The murmurs shifted to a crescendo as I was handcuffed and escorted into a patrol car. The officer’s grip on my arm was firm, his fingers digging into my skin as though he feared I’d slip away.
***
The interrogation room was cold, the lights casting harsh shadows on the concrete walls. I sat slumped in the metal chair, my wrists bound tightly, the handcuffs biting into my skin. The air smelled faintly of sweat and the faint hum of a ceiling fan did little to break the suffocating tension.
Across the table, the captain leaned forward, his dark eyes boring into mine. “Do you think this is a game?” he hissed, his voice low but cutting. “What was your motive? Why did you do it?”
A sharp pain twisted in my abdomen, sharp enough to make me wince. My body curled reflexively and cold sweat drenched my back. I tried to steady my breathing, but each inhale came in shallow, shaky gasps.
The officer’s glare hardened. “Don’t even think about playing sick,” he growled. “We’ve seen that trick too many times. Answer me!”