Snow Cover

Chapter 32 Interrogation

Julia's POV

The tension has built in this booth we are taking up. I don't even want to look across the table at John right now. His accusations about Colby have been infuriating me beyond belief. But my stomach is screaming louder than I probably could right now so I am staying to get some food. This was the right idea for someone like me, so whether he was here or not I was going to get something to eat since I stress eat, so I'm excited to get some food.. and to try to be understanding about the situation. I could see why he would think that the killer could be Colby, but he hasn't known him like I have over the constant conversations that never ended for us until they were forced to do so.. I think we could have talked and shared everything all night if given the opportunity.

Colby and I had connected in so many ways that I can honestly say no one else has even come close to that.. and thinking that so many people think he is a monster and that he would do something like this is just boiling my blood. I like John but the urge to smack him and tell him that he doesn't know why he is talking about is too strong hence why I ended the conversation before I got really upset. Every word that seemed to spew from his lips, felt like they were just put out there to make me mad or get under my skin. I hope not but maybe that was the plan.

But I thought he liked me and if he really did then you would think he wouldn't want to make me mad like he has.. but he just kept continuing on.. by what he was saying I would like to think he was trying to make me feel better.. but it didn't work and made me feel worse. I bite the inside of my cheek trying to hold back the anger that has built up as I feel his hand draping over mine once again. The warmth is nice but I have the strong urge to pull my hand away.

I look up to meet his gaze seeing his eyes have a sadness in them looking as if he feels bad. His hands tenderly touch over mine just showing he feels bad and wants to help me feel better. Or that's what I would assume. "Julia?" He softly asks for my attention and I give it by looking his way. "I just wanted to say sorry. I wasn't trying to upset you with my words.. That Colby guy did seem nice.. but that doesn't mean he didn't do this. I know when you like someone you only want to see the best within them but everyone has dark underneath the goodness. It's hard to believe but everyone has it." He says this to me and I understand what he is saying so I nod as I feel his gentle hands continuing to caress over mine.

"I understand what you're saying.. but he.. and I.. I just.. ugh.. I don't know." I get frustrated wanting to explain things to him, but I know that it will hurt him and I don't want that. "I understand baby.. I do.. and I'm sorry you even had to do any of that and get involved.. You didn't deserve that.. But maybe we can turn that frown upside down and take our minds off of things while getting our stresses out." He declares as I glance back up to him, just to notice a smile emerging on his face.

"Like what?" I ask just knowing if he mentions s*x that I am going to be pissed about it.. I'm just hoping he is smart enough not to suggest that but something else.. But I have a feeling that s*x is something that he wants since that is the type of relationship we have had so far.. Fun and stress relieving s*x.. But I don't want that, at least not right now. "Like I was thinking of trying something fun for the both of us that we could do together. Creating something for us to bond with like I had told you I would try to do." he says this sweetly, making a small smile emerge on my lips.

"Like what?" I ask again feeling better about the situation because he is saying that this is something we haven't done yet. "I was thinking we could try to go snowboarding or skiing.. Whatever you want to try because I have done both. I would be willing to bet money that it would help take our stresses out in a productive and healthy manner, and that's something I think that we both need." He suggests to me as I think about just that.. and he is right, I do need to take my stress out somewhere, so I guess why not. "Ok.. that sounds fun, so after were done eating let's try it." I state as he smiles and nods. "Sounds like a fun plan." I match his smile even though it's forced at the moment. I just hope that this does help me out like it has for him.

Colby's POV

I sit in the interrogation room by myself, with only a table and extra chair to keep me company. The room is plain since everything is the same color, even the door is the same old gray.. but it looks like it was made with cement bricks, making me scared about being here, this is never what I expected for myself..ever. It's so incredibly cold in this room that I am happy I have my jacket as I cross my arms before looking over at the large plate of glass taking up most of the wall beside me. I feel as if I am being stared at and, since I can't see through the glass myself, I am assuming someone is on the other side just staring at me.

The door swings open, gaining my attention since it startled me, causing me to jump. I had been sitting in here by myself for a while and never knew when they were going to come in a talk with me. The two police officer's come in quickly as if they are a mission with a fire under their asses. One stands behind me as the other takes the seat in front of me. Quickly flipping the chair around as the feet bang onto the hard tile floor. Causing the movement to echo in this small room.

