until proven innocent [novahd]

i.

"I didn't kill him."

"Calm down, we just want to know a bit about yourself." Karen Sabol barked smugly at the man in front of her. She had to be in her mid-40's, her hair tied into a tight ponytail, and her piercing blue eyes stared daggers into James. It took all of his power not to flinch at the sudden intensity of her words.

"Uh, I'm 25." James mumbled shakily.
His quite voice somehow echoed loudly in the bland room.

With walls painted grey and the only furniture being the metal table and seats, the room had an odd sort of comfort. In any normal situation, most would be uncomfortable, almost scared of a place this organized and neatly kept, but in this time of chaos, James couldn't wish for any more. This small room wad the only thing keeping him sane at the moment, especially with a woman who's able to determine your fate.

"Is that all?" She hummed with a smile played across her lips, taking a seat calmly in front of the mourning man.

He shrugged, wordlessly.

"Ok, then." Karen smiled, pulling papers and photos out of a manila envelope. "What's your relationship to Aleksandr?"

"I am his partner." James answered.

"And by partner, you mean romantically. Is that correct?"

"Yea."

"For how long?"

"A little more than 3 years." She nodded calmly at the answer, licking her lips.

"That's pretty long. Would you say you were happy?" She crossed her arms over her chest, with her eyes piercing themselves into James sulking body.

"Yea."

"If that's the case, why was there no proposal on either end?" She motioned her hands in gestures as she spoke. "I mean, if you were happy and together for so long, why not?"

"I-I don't know," His eyes darted around the room in panic, as if that question was a do or die for him. "I-I guess, we just never did."

"James, can I call you James?" Before he had the chance to even nod, she continued quickly. "I'm gonna need you to calm down just a bit. Wouldn't want to seem suspicious, would you?"

"No," He replayed, almost inaudibly.

"Ok, great. Did you guys ever have any sort of conflicts?"

"We fought." James looked up at her, gulping loudly

"What for exactly?" She asked tediously, careful not to miss even one of his facial expressions.

"Um. Jealousy-" He began.

"On who's part?"

"Mainly mine." James paused to think for a moment. "Sometimes his, but mainly mine."

"Ok, what else?"

"Money, house chores, normal things." He shrugged.

"Were you two both financially stable?" She looked up at him.

"Most of the time, yes. Some months better than others."

"Ok, and did your fights ever get physical?"

"Maybe a push or a shove..." He trailed off, thinking about past events that had occured.

"You know, I can't even fucking stand you right now!" Aleks yelled into James' face.