Enigmatic Affairs

CHAPTER ONE

CHIEF SMITH
BEFORE

As I got out of the cruiser, I could feel the eyes of the neighborhood on me. Every porch light flickered on as judgment was pouring down from their doors.

"William Neilson, you are under arrest for the murder and sexual assault of Andrea Lard." I said, my voice firm but not cold. I had to stay detached in moments like these - God knows I've done it enough times.

His daughter, Annie, stood there in disbelief, as anyone would. "Are you serious?" She joked, as if trying to lighten the weight of what was happening. But there was no lightning this.

I started reading William his rights. His face was a mask of silent distress, but his eyes were filled with conflict, confusion. Whether it was because of guilt or something else, I couldn't say yet.

Annie wasn't having it, though. Her disbelief turning into anger.

As I led her father to the cruiser, I could feel her green eyes burning into me, her words chasing after us. "Dad! Tell him you didn't do it! You didn't do it!" She demanded, her voice breaking as tears filled her eyes.

William flinched at her anger but remained silent, like a man who had given up or accepted his fate.

I closed the cruiser door after him, blocking him off from her broken pleas. The weight of it pressed down on me - every arrest had its own effect on me, but this one stung.

I turned to see Annie. She was a force of nature, her anger making her seem older than she was.

"What the hell chief?! I know my dad better than anyone else. He didn't do it!" She shouted, her voice rising above the quiet murmurs of the neighbors gathering in the distance.

I stood there, taking it in. Letting her words bounce off me like rain. I've learn to be a wall in situations like this, because walls don't crumble. "The evidence is there, Annie. You are going to have to stay with a neighbor till the trial ends." I stated, keeping my tone measured. It's about the facts, and the facts were lining up pointing to William.

"Oh yeah, like murdering someone was on his bucket list," she shot back, rolling her eyes. The hurt in her eyes were blinding, the hurt turning into anger and exhaustion before too long.

I noticed her breathing was getting shallow, her chest rising up and down too quickly, overwhelmed. The flashing lights and the curious stares weren't helping either. "Everyone, back inside!" I ordered, my voice cutting through the crowd. I had the officers shut off the lights too. I could at least give her that - a sense of silence in the noise.

I looked back at her, and for a quick heart beat, she looked like the little girl she probably used to be, desperate to hold on to the father she adored. But the heart beat had passed, and she was back to that anger, fists clenched. "I will call you tonight," I promised, my voice still firm. Despite her being a pain most of the time, I was there for her.

As I got into the drivers seat, I saw William in the rear view mirror. He mouthed something to her and I saw her eyes soften for just a moment before I pulled away.

──── ★ ────

Late that night, I finally made the call. Sitting in my office, surrounded by endless case files. I dialed Annie's number

"This is Chief Smith of the Everton police department, is this Annie?" I asked.

"What's going on with my dad?" I heard on the other side of the phone. It was Annie alright.

I got straight to the point, "Your father has to stay in the jail until proven guilty or innocent." I could hear her frustration building, but I had to get it through. "You will need to send him money to talk to him on the phone. Visiting him is not allowed, legally." The law is the law.

I could hear her frustration building that second floor now.

"He also doesn't want you to attend any of the jury meetings." I added. There was a silence on the other end, then a clipped, "Okay, thanks," followed by a sudden click. She'd hung up before I could say anything else. 

I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples. Annie wasn't dumb. She was going to fight for her father, no doubt about it.

I stared at the files spread across my desk, the photos of Andrea Lards body, the crime scene, the testimonies. The town was going to eat this up, but for me, it wasn't about the noise. It was about justice - for Andrea, for her family. And, yes, even for William Neilson if it turned out he was innocent.

No matter how the trial ends, there will be no winners. Just people left with pieces to pick up.

Word count: 928
Day finished: Sep. 26th, 2024

THANK YOU TO MY BETA READER

Quick note: I'm so happy I was FINALLY able to write and edit this chapter, I will get the next chapter out and ready as soon as I can. Academics and Older Sister duties can get in the way sometimes (iykyk).