The rest of the weekend passed by without much happening. I helped my Dad clean out the goat pins and refill the chicken feeders, although there was a small mishap that had my Dad asking a few too many questions.
I was attempting to move the mobile chicken coup. It's on wheels but it's still pretty old and homemade, so you gotta give it some strength to move it. Well, I forgot myself out of habit and pushed it a little too hard, causing the coup to crash into one of our small tractors.
Luckily, my Dad never actually saw me push the coup, so I was able to act just as confused as he was, and there wasn't any damage except for him calling me a dumbass. Lesson learned, If others struggle with it, I have to pretend I'm struggling too.
It was now Monday morning.
‘Good morning ANNA.’
^That is a strange custom, but regardless, Good morning Alex.^
Today was a big day for me, and I had woken up a little earlier than usual to prepare. I honestly was a little nervous about how everything was going to go down at the police station with the lawyer.
Dad did reassure me again that everything would be fine but we’ll see, I guess.
“You ready bud?”
“Yeah Dad, lets go.”
Soon after hopping into my dad's work truck, we started heading to the station in town. It was only about thirty minutes away from our ranch, right off Main Street. We didn't talk much, I assume he thought I was quiet from being nervous, but I was actually talking to ANNA the whole time.
‘What happens if they find out ANNA? Plenty of people saw me rush back into that fire. And there is a several-hour gap between the party and when I reappeared with no clothes.’
^Elimination of unprepared local combatants and escape is possible with your current ability.^
‘You know what I mean, and no, I can’t go around taking people out even if it’s easy, and I don't really feel like being a criminal so soon.’
^With the enhanced senses through your eyes, ears, and the vibration-sensing capabilities of your nanites, you should be able to successfully deceive the authorities. Additionally, we should also be able to detect if they too are attempting to compromise you.^
‘So you’re saying I’m also a walking lie detector? That's pretty cool.’
^According to an information source called WeTube, there are many nuances to the human body that can be perceived through your advanced sensing abilities. However, most humans are not trained or sensitive enough to notice them, I will translate the raw data for you so you may infer judgment.^
‘uhh…Crazy...so what is the plan? You're just going to let me know if they are lying or not?’
^Untill you have better control of your capabilities, that would be the best course of action Alex.^
‘Great. Well it makes me feel a little better at least, thanks.’
^You are welcome, Alex.^
Soon, in the distance, I see the station with several police cars out front and a single black sedan with a tall gentleman in a suit and dark sunglasses. ‘I guess that's the lawyer guy.’
“Haaa” I sigh
My Dad parks, turns to me, and pats my shoulder, “It’s gonna be ok bud... let's just get this over with and go home.”
We get out of the truck and walk into the police station with the new lawyer, who lazily introduced himself to me as Mr. Smith.
‘Kinda seems like he doesn't give a shit or even wants to be here.’
We greet the lady officer behind a bulletproof glass window with a little hole to talk through, she gives us some forms to fill out and we take a seat waiting for the detective to come get us for the interview.
Not long after sitting down, Det. Clide pokes his head in and says, “Please follow me.”
Det. Clide guided us to a small office around the corner. I looked up and noticed the officer standing beside the desk was the same one who took me home after first waking up in the field that day.
I start to feel a little nervous.
“Hello Alex. We already know each other, but for the record, I'm Detective Clide, and this is Officer Barnes, whom I assume you remember from taking you home Saturday morning, correct?”
I gulp ‘I guess it's starting.’...”Ahem, well yes, that's correct”
The next few questions were pretty easy to answer and somewhat reminded me of those cop movies I had seen on how interrogations went, that was until he started asking some tricky ones.
Detective Clide adjusts in his seat and leans forward, “Now, this is where we are having a hard time understanding some things because witnesses, including your friend Derek, say that you had come out of that fire but then ran back in, is that right?”
“Yes, that is correct, I had run back in to look for Clare.”
Detective Clide smirks a little and says, “Oh really? Because I believe you went back In because you were trying to destroy evidence of starting that fire.”
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
^Based on his body language, he is lying Alex.^
‘Wow, really?’
“No, that is not true, I just went back to look for Clare as she got separated from us when we were trying to escape.”
“Well, unfortunately, we can't get ahold of the Bamfords for cooperation, but I doubt that it's necessary. I have evidence and witnesses that say you brought over 20 containers worth of kerosene with you.”
^He is lying again, although I'm not sure what part. Based on your memories, you did no such action.^
‘What in the…fuck?’ My eyes widen at hearing this ridiculous accusation.
“That is impossible, we only brought wood and some tinder, at best!”
The smirk now turns to a grin, “Well, I happen to have some evidence right here.”
Det. Clide turns around and grabs a brown paper bag that said evidence on it, and he pulls out a clear plastic bag inside of it, its contents I immediately recognize.
‘That's the shirt that I wore to the party before I was…changed.’
