Episode 13
1100 Words
Two uniformed male cops who are intimidatingly large built stand next to me on the bed wearing neutral expressions on their faces. Their presence makes me feel nervous especially because I'm about to relive the night my own boyfriend kidnapped and shot me apart from that having to lie to the cops makes me very anxious. I keep reminding myself that although they are policemen they are still human beings like everyone else. They are probably someone's father and someone's lover. Thinking of them in that manner helps me to compose myself.
After introducing themselves and waving their badges at me, the questioning begins.
"Ms Smith can you tell us what happened?" Mr. Thompson requests as his dark eyes meet mine he is clearly not aware his gaze is making me feel uneasy. He is staring at me hard as if his eyes are to function as a lie detector or maybe it's just my guilty conscious because the police don't have any reason to think I would lie to them. I'm the victim after all.
I clear my throat and take a deep breath then I bow my head down and start fiddling with the sheets on the bed. "I was driving towards home with Ayden next to me when suddenly a black van approached at a high speed and overtook my car only to block the road. An armed man jumped out of the van and rushed towards us with a riffle. He pulled Ayden out of the car and hit him on the head with his gun and he passed out," I pause to swallow.
I tilt my head up for a brief moment to steal a glance at the police officers. I note their observant expressions and I shortly carry on with my statement. "I was then forced into the van and after a couple of minutes on the road he pulled over and dragged me deep into the woods."
"What happened after that?" Mr. Jordan, the second police officer questions after he pauses writing down notes. I take a quick look at him and I note a gleam of friendly concern in his blue eyes this makes me feel bad about the lies I'm about to tell but I can't have Chad arrested and I do not want to testify against him in court in fact I do not want to be dashing to court countless times for his trial or any other reason.
"I tried to escape and he shot me that's all I remember,"
"Ms. Smith did you see who kidnapped you?" Jordan asks. "No! He was wearing a mask and he never took it off," I mumble. "Perhaps there is something familiar about him that you noted...his physique.. his voice?" Thompson adds.
"No!" I curtly respond.
"Ms. Smith can you think of anyone who would want to hurt you?" Thompson presses on.
"No! I don't have any enemies and I don't really know a lot of people. I usually keep to myself,"
"Do you think Ayden could have had anything to do with your kidnapping?" Jordan questions.
I frown at him, "No! Ayden was terrified just as I was and he was almost killed in front of my eyes. There is no reason why he would want me kidnapped." I huff.
"How is your relationship with your best friend Maria? Is she not the one who suggested that you go out for the night.. and why wasn't she in the car with you?" Thompson probes.
"It was my idea to go out and I'm the one who decided to leave the club earlier. Maria was still having fun with her boyfriend so she told me not to wait for her. I know you are trying to do your job but suspecting my friends is not going to help in anyway." I sigh feeling exhausted by the intense questions.
"You said Maria was dancing with her boyfriend...where was your boyfriend? When we questioned Ayden he mentioned that you and him are not dating," Jordan informs.
I blink my eyes for a brief moment. I'm not sure how to respond…should I deny having a boyfriend? What if Maria already told them I have a boyfriend?
My heart starts pounding as I frantically think of how to respond. I decide to take a risk and deny having a boyfriend. If they already knew I had a boyfriend wouldn't they be addressing him by his name?
"I don't have a boyfriend," I say and with the corner of my eye I notice the two cops look at each other with uncertainty.
"What about your ex boyfriends?" Thompson continues.
"I'm only eighteen years old and I'm not like the forward teenagers of nowadays. I stayed away from boys until I turned sixteen."
"Are you saying you don't have ex boyfriends?" Jordan interjects.
"No. I have two ex boyfriends but none of them live in this town and neither of them would have any reason to kidnap me. We parted on good terms and they are the same age as me. If you ask me, I think what happened to me was done by a sociopath random stranger and I just want to forget about it," I hint.
"What are you trying to say?" Thompson arches his eyebrows.
"I don't want this investigation to go on. I don't like being questioned like this when I'm trying to recover and move on with my life and that means leaving this behind me."
"Ms Smith, we need to find this person to ensure the safety of our community. What happened to you may very well happen to someone else," Jordan insists.
"Well then I'm afraid I cannot help you in anyway…I did not see his face and his van didn't have any number plates." I pout.
Before they could say a word, the doctor struts in. "I'm afraid I will have to ask you to leave. My patient has done enough talking...she needs to rest now," orders Dr. Anderson.
Boy am I pleased to watch the police officers saunter off. I lay back my head against my pillow and hope that will mark the last time I see them.
"Are you okay?" Dr. Anderson turns her attention to me.
"Yeah I'm good, thank you for asking," I smile convincingly.
"Good...I will let you get some rest," she quirks her lips and struts out.
- Writer
