Chapter 13.
The Interviews:
When called in for questioning after coming forward with her evidence, eye witness to Scarlett's death, Sara Carpenter started to worry she'd be next.
She'd watched far too many films where the eyewitness gets killed for knowing the truth.
From the block of apartments over from where Scarlett used to live, she saw everything. And thats what she told Detective Lee when she'd arrived the next day with a young police officer, John Aimes.
He had jotted everything down while Miranda Lee listened and asked the questions.
She's also been told about the other deaths occuring at the hotel, which of course made it worse... Especially since she found out that the people that died, had either known Scarlett, or her sister Averia.
What if they find me next?
The detective can't say anything though, I requested to stay anonymous. Sara thought to herself one night.
While she was home alone, watching television with a cup of peppermint tea.
With their cat and her 7 year old daughter, Jaya-Lee curled up beside her, resting her head on her legs, Sara thought about the whole situation.
That's another thing that worried her, she has a young daughter to look after, alone. Jaya-Lee's father died of cancer when she was just 4 months of age.
It was just her and Jaya-Lee in that small apartment.
She knows what she saw that night, and is even trying to start up a petition to get Tom out of the frame for it. She knows he didn't do it. A woman did.
Luckily the night Scarlett plummetted swiftly towards her death, Jaya-Lee wasn't home. Sara had let her stay out at a friends house.
If Jaya-Lee had heard that scream, she'd have been scarred for life!
That's another thing...with how shrill and loud her scream was... how come no one else heard?
Surely it would have woken her husband up...
I know it would have woke me up.
Jaya-Lee returned home with her friend Tamara and her mother Fiona just half an hour after her body was found.
Jaya-Lee had seen the police, the FBI and forensics experts on their way past in the car.
The first thing she'd said when she came into the apartment was, 'What's happenes over there?' Now Sara had to explain everything...
To a 7 year old....
'Well... last night darling...'
After the explanation, Jaya-Lee and Tamara were left teary eyed and open mouthed. Fiona was making drinks for everyone.
Coffee for her and Sara, Blackcurrant squash for the two girls.
Obviously after a while, the girls forgot about the whole thing, due to their toys and cartoons.
Eventually Sara forgot about the crutial evidence she held about that night.
It was only when she read in the newspaper about Tom being the only and only possible suspect, that she realized she'd definitely seen a woman that night behind Scarlett.
She got in touch with the police when Jaya was at school the following day. If they came over, which they did, to interview her, Jaya-Lee wouldn't have to hear it.
'I was looking out from the balcony, and I heard arguing, or maybe just Scarlett screaming because she was drunk..I decided to keep an eye out, just in case there was any trouble. That's when I noticed Scarlett and her husband on their balcony, just talking. Then he went into another room in their house, maybe their bedroom, and the light went out.' Sara had explained.
'And Scarlett was still outside on the balcony?' The Detective asked.
'Yes. About 10 minutes later, I'd,made a drink and called Fiona to check that Jaya was OK, and I just glanced over again, she was still there until seconds later, someone, smaller than her husband, was behind her and the next thing I knew, Scarlett was falling. I rushed onto the balcony in time to catch a glimpse of the other person. I couldn't see the face clearly, but it was definitely a woman.'
'A woman... You're absolutely sure about that?' Detective Stevenson asked.
'Yes. Dead sure.' Sara said.
*****
Robbie Calturra was walking through the lobby when to his, and everyone elses surprise, he saw Tom. 'Morning stranger.' He smiled as he approached Tom.
'Hey Robbie! How are you? It's been a while.' Tom asked, happily.
Before Robbie had chance to reply, Craig cut in. 'Whoa! How'd you do that?!'
'What?' Robbie asked, confused.
'A) Tom is out of his room. B) he smiled... How did this happen?' Craig said sarcastically.
'Just got bored sitting alone in the room. Not like anyone came to visit me.' He said.
'Hey! I came round!' Craig defended himself.
'I know you did. Only you and that Nina Stevenson woman, bugging me for information.' Tom said.
'Yeah, the detectives have been all over here. They've interviewed me, Laura and everyone else here who knew Scarlett. Since Mrs Boreallis and that other girl were killed, they've been here just about all day every day.' Craig explained. 'Anyway, you guys were about to have a conversation..'
'Yeah...I don't have time now. Got a meeting.' Robbie said. 'Why not meet me at the bar around 5PM? We coukd have a catch-up then Tom.'
