Chapter 4
1256 Words
Chapter 4
Outside the hotel was crowded. The flashing lights from cars and those from photographers and reporters outside the hotel were all waiting for me to come out.
They all threw different questions at me
“Miss Nessa, why did you kill Mr Bradford?”
“Miss Whitlock Were you having an affair with the victim?”
“Miss Whitlock what do you have to say?”
“Nessa Whitlock please look at the camera.”
The flash from the camera made me cover my face in shame. Soon my face will be in the headlines and I’ll be labeled a murderer.
I lowered my face as the police men guided me towards their vehicle. The pain in my chest was nothing compared to the handcuffs on my wrists
“I didn’t do it,” I whispered but nobody was listening.
As the vehicle moved away, I took one last look at the hotel entrance where Damien and Tessa stood. I watched as Tessa leaned against Damien and he didn’t decline.
My heart broke into tiny pieces.
I closed my eyes slowly letting the tears fall.
I had lost count of how many hours I had been in the dark interrogation room. Tight walls, two chairs, and a single camera fixed on me watching my every move. All I did was let the tears fall freely from my eyes.
Soon a detective came in with a thick brown envelope. He placed it on the table.
“I’m Detective Noel.” He said as he opened the files in the envelope.
“Let’s make this easy, Miss Whitlock.”
“I didn’t kill him.” He ignored me and continued flipping through the files.
“What is your relationship with the victim Bradford?”
“I don’t know him.”
“Never met him?”
“No I haven’t.”
He brought out several photographs of Bradford's lifeless body and slid them across the table. The bed soaked with blood, the knife, my dress soaked with blood.
I looked away unable to look at the pictures.
“Look.” He said
“I can’t.”
“Yes, you can.” He said and I forced myself to look. I had to look anyway.
“Your fingerprints were on the weapon.” He said.
“I woke up holding it,” I replied
“That’s convenient.”
“I was drugged.” I managed to say.
“And can you prove that?” He asked
I became silent because I couldn’t prove it.
He brought the picture of my stained dress.
“The victim's blood on your dress how do you explain it?”
“I have no idea how it got there, I already told you I was drunk.”
“You were alone with the victim in the room.”
“I wasn’t alone…Tessa brought me into the room.”
He flipped another page of the files.
“Miss Tessa said she left the restaurant while you chose to stay in the hotel room.”
My eyes widened.
“That's a lie, Tessa took me upstairs.”
“She said she didn’t and so did the waiter who attended to you two.”
Tears filled my eyes.
“Please I’m telling the truth, you have to believe me.”
“That will be all for now,” he said and with that he left.
Hours later, the door clicked open and Dad came in. I stood up immediately relieved.
“Dad.”
I rushed towards him but the handcuffs stopped me and I remembered I was still wearing the handcuffs.
“You came, Dad. I knew you wouldn’t leave me.” Mr Whitlock remained silent.
“Dad, you know I didn’t do this, I’m innocent,” I said but he only stared at me for a few more seconds before he spoke
“You’ve embarrassed this family.”
“What? Dad, I didn’t do it.” I cried.
“The Whitlock name is on every news channel and social media platform, our company stocks have already dropped by 40%, our partners cancelled their partnership.”
“Dad please I didn’t kill him, I know you can get me out of here, you have the power to get me out. Dad, you can find out what really happened right?”
“I never knew you could be this cruel.” He said.
“Dad…I…didn’t…do it.”
“Nessa.” He called with a cold voice and adjusted his suit.
“If you commit a crime then you must face the consequences.”
I froze on the spot.
“Dad….I didn’t…. I’m your daughter.”
He looked directly in my eyes with no affection but with disappointment.
“I only have one daughter and she would never disgrace this family.” The words hit really hard.
“Tessa?”
“I have nothing more to say to you.” With that, he left
“Dad,” I called as I struggled with the handcuffs.
“Dad…you know I didn’t do it.” He shut the door without even giving me one look.
About two hours later towards evening I was told about another visitor. Minutes later I heard the sound of heels clicking on the ground. I immediately knew who it was. Eleanor Whitlock, my mother.
She appeared as elegant as always. She removed her sunglasses and dropped her bag on the table.
“Nessa.”
“Mom,” I called with a cracked voice but she remained silent just like Dad.
“Mom I know I have made lots of mistakes but I swear I didn’t kill anyone.” Mom slowly bent and I saw the redness in her eyes. For a moment I thought she was crying for me.
“Shut up!” My mom snapped at me venomously, “.. aren't you even embarrassed about how you have humiliated this family? It’s all over the news that we had a child who could not keep herself, a lecherous man threw herself at the first man who gave her some attention, don’t you have some shame? And to think you murdered him in cold blood. I warned you, Nessa. You’ve always been reckless and I never would have imagined that you’d become a murderer.”
The world seemed to stop moving.
“Mom I didn’t do it why won’t anyone believe me?” I screamed
“Because you’ve always been mischievous, maybe this time you’ll learn the hard way. Perhaps prison will teach you a better lesson.” Mom stated with no emotion in her voice.
“Mom…?”
My heart shattered
“Why do you despise me this much? I’ve lived all my life trying to make you love me. I studied hard, I did everything you’ve ever wanted without complaints. I became the daughter you always wanted…I…I…kept waiting…for you to look at me like I mattered.” Tears rolled down my cheek.”
“But it doesn’t matter what I did I was never enough.”
“Just why, Mom…why do you hate me so much?”
For a few seconds I saw the guilt in her eyes and then they vanished completely.
She carried her bag from the table
“Take care of yourself, Nessa.” And with that she left.
“Mom…I didn’t do it.”
She stopped at the door
“But the evidence says otherwise.” Then she adjusted her dress and she left. I was all alone again.
More tears bubbled in my eyes and my words choked.
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