Arrested
"I told you there was nothing here," January said, relieved.
"Alright, we're sorry for the trouble. Our apologies," Detective James replied.
"Don't apologize yet!" Ethan snapped, glaring at January. "You can fool them, but not me."
"Ethan, enough! You're grasping at straws. We're done here—you're coming to the station," Detective James ordered.
"I'm not lying! I know where she hid the drugs!" Ethan insisted.
"I don't even know you! Stop lying!" January cried.
"The drugs are in her foam mattress," Ethan said coldly.
"Are you kidding me? " January hissed.
"Tear it open. You'll see," Ethan urged.
"No! That's my only mattress!"
"We'll check it. If we find nothing, we'll replace it," Detective James bargained.
"Fine. You owe me a new one then!" January said, defeated.
Detective James pulled out a knife and sliced into the foam. Digging deep, he pulled out a sealed package, then another, and another. January stared, horrified.
"Let me go! I don't know how that got there! This is a setup!" she screamed as the other detective grabbed her arms.
"January, you'll need to come to the station for questioning," Detective James said firmly.
"You did this!" she shouted at Ethan, who flashed a wicked grin.
Detective James made a call, and minutes later, a police van arrived. Despite her pleas, January was handcuffed and shoved inside alongside Ethan. The van sped off, leaving the bridge and her fragile hope of freedom behind.
As January sat in the police van, her mind flashed back to when she'd returned to her parents' house at 15, hoping to find answers. Back then, the property was heavily guarded by men in all-black suits with guns, the same men she'd fled from years earlier. It felt like they'd been waiting for her. She'd vowed never to go back.
Now, she glanced at the officers in the van, praying they had no ties to those men. "Why did Ethan frame me? Is he working for the people hunting me?"She thought, as she couldn't piece it together.
The van stopped at the police station. Paparazzi swarmed outside, shouting questions at the detectives, Ethan, and January. Thankfully, officers shielded her, and her hoodie hid her face.
Inside, Detective James confronted another officer: "Why are reporters here?!"
"Someone filmed your confrontation earlier. It's viral, but we're taking it down," the officer replied.
"Good. Keep the public out of this," Detective James growled.
"Maybe you should've handled it quietly instead of causing a scene," January muttered, thinking of their chaotic arrest on the sidewalk.
"What did you say?" Detective James turned sharply.
"You caused this mess. If you wanted secrecy, you shouldn't have arrested him in public," she said flatly, refusing to back down.
"Says the girl who claims she didn't do drugs even though they were found in her possession," Detective James retorted.
"You can't prove they're mine. A good detective wouldn't jump to conclusions. This is a setup! If you were in my shoes, what would you do?" January fired back.
"You've got a sharp tongue," he muttered.
"Sharp enough to slice through your pride. You detectives and cops act all righteous, but you're the most corrupt. I wouldn't be surprised if they paid you all for this," she hissed.
"Enough! You're in a police station watch your mouth," Detective James snapped, his jaw tight.
"What if I don't? You're not even denying it," January scoffed.
"Take them to interrogation now!" Detective James barked. An officer led her and Ethan away.
Director of Police William Bill approached, shaking James' hand. "What's the situation?"
"We found Ethan, but the drugs were tied to someone else," James explained, summarizing the case as they walked to William's office.
"Where are the drugs now?" William asked, settling into his chair.
"Gage is bringing them. He's still sweeping the area,"James said, referring to his partner.
"This feels off. We've never linked anything to this 'January' girl. I need to question her myself, there's more here," William said, rising. James followed him out.
January sat in the interrogation room, staring at her nails and praying they'd see her innocence. Director William Bill, a man in his forties, entered and sat across from her, Detective James lingering behind.
"I'm William Bill, Director of Police," he said.
"January. An orphan," she replied flatly, meeting his gaze.
"You know why you're here. I have questions," William said.
"I'm accused of something I know nothing about," January snapped.
"The drugs were found in your possession. No one will believe you," he countered.
"Then figure it out yourselves," she said.
"You're not scared?" William asked.
"Of course I'm scared! I know that doing drugs can result in jail time if you're found guilty. But I'm more scared of you all conspiring to frame me. You want a scapegoat to parade for the public—'look how great we are!' I've lived on the streets for eight years, but I'm not stupid," she spat.
William and James exchanged startled glances.
"Your system's corrupt. Fix that before 'fixing' anyone else. I'm done talking. Get me a lawyer," January said, slumping forward and resting her head on the table, dismissing them.
The two men walked out silently, their pride stung.
"That girl talks too much," Detective James muttered.
"She can talk all she wants. For now, get her a lawyer, this case might go to court," William replied.
"What if she's telling the truth? What if she knows nothing about the drugs?" James asked.
"We can't trust anyone. And I definitely don't trust her until we uncover the truth," William said firmly.
"What about Ethan? He insists he knows her," James pressed.
"Let's go find out," William said, striding ahead. James sighed and followed.
January sat in silence, lost in thought after James and Williams left. "I talk too much," she whispered to herself.
She held onto the hope that she would be released by the next day, but little did she know, the events unfolding were far more complex and dangerous than she could have ever imagined, and her situation was about to become even more dire.
And escaping it? Not going to be easy.