CHAPTER 3

     After the long silence at the police station, a tall fair man in uniform walked into the room and sat opposite me.

     "Good day, Miss Ashley Berk." he greeted nicely. 

     "Hi. I hope I'm not in some kind of trouble?"

     "As long as you choose to remain honest with us. There's no need to fear or lie to us, Miss Berk. Just be honest with us and I won't get violent."

     "Violent?" I swallowed a lump of saliva. I felt like a criminal even though I knew I wasn't.

     "Where were you last night?"

     "I went on a date with my boyfriend but things didn't turn out well so I went over to the club at street 56 to spend time with my friend." He brought out a pen and wrote down what I had said. I had seen this in movies but never had I thought that I would be in such a sticky situation.

     "Do you know Richard Smith?"

     Richard Smith? The handsome guy I had met the previous night, the guy Kylie thought to be my dream prince. Why had the police mentioned his name? Is he a criminal? Could he be involved with what happened the previous night? Was that why I fainted. All these went through my head as I watched the FBI agent speechlessly.

     "Miss Berk."

     "Yes?"

     "Is everything okay?"

     "Yes."

     "You seem tense."

     "No. I'm alright. Thanks."

     "Back to my question. How are you related to Richard Smith?"

     "He's just a friend from the previous night. Last night was our first time"

     "An eyewitness that saw you two said you weren't just talking like people meeting for the first time."

     "He was nice to me, that's why I felt so free in talking to him. I don't even know where he stays or what he does for a living."

     "You and Richard left the club at around 11:25 pm. Exactly to where?"

     "To the balcony."

     "The balcony huh?"

     "Yes."

     "You were at the club at street 56 and that small house has a balcony?"

     "Yes. A small house can have a balcony. I and Richard went up there."

     "So, you want me to believe that you went to the club because your boyfriend broke up with you and then you accidentally bumped into a mysterious guy who asked you to the imaginary balcony and you followed him without any attempt of refusal, and then you went home. And suddenly the cops showed up at your residence this morning."

     "That's exactly what I've been trying to say to you."

     "Miss Berk! Do you think I'm stupid?" He banged the table so loud that the cup of coffee which was placed neatly on the table poured.

     "No. Why in the world would I think you are stupid?"

     "Miss Berk, all I'm asking for is the truth. You have one last chance to say the truth or I will have to lock you up and get the truth out of you myself."

     "I've just told you the truth, Mr. Cedric. Richard and I parted ways after I left to go check on my friend."

     "Here are pictures of you with Richard at 11:45 pm." He handed me the pictures. "And, Richard Smith was murdered at 11:46 pm."

     "What! No! This can't be true. I'm such a terrible person. He asked me for my number. Perhaps, if I had stayed a little bit longer he won't have died."

     "Miss Berk, no amount of tears will get you out of this mess. Do you know who Richard Smith was? His parents have asked me to 

to bring his murderer to book."

     "Just because I was last seen with him doesn't make me a criminal.  Why in hell would I want to murder someone I was just meeting for the first time." 

     "Money. " a tall blonde girl walked in with her arms around her chest.  "You couldn't take your eyes off him because he's rich, that's why you've been spending the night with him. And let me guess,  he told you he has a fiance and he was tired of seeing you that's why you murdered him. Don't you feel ashamed of yourself?  How could you even stand here and be defending yourself?  Officer!  Lock this brat up." She screamed. 

     "Excuse me, lady,  I'm not a criminal. I know my right as a citizen and you can't lock me up without any solid evidence. I haven't done anything wrong so I don't see any reason why I should feel ashamed."

     "You are so cheap. I'm going to teach you a lesson." She gestured toward me. Before she could raise her hand to my face a young handsome man entered the room and pulled her by the waist. 

     "That's enough, Amalia.  Remember what the doctor said. Stress isn't good for the baby."

     "Nate,  she is Richards' murderer. She killed your best friend. She's no good. I won't spare her. "

     "Leave that to the police to decide. If you touch her these people will lock you up."

     "Let me see who dares to do that." She pulled me by my hair. 

     "Amalia!" Nathan pulled her to the wall. "Amalia, you're not the only one having a rough time.  He wasn't just my friend he was my brother. I never went anywhere without him.  He was family to me. But you don't see me going around harassing people just to satisfy my pain. Amalia, please let's handle this like civilized adults. Okay?"

     "I hate you so much." She looked at me for a while and stormed out. 

     "Cedric, that's enough for today. She's under a lot of stress already. None of these 

Is helping at all. Just close this case."

     "The case won't be closed till I say so. I will not let my son's murderer go freely."

     "Mum?" He looked at me for a while and then turned to look at her.  "Okay, mum. We would do as you have said. Please wait in the car,  I will join you in a sec. "

     "Sure."

     "I will take my leave also."

     "Nathan." I felt my hands shivering on my lap. 

     "Yes? "

     "Um,  I'm very sorry. I know it must be very hard for you. On one hand, is your mom and on the other is your girlfriend."

     "Amalia ain't my girlfriend. She is, well,  Richard's fiancee. She's carrying his child as well. I'm sure you understand why she reacted that way. She's usually not like that. "

     "Yeah,  I get it now. It's not easy at all. I can't imagine myself in her shoes. I understand what you are going through. Losing someone you love isn't easy at all.  I've gone through that experience. He isn't dead but the pain is relatable. If you ever feel like you need me I'm always there."

     "Thanks um... "

     "Ashley. "

     "Thanks, Ashley. I will leave first. Well, I guess this is goodbye till we hopefully cross paths again."

     "Sure."

     "By the way,  you have such a beautiful name and beautiful eyes. Don't take my compliments the wrong way."

     "The one who needs that advice is your late brother's fiancee. If she ever starts liking you,  people are gonna think she murdered your brother."

     "I know you are only looking out for my family when you say that but she's carrying the rightful heir to my family. I can't just push her out that easily. Plus, Richard truly loved her. Bye."

     "Bye. Officer can I leave now. It's all because of you I didn't go to work today."

     "Yes, you can. But just know that you might return here often for questioning till Richards' murderer is found."

     "I won't rest either till that person who's trying to ruin my image is locked up."

     "You may go."

     "Hey girl, how did it go?" Kylie and Rebecca rushed up to me the moment they saw me coming out. 

     "Please don't talk to me." I increased my pace. 

     "We are sorry. We tried our best to come in but there were a lot of reporters here waiting to interview you. Luckily, Nathan came out here and cleared the whole misunderstandings."

     "Wow! He did that?"

     "Yes. But why did the police call you here? Did something terrible happen?" Kylie asked. 

     "Mmm. Richard is dead."

     "What!"