That bloody damn fool doesn’t care about anyone but himself. He has always been a conceited bastard, who would for his own image completely forsake his wife and would feel no remorse about it at all.
So I had to text him; if you don’t come to the station in the next 15mins, I’ll make a public announcement saying that you abandoned your legally married wife at the police station on your honeymoon. Let’s see how that works out for you.
So, as I sat on the bench outside the questioning room and waited for him to arrive, my mind went back to when he and I were little- his sudden change in behavior after his mother’s death still amazes me.
He turned cold towards everyone including me, and no matter what I did, he just saw me differently.
One time when he came to stay at our home, I had sneaked out our neighbor’s dog and took it very far away from the neighborhood, all because Markian complained he couldn’t sleep with the dog’s constant barking.
Of course I got caught, but my cousin did nothing. He knew very well that I did it all for him, but he didn’t even try to say anything in my defense in the presence of my father.
My old man hit me that day, I thought I was going to die. Only after the beating my father told me the real reason he had punished me so hard.
He said it was because for the first time in his life, I had disappointed him.
He reprimanded me as to why I got my hands dirty for Markian who didn’t even care one bit about me.
That didn’t stop me. Slowly I turned into Markian’s obedient dog, and I kept doing all kind of things for him whether legal or not.
But, it’s over now and finally I can see the light. The same light my father had been trying to make me see for years, I see it now.
Markian
I was in a state of mad anger at this point.
Oh, I really wanted to do punch someone or something- anything to help me calm down.
I’ve been running round this damn city collecting proofs for this case in the last 4hrs that I haven’t even had time to drink or eat anything.
Since I heard Livy was taken to the station for questioning, my mind have not been at peace. If it were any ordinary case, I would have had her bailed out.
But Mr. Gracía is the most influential, rich business mogul in this state and everyone wants to be on his good side- even the police.
So all I could do was find proof as to prove my wife’s innocence, while Mr. Gracía sat in front of me spilling rubbish from his mouth.
Like he didn’t have enough enemies he could put the blame on- he choose my wife, my wife!
Felicity’s death came as a shock to me and it was my loss too as it was his, so finding her killer was as important for me as it was for him.
For the longest time I’ve known Felicity, she was a strong head but she did know how to care genuinely for her friends. She had no family, so she knew just how hard it was losing a parent.
That was one of the reasons why I couldn’t completely end our relationship when we were still together, no matter how much of a rollercoaster ride it was. I may not have loved her, but she was an important person to me.
She had called me earlier today to have lunch with her and I agreed, so I waited for her at the restaurant she had picked but she never arrived.
Until 3yrs ago, every year today, she would take me out on a date and cheer me up- she always disguises it as a date, but at the end of, we would both visit my mother’s grave and lay flowers.
It’s her anniversary today and it also happens to be my birthday, that’s the reason why I hated celebrating my birthday. But Felicity always gets her way every-time back then.
When she decided to get married for the first time, I didn’t try to stop her, because I knew deep down I wouldn’t give her the kind of happiness she deserved, and she did deserved to be happy.
She knew I wasn’t in love with her and, I guess deep down she knew I wouldn’t stop her but secretly wished I would.
So her death pains me as much as it pains anyone else that was close to her, but if Livy is put in any harm because of these, then I won’t just sit back and watch.
“You made a mistake bringing Olivia into this Bernard. She was my plus-one at your party so I should have been informed before you took such actions.” I rebuked sternly.
I handed over an envelope to the Chief of Police seated with us at this meeting too. He and I go way back and I was glad he owed me a lot of favors.
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking that I wasn’t thorough before I had the police make an arrest, and there are evidence- enough proof that I just couldn’t turn my back on,” he defended, but I had proof too so I pointed to the envelope I handed over to the police chief.
“I’ve got proof too, an alibi for her.” I said as the Chief pulled out the content in the envelope and went through it.
They were my text message statements for the past 24hrs, and it just happened to have the text from Felicity telling me that she met up with Livy and apologized for her behavior, and that Livy forgave her.
I also got the black box of Felicity’s car checked and the video of their conversation was on a flash drive inside the envelope too, so Livy had no motive to want to kill Felicity.
