The Blame Game

Three

"Yes," I answered. "I went to go see Cam but when I walked in, he was sitting on the couch with Kasey. He had his arm wrapped around her, and—"

"Wait," the woman interrupted, "how did you get into his house?"

"I have a key," I told her. "Anyway, I walked in, and Cam had his arm around her, then pulled it away when he saw me. They looked like they were just...doing things, and Cam had a guilty look on his face. So I snapped. I got into an screaming match with Kasey because I thought my boyfriend was cheating on me with her. But, I didn't know they were cousins until today."

The two detectives looked at each other.

"What?" I asked.

"Who told you that?" the man questioned.

"Cam, why?"

The woman furrowed her eyebrows. "Miss Harrison and Mr. Griffin have no relation."

That lying little bastard.

I shook my head. "What?"

"Mr. Griffin and Miss Harrison are not related," he repeated as if I were a complete moron.

I scoffed. "Unbelievable," I muttered.

"When did Campbell tell you that?" the man asked me suspiciously.

I looked down at my lip and fiddled with my thumbs. I knew how guilty I looked. "Only a few hours ago."

"I see," the woman spoke. "And where did you go when you left Mr. Griffin's house?"

"Home."

"Can anyone confirm this?" she asked me.

"W-well...I went straight to my room, then I went for a walk outside and fell asleep under a tree, I think. T-Then I woke up this morning with a hundred texts and missed calls from my mom. I called her back and came straight home."

"Have you changed your clothes since last night?" the man asked.

Well, that's a weird question.

I looked down at myself. I noticed I was still wearing dark jeans and a black hoodie. Not at all suspicious when you're out in the middle of the night.

"N-No, sir," I quietly answered, not able to look at their faces anymore.

The woman asked me, "Miss Mattlyn, do you have any idea how this looks?"

At this point I was crying. "I know," I whimpered. "But I swear to you, I'm telling the truth." I looked them straight in the eyes when I said this. "I did not murder Kasey Harrison."

"But you threatened to," the man said sternly.

Who the fuck told him that?!

My eyes widened. "H-How did you... Look, I didn't mean it. During the argument, it was getting heated. It was between me and Cam, and she kept butting in and trashing me. I told Cam to 'make her stop before I strangled her' because I was frustrated and heartbroken. What would you do if you found the one you loved cheating on you with someone better and prettier?"

The man sighed. "Miss Mattlyn...all the evidence points to you. You have motive, opportunity—"

"But I didn't do it!" I yelled. "Why is that so hard to understand?! For the love of all things holy, I DIDN'T DO IT!" Tears poured down my face. I crossed my arms and put my head down. I cried and sobbed uncontrollably.

"Stay put," the woman ordered. "We'll give you some time."

With that, the two detectives stood up and left.