Snow Cover

Chapter 31 Just Being Honest

Julia's POV

I don't like all the prying eyes of people around me, but I don't want to have to get a ride to the police station to do the questioning, so I will just answer the questions and hope that not everyone will be in my business. I feel the police officer's eyes boring into my head, but I hate being stared at, and I want to say something about his eyes that won't leave my face alone, but I know I can't. I huff out trying to not get frustrated with this situation since it is making me incredibly uncomfortable. The fight then flight within me wants to ignite but I have to resist before I get myself into trouble.

The loud clearing of the officer's throat gets my full attention as I wait for whatever he has to ask. "So if you were JUST a customer, as you claim. Then why would he be so incredibly concerned about you knowing that he didn't do this?" he asks me, as if I am part of the problem or situation, which I know I am not, but he doesn't. There was too much accusation in his tone for my liking, making me irritated at the comment.

I let out a deep breath before I heard John scoff out loud beside me, then say under his breath, "Because he obviously liked her." he says this in a tone that sounds like jealousy, which I guess doesn't surprise me in this situation. But when we had previously talked about this, he said that he understood the situation. But with how he is acting, I would say he doesn't understand, since he has been making these little comments under his breath about it in front of me and the police officer.

"Well, yeah." I said, looking at John again, almost feeling bad, but I can't do anything about how I feel, let alone how Colby feels, and I am trying to be honest and upfront with the officer. I watched the police officer's eyes look over my features, so I think he saw this guilty look on my face as I continued my thoughts. "Honestly, Colby and I had connected while talking last night.. So much so that I stayed all night chatting with him and drinking. He said he felt the connection between us too, and I think that is why." I say as he nods and writing something down.

"Was there anything that was said or done, that now thinking about it, could have been a clue to him doing this heinous crime?" he asks me as I swallow again, not knowing if I should mention the things that were coincidences or not. I don't want to be a snitch, especially to Colby of all people.. But at the same time, I want to help this woman get the closure her and her family need from her unexpected passing. "Ok.. Fine.. But for the record, I don't think he did that.. But I know that my opinion doesn't matter, only the facts do.. So.. uh.. there was a couple small things that happened.. That could have meant something or nothing at all.. I just thought it was weird." I say as he stares at me intently.

"Yes? And?" he says, trying to get me to continue on, I huff out before adding. "He made a comment when I was asking about how safe it was here, when talking about possibly wanting to move here because I loved it so far.. He said that the killings haven't happened here yet.. But that this place could be the next destination." I said feeling bad right as the words left my mouth.. But maybe it could help. "And?" he asks I think, seeing that there is something else that is on the tip of my tongue.

I let out a wavering breath feeling forced about having to respond, but I just want to help. "And.. He said that it was a man doing the killing and I told him it wasn't determined yet if it was a man or a woman, but he said that he thought it had been determined. When that information actually had not been released until this morning. I just thought it was a little weird that he knew it was a man before it was even announced that it was a man.. That's all, but he said he thought he heard it and that could be true.. and these could all be coincidences. But that's all, nothing more." I say to him as he nods with my comment. "Maybe something.. but maybe not."

"Anything else that you know about the night or him stick out? For example, I would like to know how long were you there? Did you maybe see any other men there that met the description besides Mr. Stern to help us look into someone else? Anything that could help him?" he asks me as I let out another forced breath, just wanting to calm down my nervous heart, when it comes to this interrogation, but it is not happening no matter how hard I try.

"Like I said before, I hung out for a very long time.. All night actually, I would say I was there for a good five to six hours.. And no, I didn't see any other men that matched that description.. But when I saw that everyone was leaving the restaurant for the night, I closed out my tab then went outside to smoke.. and he came out and joined me.. Once we were done, Samantha came out and asked him to give her the keys, so they could lock up before anyone else came back in, and he did just that.. He left me and went in.. That was the last thing I saw because I went back to my room.. And heard about everything this morning when I woke up and got ready." I declare as he continues to nod and write down on his note pad.

"Ok Ma'am.. May I please get your information just in case if I have any further questions?" He asks as I nod and quickly give him everything he would need as he hands me his card with the police information on it. "If you think of anything else that might help out then give me a call." I nod looking down at the card before shoving it into my pocket as I watch him walk away.

I turn around and walk away from the scene, not wanting to be there any longer.. I got the information I needed and was involved way more than I would have liked to be. I wish there was something I could do for Colby. It is sad, but what if it was him? Then this would be a good thing, right? I don't know, it's weird because no matter how much evidence is against him, I'm not sure if I would believe he could do this. This was just hateful and not like something I think an incredibly sweet man like him could do, even on his worst day. But who knows?

