Surrender

Chapter Twenty Two

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

She takes out a folder and sets it on the table using her index finger to lightly flip open the cover. There are papers and pictures of the fire inside and my stomach twists uncomfortably.

“Why don’t we start with your account of the fire.” She says, leaning her elbows onto the table, covering the majority of the file.

I take a deep breath. “I woke up and heard strange noises coming from outside and when I went to the window I saw…I saw the flames. I ran outside and tried to find a way in, but it was too late, so I watched it burn to the ground.” Despite the fight with Louis, my voice found its way back to the lifeless monotone from before. Her face remains emotionless and unchanging, a perfect poker face.

“How long, would you say, had the house been burning before you woke up and saw it?” I stop and consider her question before jumping right in on the answer.

“Maybe an hour, the entire structure was ablaze by the time I made it outside. After that it started to crumble and fall.” I’m doing alright so far, granted it’s only the second question. She nods this time, taking a peek at the file under her arms.

“And you were asleep until that point?” She asks. I feel a chill slither up my spine and I know exactly where these questions are going. Louis was right.

“Yes I was.” I say, trying to keep my face expressionless. She rolls the questions off of her tongue one right after the other.

“Why weren’t you sleeping at your house that night?” She asks.

My mouth is dry and my throat is scratchy. “Darcie and I had been staying at the house next door for a few days prior to the fire.”

“And why is that?” Her tone suggests that she’s genuinely curious, but her face says otherwise.

“We couldn’t stay at my house.” As the questions steer towards Peter I get more and more nervous.

“Because of…Peter. Is that correct?” She asks as she tosses her ponytail over her shoulder.

“Yes it is.” I’m beginning to wonder how much information she got from Harry and Louis.

“Could you tell me who Peter is, Rae?” I wipe my hands on my shorts and clasp them in my lap.

“Peter is- was- Darcie’s boyfriend.” I cringe a little and look away. I’m never going to get used to referring to them in the past tense.

“What happened between them?” I look up at her and see that her and hold her gaze, the fear I felt before coursing through me.

“They broke up before the summer holiday.” I say in a shaky voice. She sighs and shakes her head at me, hiding a smile. She’s in her element, she knows exactly what she’s doing.