Possessed

Chapter 20: The Investigation

“Miss Avelda?” he questioned.

I nodded mutely.

“I’m Office Mike Jones. I would like a word with you, if your parents are present at home at the moment, please.” He gestured to his badge as he spoke, where I could see his name spelled out in bold golden letters neatly.

I motioned for him to come in. Some of the color had been restored to my face but now my palms were sweaty. What was he going to ask? What if he saw right through my act?

I raced to my mom to inform her who our guests were after gesticulating for him to take a seat in the drawing room and excusing myself.

“Odette!” I whisper-screamed once I had got back to the phone, “The police…….here! What do I do?!”

“Calm down, Aries,” Odette ordered sternly, “First, breathe in, breathe out. Relax.”

I did as I was told and my breathing slowed down considerably.

“Now listen to me carefully… You are not at fault for this. You didn’t do it yourself. Even though I know it, it’s going to take a lot to convince the police and even your own mother that you’re innocent.” Tears sprung my eyes at the truth in her words. “So, whatever way they ask you. Whatever they ask you, make sure you…”

I listened to her carefully and we rehearsed what would be my story to the police before I hung up, feeling a little braver than before. It was, I speculated, time to face the music. Or in this case, the police.

“It is my believe that you were the last one to be seen with Aaron Sanders- is that so Ms Avelda?” he looked to me for confirmation and I shifted in my seat, uncomfortable under his probing gaze.

“Yes, that’s correct,” I sniffed.

“How close were you with him?”

I noticed the untouched cup of tea on the table that my mother had laden out, along with a platter of biscuits. If he was drinking the tea, he might have been easily distracted so he insisted on listening to what I had to say first.

I glanced up, a little shocked, “You don’t know? We had our first date last night!”

“Yes, ermm,” he looked like he didn’t know how to react to my sudden outburst, “Can you tell me precisely at what time did you get home? Actually it’d be great if you could just revise over what happened between the two of you last night.”

“Well,” I began, trying to sound genuine, “he dropped me off at about nine. I wanted to stay with him longer, but he said he had to go somewhere.”

“At nine?” my mother spoke up from beside me; she sounded surprised, “How come I didn’t hear you come in? Your dad and I were just in the bedroom.”

Gee, thanks for helping me look suspicious mom. The officer stared at me, waiting expectantly for an answer.

“You didn’t hear me. We were really quiet.”

My mom nodded slowly and the police asked, “Back to your story, did Aaron say where he was going?”

I shook my head, biting my lip to feign worry.

“Are you sure there’s nothing more?”  He pressed.

“I don’t think so, sir,” I replied curtly.

“One more thing, where exactly did the two of you go for this date?”

“We went to the…..movies first, then had dinner at Sue’s Diner.”

“Uh-huh, you can go if you want, Ms. Avelda,” he told me and I got up, “But wait.”

I turned back, half in my steps.

“I hope you can be of help in case we’re in need of further questioning and answers.”

“I don’t know what else to tell you,” I informed him, “I’ve already relayed everything I know.”