“Then, how do you explain the call that wench made at my backyard that night? The security guard outside said he heard her clearly and we tapped her phone, the cctv matched the same time-stamp she made the call. She even got a reply several minutes after the accident. Would you call that a coincidence? I know Mr Winfrey, that you and my wife used to be in a relationship and that might have continued if she were here now, so let’s not try to hide anything and help the police find out who killed her and why?” he commented exhaustedly.
I wasn’t shamefaced at all, I had no reason to be. But if he wants the truth to come out then he has the wrong person in that questioning room.
I had gone straight to the station to submit this envelope, but when I saw her in cuffs, it made me mad.
I wanted to run up to her and set her free and kiss her until her pain fades away, but I saw Daniel there.
How did he know to come? Did she call him and not me? I overheard Daniel telling his lawyer that she needs to answer the questions at least, unless she would be suspected even more.
I looked over at her and I saw how mortified she was, and she might not be able to defend herself, so I left the station and came to see Mr. Gracía myself.
“That- wench is my wife, and she is not capable of hurting anyone even if she was angry…” I said knowing exactly what he was insinuating by his last comment.
“… If I get her to explain what really happened, she’ll be post on bail and our contract will be terminated.” I concluded as I stood up and left with the Chief of Police.
I can’t do business with someone who tapped my wife’s phone, ordered for her arrest, and insulted her in my presence by indirectly calling her a murderer.
There was no helping it now, Livy just has to make a statement and I’ll have to get to the bottom of this and clear her name, before the news gets back home and Judy hears about it.
On my way back to the station, I was so anxious to get this over with because, I’d rather died than be seen as an incompetent man who couldn’t even protect his wife after making big claims to her mother.
I call and asked the Chief of Police to send me that contact Livy had called that night- and who had texted her this afternoon with a reply, and he obliged.
So, I started trying the number. I called it several times but there was no answer.
***************************************
Livy
I’ve reached my breaking point, so if I don’t do or say anything at this point I’ll be thrown into jail.
I overheard the conversation between two officers- the one that kept on yelling questions at me and the other was among the officers who brought me to the station.
“We’re heading nowhere, she has refused to say anything. What is the Chief saying?” Officer 1 asked frustrated.
“I don’t know, I can’t reach him. What about her lawyer, what’s he saying?” Officer 2 asked.
“She’s not saying anything to him either. We might have to detention her until tomorrow, maybe then she’ll talk.” Officer 1 concluded.
This was my last chance, if I don’t say anything, I’ll have to sleep in jail tonight.
I held my trembling hands together with my biscuit-wrapper ring.
I didn’t realize that I was with it while I was anxiously waiting for Markian at the hotel room before I was dragged here by 2 police men.
I heard officer 1 walk in, but I didn’t bother raising up my head because I knew it would just be more questions I can’t give answers to.
I kept hoping for a miracle, that Markian would just walk into the room and make everything disappear.
I was depressed and distraught at these point. My own husband should be here reassuring me and making me feel ok.
I don’t even know whether to be angry or worried, what might have happened to him? I was worried but at the same time disappointed. What if he was perfectly fine but never once came to check up on me for the past 5hrs.
“Miss Olivia, as it stands now you will have to spend the night in jail with hooligans and I don’t think you can endure 14hrs of that. So tell me what happened between you and Mrs Gracía? What did you mean by ‘make it clean, just like last time?’ … Miss Olivia did you kill Mrs Gracía?!!” the officer questioned clearly frustrated.
Daniel is here, he will protect me. I can trust him to save me, I thought as i blanked out the officer’s voice.
“Miss, would you answer the damn questions, goddamnit!!!” he yelled sending cold shivers down my spine.
I was lucky, I was given 5hrs to defend myself about this case. If it were some other person, they would have been in jail by now.
I know I’m stupid- because this compulsion not to get Markian involve was too much, but I was willing to spend a night in jail if that’s all it takes.
I stood up with my head down and my hands on the table. I was about to tell the officer to lead the way to my cell, when I perceived him. He smells like- like autumn made love with summer and they produced a baby in an oaks forest. God, he smells so good.
“Her name-is Mrs Olivia Markian Winfrey, and she won’t be answering any questions without my presence,” he answered from behind the door, before revealing those awesome features of his that can make anyone feel so intimidated as hell.