Sold to the shadows

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 2

“I'm telling you he was already dead when I got there,” I said through my gritted teeth. The dim light in the interrogation room was flickering, giving it an eerie look. The cuffs were starting to bruise my wrists from being on me for too long.

“We're cops…” a man in his late forties spoke, looking again at my file. “Emily… we look at facts. And the facts are you were the only one in the house before we received that call.” He closed the file and placed his hands on the table. “Let's start from the beginning. And remember… lying to an officer is a crime.” I gulped visibly.

He sat down in the chair opposite me. “Were you intoxicated before the time of the murder?”

“What does that have to do with anything?” I asked, squinting my eyes.

“Just answer the question.”

I pursed my lips, shifting in the plastic chair before answering, “Yes,” I finally answered.

The lady beside him scribbled in her notebook before giving the officer a curt nod. Her unsettling silence sent a wave of discomfort through my body.

“And is it possible that you don't remember what exactly happened that night?” His suggestive voice infuriated me. He was prodding me.

“No.” My tone was sharp, laced with conviction. “No, Jake and I left the party after we had a few shots. We took a lift to the house, and then I heard a sound. That's when I rushed downstairs to see him…” My voice faltered. “Dead.”

“And what about the bruises on your lips and wrist? It looks like that was done by a man.” I flinched, bringing the hand that wasn't bound to the table to my lips.

“We were making out, and things got a little… heated.” I paused and looked at the officer, who had a blank expression. “But he stopped before things got out of hand,” I said hurriedly, before they would misunderstand the situation.

He hummed in response, “So he forced himself on you?” He looked at the lady, then back at me, stroking his beard.

“What? No!” My eyes widened, my voice rising. “I didn’t say that!”

He exchanged a glance with the woman, who arched a brow but said nothing. “That sounds like a motive to hurt someone,” he said, ignoring my protest, then let out a sigh, scratching his messy hair. “What about the murder weapon? It had your DNA all over it?”

“That's because I pulled it out and tried to stop the bleeding,” I said, my tone edgy.

“It's strange… there was no trace of any other person in the house, no DNA, no forced entry, nothing,” he murmured mostly to himself, with his brows knitted.

“Think. Think, Emily. At this rate, you'll be dead meat. No one was in the house except me, Jake, and… What… what about the girl that called you guys? Jessie?”

“She said she saw you,” he replied, leaning back in his chair. “With a knife. Over a dead man.”

My stomach dropped, and I sucked in a breath. “So you see why I'm finding it a little hard to believe you,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest. “There's motive, a murder weapon, and a witness,” he added, counting the odds against me on his fingers.

“I didn't kill Jake,” I said, emphasizing every word.

“Well… unless you have a solid alibi, there's nothing I can do. You'll be detained until your trial,” he said as he stood up from his chair, the lady mirroring his movement, then shoved his hands into his pockets. “I suggest you start looking for a good lawyer.” He knocked twice on the door before it opened, and they left me bewildered.

A few minutes passed, and a new set of officers entered. But they didn't bother holding a conversation as they hoisted me up.

“Wh-what’s happening?” I inquired, but they just led me out of the room. They took me to a cell, uncuffing me before leaving.

This couldn't be happening. It wasn't real. I had just lost the man I loved most in the world and was arrested for his murder? The cops didn't even want to listen to reason. They were just building a case against me instead of doing a proper investigation.

I turned on the small bed facing the wall. This isn't real. I needed to speak with Jack and Linda, Jake's parents; they'll know this wasn't me. I needed a good lawyer to defend me. I could only imagine what they must be going through right now—the trauma of losing someone so dear.

My heart ached at the thought of their grief. I needed to be with them, not locked up in a cell.

My thoughts raced in my mind for a long time until I drifted into sleep.

The clanging of the cell bars drew me back to consciousness. My eyes fluttered open, and I balanced myself on my elbows on the bed.

“You have a visitor,” the guard said before opening the bars and restraining my wrists once again.

I knew it was Jake's parents. No one else in this world cared enough to see me. I was glad they were here.

We walked to the visiting area, and I saw Linda. She looked pale; the dark circles under her eyes made her look older than she was, and Jack had his arms around her. Her eyes fell on me, and her face turned in disgust.

Hurt and confusion pierced me like a dagger. Why did she have that look on her face? Surely she didn't believe I did this… did she?

“You!” she screamed. Her voice was cracked… probably from all the crying. “You took my baby away from me!” She stood up and closed the distance between us.

I was still trying to process what was happening when the force of the slap across my face turned it sideways. I just stood there, dumbfounded, my feet glued to the ground.

“We took you in, cared for you. We… we loved you like our own!” Her voice echoed violently across the space. “And this! This is how you repay us?!” Her voice was breaking with every word she spoke.

I shook my head and opened my mouth to speak, but another slap was planted. “Shut up!” And another one. “Shut up! Shut up!” And another one. The assault rained down until blood trickled down, leaving spots on the floor.

From the corner of my eye, I saw the guards intentionally look away. “I don't want to hear any of your conceited lies!!”

“You took Jake away from me. My baby boy.” She finally broke down, and her husband was there to stop her from falling to the ground.

Her cries sent pain to my core. She really thought I did this. I loved Jake more than anyone.

“Pl-please… I didn't… I didn't.” My pleas were cut off this time by Jack.

“Stop it, Emily.” The venom in his voice broke my heart. “The police already showed us your file.” He said, his avoidant eyes roaming. “We'll make sure you get what you deserve.”

“I'll make you pay for this, you wench. I'll make your life a living hell!” Linda screamed as Jack pulled her to her feet and out of the visiting area.

I dug my fingers into my palm till my fists turned white, biting back the pain of betrayal. How could they think I killed Jake? I didn't do this.