INT. INTERROGATION ROOM B - AFTERNOON
Two people sit in a dimly lit room, facing each other across a black metal table.
One of them is Detective Chris, who reads a file sitting on the table before him. He mouths the words quietly, his eyebrows occasionally twitching.
The other inhabitant of the room is WANDA NING (28) the woman from the train station bathroom, still in the clothes she wore yesterday. Her hands are locked in handcuffs in front of her. Her hair is unkempt and she has dark bags under her eyes. She watches Detective Chris closely, flinching every time he shifts in his seat.
Detective Chris places down the file, closing it. He stares at the woman evenly. After a moment of tense silence, he smiles.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
Wanda Ning. 28 years old, third-generation Chinese American immigrant. A second-grade teacher at Little Demons Elementary School. Not a single black mark on your record. No fights in school, suspensions, DUIs - not even a parking ticket! That's impressive. You are a model citizen of this city.
The detective stands. He slams his hands on the table and leans toward Wanda. His eyes narrow.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
So why oh why are you the lead suspect in the murder of Emma Harp?
Wanda scowls, leaning back.
WANDA NING
I already told you: I didn't kill anybody! I don't even know her!
DETECTIVE CHRIS
And yet, you were the only one found at the crime scene, with her blood on your hands.
WANDA NING
Wouldn't you investigate if you saw blood on the floor?
DETECTIVE CHRIS
Sure. But why didn't you call the police then? If you saw the body, shouldn't that naturally be your first response?
WANDA NING
(hesitating)
I...
DETECTIVE CHRIS
You...? You what? What are you trying to say, Ms. Ning?
WANDA NING
(frustrated)
I-I thought I could help her! I just...I saw the body a-and I just...I panicked. I started shaking her, thinking she was just, like, I dunno, unconscious but...but she didn't wake up and-
(sniffling)
And that's when those girls came and-
She stops talking, holding her handcuffed hands to her face. Her breathing quickens as she gasps heavily.
Detective Chris pushes off of the table. He walks around to Wanda's side. She watches him through her fingers.
He squats, putting his head level with hers.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
(gently)
This doesn't look very good for you, Ms. Ning. You know that, don't you?
She nods slowly.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
There are no witnesses that can prove your statements. No cameras that caught your perspective. I'm sure you understand what that means to my superiors.
Wanda shudders, sobbing through her hands.
WANDA NING
But...but I didn't kill her...
Detective Chris stands and walks around the back of Wanda's chair. He raps his knuckles on the table, making Wanda flinch.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
How can you prove that, though? The chief thinks you're the prime suspect. Alone with the body, all bloodied up, immediately defensive - the chief thinks that makes you look guilty.
WANDA NING
I-
DETECTIVE CHRIS
She wants to charge you with first-degree murder. Thirty years in prison! I think it's a little extreme, but well, you know. With a murder case as extreme as this one, the chief is pulling out all the stops.
Wanda drops her hands. She stares at the detective in shock, tears running down her cheeks.
WANDA NING
That's not-that's not fair! I didn't kill anybody!
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
The detective shrugs. He sits on the edge of the table, folding his hands on his lap.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
Your testimony doesn't really matter when the chief and all the evidence this department has gathered points to you-
(he points at her)
As the culprit. The chief's noticed some other similarities between Emma Harp's death and the murder of two other women last night. She's thinking about tacking those onto you as well. Probably another thirty for each one.
WANDA NING
(fearful)
What women? Who else died? I don't- How could-how could-
DETECTIVE CHRIS
Of course, the charges will only go through to court if the lead detective - which is me - agrees with them. Which I don't.
Wanda pauses, gaping at him. She lowers her hands, clenching them tightly. She turns away and looks down at the table then back up at Detective Chris.
WANDA NING
...What?
DETECTIVE CHRIS
(smiling)
I don't think you did this, Ms. Ning.