My pace quickens as I try to get away from that area as fast as I can without running or looking like I am in a panic, since the police are still right behind me. I don't want to run away from the police after they were just questioning me because I'm sure that it would compromise me as a person, making me look completely suspicious. I don't want that, so I just keep going. My ears seemed to be ringing from all the loud people that had surrounded us. So, the further I get away, the more the ringing in my ears is apparent.

I get around the side of the building as I hear John from behind me. "Hey Julia, that was all.. exhausting.. I need something to eat.. You want to go get some food with me?" He asks as I send him a small smile before nodding to silently answer his question, since I don't want to say much more than that at the moment. He takes my hand into his before turning around and pulling me as if I was incredibly slow, when in all actuality his pace has quickened. Maybe he was just as ready as I was about getting out of this uncomfortable area.

I am hoping that the cool and fresh mountain air will calm me, but since it hasn't started yet, after I left that crowded area, I don't know if it will happen for me. I practically jog behind John as he leads us to a restaurant that is adjacent from the hotel. We enter the little hole in the wall bar and grill as we seat ourselves in a booth away from the others. Which is probably good because after that I don't want to be around anyone else. I barely want to be around John.

As I sit here for a silent moment, all I can seem to think about is Colby, hoping that he is going to be ok. I hate that he is being accused of this, so I can't stop hoping and silently praying that the killer is not him. Because I have always believed my body when it comes to people and it told me that Colby was a good person. But at the same time, I have seen many crime shows and I know that the killer in a lot of these kinds of situations, is very charismatic and very persuasive when it comes to people. So maybe I was just fooled. But I hope not.

"Are you ok?" I hear from opposite of me as I realize I have just been staring at my hands that are nervously fidgeting for who knows how long. "Uh.. Yeah.. I'm ok." I say to him as he nods, but it doesn't look like he believes me, which I don't blame him. His eyes continue to bore into my head as I try to avoid his gaze. "Just tell me what is on your mind.. I am worried about you.. Is this stemming from seeing that horrific scene? Because I told you that this is what I was worried about most." He says as I let out a deep breath.

I knew an 'I told you so' was in the works after everything that had happened. I huff out hating that he was right, but I needed to do that for the sanity of my mind that was screaming at me to get out there.. and who knows maybe I helped.. I just hope not because if I helped that means I probably helped put Colby behind bars and I wouldn't have wanted that. I looked over at John, feeling the irritation build at his comment as I try to not lash out but I need to say something.

"I know you warned me but I had to go see that for myself.. and yes that was traumatizing for me but..." I say not knowing if I should finish that sentence. "But what?" He insists of me as I shake my head, before his hand reaches across the table to cover over my still fidgeting hands, gaining all my attention as he asks. "But what?" I look from our hands then back to his eyes that are begging for more information. But I don't want to say it because I know he won't like the answer I will provide.

I let out the nervous breath I was holding in as I softly say, as if I am ashamed about this, and maybe I am. "But I can't stop thinking and worrying about Colby." He stares at me as his hand starts rubbing over the top of mine before he replies by stating, "You can't control what people do.. and it's sad what he has done, but you can't blame yourself for it. You couldn't have stopped him even if you wanted too. Psychopaths are not anything to mess with.. I'm just happy he didn't choose you to do that to."

This comment makes me mad. I don't think this is the person that Colby is, and I hate that he thinks this. "He is not a psychopath.. I don't think he did it." I say softly but in his defense. "Well, everyone else thinks he did it, so it seems that what you think doesn't matter at the moment, and I am sorry about that. Because I understand, I wish that people I knew and cared for didn't make the mistakes that they did to bring them to where they were now.. But you can't change the past.. I'm just happy that he chose that other girl over you, I truly am." he says this too nonchalantly, irritating me as the words spill from his lips.

"Yes, I wouldn't have wanted to be chosen either by whomever did this.. But I don't think he did this.. now can we please drop it?" I ask with the annoyance of this conversation shining through like a blinding light. He stares over at me for a moment as I watch his jaw clench before he swallows, then nods reluctantly. I don't know why there is the reluctance, if it is because I am defending Colby, who he thinks is a killer, or if he is the type of person who is insistent on arguing because he has to get the last word or always be perceived as right.. I'm not sure, but I just want to drop this before this becomes a real argument.