Detective Carl Murphy and Brayleigh Connor sat in silence.
20 minutes have passed since Carl urged her to explain herself and her position.
Brayleigh tried to gather her thoughts through the pain and swallowed heavily.
Her heart was thumping hard in her chest. She was terrified.
Clearly, this man had already made up his mind about her.
Also, somehow her DNA was found on all the murdered victims. It was dooming evidence! As far as her fate was concerned, the outcome didn’t seem very positive.
“Hmm…now we’re quiet, aren’t we? Cat got your tongue?” Carl asked sarcastically, clearly enjoying himself.
“Detective, um…honestly, I don’t know what to say. All I know is, is that there must be some mistake.” Brayleigh said, trying to explain.
Carl scoffed and shook his head.
“I’ll tell you what to say, admit to your wrongdoings! You’ll make my life and everyone else’s way easier.” He said, paging through the file and flipped back to the beginning, frowning intensely.
Brayleigh couldn’t bear the pain any longer and shut her eyes tightly. She could feel her face clamming up.
It seems like she is really in pain. I guess she can’t act that good. Carl thought, feeling a tiny bit sorry for her.
“Okay, try to relax. I’ll call someone to get you something for the pain.” He said picking up his phone and dialling a number.
“Thank you…” She mumbled gratefully.
After a few minutes, Brayleigh got some pills and a glass of water, not hesitating and drinking it immediately.
Detective Carl looked at her carefully as she sat, still with her eyes closed.
He could uncover anyone who was trying to bullshit him. He was excellent at it! After all, he had been working for the Police for 17 years.
However, this girl sitting in front of him was nothing he had encountered before. She seemed legitimately upset and scared as if she really had no clue how she got in the position she was now.
Come on, Carl! You know how messed up these criminals can get. The evidence is too clear. She’s probably psychopathic and manipulating you already. Well, there’s only one way to find out.
“Okay, Miss Connor. Let’s get this over with. I'm going to ask you a few questions regarding all your reported crimes up until now. If you cooperate, you might have a chance to explain your side of the story. However, don’t get too hopeful. You have serious allegations made against you. You can thank your lucky stars that this town doesn’t allow the death penalty, otherwise you would have been done for, for sure. You understand that right?” Carl leaned forward with his arms on his knees, observing her quietly.
Brayleigh just sat for a minute with her hands folded in her lap, the handcuffs’ chain dangling from her knees. The next moment happened so suddenly, that neither Carl nor Brayleigh saw it coming. She burst into tears hysterically.
Detective Carl didn’t know how to respond. If he didn’t know any better, he would have sworn she really was innocent.
“Okay, Miss…uhh…let’s try and calm down. Work with me here, let’s start from the beginning.” Carl tried to explain, awkwardly pushing a box of tissues towards her.
Brayleigh managed to stop shaking and slowly grabbed a tissue, wiping her eyes.
“Okay.” She managed to say.
Carl flipped once more through the file and pulled out a photo.
“Miss Connor, does this woman look familiar to you? Do you know her?” Carl asked showing a photo of an 18-year-old blonde girl.
Brayleigh looked at the photo intensely, trying to concentrate.
“No, detective. I have never seen her before.”
Carl leaned forward again and watched her closely.
“You see, I find that very hard to believe. This is Judith Smith, a local prostitute here in Willowcreek. Her body was found mutilated, decapitated and abandoned a few yards from the local club. One of the locals claimed they saw you a few times at this club leaving with various women. One bystander took a photo of you with Judith.” Carl showed another photo to Brayleigh.
It was indeed a photo of what seemed to be her and this Judith Smith.
“Wait, this can’t be possible. I didn’t even know this club existed! This person looks like me, but she is wearing clothing I don’t even own.” Brayleigh protested looking more closely.
“Come on now, this person looks exactly like you! How do you explain…” Carl started but was interrupted.
“Look! Right there…in my so-called neck in the photo. There’s a birthmark. I don’t have a birthmark like that! It’s small but it’s there. I recognise it. Oh shit, I think I know what is going on.”
YOU ARE READING
The Silver Lining - A Brayleigh Connor Story
Mystery / ThrillerA young and hopeful forensic therapist, Brayleigh Connor, is convicted for a gruesome murder that she claims she didn't commit, however, all evidence is against her. Is she playing a game of deception or is she telling the truth?
