The Gifts of Hannah Best

Part Eleven

Going to the police with the idea that she could help them catch a killer made Hannah feel hollow. She wanted to stop this person but having them in police custody made her feel somehow defeated. Like she blinked. But the lessons her father taught her since she was a child commanded her body to go to the station and talk to Martin about what she'd realized, what the officer already realized.

Predictably, she was put into an interrogation room. It was obvious since the beginning that Martin wanted to get Hannah into handcuffs, but since that couldn't happen without some kind of evidence, the beige walls and unwelcoming metal chair would have to do. Hannah stood behind the chair and hated to think of all the people that had sat in it. It was an easy weapon; heavy and hard, and not bolted to the ground as it should have been. Garnet's Lake had never needed to bolt their chairs down—bad things didn't happen here.

Growing impatient, Hannah moved towards the two-way mirror. She kept to the edges and peered at that way it wasn't built into the wall—she held up two fingers and found it was mounted. Not a two-way then. She huffed and spun on her heel, looking casually to the camera that sat in the corner. If she stood below it nobody would see her, so she did just that and pretended to look out the barred window.

The door clicked as it opened behind her. "I know what you're thinking," Martin said, stepping inside. "What kind of interrogation room has a window?"

Hannah looked to her and shrugged. "I know the police station doesn't see many dangerous criminals."

Martin gave her a tight smile, as if that were an insult. "It's usually peaceful around here, but not anymore, right? That's what you're here about. Take a seat."

Hannah eyed the chair disdainfully. "I'm more comfortable standing."

"All right," Martin replied. She slapped a brown folder on the table with the label "Hemlock" on the front. It was in big blocky letters, an obvious tease towards Hannah. Hannah pretended not to be too interested in it, since she knew nothing important would be kept in it. She looked out the window again, counting the two police cruisers that sat in the lot. Garnet's Lake only had three, and she assumed the third was either out patrolling or watching the area where Dane had been found.

"You wanted to talk yet you're not talking," Martin said. Her tone was a little more relaxed here, more in control than when Hannah had seen her before. This is her territory, and Hannah was no longer a threat but rather potential prey. Hannah looked at Martin over her shoulder and gave a single nod.

"I was just at the church talking with Father Tompkins when I realized something," Hannah admitted.

"What's that?"

"I think you already know." Hannah turned, leaning her back against the window frame. "I'm the only connection—I didn't want to admit that but...maybe there's something to it."

Martin quirked a pale eyebrow. "I'm surprised it took you so long to admit. You don't seem like the type to live in denial."

Hannah inhaled deeply through her nose. "You've clearly never met my mother." That earned her a chuckle from Martin. Feeling more at ease, Hannah decided to move forward and sit in the chair. It was just as uncomfortable as she imagined, but it made Martin sit down as well. A level playing field, Hannah thought. Much better.

"I was with Dane the night he died," she said. Martin nodded. "I imagine Mariana Tern was the one that gave you that information."

Martin didn't make any motion, a perfectly still face that Hannah gave her credit for; not something easily accomplished. But Hannah didn't need her to make any kind of move to know that Mariana was the one that had turned her in. "She was jealous."