The murmurs shifted to a crescendo as I was handcuffed and escorted into a patrol car. The officer’s grip on my arm was firm, his fingers digging into my skin as though he feared I’d slip away.
***
The interrogation room was cold, the lights casting harsh shadows on the concrete walls. I sat slumped in the metal chair, my wrists bound tightly, the handcuffs biting into my skin. The air smelled faintly of sweat and the faint hum of a ceiling fan did little to break the suffocating tension.
Across the table, the captain leaned forward, his dark eyes boring into mine. “Do you think this is a game?” he hissed, his voice low but cutting. “What was your motive? Why did you do it?”
A sharp pain twisted in my abdomen, sharp enough to make me wince. My body curled reflexively and cold sweat drenched my back. I tried to steady my breathing, but each inhale came in shallow, shaky gasps.
The officer’s glare hardened. “Don’t even think about playing sick,” he growled. “We’ve seen that trick too many times. Answer me!”
A weak smile tugged at my lips, though it felt more like a grimace. “Do I need a motive to kill?” I rasped, my voice strained but steady. “If you want an explanation, I can give you one—but I want to see my brother first.”
The younger officer standing in the corner bristled, his temper flaring. “Who do you think you are?” he snapped, slamming his hands on the table. “You’re in no position to make demands! We’ll get the truth out of you, whether you like it or not!”
Just as his outburst filled the room, a knock at the door interrupted him. Another officer entered, a thick file clutched in his hands. He whispered something to the captain, whose stern expression shifted into something more solemn as he read the report.
“Her parents died years ago,” he muttered, his voice low enough that I could barely hear. “She was adopted by the Collins. No records of conflict. But something feels... off.”
He exchanged a glance with his colleague, then straightened up, addressing the room. “We’ll follow her request,” he declared reluctantly. “Let's go to the hospital, maybe her brother knows something.”
***
As the officers filed out, their glares burned into me, each step echoing with unspoken accusations. Left alone in the cold, sterile room, the pain in my abdomen intensified. My body shook uncontrollably, tears mingling with the sweat that dampened my face.