Secrets & Deception: A Billionaire's Contract

Chapter Three- Simone

The atmosphere of the police station was fast-paced, I noticed as I walked into the New Jersey Police Department. Fast-paced mixed with a focus on efficiency and professionalism. I had tied a long scarf around my head and wore a pair of dark shades to avoid being recognized by anyone. I wasn’t really popular as I had just been a supporting actress in my previous movies, but I couldn’t take the chances. I was now in the lobby or reception area and I walked to the receptionist at the front desk.

“Good morning, I'm Simone Miller, and I'm here to see um... detective Karl.” My heart still raced, but I did my best to maintain my cool.

The receptionist, a woman in her late thirties, looked up at me. Her face, unfriendly and strict, just like how the atmosphere had greeted me. She had a thick mass of black curly hair that looked as if it harbored a lot of tiny creatures. Her big eyes didn't help matters either. The only thing I could proudly say was beautiful. Of all the features on her face, was her mouth, which housed a perfect set of white dentition. Other than that, her whole face and looks hardly caught my attention.

“Go in through that gate and ask the man in a white shirt staff there to direct you to his desk,” she said.

I turned round and made my way to the gate, and went into the main part of the station. The hub of activities that hit me was uninviting; Officers at desks working on computers, some filling out reports or handling paperwork. Then there was the Dispatch center with emergency call takers and dispatchers answering calls, coordinating responses and communicating with officers. The sound of radios, phones ringing and the hum of computers in the background.

After following directions, I made it to detective Karl's desk. And the man I saw was not what I had expected. He was a middle-aged man with graying black hair, his face was welcoming, though.

“Miss Miller?” he asked.

I nodded. “Yes, Grace Miller's sister. Detective, I know my sister is innocent. She…”

“Hold your horses, young lady. Have a seat first,” he said.

I plastered my bum on the chair and stared at him.

“I called you here to talk to you. You are not exempted from the case and our investigations. Since you and the suspect have a close relationship, Miss Simone Miller, you too are under investigation and the phone call was just a polite invitation to our station.”

I swallowed hard. “What do you mean? I don't know anything about the murder. I...” I took a deep breath. “Can I at least see her first?”

He nodded, and got up. “Come with me.” He then led me to the interrogation room. The room had a stiffer and colder atmosphere than the reception. There was a metal table at the center of the room and three chairs with a pair on one side and one on the other. I took a seat on one of the pair and waited patiently. My hands were sweating and slippery.

The door opened, and I watched as a young lady in cuffs walked in. Grace Miller was brought into the room. She was a slim, sweet and charming teenager with gentle curves and beauty that seemed to radiate from within. Her long, curly brown hair frames her heart-shaped face, and her bright green eyes sparkled. Her smile was usually warm and inviting. Only now wasn't she smiling. And her gentle beauty was replaced with an angry, deserted face.

“Grace...” I called, tears threatening to spill out from my eyes, but I held them back. Crying wasn't my thing anymore.

Grace sat on the bench opposite the one I was seated on. We were divided by the long table in the middle that was so wide, that even if we stretched our hands to grasp each other they wouldn't reach.

“So? This is the best my life has to offer. I'm just eighteen, and I get arrested for murder?”

The presence of the detective in the room made our discussion awkward. “Shh don't say that, please. What was your relationship with the victim? Why were you arrested as a prime suspect?”

Grace grinned. “Why ask that? Or you don't believe I'm innocent?” Grace said, in sudden anger.

“No, I do trust you. Listen, being strong-headed wouldn't work out. I'm affected, my work, me. I am affected Grace. It seems I am also under investigation by the police, and that restricts my freedom. Our name, Grace, and our family's background is also affected. Think about dad, how would he feel when he realizes one of his daughters is a suspect of murder?” I said.

Grace banged the table hard. “Don't you dare talk like you're any better! I've lived my whole life as an imperfect daughter and that has caused a lot of mishaps in my life! You caused it, always making me feel less important! I.. I wanted a bit of freedom from the inconvenient life I led, and I met Jack, but I don't know how… I would never have thought he would be killed...” She sniffed away her tears.

I swallowed hard and blinked back the tears that had crowded my eyes. “No one was trying to be an inconvenience to you, Grace. You chose to live elsewhere, away from me. I didn't stop you. All I've … we have ever wanted for you was the best and genuine happiness. You never seemed to realize that, uh?”

“You both have got only a minute left.” the detective said, interrupting.

I stretched my hand across the table, even though I knew I would not be able to touch hers. Her face expressed nothing. “I swear, I'll do all I can to get you out of here.” I said and got up clutching my handbag.

“What about … dad? Is he alright?” Grace asked before I stepped out.

I hadn't told Grace about our father's health and I didn't plan on doing so. “He is alright, perfectly alright.”

Grace smiled. “Please, don't tell him about this,” she said. “At least not yet.”

I nodded. “I won't.”

“I would like us to talk in a separate room, miss,” the detective said, walking up to me.

I wasn’t sure why he needed to speak with me. Why was I even remotely considered as a probability to aid and abet such a crime? I didn’t even know this boyfriend of Grace’s even existed. But whatever reason it was, I was going to hear it now as I walked behind the detective.