The Police Interrogation

~* At the City Police Station *~

The suspects were brought to the police station for questioning. Garret, still grappling with the loss of Peony, exhibited signs of internal grief.

The officers meticulously noted each person's whereabouts before the incident. The lead police officer, adopting a serious tone, initiated the interrogation, "Since this concerns your wife, Mr. Garret, I'll begin with you."

With desperation evident in his voice, Garret implored, "Officer, can you please bring my wife?"

"Help us with the questions, and maybe we can arrange that. Follow me," responded the officer with a grim expression.

"I'll answer everything," Garret nodded resolutely.

Visibly anxious, Shyla nervously bit her nails. In her mind, she fretted, "If this fool says anything unclear, I'm finished. Peony, of all the ways to die, why trap me like this before your death? Out of 101 ways to die, you chose to haunt me!"

Led into an enclosed cabin—a small, plain room with a table, chairs, and recording equipment, featuring bright lighting to maintain a serious atmosphere—Garret faced the officer's interrogation.

The officer pressed, "Tell me who was with you and your wife in the car today."

"Our family driver, Officer. We were headed to the airport for our honeymoon, and the driver needed a nature break. We were parked in the middle of nowhere, the place where..." Garret's voice trailed off as grief struck again, "Peony... Peony."

Unyielding, the police officer continued, "Who makes up your family?"

"But, Officer, are you suspecting my family?" Garret questioned.

"This is standard procedure. Just cooperate. Tell me who's in your family."

"My mom, dad, my stepbrother Mackerel, and a few maids," Garret confessed.

"And who is your step-parent?"

"My mom."

The officer continued glaring at him, "So, Mr. Garret, tell me in detail after your family driver left. Don't leave out anything."

He surrendered, his voice hoarse as he told his story, "Officer, after the driver left, we were kind of intimate, then her phone rang. Peony's mother called her and I went out. At the same time, an elderly person was trying to cross the road, and I helped her cross. I was out for a smoke when I met Shyla."

He paused.

The officer pressed, "Continue."

Garret resumed sweating, "Her car paused on the other side of the road as its tyre got punctured. I simply helped her change the tyre."

The officer banged on the table, "Don't miss out anything!", He warned.

Gulping, he continued, "We were engaged in a conversation. We were chatting inside the car."

"What were you talking about?", The officer probed.

"Sir, it's getting rather personal."

"Am I the interrogator or you? When I said don't miss out on details, don't. Don't compel me to bring the lie detector for you," The officer continued.

Garret stammered out of fright as he continued, "W-we were t-talking a-about m-my wife. S-she l-liked s-someone i-in h-her h-high s-school."

"Why discuss your wife with her? Who is she to you and your wife?", The officer probed further.

"S-she already told you today," Garret referred to the time Shyla claimed she was his acquaintance.

"You're again interrupting!" He banged the table again. "Tell me clearly."

Garret promptly answered, "I k-know her. She is my friend. S-She knows my wife well. She has known her since childhood."

"So you must have doubted her from the beginning? You must have held a lot of grudge against your wife," The officer looked sharply.

"Y-Yes. B-But I-I will never wish for her death. She can never leave me. I can't live without her. Officer please do something. My wife must be alive. She has to be."

"Calm down, Mr. Garret. Now tell me when was the time you left your wife alone in the car. Even an estimate for how long you left the car before the blast?"

Garret thought and then he answered, "Around 15 minutes maybe."

"15 minutes, okay and your driver?" Officer continued.

"Around 2-3 minutes before I left."

"Is your driver with us?"

"No officer. He might have returned, and...and Peony why did you leave me." Garret continued to wail.

The officer with a decisive look said, "That concludes my interrogation. You wait outside and fill in the form. Constable Han, bring Miss Shyla in."

"Yes Sir!" Constable Han responded.

He escorts Shyla into the room.

Seated, Shyla faces the Officer as the interrogation begins.

"Miss Shyla, enlighten me. Where were you headed?"

Confident, she meets the Officer's gaze. "I was heading to Klinton Bar."

"So early in the morning?" The Officer questions.

"Yes, Officer, that's my own place."

"You run the bar?"

She asserts, "Yes."

The Officer wears a stern expression. "What happened next?"

"My car tyre went flat, and I was stranded on the road. Mechanics declined to help. Then I met Garret. He fixed the car. We chatted, and suddenly, there was a blast."

"What were you discussing?" He asks.

Internally frightened, she maintains composure. "We talked about my high school classmate, his wife. He wanted to learn about her high school days."

"And your opinion on their relationship?" He inquires.

Looking into his eyes, she states, "Nothing. He forced me to tell him about her in exchange for the help he offered. I was cornered. What would I do in that situation, officer?" She says.

"Who taught you that looking straight into my eyes and speaking will rule you out of suspicion?" The Officer retorts.

Breaking form, she admits, "N-no one. It's just that I speak this way," calming her nerves. The Officer appears menacing, as if he could see through her.

"Who is he to you? Why did he corner you?"

Shyla contemplates, thinking, "Why did I say that last bit?"

"He just knows me as his wife's classmate. We had a strained relationship. But trust me, Officer, I didn't do it. I didn't plan the blast."

"I am not blaming you. It's a simple interrogation. How long were you together inside the car?" The Officer continues.

"Well, he was asking me about his wife, and I was answering. It wasn't my plan to stop the car there. It was simply coincidental."

"Do you both have a further relationship? Answer me honestly now. Once the investigation starts and I find your words untrue, you will not be spared. So answer correctly." He pressures her.

Shyla responds promptly, "Sir, Garret and I had a physical relationship before their marriage. Strictly physical, involving money, and nothing else. No emotions attached."

"Do you know the victim's family members personally?" He asks.

"She has only her mother. Her father is already dead."

"Do you know Mr. Garret's family members personally?" He probes.

She thinks and answers, "No, sir."

The Officer bangs the table, shouting, "Do you really not know? Tell me the truth!"

Shyla maintains her volume, "No, Sir!"

"Do you really not know any of his family members?" He continues.

"No, No, No! I don't know anyone," Shyla shakes her head.

He sternly asks, "Don't you know his father?"

"No."

"Stepbrother?"

"No."

"Stepmother?"

Shyla shakes her head violently, "No, no, no. Why would I know Mrs. Gonzalez?"

"Alright. Your interrogation is concluded. Please fill out a form and wait. Constable Han, bring in the next suspect."

The questioning persists. Shyla, still shaken, thinks, "Is he suspecting me? I didn't do anything, but if Gonzalez planned it, I'm done. I will become their perfect scapegoat. No, this can't happen. I need to stay confident."

After the interrogation, the officer emerges.

He announces, "Miss Shyla, Mr. Garret, I need to call your family members for further investigation, as well as the victim's family. All of you must wait here for now."