Emily trudged through her school day, each moment feeling like a trial. The clamor of the hallways and the bustle of student activity seemed distant, muffled by the weight of her thoughts. Her visit to Jack's childhood home and the conversation with his mother loomed large in her mind. She tried to focus on her classes, but the turmoil inside her made concentration nearly impossible.

The intercom buzzed, calling her to the main office. Emily's heart sank.

When she arrived, Officer Max was indeed waiting with his usual stern demeanor. "Emily, I need to ask you more about the case. Your parents have given permission for you to cooperate fully."

Emily nodded, feeling a tight knot of anxiety in her stomach. Max led her to a small, unadorned room with a single table and two chairs. As she sat down, she tried to steady her nerves.

Max didn't waste any time. "I need to know where you were during the murder. Your records show you missed school for a few days recently."

Emily's heart skipped a beat. She had missed school because she was at Jack's childhood home, but she couldn't reveal that. She needed to come up with an explanation. "I was visiting family out of state," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

Max's eyes narrowed. "That doesn't quite match up with your absences. Are you sure that's what you were doing?"

Emily's throat tightened. She knew she was on shaky ground but pressed on. "Yes, that's right. I just needed to take some time off."

Max's gaze remained skeptical. "I see. Well, let's move on. I want to talk about Rose now. What was your relationship with her again?"

The question hit Emily hard. The pain of Rose's loss, combined with her memories of their close bond, made it difficult to speak. She recalled their shared childhood, their deep friendship, and the comfort they found in each other's company. "Rose and I were very close. We shared everything. Even after she moved here, we stayed in touch. She was like a sister to me."

Max's expression softened slightly, but he pressed on. "Did Rose ever mention anything about Jack? Anything that raised concerns?"

Emily struggled to keep her composure. Memories of Rose's fear and her vague warnings about Jack overwhelmed her. "Rose... she was scared. She mentioned that Jack had a troubled past and hinted that something was wrong. She didn't say much, but it was enough to worry me."

Max leaned forward, his frustration evident. "I need more details. Did Rose ever directly accuse Jack of anything?"

Emily's tears began to well up as she fought to articulate the fear she had sensed from Rose. "Rose never outright accused Jack, but she was very anxious. She talked about Jack's past and suggested that something dangerous might be going on. I didn't understand how serious it was until later."

Max's impatience was palpable. He sighed deeply, clearly frustrated with the lack of concrete information. "We need specifics, Emily. Can you give me more than just vague fears?"

The intensity of the interrogation was starting to take its toll on Emily. The emotional strain of recounting Rose's fears while trying to hide her own involvement felt unbearable. Max's next question seemed to shift the focus, and he appeared more strategic than empathetic.

"Let's talk about your relationship with Jack," Max said, his tone shifting. "What's the nature of it?"

Emily's heart raced at the change in focus. She hesitated, knowing that revealing her feelings could complicate things. "We... we have feelings for each other. It's complicated."

Max's eyes sharpened with a new determination. "Here's what we need to do. I need you to reconnect with Jack. Pretend like nothing has changed. We need you to get more information or even a confession from him. If you refuse, you risk being seen as uncooperative."

Emily's mind whirled. The idea of deceiving Jack, pretending to be normal while hiding the truth, was deeply painful. She understood the strategic necessity of the plan, but it tore at her conscience. The emotional weight of betraying Jack and honoring Rose's memory was overwhelming.

Max's frustration seemed to deepen, and his thoughts about the case and likely scorn from his wife Lisa added to his stress. "You're crucial to this investigation. If you don't help, you might be seen as an obstacle. You need to decide whether you're going to cooperate."

Emily left the office feeling torn and conflicted. The decision before her was heart-wrenching—betray her feelings for Jack or support Max's investigation to seek justice for Rose. The path ahead was fraught with emotional turmoil and uncertainty, leaving her grappling with the difficult choice she had to make.