Chapter 304: Interrogation

David’s POV

My heart was already jackhammering as I sat impatiently inside the police car and watched as the world blurred past the window.

This was bad. This was end-of-everything bad.

How the hell could she leave without telling me? And why did I fucking leave the bedroom?!

By the time we got to the station, I had almost lost my mind with worry and panic.

At the station it was pure chaos…phones ringing, cops everywhere, the smell of burnt coffee and desperation. Norman was already there in the waiting area, pacing like a caged lion. He’d beaten me here. Thank God.

“Dave,” he said breathlessly, pulling me aside before they could cuff me or whatever. “Lawyer’s on his way…my guy, Marcus Hale. Best in the city. Don’t say a goddamn word to anyone until he gets here. Not one. You hear me? No hero shit this time. Let him talk. Be selfish for once in your miserable life.”

I threw him a tight smile but nodded anyway, throat tight. “Norman…Holly’s missing. She was with me this morning but I couldn't find her or even reach her. Keep calling her, okay? Every minute. And file a missing persons report. Right now. Please.”

He squeezed my shoulder, eyes hard. “Don’t worry. I’ll handle it. Just remember not to say shit.”

I squeezed his hand on my shoulder and turned to follow the cops. They marched me into the interrogation room…gray walls, metal table bolted to the floor, one-way mirror that screamed “you’re screwed.”

A few seconds after we got in, Norman’s lawyer, Marcus walked in, muttering an apology for being late. He gave me a tiny nod and introduced himself as my lawyer to the officers as he showed them his ID.

The detective…Detective Ruiz, mid-forties, coffee-stained tie…dropped a file on the table. “Mr Hunt, when was the last time you saw or spoke to your brother Justin?”

“Yesterday,” I said, voice flat. “We got into a fight over my girlfriend in the evening.”

Ruiz leaned in, eyebrows up. “You and your little brother fighting over a girl? That’s… interesting.”

I shrugged, keeping it cool even though my pulse was screaming "get up and go search for Holly!”

“Isn’t that typical? Brothers fight over girls all the time. Doesn’t mean there’s anything suspicious about it.”

Officer Ruiz smiled and tapped the tip of the pen in his hands against the table. The sound was making me more angry than I already am.

“Are you aware that your brother is a prime suspect in the murder of a young girl?” He asked.

“I was told,” I replied simply.

“And that doesn’t bother you?” He asked again, looking for a loophole in my replies.

Meanwhile I wanted to shove my hands down his throat, throw him against the wall and get the fuck out of here.

Who knows what is going on with Holly right now? Is she scared? Is she hurt?

Concentrate, David. The faster you respond, the faster you leave here, I told myself.

“You said he’s a suspect. Which means you haven’t found concrete evidence against him. When we get to that point officer, I will be bothered,” I replied a little rudely.

He just smiled. “Hmm…you mentioned a girlfriend…what is her name? Where is this girlfriend now?” He asked, meeting my eyes and giving me that traditional interrogation gaze.

I got more agitated. “That is what I’ve been trying to tell your colleagues. She’s missing! Her name is Holly Rodriguez and I can’t find her!” I almost yelled at him.

Officer Ruiz smiled again, like he was getting the reaction he’s been looking for.

“Oh, is she?” He asked, rubbing his chin. “Tell me, Mr Hunt… The fight you had with your brother about your girlfriend…can you tell me what it’s about?”

Before I could answer, Marcus jumped in smoothly. “My client has nothing further on that because it does not relate to the case at hand. Next question please.”

They hammered me for twenty minutes…where was I last night, did I know about the dead girl in Justin’s apartment, any idea where he’d run. Who is my alibi? Marcus blocked every trap. I stuck to the script… ‘Didn't know, wasn’t there, can’t help.’

Finally Ruiz sighed and closed the file. “Alright. You’re free to go. But the second your brother contacts you, you call us. Immediately.”

I stood up hurriedly, already reaching for the door. “He won’t. I’m the last person my brother would call.”

“And why is that, Hunt?” He asked, causing me to halt at the door.

“Because we had a huge fight last night, Officer,” I replied and left the interrogation room.

Norman was waiting, pacing around, his face grim with worry. “They said it’s not up to twenty four hours that she’s gone, so we can’t file a missing person’s report. And I haven’t been able to get her on the phone yet.”

I groaned out loud in frustration as I ran a hand through my hair looking around at the officers idling away on their desks.

Damn it.

It will be a waste of time trying to convince them that she didn’t just leave on her own and that something is wrong.

But I can’t just say that Justin took her, because I’m not entirely certain of that.

I turned to Norman, ready to bolt and start searching myself. “Let’s go. I need to—”

“Wait,” an officer said, looking up. “Did you fight with your girlfriend this morning?”

“No,” I said fast. “We… We just finished, you know, having sex and crashed hard. Then both our phones started ringing. Norman was calling me. I stepped into the guest room to give her privacy and take my call.

When I came back…she was gone. Look, I’m aware it should take up to twenty four hours, but something is wrong. I’m scared that something bad has happened to her.”

The cop nodded slowly, like he was sympathizing with me. “Any cameras outside your house?”

I froze. Holy shit. Why hadn’t I thought of that? My hands shook as I yanked out my phone, pulled up the app, handed it over. “Yeah. Front and back. Here.”

They crowded around as the footage loaded. There she was…Holly, hair wild, face streaked with tears, bolting out the front door like the devil was chasing her. She sprinted down the street, and flagged a cab. The car peeled out, headed east. That was it. No struggle. No Justin. Just her… running.

The officer watched it twice. “So far, it looks like she left on her own. Maybe she wasn’t satisfied with your performance…” he teased and the others laughed.

Will I go to jail if I punch them?

He must have caught the cold glare I threw at his direction because the next second, he cleared his throat. “Where else do you think she’d go?”

I exhaled hard, anger and dread crashing together. “Maybe her friend’s place. Kayla. Riverbend Estates. She lives with her.”

“Let me get this straight,” the officer said. “You had sex with her this morning, left the room to go answer a call and by the time you got back, she had already gone. Didn’t you stop to think that maybe she had gone back to her place? Why did you assume something happened to her?” He asked.

Nah. I can’t keep wasting precious time explaining to these people.

“Officer, I would like to leave now,” I said coldly, as I began walking away and lucky for him, he didn’t stop me.

Marcus shook my hand quickly. “Call if they drag you back in.”

I nodded as Norman and I headed for the exit, the fluorescent lights buzzing overhead like a bad dream.

My phone dinged in my pocket and I pulled it out, thumb sliding over the screen. Unknown number. One attachment.

I opened it and my body froze.

Holly.

Tied to a wooden chair in some dim room…wrists bound tight behind her, ankles strapped, mouth gagged with tape. Her eyes were wide and she looked terrified. She was alive. But scared out of her mind.

“What the fuck has Justin done—” I choked, blood roaring in my ears.

Before I could take another step, another ding. Second image loading.

My thumb hovered for a second and then the screen filled with an image.

The moment my eyes landed on it, my blood froze solid.