Wanda freezes. Her eyes narrow and she tries to cross her arms. The handcuffs stop her so she holds her arms against her chest, her fists pressing up against her chin.
WANDA NING
But...you were saying all those things and-and making feel terrible-
Detective Chris scratches the back of his head.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
Yeah. That's on me. Really, I just wanted to see if you'd break. Try to cut a deal with me or something. Spending ninety years in jail doesn't sound too pleasant but, who knows?
(shrug)
You might've caught a break if you went through with a deal. Glad you didn't, though, because it proves me right.
Wanda stares at him, mouth agape. Her lips form words but no sound comes out. She begins to shake, trembling so violently her chair rattles.
WANDA NING
So...you let me think...that you'd put me in prison for nearly a decade...to prove you right?
DETECTIVE CHRIS
Well, you might still go to prison. You still *are* the prime suspect and the chief might not hear me out on my theories of your innocence...
WANDA NING
(angry)
Why should I believe you?
Detective Chris stands and walks to his side of the table. He places one hand on the file, drumming his fingers on top.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
Simple: because it doesn't make sense. Like I said before, you're an upstanding citizen. Nothing in your file mentions mental instability - despite working with seven-year-olds on a weekly basis - and you don't have a history of even occasional violence. And, as you said, you don't know Emma Harp. There's no logical reason for you to kill her, despite all evidence pointing otherwise.
He holds up one finger.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
Except, not *all* evidence says this.
WANDA NING
What are you talking about? I thought you said there were no cameras?
DETECTIVE CHRIS
That is true. However, the definitive lack of a weapon on your person makes it highly unlikely you were able to cause such a fatal wound to Ms. Harp. The search team couldn't find any knives in the area either.
WANDA NING
So then...why does the chief think I'm the one who did it?
DETECTIVE CHRIS
(shrugging)
You're a likely scapegoat. Easy to prove you were, at least, there at the scene of the murder, even if there's no logical conclusion that you did it. But since no one in this city saw what happened, nobody can also say that you didn't do it.
Wanda slumps down in her chair.
WANDA NING
So what am I going to do?
DETECTIVE CHRIS
You? Nothing. Me, try to convince my superior officer that there might just be someone outside of this city who can help you.
Wanda furrows her eyebrows. She sits up and cocks her head to the side.
WANDA NING
But you said there was no one here that could prove my innocence.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
Wordplay. No one in this city, someone outside of this city...Get it?
Wanda stares at him.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
No? Okay, well, that's fine. I got it anyway. So, in the meantime, you're going to stay where the officers can keep an eye on you while I convince my boss I'm not a crazy person.
He gives her a thumbs up. She continues to stare at him.
Clearing his throat, Detective Chris walks over to the door of the interrogation room. He opens it and calls out to a passing officer.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
Officer Lewinsky! Hey, hey, I need you to take Ms. Ning over here to a nice little cell where she won't be bothered by our other less than pleasant visitors. Can you do that for me?
OFFICER LEWINSKY (21)nervously enters the interrogation room. He salutes the detective hastily.
OFFICER LEWINSKY
(with a lisp)
W-will do, sir.
Detective Chris smiles warmly at him.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
It’s fine, Lewinsky. She won’t bite.
OFFICER LEWINSKY
(blushing)
A-ah, of course, sir.
The officer approaches Wanda. He reaches out to put his hand behind her back but she stands before he can touch her. He flinches back slightly before glancing at Detective Chris.
Detective Chris watches with a bemused expression on his face.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
Let's be nice, Ms. Ning. Officer Lewinsky will be keeping you company for the next few days. Best make friends!
Wanda scowls and walks to the door, Officer Lewinsky following close behind her. She stops just before the door and side eyes the detective.
WANDA NING
Thanks for believing me.
The detective nods at her and the two leave the room.
Detective Chris picks up the file on the table and takes a deep breath.
DETECTIVE CHRIS
Let's hope this works...
He leaves the interrogation room, shutting the door behind him.