Chapter 161: Five years

Chapter 161: Five years
Third person

Karen's face went pale, and she was silent. The officer spoke up again. “What will it be, Mrs. Smith? Will you rat your parents out to save your skin?”

Finally, Karen's eyes flashed with defiance, locked on the officer’s. "No."

The officer's expression didn't change, but her voice took on a slightly harder edge. "Mrs. Smith,” she started, her voice smooth. “I hope you understand that we have evidence. We know your parents were involved. It's better for you if you cooperate."

Karen let out a dry laugh, amused at the officer's perception of her. "I’d never betray my parents," she hissed and leaned forward, her fierce eyes piercing the woman's skin. “Never.”

The officer pressed her lips into a thin line and stood up. “Very well then,” she sighed out in resignation. “I'll ask you again after you spend a week in this shithole. I'm sure you'll have a change of mind then.”

Then she shrugged and gave Karen a wicked smile. “That's if you survive it. Because this place is no place for a pretty girl like you.”

“Go to hell if you think you can scare me!” Karen snapped, trying to seem confident even though her voice trembled slightly.

The woman smirked and left.



Valerie sat in front of her laptop at work. She sighed, as she went through the accounts from last year. Adam's recklessness towards the company's funds was giving her a headache. 

Just then, her phone buzzed. She took a sharp breath when she checked the caller ID—it was Matthew. He had been calling quite frequently recently.

She picked up, wanting to tell him to stop trying to reach her.

“Please, please, don't hang up,” he breathed as soon as she picked up. “I have something very important to tell you,”

“Stop calling my number,” she hissed trying to sound determined even though her chest tightened. Oh, how things can change so quickly. Just a month ago, he was her ride or die.

“Your son, he's alive,” Matt rasped. 

Valerie's breath hitched… The world around her blurred, and it was almost as if all the air was knocked out of her lungs.

After a short while, she snapped out of her daze. She knew that this was just a desperate attempt to get her attention.

Matt had been quiet on the other end too. As if he was offering her a moment to process all this. Then his voice, laced with the much-expected desperation, continued. "I am sorry about everything, Val. I didn't choose who I wanted to love."

She sucked her teeth, not at all interested in his half-baked apology. “What did you say about a son?” 

"Your child is still alive, Valerie. He didn't die that night." Matt's voice came out as a whisper but she heard him clearly.

"It's a lie!" she spat, trying to keep her voice steady. "You're just bluffing."

She was a hundred percent sure that he was lying. Especially since she'd done a scan to confirm the child's sex—a girl. But why did her chest feel so heavy?

"I'm not bluffing. I'm dead serious. Did you ever get to see the body of your baby? You didn't, did you?” He paused, his voice cracking as he ground his teeth in what could pass as regret. “I couldn't bear the thought of you raising another man's child,” he confessed plainly.

"You're a big fucking liar.” Her voice broke, her eyes flashing with anger. “And a psycho. Go to hell!"

But for a split second, she allowed herself to wonder… Allowed herself to ask those questions at the back of her mind… Could it be true? What if Matthew was telling the truth? What if her child came out as a boy and not a girl like the scan had said?

“Why don't you come and see for yourself?” Matt asked. 

“Y-you have him there with you?” She pressed the phone tighter against her skin. She should have hung up by now; she already knew that he was playing a fast one on her. 

Yet somehow, she kept wanting to hear what more he had to say… But just so that she could dispute his lies, she'd told herself.

Matt shrugged. “Kinda.” His voice was rough… desperate… Then he sighed. "Look, I'll send you a picture of him. You'll see."

Valerie's hands were trembling; she bit the inside of her cheeks to suppress her emotions. "Okay, send me the fake picture,” she mocked, but her voice was void of humor. “I already know that is some kind of sick joke, Matthe—"

“It's not,” he interrupted in a firm tone. “I'll send you a picture.”

A few days later, 

Karen was led into the interrogation room, her appearance a stark contrast to her usual polished self. Her lips were busted, her eyes blue and swollen. She looked like she'd been through a rough time.

Turns out a week in the shithole did her a whole lot of bad.

The officer, from before, looked her up and down, a smirk plastered on her face. "I can see you're doing just fine in there," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Karen glared at her and shouted, "I haven't even gone to trial, and you've already put me in a jail with hardened criminals!"

“Oh, I think that's exactly where you belong.” The officer's voice was as smooth as usual… so smooth it grated on her nerves.

“Even if you go to trial, you still wouldn't win. But with my offer…” She paused and peered at Karen. "It doesn't get any better for you. You'll get a reduced sentence, and your stay here will be pleasant if you cooperate."

Karen's glare was still there but the expression on her face softened just a little. 

“Sit,” the officer instructed. Karen curled her fingers into fists but she sat down anyway.

"All you have to do is tell us about your parents' involvement in Ashley's parents' murder," she continued.

The anger in Karen's eyes slowly migrated to uncertainty. Her eyes darted around the room, searching for nothing in particular. Then she adjusted on her seat and returned her gaze to the woman in front of her. "Why should I?" she asked finally.

The officer leaned forward. "Because, it's only a matter of time… Your parents will go to jail anyway. I'm just asking you to make the process faster."

Karen seemed to study the woman for a bit, to drink in her words. After a moment, her gaze dropped, her shoulders slumping in defeat. "How long will I spend in jail?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The officer's expression softened slightly. "Five years."

Karen ground her teeth as she calculated the years in her head. She'd be older and wiser when she got out. She could restart her life.

With a deep breath, she nodded. "Okay, I'll do it."

The officer smiled in relief, producing a recorder from her pocket. "Good choice, Mrs. Smith. Let's get your full statement."