The Dancer | Wattys2018 | COMPLETED

1 - Recorded Interview

Bold - Madison

Italics - Officer Rhodes

"Madison Perelli?"

"Correct."

"Born August 2nd 2001?"

"Yes."

"Daughter of Sofia and Miguel Perelli?"

"Yes, Officer."

"I have to be straight up with you Madison, just to get this out of the way with."

"Sure."

"Did you murder your parents?"

"No, sir."

"Do you know who did?"

"No."

"Anybody hate you or your parents?"

"Enough to kill them? No."

"Describe to  me the events that happened the day your parents were murdered."

"I went dance practise at eight o'clock in the morning. Mom and dad stay home on Saturday; Dad usually reads the paper and mom meets with her tea party friends."

"Who are they? The tea party friends you mentioned?"

"All ladies older than the age of forty five, incapable of hurting a fly. Anna, Miriam and Grace."

"Could they be potential suspects?"

"I mean, go ahead and talk to them. But they knew my mom since primary school back in Italy. They raised me like their own daughter when my parents were doing performances. They would never hurt my parents."

"Okay, continue."

"I got home from practise at noon."

"What dance do you associate with?"

"Ballet. I'm a ballerina."

"Continue."

"So, I got home and they were both talking about opening up a dance school."

"Had they told anyone else about this? Potential business partners?"

"No. This was the first time they had spoken about it. And really, if they did, the business partners would want my parents alive, considering my parents would be the reason the school would attract dancers to begin with."

"True. Good point. So continue."

"At four in the afternoon we went to a restaurant because it was my parents' twenty year marriage anniversary. We ate there for a few hours and came home at around seven. We rented a movie to watch, my parents' favourite, The Sound Of Music. Some old movie from 1965. I watched it with them and then we all called it a night at around eleven. We went to bed, and I wasn't even asleep when I heard my mom's scream. This was around midnight. I remember because I stayed in my bed. Mom usually has nightmares like that. Sleep paralysis, where she can't move and like, her nightmares are real bad."

"So you thought nothing of the scream?"

"No, it was normal. She had them a few times a week."

"Alright. So what happened after that?"

"I ended up falling asleep, and then in the morning, something wasn't right. Sunday morning is when my parents take me to my dance performances. They weren't awake yet and it was already nine. The dance was at ten. So I went into their room and..."

"Take your time, Madison."

"There was blood... everywhere... The white bedsheets were dark red and blotchy... I fell on my knees... I think I even blacked out for a bit..."

"So when did you call emergency services."

"Around ten thirty. I missed my performance as well."

"Did you notice any open windows, signs of a break in?"

"Nothing at all. No smashed glass. No broken doors."

"Any points of entrance to your parents' room that we should know about?"

"I mean, there is one place but it was blocked up."

"Tell me about it."

"The basement. There's a hatch from their room down into the basement."

"Where's this hatch?"

"Under their bed."

"You know the stab wounds on your parents were through their backs. And there was damage done to the mattress and the frame of the bed."

"You're saying they came through the basement?"

"I'm saying it's very possible."

"I'm not safe in that house, am I?"

"What makes you say that?"

"They murdered my parents, why not me?"

"We're not sure yet, Madison. We really have no idea."

** Author's Note **

So, this is just the first chapter and I used an interview for quick introductory purposes to the story. The rest of the story will have the normal structure and format. I hope you enjoyed it and thank you!