Escaping Love (Rewrite) [Book #1]

Chapter 38

Disclaimer/Trigger Warning: This chapter mentions drugs and rape!

|| CHARLOTTE ||

|| Wednesday, February 5th ||

After going through all my friends, they all told the truth. Nothing seemed suspicious, and Officer King agreed with me as we stared at their discussion.

We watched as Sabrina came in the door a couple of minutes later. I sighed, letting out a yawn.

"Tired?" Officer King asked.

"Kind of," I said.

We listened to the questions that were asked to Sabrina.

"Where were you and what were you doing at about 7:00 PM on the 31st of January?"

"I got called in to cover a sick coworker at the bar Illusion," she answered.

"Okay. How familiar are you with a woman named Charlotte Evans?"

"We met a few weeks back at the bar. She was there with her friend Madison, in case she drank too much. I met her for the second time on Friday. She came in saying she was relaxing and watching over friends. She asked for a soda, and I made the joke that she didn't want any alcohol, and she shook her head. So, I got her a Sierra Mist. While I was a few feet away, grabbing her order, I heard a woman talking with her. They seem close. The woman, I think her name was Carmen, asked if she was hitting on me."

I sit here remembering that conversation. "Proceed," Officer Morgan said.

"We confirmed to Carmen about our friendship. Besides, I have a fiancée, and we're happy together. After I got Charlotte's drink, I left to help other customers."

"Okay, did you proceed to see anything else after you left?"

"I did see her soda fizz up more than usual. But I just thought it was because she took a sip of her drink. When I finally walked past her again, she held her drink and walked away from the counter. The bar was pretty busy that night, so I was preoccupied with other customers."

"Okay," he said. "Are you familiar with the drug named Rohypnol?"

"No, never heard of it," Sabrina said after thinking about it.

"It was placed in Charlotte's drink after you served it to her," Officer Morgan said.

"I'm sorry, I've never heard of the drug. It would be against my protocol as a bartender to harm customers even if I dislike them. I maintain a working distance while I'm visibly seen on the bar's camera as I make drinks. The security footage guards both the alcohol behind the counters and tracks the bartender behind it. I wouldn't do such a ridiculous thing to lose my job, and get placed in jail," Sabrina said.

"Are you saying you dislike Charlotte?"

"No, that's not what I'm saying at all," her tone rose, and she wasn't happy with this question. "I hardly know the woman. We met for about ten minutes, and she's lovely, I wouldn't be able to dislike someone as kind as her."

"Thank you," Officer Tran said as he finished scribbling notes.

"Is Charlotte okay, though?" Sabrina asked after a while of silence.

"She's doing fine. Those are all the questions that we have. We'll keep in touch and will come to the bar and get an eye on the footage. You are free to leave the station. Sorry for keeping you so long," Officer Tran said.

Sabrina nodded, and Officer Morgan led her out. I sighed, not even knowing that I was holding my breath.

"Would you like water?" Officer King asked.