🔞5EX🔞

The Interview

🧐AUTHORS NOTE: ***triple stars denote the start and end of a flashback or memory***

Sitting awkwardly in the cold metal chair alone in this stark beige room I consider the likelihood that being left waiting like this is a tactic to elicit nerves in me, then my stomach grumbles and I know it is..... and it works!
I wonder who they suspect, why that person, what the perceived motive was and what they think I will be able to tell them about any of that?

There's a click to my left and the door opens allowing access to two police officers, one male, one female. Both smile at me as they approach the opposite side of the table, the male putting down 3 lidded cups, biscuits, milk powder and sugar sachets, the female placing a couple of Manila folders beside the cups, sheets of paper visible within both. I sit wordlessly observing them as they switch on the tape recorder and state their names...........

"Good morning Miss Benfield, I'm DCI Virginia Marshall, this is DS Darren Howard. We will be recording this conversation as a matter of course, try not to worry about it, ok? How would you like us to address you, is it alright if we call you Sydney?" she asks with a smile, holding out her hand presumably for me to shake, which I do.

"Sure, that's fine DCI Marshall" I respond brightly, deciding not to be intimidated during this interview as I shake DS Howard's large veiny hand.

"Hope you like coffee, there's milk and sugar if you want it" the DCI gestures toward the items in the centre of the desk and I nod in response as she hands me a cup.
What if they've poisoned it, or put some drug in it to make me confess to something? I can't trust them, I must be careful as I don't want to be tricked into anything........ the police are all corrupt anyway aren't they!? Do they use polygraphs in the UK? I don't think they do, maybe.........

I'm snapped out of my ruminations by the DCI asking me if I'm ok.
I've zoned out again! Stress does that to me.

"Oh, erm.... yes, I'm fine Thankyou DCI Marshall" I answer with a weak smile, my thumbs rolling rapidly around each other, another visible sign of my anxiety which surely these guys are trained to spot!

Calm down Sydney, you've done nothing wrong, no need to be anxious, you don't want these police officers to suspect you! Wait....... what if they DO suspect you already and that's why they want to talk to........

"Sydney?! Are you ok, you look a little peaky? Would you like some water?" DCI Marshall asks, concern evident on her face as she stares intently at me.

FUCK!! Done it again Sydney. FOCUS!!

"I'm so sorry! I haven't eaten yet today and I feel a little lightheaded, that's all, I'm fine. Carry on DCI Marshall"

"Please call me Ginny Sydney, no need for this to be so formal. We just need your statement and for you to answer a few simple questions about the night of the incident. You'd flown home earlier that day yes?" She says, flipping open one of the Manila folders and searching through the papers within.

"Based on statements we have taken already we have a general picture of the events of that night, but it would be good if you could give us your recollections too please, hopefully fill in a few small blanks. Is that ok with you?"

"Sure, happy to help. I'm not sure what I can tell you that will be useful though. So, how does this work, do you ask questions for me to answer, or do you want me to talk you through my memories?" I query, glancing between them.

"Let's start with your account, we can ask follow up questions if there is a need to afterwards, ok?!" Ginny suggests, folding her arms on the desk, covering the documents at which I am so desperate to look.
Nosey journo making a return appearance!