Innocence

P.O.V Detective Langsting

I have been studying this case for several years now and my only leads are three hairs found on the victim and the fingerprints of a man I believe is innocent and I will set things straight even if it takes the rest of my life to figure out as long as the truth is out and this man is set free I can live a happy life knowing I did good, now all I need is to find the people who's hair these belong to we've already ruled out one of them being the victims and the other two belonging​ to a George De'lono and the other belonging to Mya Jones and I fear they were both involved with the murder of our John Doe the work that was done on the man could not have been done from one person but two, our John Doe was a pretty big guy you would have needed one to hold him down and another to do the stabbing and he was stabbed thirty-seven times in the gut and the cuts were way to deep and thought out to have been a man's doing a women was definitely involved I'm sure of it. I'm thinking and thinking of the possibilities and the involved parties of the case when Detective Walsh walks into my office and looks around at all my pictures of the case hung up on my brown pegboard he looks at the files sprawled out on my desk he looks around at everything till his eyes finally​ rest on me he looks at me sadness in his eyes.

"There's been an update on our convict James Rockwell he's been sentenced to the chair he's been scheduled to go in, in three days I'm sorry but if you really want to get the truth out that this man could be innocent then you better hurry because they insist on doing this ASAP. Three days Detective Langsting. Three days."
With that he left shutting my door behind him. I have my leads so that helps rush things along just a bit faster now I just have to find where they are hiding I look through my files and through the list of witnesses that had been hiding behind closed doors some we have already questioned and claim to have only heard rustling sounds and loud commotions coming from outside some say they saw two people one being a tall and bulk-ish figure and the other being short and stocky in size and more feminine looking but no one got a clear look of who and where they ran off to, me already knowing who they are and what they look like all we need is to find them and I know just how to do that, broadcast the pictures. I walk to Detective Walsh's office and tell him of my idea he said we might as well do it since we know who the guilty party is and the warnings gotta be put out there before another death occurs.

The next day
Today is the day we will be broadcasting the pictures we now have two days left to find the real murderers before an innocent man is killed. We all watch the news today watching as they announce the two people and the warnings to watch for them.
"Coming in we have an alert that two people by the names George De'lono and Mya Jones are responsible for the murder of a John Doe if you see these two people please call the number below."
We turned the TV off and we all sat in silence I was the first to speak up.
"Detective Walsh what if they still accuse this man of murder when we find out he really is just a witness."
Detective Walsh signs "I don't​ know what to tell you Detective Langsting he was there when the murder happened and he was covered in blood when the police arrived at the scene we have to think logically​ as far as we know he could be an accomplice to the murder, now until you have hard evidence don't waste my time, now I have to work, have a good day Detective Langsting."
I watch as Detective Walsh walks back towards his office slamming the door behind him I stand here thinking - how can he say that we already have hard evidence we have two other suspects who ran from the scene while one person was with our John Doe if the other two ran why wouldn't the last guy run. That's because he wasn't apart of it, he was only a concerned bystander who was trying to help, that to me seems evident enough but people see his size, the stern face and his tatted body and judge him right away and right now they are judging his as a killer all because of his appearance I will make this right, I will, I promise it-. By 10 p.m. there is a call from a women claiming to have found the women Mya Jones walking into an abandoned building I tell her thank you before hanging up. I run out of my office and run to Detective Walsh's office I rush inside shutting the door behind me
"Detective Walsh a women just called in, she claims to have seen Mya Jones enter an abandoned building."
I look at his expression change from surprise to serious in a split second
"Let's go what are you waiting for tell the others we need to move out now!"
Detective Walsh is already putting on his weapons belt when I leave his office.
"Everybody get ready we've gotta move out. NOW! We've got a lead on Mya Jones."
Everybody rushes some already heading out to their cars waiting for the directions I've yet to tell them but no time I've got to get my gun. I enter my office strapping on my weapons belt and start to head towards my own car I get inside and radio everybody the coordinates to Washington an 8th Street we all head out arriving at the abandoned​ building at 10:30 p.m. we get our guns at the ready, me and Detective Walsh and a few others move out towards the front entrance while the others move out towards the back and the rest stay back to keep cover. I look to Detective Walsh and the rest as i count to three.
