By My Side [JENLISA FF]

Part 2

Jennie looked up when the officer opened her cell. She'd been to prison for about two weeks now and she knew the people who came and brought her to the visitor's or the interrogation room by now. This time it was officer Quinlan, a large black woman with a friendly smile that was now on her face as well: "Hi Jennie, you've got visitors. Your dad."

The girl nodded, stood up and extended her hands to allow officer Quinlan to use the handcuffs on her. Then she left her cell and walked beside her the short distance to the visitor's room.

Jennie was scared, she could not remember ever having been that scared in her whole life. Her life had not been a fairy tale for a long while now but ever since she'd found herself kneeling beside GD lying there in his own blood, the gun in her hand, her life had become a nightmare, only that this was real life. She had wished him dead, more than once but never thought it would really happen.

And now she was sitting in jail accused for murder. She felt as if she was trapped and there was no way out. And then seeing her friends and her parents, all of them with so much disappointment in their eyes. They all said they believed her, but did they really? Or would they think her capable of killing someone? Jisoo didn't, Jennie knew that, but deep inside she had the feeling she was the only one. And she could not blame them, she'd been away for six years, they didn't know her anymore. The ironic part of this was that she didn't know herself either. Somewhere in the last years she'd lost herself and she was wondering if she would find the real Jennie again. Maybe she was lost forever.

Officer Quinlan opened the door and uncuffed the girl's hands, then she nodded and Jennie knew she was meant to go into the room, as soon she'd entered it, the officer closed the door from the outside.

Jennie looked up to face Mr. Park and was surprised to see he was not alone. With him was a girl with a serious but gentle face, dressed in jeans and a black shirt. She admitted to herself that she'd never seen someone that beautiful handsome. Inwardly Jennie groaned because she was aware of her blue jail-clothing, not very sexy, she thought. Where the hell did that come from? Why was she caring for her appearance all of a sudden? She had sworn to herself that she was through with men.

Mr. Park smiled and crossed the room: "Jennie," he greeted her. "How are you?"

"Fine," she replied, swallowing hardly and returning the embrace of her step-father.

"I am glad," he said and gestured towards the girl: "Jennie I want to introduce you to Ms. Manoban, she is a private investigator who wants to help you. Ms. Manoban, this is my daughter, Jennie Kim."

The young girl stepped forward and extended her hand. The moment Jennie was shaking it a pang of electricity went through her whole body and she stared at her for a short moment. "Ms. Manoban," Jennie greeted her, glad that her voice was working properly.

Lisa looked at her for a moment, she was a beautiful girl, with her blonde hair and her catlike eyes. But there was a sadness in them, it nearly broke her heart. What must she have experienced in her young life to bear so many scars on her soul."Miss Kim," she smiled. She had a nice voice, she thought. "It's nice to meet you, and please call me Lisa."

"So, you are a private investigator?"

"I am, and I am here to help you." When Lisa saw her hesitation, she quickly added: "If you want."

Jennie gazed to the ground and then towards Mr. Park: "I ... I am not sure if you can," she said, her voice sounding like the one of a little girl. "They are so sure I am guilty." Suddenly there were tears in her eyes and she immediately wiped them away. "I am sorry, I am usually not the whining type."

"Jennie, that's okay," Mr. Park approached her and tried to hug her but she backed away, raising a hand. He gave Lisa a desperate look and then said: "Everyone would be scared in such a situation. You do not have to be strong."