Twinsies: Double Trouble

Chapter 11

The fluorescent lights of the police station buzzed incessantly, casting a harsh glow over Valerie and Brittany Creel as they sat in uncomfortable plastic chairs outside Officer Chen's office. Their mother, Susan, paced nervously nearby, her heels clicking a steady rhythm on the linoleum floor.

Valerie's mind raced, replaying the events of the past few days over and over. Kirsten in their room, scared and desperate. Kirsten gone without a trace the next morning. And now, somehow, Kirsten dead. None of it made sense.

The door to Officer Chen's office opened, and he gestured for the twins to come in. "Girls, please, have a seat," he said, his voice gentle but firm.

As they settled into the chairs across from his desk, Officer Chen leaned forward, his dark eyes serious. "I know this is a difficult time for you both," he began, "but I need you to understand the gravity of the situation. We have conclusive evidence that Kirsten Novak died on the night you claim to have seen her in your bedroom."

Brittany flinched at his words, and Valerie reached out to squeeze her hand. "But that's impossible," Valerie said, fighting to keep her voice steady. "We both saw her. We talked to her."

Officer Chen sighed, rubbing his temples. "I understand that's what you believe, but the facts don't support it. The medical examiner has placed Kirsten's time of death between 1 and 3 AM on that night. There's no way she could have been in your room."

"Then how do you explain the note?" Brittany burst out, her voice trembling. "The note she left under our window?"

A look of confusion crossed Officer Chen's face. "What note?"

Valerie shot her sister a warning look, but it was too late. They hadn't mentioned the note to anyone, unsure of what to make of it themselves.

"I... we found a note," Valerie said slowly, deciding that honesty might be their best option at this point. "It was in Kirsten's handwriting. It said she was sorry and that she couldn't put us in danger."

Officer Chen's eyebrows rose. "And you're just mentioning this now? Girls, withholding evidence in a potential homicide investigation is a serious offense."

"We didn't think it was real!" Brittany protested. "We thought maybe we'd dreamed it all, like Val said before. It didn't make sense with what you told us about Kirsten being... being dead."

Officer Chen leaned back in his chair, studying them intently. "I'm going to need to see that note. And I'll need to speak with your parents about having a handwriting expert examine it."

Valerie nodded numbly. "Of course. We'll bring it in."

"Now," Officer Chen continued, his tone softening slightly, "I know this is all very confusing and upsetting. But I need you to tell me everything you remember about the last time you saw Kirsten. The real last time, before the night in question."

For the next hour, Valerie and Brittany recounted their last interactions with Kirsten, careful to leave out anything related to their investigation or the Great Church. By the time they finished, both girls were emotionally exhausted.

As they stood to leave, Officer Chen stopped them. "One more thing," he said, his expression grave. "The medical examiner found some... unusual things during the autopsy. Signs of prolonged malnutrition, strange marks on Kirsten's skin. And traces of an unidentified substance in her system."

Valerie felt a chill run down her spine. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that there's more to Kirsten's death than meets the eye," Officer Chen replied. "And I have a feeling you girls might know more than you're letting on. If there's anything else you're not telling me, now would be the time."

Valerie and Brittany exchanged a look, years of twin telepathy allowing them to communicate without words. Finally, Valerie turned back to Officer Chen. "We've told you everything we know," she lied, hating herself for it but knowing they couldn't trust anyone with the full truth. Not yet.

Officer Chen studied them for a long moment, then nodded. "Alright. But if you remember anything else, anything at all, you come to me immediately. Understood?"

The girls nodded, then hurried out of the office, both feeling the weight of their secrets pressing down on them.