"One...Two... Three!" I kick in the door we all file in, guns and flashlights on and at the ready we split up into two's me and Detective Walsh head upstairs and go through a door where we see Mya Jones sitting at a table with well what do you know our missing George De'lono I point my gun at Mya Jones while Detective Walsh points his at George De'lono.
"You are under arrest for the murder of a Mr. John Doe you have the right to remain silent anything you say can and will be held against you in the court of law you have the right to an attorney if you can not afford one, one will be appointed to you. Do you understand your rights?"
We cuff Mya Jones and George De'lono and wait for them to nod in understanding to their rights after they've nodded we escort them out putting them in the back of my car we all get into our cars and head to the station. When we arrive at the station Detective Walsh comes to help me bring them inside and put them in separate interrogation rooms locking the doors behind us. I blow out a sigh after I lock the room I see Detective Walsh walk towards me.
"Good job Langsting you did good I'm leaving the interrogating​ to you but hurry it's already 11:50 p.m. the days almost up and you'll only have until noon tomorrow to rule if that man is innocent before he is put to the chair." I look down "Thank you sir and I will do my best to hurry this along before times up I don't want an innocent man's blood on my hands."
Detective Walsh nods before walking away calling behind him.
"I know you've got this Langsting." He goes into his office I turn to the door where inside is Mya Jones I take a deep breath and step inside once again I shut the door behind me and sit in the chair in front of Mya Jones who looks nervous and maybe even a bit scared to have been caught - this might be easier than I thought it would be - I put my hands on the table leaning forward clasping my hands together I look at Mya Jones who's now fidgeting in her chair.
"So Mya would you like something to drink? Water or coffee perhaps?" She looks at me biting her lip trying to keep it from quivering.
"No I...I'm fine."
"Then we should get started."
I take out my notepad flipping it open to my list of questions.
"We found your hair on the victim so there's no use in lying so my first question is were you involved in the murder of our John Doe?"
"I have nothing to lie about but yes I was involved and you can scratch out your next question because yes George was involved as well."
A look of pure shock was evident on my face why had she admitted to the killing so easily and gave up her partner as well it doesn't make sense.
" Why are you giving in so easily?"
"Because I'm tired of hiding and I'm tired of running what's the use, getting caught was going to happen sooner or later it was only a matter of time so why fight it you guys have the skills to tell when I'm lying anyway there is just no use."
"So then my next question is why and who is our John Doe?"
"His name is Ronnie Wells and we killed him because he saw something he shouldn't have."
"And what did he see."
"Me and George trying to break into someone's home he saw our faces we felt we had no choice so we did what we had to but we were so scared afterwards we forgot to check for other things and when we heard the news report we knew we had left something."
"And you felt stabbing him thirty-seven times was the best way to handle things."
"I wanted to be sure he was dead, we both did."
"Can you tell me one more thing? Were you and George the only ones involved in the murder of Ronnie Wells?"
"Yes." And with that I checked my watch it was already seven a.m. where had time gone? It didn't feel like that long I started the interrogation at twelve a.m. and already eight hours went by. If I took this long for only one interrogation imagine how long the other will take. I've got six hours till James Rockwell is put to the chair I need to hurry! I ran to the room George was being held in and sat down.
"Okay George I don't have much time, just tell what I need to know and cut the bull crap. I don't have the time for this at all." George laughs.
"In a rush there for someone who knows we will never talk." Now its my turn to laugh stopping George's laugh instantly.
"That's where you're wrong George. You see, Mya already admitted to everything even gave you up. So you see it's really pointless to interrogate you but it's required that I do. I have to have both sides before I can conclude anything but you've already started things on the wrong foot. Now I know she is telling the truth and that you will probably just lie to me. So would you like to lie or would you like to confirm what Mya has told me?"
George smiles deviously "I'd like to talk to my lawyer if you don't mind?"
