Chapter 56: Interrogation
Michael's POV
When the metal doors of the police van slammed shut behind me, a surge of rage twisted inside my chest like a starving animal. My jaw clenched so tight that I heard my teeth grind. No one humiliates Michael Halloran, No one.
And yet here I was.
Caged.
Stripped.
Handled like I was ordinary.
Ohh Jessica…
Her face flickered in my mind like a flame. The way she smiled shyly, the way she looked at me with those eyes that pretended to be innocent when she knew far more than she let on. A low heat simmered under my ribs. You will pay for this, I thought. You will remember this moment for the rest of your life, Mark my words.
A dark laugh escaped me. Not laughter from humor, no. This laugh came from betrayal and also from the thrill of the shift in power. It came from the storm inside me, fighting for space.
The van rattled along the uneven road and the world outside passed in grey blurs. I watched it like I was watching a cheap movie. My mind was not here, My mind was already… planning.
Inside the police station, fluorescent lights stabbed at my eyes. The officers grabbed my arms like I was a wild dog and not a man who could buy the entire station with pocket change if I wanted to.
They pushed me into Interrogation Room Three. It was a small square box, a metal table, two metal chairs and a glass window where they thought I couldn't see them watching.
Pathetic.
A detective sat across from me, clearing his throat like he expected me to respect him. He slid a folder toward me, with sharp eyes, too sharp for his weak body, He wanted to find my weakness.
I stared straight back at him.
Let him drown in my silence.
Let him feel it.
“Michael Halloran,” he said, trying to sound brave, “do you understand why you’re here?” I didn’t answer.
Instead, I leaned back and crossed my arms. I let my gaze travel over him slowly, his fingers twitched, with discomfort visible with the way his jaw kept clenching out of rhythm.
He swallowed, "Good."
“We can offer you a plea deal,” he tried again. “If you admit to the charges, it could reduce your sentence.”
I chuckled.
“Plea deal?” I repeated, letting the words taste like poison. “Do you think I’m the kind of man who kneels for convenience? ” I looked away, disgusted.
“You are small minded. It’s boring.”
He hesitated, throat bobbing, then stood up and left the room. I watched him go, a slow smirk pulling at my mouth. Coward.
Minutes later, the door swung open again and this time, someone worth my time stepped in, Chris.
Tall, rigid posture, with sharp eyes that held too much history with me. He had been after me for years, Always so close and irritating.
Seeing him now brought a small itch of annoyance.
So you are the one behind this little circus, I knew it.
He dragged a chair out slowly, sat down with arrogant confidence, and smirked at me.
“Well, well, well… look who we have here,” he said, voice dripping with mockery.
I didn’t respond.
I allowed my stare to settle on him like a blade.
He leaned back and crossed his arms. “Don’t worry. Jail is a stress reliever. Orange will look good on you.”
My temper tightened, But I swallowed it.
“You talk too much,” I said calmly.
His smirk didn’t fade. “You will be talking too when the judge is done with you.”
He stood and walked out, leaving a trail of smugness behind him. Fine, Let him enjoy his moment.
Everyone has their moment before they lose everything.
Another officer, a younger one entered, Probably new. His posture was stiff, but not from authority but From fear. "Mr Halloran,” he said quietly, “we need answers. There are witnesses and evidence. This isn’t a game.”
Before I could speak, another detective rushed in holding a stack of papers. Photos, Files and Statements. I cursed myself silently. Afterall
I gave them this evidence on a silver platter.
My own carelessness put me here.
The detective slammed the papers on the table and stared at me, waiting for me to break.
“Anything you’d like to say now?” he asked.
I leaned back, completely calm.
“No comment,” I said. “Just take me to the holding cell. And tell me when I’m meeting the judge, No need for me to pretend anymore. I did it.”
His eyes widened a little, He wasn’t expecting honesty and most certainly he wasn’t expecting me to surrender, but of course, he also didn’t understand.
Admission is not defeat, Sometimes it’s strategy.
They exchanged glances, unsure, whispering to each other before opening the door.
I stepped out and followed them through the hallway.
Every officer looked at me. Some with wdisgust.
Some with fear. Some with respect.
But all of them looked too long, they knew what I was capable of.
When they put me inside the holding cell, my mind went straight to Jessica, with her fake innocence. And secrets, plus she always hat that look of knowing too much. She had tbat confidence of someone who had figured something out. She betrayed me, She chose them over me. Oh, but betrayal has a price.
And I always collect my debt.
I sat down on the cold bench, leaning forward, elbows on my knees.
“This is temporary,” I muttered to myself.
“They think they have won, They don’t understand who runs prison.” Prison wasn’t punishment.
Prison was familiarity and was my second home.
Influence, Power, Connections.
I had all of that inside these walls. They had no idea.
A man was thrown into the cell beside me, he was nervous and trembling like a wet cardboard.
He looked at me and smiled. “Hey… uh… what are you in for?” he asked, trying to sound friendly.
I turned my head slowly toward him.
“Murder,” I said plainly. “And kidnapping.” His eyes widened in horror. He then laughed awkwardly and scooted far, far away from me, like he had just realized he was trapped in a cage with a demon.
The others in the cell glanced at me.
Then mindlessly looked away.Good.
Fear is the most honest language.
I leaned back, closed my eyes, and let a slow smile curve on my lips.
Jessica…
Chris…
The detectives…
The officers…
Everyone who touched this case…
They were already on a list in my mind.
A list that will be repaid in full.
And as for Jessica?
Her time is coming.
Soon.
Very soon.