“This is the shirt you wore that night, and it is completely soaked in kerosene. My best guess is that you got kerosene on you while you were spreading it all over the fields, then ditched it. After that, you hid for a few hours and came back acting like you had nothing to do with it, which is why you had no shirt when you asked for a ride that morning.”
Det. Clide was practically beaming at me, assuming I had been caught dead to rights. Which, in all honesty, I sorta had been. Although none of it was true, I could still logically see how he would make those connections except for one little problem.
“That shirt fell off my face protecting me from smoke when I was …” I was quickly interrupted by my dad,
“Now, hold your horses for one dang minute.” My dad said, clearly annoyed at the situation.
My Dad continued, “What proof do you have that Alex and Derek actually spread that kerosene? Also, I wasn’t aware Alex was actually being accused of anything. I was under the impression that he was just being questioned for information and the other younger kid did all this.”
The Detective leans back in his seat, “Ahh yes, Alex and Derek’s little sidekick.”
‘What the fuck is this little shit talking about?’
^I believe they are trying to eventually coerce a false confession from you, to mentally exhaust you to admit guilt, even if by mistake. It is a common tactic in low-income areas, according to a source called oogle.^
Det. Clide spins in his chair and grabs a file out of his cabinet, then turns back and slaps the folder onto the desk. “In this file is the confession of one of our witnesses, who admitted that he delivered the kerosene and expired fire extinguishers at the request of your little friend Derek.”
^There are traces of deception.^
‘This fucker just keeps lying his ass off huh, what are they trying to do?’
Getting a little pissed off, I raise my voice a little. “Well I’ll be honest then, with the load your tellin, I think you're a straight liar!”
Detective Clide was a bit surprised at my declaration, but it didn't seem to faze him much.
“Hahaha…well, it doesn't really matter what you think. We aren’t done with the investigation yet, but be sure to not go too far outside of town.”
Apparently, that was all he had to ask of me.
That farce of an investigation and them just drawing conclusions without evidence, and now, not only my best friend Derek was in the hot seat, but so was I.
As we left the little shits office I turn to my dad and ask, “Hey Dad can we go see Derek now?”
He seemed a bit startled as I pulled him out of his thoughts. “Huh? Oh umm..yes, well they didn't list you as a suspect, so I guess you can. We need to go back up front I think to check in.”
I turn around to go back to the lady officer and I glance at our lawyer, ‘Well he was absolutely useless. He hasn't even said a peep the whole damn time.’
We get up front and fill out some paperwork, then surprise surprise, it's Officer Barnes again.
“Follow me to the back and be quick.” he snaps at me.
‘So rude for no damn reason.’
As we follow the bulky officer we come to a heavy steel door. After fumbling with his keys, he unlocks two different locks, signs some sort of paper and waves us to follow him.
We come to a wide area with a table and a few chairs when Officer Barnes says, “Wait here I'll bring him out.”
Dad and I sit down and after a few minutes, I hear some footsteps. We look up from the table, and what I see shook me.
My best friend since childhood looked like he hadn't slept a wink since the fire and some bandages covering his neck but he had obviously gotten into a fight of some sort with a black eye and swollen cheek.
He smiled at me, “Hey man, how's it going out there?” He said with a slight lisp.
My fists clench and I ask, “What the hell happened to you?”
Derek's eyes dart to the side, “oh this?” he points to his face, “Haha you know my Dad got a little upset…it's no big deal…really.”
‘Bullshit!’-^He is lying Alex.^
‘Well at least we both agree, but yeah no way. Derek's Dad loves him way too much after the passing of his wife all those years ago, he would never do this.’
With my head reeling, a thought pops into my mind.
I turn to look at Officer Barnes and I swear I could see a smirk for a second before he turned away.
I could feel a fire in the pit of my stomach and all I could think was, ‘How dare they. I had only heard of this shit on the news. Can I really be seeing it in real life?’
^Do you wish to engage Combat Mode?^
‘What? What the f…No no… not right now anyways!’
I decide to play along with this bullshit and see if I can figure some things out by myself later.
“Oh dang man, I'm sorry to hear that. Are they going to let you out soon? I thought it was all only temporary?”
Derek sighs a bit, “Yeah well they said they had to wait for the judge, and something about getting the rest of the witness testimonies, It doesn't look good for me honestly. I could be going to prison.”
I could feel what I thought was my heart palpitating, even though I knew didn't have one anymore.
^Do you wish to engage Combat Mode?^
‘No! Jesus, I’ll let you know if I want to engage combat mode or whatever...you never told me about it anyways!’
We didn't have much time to talk before Derek had to go back to his cell because he wasn’t allowed visitors during lunchtime. told him I would help him in any way I could, but right before he was taken away by Officer Barns, he just whispered something about his dad being worried.
As we walked away to the exit of the station, I could feel a simmering rage within me.
‘Something sketchy as fuck is going on….and I’m gonna figure out what it is.’