The Interrogations

JOSH sat down with a huge scowl on his face. He was beyond frustrated. He just got the news that his girlfriend was found dead, murdered, and the first thing was to call him in for interrogation because he was the last person to see her.

When Robin had called him, he was sad but when he found the police at his door, he became outraged, he wasn't living with his parents so they hadn't witnessed it.

He arrived and refused to say anything till his lawyer whom he called arrived. Sheriff Robin tried explaining but Josh stood his ground.

"Josh, it's simple.", Robin started, explaining for the fourth time. "You just have to tell me what.....", but he was cut off by someone's loud voice.

"My client is innocent until proven guilty. I repeat innocent until.....Ah, Sheriff, nice to see you.", Adam said coming to a halt in Robin's office.

Adam Flint was the lawyer of the mayor's family, whoever it was. And as Josh's father was the mayor, he was also Josh's lawyer. Adam had studied at a prestigious university and came back years after he finished.

Rumour had it that he had hit rock bottom and came here to salvage what little the town had to offer. It was a pathetic story and took a while for him to strike the deal to be the mayor's lawyer, whoever it was. So he was someone who worked solely for whoever was in position and he was a crooked man.

"I have not pressed any charges on your client. I just want to take his statement in case he can lead us to a suspect. Just like someone's statement made me bring him in for questioning.", he said.

"And what did that person say that made you suspect my client and how sure are you the person was truthful?", Adam asked and Robin started feeling irritated.

"Adam, I am not interrogating you.", Robin said.

"No you're not, but you're interrogating my client and for that, I have to be here to make sure you don't extort unnecessary infor...."

"Why would I ask him for unnecessary information? I know what I need to ask and I'm going to ask him just that.", Robin said and sighed before facing Josh.

"Now that your lawyer is here Mr Winter, I would like to know how your day started, why you visited Sarah and where you were from then till eight-thirty last night?", Robin asked and the deputy beside him got his pen, ready to put down whatever Josh would say.

Josh looked at Flint and a nod from him was confirmation that he could speak.

"I was at home, in the morning and around three pm she called saying she needed to talk about some personal relationship issues.", Josh said, giving off the hint that he wasn't going to tell him what they had talked about.

"Well I got there and of course, we didn't do much talking.", Josh said with a smug smile and now it was Robin who scowled. "So later on I left."

"When?", Robin asked.

"Um... around six-thirty.", he answered.

"And where did you go after that?", Robin asked.

"The bar.", he said simply and Robin raised a brow. "What, you can ask your cuz, Rohan and he'll tell you.", Josh said and stared back.

Rohan Hems who was Robin's cousin was a bar owner. The owner of The Lidden Pub as it was usually called. He was a calm guy and was older than Robin. He never liked putting himself into a business that wasn't his and because of this people liked him and confided in him because they were sure he wasn't going to judge them in any way, he was only going to listen. This earned him the title, "The Ville's Diary".

It was a name Rohan didn't like or understand but he took it anyway.

But things between Robin and Rohan were strained because of a personal issue involving the two of them and Robin's ex-wife.

"Or what, you're not gonna ask him because of..."

"Did you go anywhere after that?", Robin asked.

"My house. Do I look like the type to sleep at a bar?", Josh said in a duh tone.

"Okay. While you were with Sarah, did she seem worried or bothered by anything, and over the past few days did she act strange in any way?", Robin asked and Josh thought a little bit.

"I mean, when I think of it, yeah but it wasn't too serious so maybe she had things on her mind but it didn't seem like they worried her.", Josh responded.

"And while you were at her house yesterday, did she mention anything about going out with Lisa..."

"I and Sarah never talk about Lisa. It's a fact that Lisa doesn't like or respect me in anyway, her and her coven of friends so we never talk about them or any plans she has with them 'cause it's none of my business and I don't ask about them either.", Josh said indifferently.

"Okay. Did you know if Sarah was annoyed with anyone or she complained about anyone to you?", Robin asked and Josh sighed dramatically while looked inconspicuously at his watch with a look on his face.

"I mean it's obvious that Sarah was a gentle soul, beautiful in and out. The only person she ever hated was Irene.", Josh said.

"Mrs Peters?"

"Yes of course. Is there any other Irene in this town, who would even want to have the same name with such a shrewd woman.", Josh said.

"Did she ever tell you why she bore such hatred towards Mrs Peters and didn't yo ever wonder why..."

"Sarah was my girlfriend and as much as I valued and cared for her, it wasn't my business what kind of relationship she had with other people of this town. The feelings we had for each other was genuine, we trusted each other and that was all that mattered. If she had wanted me to know why she did anything she did or hated anyone or was friendly with everyone, she would have told me and since she didn't I trusted and respected whatever decision she made or act she committed. Now if that's all, I would like to go now.", Josh said with a stern voice.

"Well, I guess that's all then and thank you for your time."

"That you wasted, your welcome.", Josh said before leaving with Adam.

"Hmm I would have thought that being in a relationship with a gentle and caring person like Sarah would have changed him in some way.", Robin said.

"Though there were rumours he was making attempts to wrong his errors, all thanks to Sarah, May her soul Rest In Peace.", the deputy said.

"Well I wouldn't be surprised if those efforts would go down the drain now that she's gone.", Robin said.

"Well if he loved her as much as he indicated he did today, he would put in more efforts into becoming a better person, do it as an honour to her memory."

"Hmm we'll see if that would be the case. Anyways, did you get all that?",Robin asked his assistant who nodded.

"So who next?", the assistant asked.