'Yeah sure OK. Business meeting?' Tom asked.
'...Something like that.' Robbie daid winking.
I knew it... Craig thought.
He's never gonna change.
Robbie turned to leave Tom and Craig, when he saw Detective Charlotte Misham, walking with Kyle towards the exit.
He watched as they both got in the Detective's car. 'Must have found out something.' He said turning back to Tom and Craig.
He waved and said 'See you later.'
*****
As they entered the police station, Detective Misham and Kyle looked at each other. 'You sure your ready?' The Detctive asked.
Kyle nodded in reply. As he did, Detective Misham found her colleague. 'Ah, Waters. This is Kyle Marrow. We're ready for you to show us the tape.'
'Of course. If you'd like to folow me please?' Mr Gavin Waters led them to a small interview room and invited them to sit down while he got the tape ready.
Kyle could feel his heart skipping and his stomach drop. He was about to watch his girlfriend die...
The thought made him feel physically sick, he had to ask for a glass of water. He was shaking before they even turned on the TV screen.
'Mr Marrow, if at any point you want me to pause ir turn off the video just say so.' Gavin Waters said.
'Obviously we understand this will be difficult for you.' Detective Misham said.
Kyle just nodded, he wasn't in much of a talking mood. He just wanted to get this over and done with.
Gavin turned on the screen and slid a DVD into the built in DVD Player. He stopped, turned to Kyle and nodded, Kyke nodded back.
'You can play it.' He said.
Tears stung at his eyes when he saw Millie innocently just standing by the rockery, just getting some fresh air with a bottle of water.
She sat down on a bench next to the rockery. After a few minutes, someone came over to her and sat down. beside her.
Kyle asked Gavin to pause it. He got up and moved closer to the screen, looking carefully at the person next to her.
'I've seen him before. I don't know his name though, but Averia knows him.' Kyle said.
'This is Craig Piper. He is a friend of Averia's sister and her husband Tom. He gets up and leaves after a short conversation. We don't know what they were talking about, we need to call him in for an interview again to find out.' Detective Misham explained.
Gavin resumed the DVD. Detective Misham was right.
After a few minutes Craig got up, waved to Millie and left. She sat alone for another few minutes, until she stood up and bent down to pick up her bag.
As she was doing so, soneone that Kyle could tell wasn't Craig, ran up behind Millie, picked up a small rock and as she stood up, hit Millie over the head with it.
Kyle started tearing more but knew he needed to focus. 'Can you pause it?' Kyle, again, moved over to the screen. 'I can't tell who that is.... I just...'
He tried to look closer but to him, it seemed the person was covering their face with something.
A scarf maybe? This person was a lot smaller than Craig, and nowhere near as broad. It almost looked like a woman...
'It can't be...Who would do that? I can't think of anyone who hated Millie enough to kill her.'
A few seconds after hitting Millie over the head, and she was knocked out cold on the ground, this person threw the rock at Millie and ran off in the direction they came.
'Any ideas?' detective Misham asked.
Kyle sat and shook his head for a few seconds, which felt a lot longer than that, then he said, 'No...Not a clue. Sorry. Its not clear enough and she seems to be wearing something over her face.'
'She?' Asked Gavin. 'What makes you think its female?'
'I just have a feeling. Plus the persons build and the way they ran away. Kinda womanly in my eyes.' Kyle said.
After he was released from the police station.
Kyle went straight back to the hotel, finished packing his things and got ready to head off to New York.
With his bags by his sides, he walked over to Harley and the others in the lobby and let them know he was leaving. 'OK, man. Well like I said, be safe, and I'll call you yeah?' Harley said.
Kyle nodded. 'I'll be off.'
'Poor lad.' Said Tessa.
'I know.' Damon said. 'Anyway, when am I meeting Averia and this Japanese lady for some investigating?'
'I actually don't know. I'll call her.' Harley said.
*****
Averia's phone began to ring.
She answered knowing it would be Harley telling her Damon had arrived.
She chatted on the phone for a few minutes before saying, 'I'll come down to the lobby and say hey.'
On her way to the lobby, she passed Kyle and Jake.
Kyle had just come back from the police station after viewing the CCTV footage of Millie's death.
'Hi Kyle.' Averia said.
All Kyle said was, 'It was a woman.'
*********************
Ginni
Xx The x Fallen x Angel xX