[City Police Station – Sarah's POV]
"So, Miss Sarah, why did you kill your husband?"
The officer leaned forward, his sharp eyes fixed on me as if he already knew the answer.
He picked up a transparent paperweight from the table and began to roll it between his fingers.
"Miss Sarah, you've taken a lot of time to think. Now, spill the truth." He stepped closer, still holding the paperweight.
Moving behind me, he rested his hands on the back of my chair and, without warning, spun it around so I was facing him.
"Officer, what… what are you doing?"
I startled at his sudden action and clutched the armrests tightly.
But when our eyes met, my breathing paused for a second. His gaze... It felt like it was drilling into my soul. In fear, sweat beads popped out from my skin and my eyes instinctively averted his stare.
"Oh ho… Dave, look at this," Marcus said with a mocking laugh while his gaze shifted to the other officer who was smoking by the window .
"Miss Sarah's still shy around men. Didn't you find out she's been seeing another man? Most probably they've already…"
He made a crude gesture with his hands, his smirk widening.
Dave, the officer near the window, flicked his cigarette out into the night air.
"That bastard's already left the city..." He paused. Looking outside, he took out another cigarette and lit it to smoke again.
"Let's see, how long he can hide from us. We've sent his details to every department, airports, transportation hubs… it's only a matter of time before we get him."
Marcus tapped the paperweight against my chair.
"See, Miss Sarah? Your lover's already in our grip. And since you're his partner in crime, you'll have to bear the same consequences."
"I've told you many times that I didn't kill my husband!"
"We loved each other so much. So, why would I kill him? And the man you're talking about isn't my lover. He's my husband's cousin. He visits our home sometimes and that's all. Just stop calling him my lover!" I stood abruptly, my voice trembling yet firm.
But inside, my heart ached. I couldn't cry here, not in front of them, but I wanted to. I wanted to scream for the man I loved.
Marcus chuckled after hearing me out and began to shake his head.
"I haven't heard a joke this good in years. Maybe you should start doing stand-up… in jail, Miss Sarah."
He opened a drawer, pulled out a photograph, and slid it across the desk toward me.
"Look at this. Do you recognise this? I'm sure you do recognise it."
The photo showed a burnt hand whose most of the skin charred black, but along one strip of unburned flesh, faint letters could still be seen.
The tattoo started with an S. And I knew well the remaining letters after it which also represented my name.
Tears blurred my vision. My fingers trembled as I picked up the photo, clutching it tightly.
"Don't pretend you cared," Dave said coldly, tossing me a tissue. His smirk made it clear that it wasn't out of sympathy.
"If you truly feel sorry, confess. At least his killer can face justice."
"I didn't kill him. I didn't kill anyone…" I whispered, not looking at him directly.
I wiped my tears and sank back into the chair, still holding the photo to my chest.
Marcus then slammed another file onto the desk *a DNA report*.
"Still not ready to admit? How ironic! Three DNA samples were found at the crime site. Your husband's. Yours. And a man's. I'm sure you know whose DNA that is."
He was stating the facts and evidences, he found after his investigation, but I wasn't listening anymore.
All I could think about was my husband's hand... how it had always held mine. At our wedding... Walking through the streets... In the dark, when it was just us... Even in our most intimate moments, his hand was always there. Now…
"Miss Sarah. Miss Sarah!" Marcus's voice snapped me back. He was waving the report.
"There was a third person at the crime scene," he pressed. "Your lover. You and him killed your husband to clear the way for your little affair. Am I wrong?"
I was about to open my mouth, but Marcus didn't give any chance.
"You don't need to hide anymore. Everyone knows that you and your husband's cousin had an affair. Probably more than an affair. And when your husband found out, he confronted you. But things got violent. And you wanted to silence him forever, then you two killed him, burned the body… but somehow that hand survived, and we found it."
His words weren't facts. They felt like a verdict that already delivered.
I steadied my breath and looked him in the eye.
"Officer Marcus, it's one thing to suspect me, but don't state assumptions as facts. If you have evidence, arrest me. If not, stop harassing me. I've already given my alibi that I wasn't home when all this occurred. You can check the shopping mall's cameras if you think I'm lying."
I stood, clutching my bag. "Once again, I'm innocent. I didn't kill my husband. If your interrogation is over, can I leave now?"
I surprised even myself with how calm my voice sounded, though every nerve in my body screamed to slap him. Instead, I used his own rules against him.
Marcus exchanged a glance with Dave, then shrugged.
"Hmm. You can leave for now. But don't celebrate yet. We'll summon you again. Make sure you show up at that time, Miss Sarah."
He gathered the photos and reports, not looking at me directly but his face made it clear that he didn't believe a word I said.
I turned and walked toward the door.
Just as I reached it, I heard Marcus mutter under his breath:
**Bitch… don't think we don't know. Sooner or later, we'll catch that bastard. At that time we'll see how high you can act.**
I didn't look back and quickly stepped out of the interrogation room.
As I walked outside, a streak of tear came out from my eyes but I knew it wasn't over. "Husband, I miss you so much."