Detective Stark, a seasoned investigator with a reputation for getting to the truth, entered the room. He was not unkind, but his demeanor was focused, his posture exuding a sense of authority that intimidated Serena. Grabbing a chair, he leaned forward shifting his wait towards the deck. Placing his wrists there. His voice firm yet measured.
"Serena, we need to talk. You're in a serious predicament right now."
She looked at him, her heart racing. "I didn't do anything! I swear! Please, you have to believe me!" Her voice cracked, the sadness flowing out.
Detective Stark considered her words for a moment, his sharp gaze studying her closely. "I understand this is hard for you, but right now, we have to discuss what happened. You're being charged with the murder of your parents—Miranda and Lark Williams."
The room seemed to break, her breath halting in her lungs as the words sank in. "But I didn't even know they were dead till minutes ago!" Serena gasps. Helplessness pilled over as she clutched her hands to her chest, feeling the suffocating lack of control grip her life force.
"I believe you," Stark replies, his voice softening fractionally. "But you have to help us understand what led to this. You've been through a traumatic experience, and I can see that. Can you walk me through what happened?"
"I..." She shook her head in agreement. "My test ran late, and I received a text message from my mother about mac and cheese. So, I go and buy mac and cheese... Then I run into this lunatic man. Who told me the most ridiculous thing. Then I went home to tell my family about it. Then... " Her voice broke, and fresh tears streamed down her cheeks.
Taking a steadying breath, Detective Stark maintained intense eye contact, holding her in the moment. "I know this is difficult. Can you tell me if you saw anyone else there? Anyone who shouldn't have been in the house?"
"No!" she cries, her voice falling in defeat. "I didn't see anyone."
"Look, Serena," Stark said, leaning back slightly while still holding her gaze. "I get it. You're scared. There's a lot we need to piece together. You must understand, the evidence can look very different from how you feel. Can you think of anyone who may have wanted to hurt them?"
The question hung in the air like a cloud, suffocating and oppressive. Serena bit her lip, memories rushing through her mind, but nothing solid came to the front. Only increasing the painful ache in the back of her head, angrily throbbing. "No." She responds meekly. Thoroughly exhausted.
Nodding slowly, Detective Hayes continued, "Okay, let's take a breath. I know it feels like everything is falling apart, but we will sort this out together. I just need you to be honest with me. You're not in trouble for telling the truth; we're just trying to find your parents' killer."
Her heart raced as a flicker of hope ignited within her. "I… I promise I'll help." She vows, almost silently. Hardly able to keep enough oxygen so that her face wouldn't turn blue.
As tears slipped down her cheeks, Serena realized that she was trapped in a nightmare from which she could not awaken.