I wake up the next morning with a splitting headache and nausea. I groan and go to stretch, but something keeps my arm from moving. Confused, I look over at my arm and immediately freeze; I'm handcuffed to my headboard.
"What the fu-"
"Scarlet." Ben interrupts, startling me and causing me to jump slightly because I hadn't noticed him in the room.
"Ben? What's happening?" I ask, panicked.
"Do you remember last night?"
"Yeah. We went to the nightclub and danced and drank and had fun. It was great." I reply, smiling at the thought.
The look on his face tells me that it isn't the only thing that happened. My stomach flip flops.
"What happened, Ben? Why am I handcuffed?"
"You said something last night. Confessed something to me. Something I don't want to believe, but you kept talking and told me more stuff and I'm starting to believe it. I don't want to believe it. I really don't, Scar. But you need to answer some questions."
He steps off to the side and I can feel myself pale, my stomach drop, and my palms go clammy; sitting there on the floor is the safe. The only thing that can royally screw me.
I look up at him with my eyes wide and mouth slightly open, shaking my head back and forth quickly.
I can still get away with it. I just need to play my cards right. He still has the weakness of loving me, I just need to use that to my advantage.
"Scarlet, what is inside this safe?"
"Personal records and some money just in case something happens and I need it. Like for instance, when I was in the hospital. After I got released and the bill came, I was able to pay for it with some of the money I have in there. Why do you ask?" I respond with as much sincerity I can muster, my voice completely innocent. I look up at him with my large doe eyes, blinking a few times.
I can see his inner turmoil, struggling to separate his feelings for me and his profession. Hesitantly, he says, "Scar, you told me that you killed Amelia."
"I was just drunk."
"You also said that there was a safe that was hidden in your floorboards under your rug that was in your living room that contained evidence to go with the case. Low and behold, here's the safe. I found it right where you said it would be."
"I was joking around baby, I have a dark sense of humor when I'm drunk. You know I couldn't do anything like that, I couldn't have done it. I was trapped in there too, under one of the beams. I almost died too." I look at him pleadingly.
"Scarlet, what's the combination to the safe?" he asks softly.
"Why? I already told you what's in there."
"Scarlet, please! I need to open it." he yells in exasperation, making me flinch at his sudden outburst. He winces when I flinch, clearly upset that he scared me. "Cupcake, I'm an officer of the law. You told me something that pertains to the case I'm working on that I can't just drop. Even if you were just kidding, I have to take what you said seriously. So, please. Tell me the pin number so I can open it and see what's inside and clear everything up. Alright? I'm just doing my job."
"Benny..." I whisper.
I see a few of his defenses lower.
"Benny, these hurt." I gesture to the cuffs. "Can you please take them off? I mean, are these really necessary? I'm already feeling bad because of my hangover... They're digging into my wrists." I whimper, tears in my eyes.
His face crumbles. "I'm sorry, Cupcake." he responds hoarsely.
"Benny, please? They really hurt." A few tears slip down my cheeks.
He comes over and sits next to me on the bed. "I'm so sorry, baby. I didn't think they were on so tight." He places one of his large hands over my wrist.
"So, you'll take them off?" I ask hopefully.
"Yes. But only if you tell me the pin to the safe."
I sigh.
He's not gonna give up. I'm caught. Might as well go with my head held high.
He uncuffs me and enters the pin, the door clicking open. He pulls out medical files, personal records, a few stacks of money, and a black box. He opens the box and immediately drops it, gagging.
When he looks at me, the heartbreak evident on his face, I feel nothing. When he walks over to me, stands me up, and cuffs me again, I say nothing.
"Scarlet Ash, you are under arrest for the murder of Amelia Brown."
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