The officer stares over at me intently as if he is trying to read my mind or see straight to my soul, making me even more nervous. "So Mr. Stern, what can you tell us about last night?" he asked me as if I hadn't already given him this same answer before. "Nothing exciting or out of the ordinary. I was making drinks all night, and talked with my guests. When everyone had left for the night, I went outside to have a smoke break before coming in and cleaning up.. Contrary to popular belief, nothing insane happened.. When I was done closing I left, alone, and went back to my place.. I don't know what else you want me to say." I declare with frustration wrapped between all of my words, trying to convey how frustrating all of this has been for me, someone who is innocent.

"You failed to mention the woman you were screaming to as we were arresting you." He declares as I start shaking my head. "I don't know what you're talking about." I spat as he chuckles then states. "The name Julia doesn't ring a bell for you.. I guess we will just have to bring her in then and make sure that is true then." I vigorously shook my head. "No please don't.. I know who you are talking about.. But.. Julia has nothing to do with any of this.. don't bring her into this please." I try to not get into too much detail when it comes to her, because she doesn't deserve to be involved.

"Well, we already talked with her if you needed to know.. What do you think she told us?" he asks me as I shrug my shoulders. "I don't think she would have much to say." I declare honestly because it's not like she knew Samantha. "Well, we found out that you talked all night and had a connection, so you don't think she would have something to say about last night and your whereabouts?" I shake my head again. "Yes we hung out most of the night.. But she left after we finished smoking and that's when I went back into the restaurant to close up.. She was long gone before anything horrific happened." I explained as best as I could.

"How would you know she was long gone before anything horrific happened? Do you have the time for when this crime was committed... because that would help a lot if you told us the exact details of when you did this to Samantha." he spats right back at me, making me mad beyond belief. " I cross my arms even tighter across my chest as I try to push my chair out from the table but the officer behind me takes the back of the chair and pushes me back to where I was at but even closer with the table touching my stomach.

"I know that it was a while after because I cleaned the place for hours with Samantha in the same room.. alive and well.. I left her there and I don't know where she went after or even when she left.. Why don't you check the cameras that are inside and on every corner of the restaurant? That would show that I am innocent." I declared as they look mad at that reaction. "Don't you think that we would have done that already if we could've? But sorry to tell ya, the cameras are not real.. They look real.. But there is nothing it can give us to help." the police officer declared from behind me as I glanced back at him, then back to the officer in front of me.

"Those cameras are fake? I wouldn't have guessed.. That sucks for me though.. But I will do whatever it takes to get you guys off of my back.. I know that I look like the description given for the killer, but I am not him." I state as he forces out a fake laugh practically in my face. "It's not you and yet you knew it was a man doing the killings before it was even released to the public.. Strange coincidence don't you think?" he asks as I shake my head. "No.. I could have sworn that I heard it was a male during the last news report of the killing before this one.. but I was wrong I guess." I say this with so much annoyance, knowing where they got this information from.

"And yet you knew that this town was going to be the next destination?" He says this sounding like it is a question, but with the certainty in his eyes he thinks he has me backed into a corner. "I don't know what information you think you got from Julia, but I will tell you the same thing that I told her because you're taking her words out of context. I told her that no killings had happened here in our little town.. yet, because there is always a possibility of something happening, especially with everything going on at the other ski resorts.. So that means that this resort could be next on the list for destinations because nothing had happened here yet.. Stop trying to turn her words against me. I didn't do this, and I think she knows that I didn't do it." I declared sternly before pushing myself back from the table but only by a couple of inches since the officer is still right behind me.

"You're right.. she doesn't think you did it.. But it doesn't matter what she thinks.. it matters what the evidence says.. And we have a lot of DNA from the r*pe and assault.. So what are we going to do about that?" he asks as I shake my head, not knowing what to say because this is their job, not mine, but they are waiting for my response, so I blurt out. "I can do whatever it takes to prove that I am innocent. I can give you my DNA and fingerprints if that would help. But I have had nothing to do the r*pe or murder.. I haven't even had s*x in years! I wasn't even interested in Samantha in that way. I don't know what else you want from me."

They looked back and forth between one another before they nodded and stood up. I huff out trying to be as helpful as possible about this frustrating situation, because there is no way I am going to get stuck with this crime. I am going to do everything in my power to get me out of here.. After what feels like forever, I have provided a DNA sample, fingerprints and told them I would willingly take a polygraph test if they wanted me to and sign an affidavit if they needed me to.. whatever it took to get me out of this place.

After a couple of hours of keeping me here, they are told that they don't have anything to keep me so I am let out.. Apparently the DNA doesn't match as I knew it wouldn't and the fingerprints found are from me working and nothing to do with the crime scene, at least that they can tell.. they did a polygraph but since it showed I didn't lie, they have said that psychopaths knows how to fool the machine, so it sounds like they don't believe me yet, but I don't care as long as they let me out of that place.