The questioning

Adam

A day had passed since my last visit to that bizarre mansion. I got the complete details of the case. I'd only gotten the information on the people when I last went there, but now that I have the material I need to go back there. Which is exactly what I am doing right now. I walk through the grass which was going way above my ankles. It had weeds and was clearly not taken care of. Now that I think of it, this mansion seems like a manor straight out of a horror movie. Ms Adams sure hasn't learnt anything from those movies. As I thought about it, I rang the doorbell. Soon enough, my eyes were met with green ones, as she stepped aside to let me in.

"Please call everyone down."

I said in a professional tone as I waited for her to do what I asked.

Soon enough everyone arrived and I moved my gaze to each of them."So, I got the details of the case. Since I now know about what happened, i'll question each one of you, starting with Mr Smith."

I gestured for the rest of them to leave us alone as I pulled out a chair and sat on it.

"So Liam, I heard that you were the first one to see him in that state"

"yes" he replied, his tone sad

"Did you notice anything when you saw him?"

"The state he was in...was terrifying, he was s-stabbed and covered in blood..."

"I know that. I'm asking if you noticed anything weird"

"Um...no, I-I don't think so"

"Maybe it was you who went up there, did all that to him, got rid of any evidence indicating that it was you and then screamed, acting like you were horrified"

"N-no, he was my best friend. That's uni-imaginable for me"

"But he did cheat on Ms Adams, maybe he did something with your wife, making you mad-

"Don't bring my wife into this" He cut me off as he seemed to be protective over his wife even when he seemed to be barely holding up

"Very well, that'll be all" I said as I got out of the chair

"Please send Ms Adams next for the questioning"

Not long later, he was gone with Ms Adams here. I gestured her to sit down on the chair Liam was earlier sitting on as I sat on my chair.

"So, Ms Adams, we're here for your questioning, kindly cooperate" There was no response from her side. Taking her silence as agreement I proceeded.

"So where were you before Liam found Mr Jones in that condition?"

"In the hall, all of us were talking as we waited for him"

"Was there a point where you went up to meet him?"

"Yes, actually. I went up to tell him that everyone was asking about him and for him to go down with me"

"And what did he say?"

"He told me that he'll be down in a while and I left"

"Why was he in the room"

"He told me that he was working"

"Was he a workaholic?"

"Sorry, what?"

"I asked if he was a workaholic" Seeing the confused look on her face, I continued "I'm asking this because he was working during this trip, supposedly moments before your anniversary"

"No. Actually that's the weird thing he is- I mean wasn't a workaholic. Infact, he didn't enjoy his job a lot. He said that his boss targeted him, which made him uninterested in his job"

"Then why didn't he leave the job?"

"I did ask him that once, he said that his boss had connections or something like that"

"That'll be all" I got up and gestured for her to leave.

"Please send Ms Isla next."
∞∞∞

I was done questioning all of the people and on my way back to where Gede and I were staying, to investigate more on the case from all the evidence we had. I walked into the room as I saw Gede, his eyes furrowed as he seemed focused on something.

"Gede? What's got you all serious?"

He turned his gaze towards me.

"We have our first suspect of the Ethan Jones case"

"What? Seriously? Who is it?"

"Claire davis"

My heart stopped for a second when I heard that name. I shook my head mentally, shrugging off any personal feelings. This was work.

"Ms davis? What made you suspect her?"

"The fingerprints found on Mr Jones' laptop just came back"

"That doesn't prove her guilty, but it does make her a suspect"

"Exactly"

"I need to go back to question her"

"Yes, you got to"

"I'll be back..."
∞∞∞

Several eyes were on me as they saw the same face for the second time in the day, that too so soon. I didn't have the patience to read them all at the moment.

"We've found some evidence. Ms Davis, stay and the rest of you kindly leave us alone for the questioning"

She looked stunned when she heard my name leave her mouth. Not long later everyone was gone, leaving just us two in this hall. I pulled out 2 chairs, as I gestured for her to sit down while taking a seat myself.

"So...Ms Davis-

"I didn't do it"

"Sorry, what?"

"I-I didn't kill him"

"You're just a suspect as of now. Please cooperate for the questioning"

She looked like she was about to say something for a moment but then just nodded and fell silent.

"So, Miss Davis. Where were you moments before Liam found Mr Jones?"

"Down, in the hall. All of us were sitting down, talking"

I passed her the fingerprints sealed in a plastic seal

"These are the fingerprints that were found on his laptop. Can you explain this?"

She looked confused and appeared to be thinking of something for a moment, after which she seemed to remember something.

"Yes...So actually what happened was, Ethan was working, as Iris had told all of us, so I went to check on him and tell him to come down soon as it was his anniversary and he wasn't there with Iris. I must've absently kept my hand on his keyboard laptop when I was there and that must be why you found my fingerprint on it"

"Alright, makes sense but you're still a suspect since I can't just take your word for it" I said as I took the evidence back.

"I...understand"

"That will be all. You're free to leave" I said as I was about to get up

"You really think I'd do that?"
"As I said, you're just a sus-

"No, I'm asking what you think. Adam, not Mr Yuto"

I sighed

"I don't think it's you. I believe you"

She looked relieved and passed me a small smile.

I smiled back.

"Don't worry, I won't let you get into trouble for something you haven't done"

"Thanks Adam, it means a lot"

Iris

16 years back

I opened the door to my house to see broken pieces of glass, probably of a bottle scattered all around the living room. Oh no, they had another fight. Ember, where's Em?
I looked around but only saw pieces of shattered glass. Dad was passed out at a corner with a bottle still clung against him. I moved to go to my room. I looked at the kitchen, which was on the way to my room as I saw mom passed out. I rushed to my room to see her crying. I rushed to her and wrapped my arms around her.
"Its okay Em, sissy's here"
She cried against my chest as I held her close. She's just 6, and she's seen so much already. I wish we had a better family. I hate leaving her in this house with those monsters.
She seemed to calm down as I took care of her. "It's alright Em. One day I'll get you out of here, I promise."

I opened my eyes, tears threatening to spill down but I held them back. No, I can't cry. Not now. Not ever.

I went to the washroom and splashed water on my face. I looked at myself in the mirror and calmed myself down.

I went back to the room as I sighed.

Em, I'm sorry I couldn't fulfil the promise...