"Her friends, though we're still waiting for clues from those at the house, we have to know if her friends suspect anyone, because who knows they might be right.", Robin said.

And with that, they called each one of Sarah's close friends one by one. Since Lisa had already given her statement, she wasn't called and the first person was Hugh.

This meeting like the others they both had didn't go well.

"So what, you think I killed Sarah? Sarah's like a sister to me. Why in the..."

"I didn't say you killed her Hugh, I'm not saying anything. I'm just asking where you were, what you did yesterday, if you have any suspects and why.", Robin said.

"Yeah like I'm supposed to remember and answer all those at once.", Hugh said and Robin sighed.

"Where were you yesterday around the time seven pm till eight-thirty?", Robin asked.

That was the suspected time the murder was done. Lisa had called the police around eight-thirty and Lisa also said the last time she spoke to Sarah on the phone was around ten minutes past seven which was when Sarah said someone had pressed the bell which could possibly have been the murderer

"I was at Pablo's house. We had gone to see his mother who was ill. His car wasn't good so I offered to take him, then we came back and I stayed at his house for a while before I left", Hugh explained.

"And did you happen to pass by Sarah's house or hear from her?", Robin asked.

"No, I didn't."

Next was Pablo who had told the same story as Hugh, which automatically crossed both of them off his list for one reason, they had an alibi.

Then he called Miles in.

"I was at my house. I went to work at the construction site yesterday and it was a very hectic day for me. Carrying logs, and bricks. If only I knew Sarah was in trouble I would have...."

"When did you leave and where did you go after leaving the site?", Robin asked.

"I went straight home. I hooked a ride with one of my friends and he dropped me straight home. After some light dinner, I went to bed.", Miles finished.

"Hmn", Robin said. Robin was about to send him off when Miles spoke again.

"Though, I'm suspecting someone.", Miles started and Robin looked up, interested.

"Go on.",

"Well, you know what happened last week between the two of them. I mean think about it, Sarah pretty much insulted Gwendolyn last week, she looked pretty hurt and I sensed from the way Sarah spoke to Gwendolyn and Gwendolyn's reaction, it seemed that Sarah knew something about Gwendolyn and in order to silence her, Gwendolyn might just have killed her. So I'm guessing she has a motive then.", Miles said and Robin seemed to be considering it.

Even though he didn't say anything, Robin made a mental note to bring her in for questioning later.

Raven was the last of the friends he had interrogated but it was pointless 'cause Raven had been with Betty's friend's mother who was hosting a sleepover. Betty also testified to spending the night with Raven present even in the morning when she woke.

At the end of the day, Robin hadn't gained anything except the weak fact that Gwendolyn was probably angry with Sarah for the issue from last week, but it was a very weak motive to kill someone. It was based on Miles's intuition that Sarah knew a secret of Gwendolyn's, there was no concrete evidence or reason for Gwendolyn to have possibly murdered Sarah.

But that didn't stop him from calling Gwendolyn to the station the next day.

Gwendolyn was very shocked and kept breaking off when she was talking to the Sheriff.

"I j... just can't believe this. Sarah, dead, murdered in cold blood. It's just... hmm, that would be a good headline. I..."

"Miss Martins please I would ask you to stop digressing and allow us to discuss what you're actually here for. All I'm asking is where were you yesterday between the time seven pm till eight-thirty?", Robin asked.

"Seven pm till eight-thirty was that the period the murder had happened?", she asked in return.

"Yes, now stop making....",

"Fine. I was in the register till late at night on Monday. I was working with Sandra but I had sent Erik home, he left around eight or so. It was just Sandra and me. We even saw the police cars and the ambulance pass to and fro. We wondered if some robbery had been committed and discussed the prospects of it being a headline.", Gwendolyn said and Robin rolled his eyes at this but she went on.

"So I dunno, maybe you can ask Erik where he went 'cause it seems like that's all you're doing. By the way, do you have any suspects?", she asked.

"I cannot disclose the information of this case to you but thank you Miss Martins for your time and..",

"So you don't have any suspects, okay, that'll be good information.", she said and headed out still muttering to herself.

As advised, Robin called in Erik for questioning since he had left the register around eight and would have probably passed Sarah's house. Even if he wasn't the culprit, he could've seen something, Robin thought and indeed he was right.

"So Erik, on Monday night, you left the register around eight o'clock.",

"There about.", he answered briskly.

"And from what I know, you must have passed Sarah's house on your way home and you didn't see police cars at the point you did?", Robin asked.

If he didn't, that meant he passed her house before the police came and probably before Lisa arrived meaning the murderer might have been in the house by the time Erik passed.

"I knew something was up. I was passing by the house on my bike. I heard some sounds and decided to stop. Then I waited for a long while and heard nothing so I left.", Erik explained.

"You heard sounds what kind of sounds?", Robin asked.

"Something fell, broke. I don't know and since I didn't hear anything after, I figured Sarah must have dropped something and picked it up so I left. If I had known I should've checked. Maybe I would have been able to save her.", Erik said sounding like he was beating himself up for it.

"Erik, I hope you're not going around thinking all this is your fault somehow, 'cause if you are then...", Robin said.

"No Sheriff, can't you see I could've done something? Such a nice lady wouldn't have died. I... I could've said her but instead, I got on my bike and just left.", and in a smaller voice. "Like the coward I am."

Awwnnn. I'm feeling bad for Erik. If you were the one in Erik's place what would you have done. Would you have reasoned that Sarah probably just fell something or gone to check if someone else was in the house?

Vote, Comment, Share
SJ💝