I wasn’t going to accuse you of anything. But we would like you to come down to the station for questioning.”

I glance at mom.

She rises to her feet.

“She isn’t allowed to. And since she is a minor, and I’m her legal guardian, she is not allowed to go with you.”

“Of course, we need permission from you and her stepfather. But you are welcome to come with her.”

I step forward.

“I would like to know what happened to dad. Please mom.”

Mom sighs in frustration.

“Fine. But I will sit in on the questions.” She finally says.

“Thank you ma’am.” The officer says.

I ride with mom to the station.

~4 YEARS AGO~

“Jennifer! Do you have anything to say for yourself?!” Dad shouted.

It was the only time I had ever seen him truly angry.

Mom was just staring at him with concern.

“Tim… I am sure it was an accident.”

“But it wasn’t. Was it Jennifer?” He asked with an eyebrow raised.

I had TPed the principal’s house.

I was at the police station getting yelled at.

The principal wasn’t even mad. She was thought it was the funniest thing ever.

But dad didn’t.

I didn’t even get a suspension!

That was the only time I was grounded for 7 months.

I didn’t feel bad though. The principal had told a teacher to give me an F.

That affected my whole grade.

And the principal thought it was reasonable pay back.

~PRESENT DAY~

At the station, mom followed my every step.

The officer took me to a dim room with a chair and a couch.

She sat on the couch beside me, leaving mom to sit in the chair.

“We are going to do a cognitive interview. I need you to close your eyes. Think back to that morning he died.”

I follow her instructions.

As my eyes close I think to that day.

(For this part, go read pt.1)

“And then what happened? You and your father got home?”

“My mom helped me with homework then that evening me and my dad went jogging again.”

Mom’s face is strained.

“That’s enough.” She says.

“What?” I ask, louder than I should have.

The officer glances at the door.

The chief and a Naval officer are standing behind it.

“Mrs. Charleston and her daughter.” The chief says.

The Naval officer nods.

“Mrs. Charleston, your late husband was an undercover officer who was investigating your new husband Bob. And you.”

Mom’s mouth drops open.

THE END