I slammed my fist on the table and stood up knocking my chair over and rushes out. I run to Detective Walsh's office barging in for the millionth time. If I weren't the best he's got, I think I'd probably be fired.
"He's asked for a lawyer." I say in a rush. My heart pounding I keep my breathing even. He's now made this more difficult, now we have to call and wait for the lawyer to show up. Detective Walsh sighs.
"Fine. I'll call and tell them to get here ASAP. We've got five hours left till noon." I walk out and sit in my office waiting. We've now got four hours this has got to hurry it's already nine a.m. I tap impatiently at my desk when Detective Walsh opens my door.
" She's here."
I stand up and follow him out until we're standing in front of a women wearing a grey suit jacket and a grey skirt, with a white shirt under the jacket. She holds a briefcase and wears her hair in a tight bun and wears​ round glasses. She looks more like a teacher more than anything. I greet her anyway, holding my hand out.
"Hi I'm Detective Langsting and you must be...?" She cuts me off. "The lawyer yes." She smiles. "I'm Mara Davis it's nice to meet you. So who will I be representing today?" There's a hint of flirting in her voice she is beautiful don't get me wrong but this is business and it must be dealt with first so I ignore it.
"Ah yes, George De'lono is this way."
I lead her towards the room and I open the door for her. Mara walks inside and takes a seat beside George, while I pick up the one I tipped over earlier and sat down in front of them. She sits with her hands folded, while George sits slumped in his chair, a smirk on his face.
"So tell me, what is it my client is being accused of?"
"He's not being accused of anything we have evidence proving he and his partner Mya Jones, who has already admitted to everything of the involvement of the murder of Ronnie Wells."
Mara clears her throat, "Well that is tough, on my part since I'm supposed to be defending my client but as it being that there's evidence and an admitting of the crime already done it is clear I am really not needed at all, except to say George you might as well just speak up they have everything. Hard evidence they just need you to follow through because either way you are going to be arrested." George sighs.
"Fine whatever, yeah we did it, I'm tired I just want to be left alone now and this seems to be the only way you guys will leave me alone. Just arrest me already I'm done." We sit in silence for a bit. I clear my throat and stand up, "Okay well umm, then I'll just let them know."
I go out the door to find Detective Walsh, outside waiting , surprise on his face.
"Well you have heard he too just admitted to everything , so we can put them both under arrest and I can go to the facility to get Mr. Rockwell." I look at my watch to see I've only got two hours left which means I've really got to hurry it takes an hour an a half to get there, I rush out getting to my car and turn my lights on and speed to the facility as fast as I can , I arrive with only thirty minutes left. I walk into the facility where I walk through a metal detector and it goes off obviously it was going to the security guards come to me I hold up my badge indicating that I am the F.B.I they tell me they still have to search me for mandatory reasons, so I stretch my arms out and they pat me down, they find my gun in my holster and tell me sorry, but I can't have it with me they finally let me pass I look to my watch I now only have 10 minutes to get to the room before they kill him.
"What floor is James Rockwell on?"
"The third floor but he's..." But I'm already gone before he can finish his sentence I get on the elevator and press the number three as the elevator goes up I see I've only got five minutes when the elevator dings I rush out as the doors open I run and turn the corner, I run down the hall and turn another corner, I look at my watch only one more minute I keep running I see the door, when I reach the door I pull it open and I run in yelling. Just as i run inside I hear James we both in unison say.
"I'm innocent."
"He's innocent."
But our words are lost as the switch is pulled. I was too late I couldn't save him, I walk out and slump to the floor my head resting on my hands, I breathe out a shaky breath as I run my hands through my hair just as I see a family walk out a door all are crying I'm guessing they are James's family. I stand and walk towards them breathing heavily my heart pounding loudly I step in front of them.
"Hi I'm Detective Langsting you're James Rockwell's family right?" The family can only nod as they sob even more with the mention of their now deceased family member's name.
"He was innocent." James Rockwell's mother faints everyone yelling for me to just go and so I do and I begin to walk away.