Hypnotised by drums (TW fanfic - Book 2/4)

Part Thirty-Nine

Tom’s POV

The next morning, I wake up to the sound of locks clanking. I look up to see an officer standing in the door way. “Tom, your lawyer is here to see you” he says. I put my feet down on the cold floor and I slowly walk towards the door. The officer hands me my shoes back. I put them on and then he leads me down the corridor and into a small room. There is a man already sitting there and he doesn’t look like he’s too happy. “Take a seat” the officer tells me. I walk over to the seat opposite the man and then the officer leaves.

“Hello, Thomas. I’m your Peter Riffs, your lawyer” he tells me.

“Erm, hi. I guess” I say, awkwardly. I never thought I would need a lawyer.

“Look, it’s alright. I’m here to help you out of this situation” he tells me. “Now, I don’t know if it’s sinked in yet, but your being accused of murdering Miss Jude Roberts” he tells me.

“I know” I say. Does he seriously think I would forget that?

“Well don’t worry, because we can get you out of this. Now your trail is scheduled for in two days time. So that will be Wednesday” he tells me.

“Right, so I just have to go to that and then I’ll be let off?” I ask him.

“No it’s not as simple as that. You’re going to need to prepare first. Now what are you going to plead?” he asks me.

“Well innocent obviously. I haven’t done anything wrong” I tell him.

“Alright then” he says, as he starts to scribble something down on a piece of paper. He then pushes it towards me, with the pen on top. “Sign there” he tells me. I pick the pen up and just as the pen is about to hit the paper, he stops me.

“Don’t sign it yet. Read it. That could be anything Thomas. You need to be careful” he says. I read the paper and it’s just about what I’m going to plead. I sign the bottom before pushing it back to him. “Now tell me how you know Jude” he tells me.

“Well I met her when we were filming one of videos. She was a dancer and she just seemed really nice. I hate to say it, but I had a bit of a crush on her and she seemed to like me too. When I went off to get changed, she followed me and she kissed me. For a moment I kissed her back, but then I pushed her away because I was with someone, but we decided that it was a good idea for us to stay friends” I tell him and he nods.”

“And when was the last time you saw her?” he asks.

“Well it must have been the day before she died. She came over to my house” I tell him, as I look down at my thumbs which I’m fiddling.

“And how did she seem? Was she happy? Sad? Panicked?”

“Well we were arguing. The day before she told me that she was in love with me. I told her that I didn’t love her back obviously. I love Maria. But she wasn’t having any of it. She then kissed me on the door step and before I could push her away Maria appeared behind me and Jude left. That was the last time I saw her.” I sigh.

“Who’s Maria?” he asks.

“Maria is my girlfriend, ex girlfriend now” I tell him.

“So that was the reason your relationship ended, because of Jude?” he asks.

“Yes, but there was other things as well. She didn’t fully trust me”

It takes about two hours for us to go through everything and to be honest it feels good to get it off of my chest, but at the same time, I can’t help but feel like I’m digging myself into a hole. What if this guy is really trying to bring me down? What if he doesn’t want me to get away with this? I’m innocent, but I can see in his eyes that he thinks I’m guilty, everyone does. Don’t they know me at all? Once we’ve finished Peter stands up and smiles.

“You have one phone call. Follow me” he says and do so. He takes me into the reception and into a room, where there is a phone and an officer sitting in the corner. Peter nods at me, before wondering off. I walk over to the phone and begin to dial Maria’s number. I have one call and there’s only one person I want to speak to. Her voice always cheers me up.

“Hello?” she asks down the phone.

“Maria” I say and it feels like my eyes are about to floor with tears. How did I get into this situation?

“Tom? Is that you?” she asks me. “Why are you calling from a blocked number?”

“I’m at the police station. I’ve only got one phone call” I explain in the hope that she won’t hang up.

“What are you doing there? She asks me.

“I’ve been arrested for Jude’s murder” I say and then I notice the officer giving me a bitter look. “But I didn’t do it, I swear. You know me Maria. You know I didn’t do it, didn’t you?” I ask her, praying that she will believe me.

“You’ve been arrested? So you’re in prison?” she asks me and I can hear the confusion in her voice.

“No, I’m at the police station. My trial is in two days, you’ll come won’t you?” I ask her.

“Of course” she tells me.

“You believe I didn’t do it though, don’t you?” I ask her, still waiting for the answer.

“Of course” she says again.

“Alright, you’ve had long enough” the officer says, as he walks towards me.

“I’ve got to go now, Maria. I love you” I say, before putting the phone down.