🔞5EX: SUSTAINED OBLITERATION🔞

An intern

Once I finish dry heaving over the waste paper basket handed to me by DS Darren and have a mouthful of my coffee I have gained enough composure to continue to speak.

"Are you ok to carry on Sydney, we can have a short break, or we can come back tomorrow?" Ginny offers.

"I'd like to just get on with this if you don't mind, so I can stop thinking about it. I'm ok, sorry about that" I indicate the bin beside me on the floor.

"It's fine, just tell us if you want to stop at any time, ok!?"

"Sure, thanks"

"If you don't mind can we go back a few steps to the incident at your home? What can you tell us about how the intruder ended up dead, what did you see? What can you remember?" she questions.

I think back, then begin to tell them what I remember.
I'm conscious but unable to move, face down, my right cheek on the floor, head at the foot of the stairs. I close my eyes and picture my hallway, the front door behind me, along with the stranger currently committing obscene acts upon my body. I can smell the beeswax polish on the floor, feel warm fluid that I later found out had been my blood running down my thighs towards my knees and I am aware that my mind is screaming for help but my body is not making a sound. There is a click behind me and for a split second I fear that he is about to shoot me, but I realise it is the front door opening when I hear Laura shushing Vinni as they come inside, their footsteps halting immediately as I assume they catch sight of the scene before them.
I hear Laura shout "what the fuck?!!" and I become aware of the intruder being pulled off of me.
I recall being wrapped in a pair of strong arms, whoever is holding me is kissing my head and running their hands over my head, stroking my hair, attempting to soothe me.
There is some indistinct shouting and sounds of a scuffle, maybe some fists thrown..... a thud....... rapid footsteps.......... an ear splitting shout........ then silence.

"I remember seeing Lauras face, tears in her eyes, she had some blood splashed on her face. I didn't see who hit the man, I didn't even know he was dead until you guys arrived, and frankly I don't care who did it, I'm just glad someone came and saved me. I'm sorry I can't remember anymore than that!" I apologise

"No, that's great Sydney, Thankyou. I'm sorry to make you relive that, but it's important to corroborate the information we already have."

"Which is what?" I query

"Much of the information given by everyone we have interviewed so far matches up well, with one exception. Everyone has named someone different as the perpetrator."

How can that be? There were four of us there. It wasn't me, leaving Vinni, Yanni and Laura! I refuse to believe that Laura would kill someone, and don't want to believe that Yanni would either. I find it far easier to believe Vinni could have done it, but am still not convinced of that fact, mainly because he hates me and thinks I'm bad for his brother. He wouldn't risk his future freedom for me.

"I can't imagine any of the people in my home that night doing that deliberately, it must have been an accident."

DS Darren delivers the most shocking words I have heard since sitting down in this room almost two hours ago.......

"Sydney, our SOCO's have completed the forensic examination of your home, looking for evidence, taking samples, finger prints, shoe prints and photographing the scene. Based on the results of those tests we are confident that, other than those we already know were present, there was another person in your home that night. Have you any idea who that could have been?"

There is no holding it back this time. I grab for the bin and throw up the coffee I have just finished. Ice cold fingers grip my throat, freezing my vocal chords, stealing my voice.
I'm pretty certain I do know who that was.