Innocence Forsaken

Ch 16. Past

Susanna sat at the table in the cold, empty room. Occasionally, she looked over to the one way mirror which they'd put in after the wall fell down. She wondered if they were behind there, watching her in her sorrow, sometimes.
All she ever wanted was peace, with her family and her little town. That was all. Daniel was still alive, Eve-Anne was more normal, and Hayden liked her more. She longed for Rowan to be happy and healthy, but no. That couldn't happen, because why would life give her something good?
"Susie?" M said, as the door gently eased open. He walked in. His hair was slightly messy, and he'd thrown a rough brown coat on which had a fluffy bit on the rims.
"I'm sorry." He said, as he took a seat opposite her.
"Aye right, it's too late for that." She rolled her eyes a little, and frowned.
"I brought you some tea." He took a flask out and put it on the table. "It might be a bit cold, but not too much."
Susanna looked over, and M unscrewed the lid, and poured her a cup.
"Why are you here?" She asked, putting her palm flat against the table.
"I…" He paused, and hesitated, "I need to ask you some questions."
"You can ask questions to ma hand." She raised her hand a little, and looked away.
"You're acting like a child." He muttered.
"I trusted you." Susanna replied, as she crossed her arms and shifted her position on the chair to face away from him.
"I'm just doing my job." M said passively, but he looked away from her face. He shifted uncomfortably and one of his legs shook lightly. "I had no choice."
"You had a choice."
"I-I…" He stuttered and slipped over his words. He quickly cleared his throat. "I didn't."
There was a silence, only filled by the gentle sound of M's leg shaking against his chair.
"Did you assault Mr Vincent?" M ran his hand over his chin.
"I've already said, I tried to arrest him, and he attacked me. It was self defence." "Why?" M looked at a page in his file.
"Because he helped in the kidnapping of my daughter."
"Eve-Anne claims she wasn't kidnapped
.." M put a finger on his chin for a second and bit his lip slightly, "and the only proof was stolen."
"She's lying." Susanna turned back to face M, who promptly averted his eyes.
"You'll listen to her?" She scowled.
M hung his head a little, and took his hair in his hand a little roughly.
"I have to."
"I can't believe you…" She leant on her elbow on the side of the metal chair.
"I've said I'm sorry." He muttered. "I didn't want it to happen like that."
"Yer did anyway."
"K wanted a reaction. I couldn't stop him." M looked at the mirror, and then back to his papers.
"From Eve-Anne? That's my family! You don't want to mess with her!" She clenched her fist under the table, and then smacked it against the it.
"Oh god…"
She covered her face, and slouched a little.
"Susanna?" M asked. "Are you okay?"
"No... Ma head's mince." She said through slightly broken words.
"I'm sorry. I can't do this." M stood up, and left, without looking over to Susanna.
"Where are you going?" K asked, standing in the doorway of the observation room.
"I'm not playing your game anymore." He replied, continuing down towards the exit.
"This isn't a game. It's my case." K responded,
"I don't care. I'm not helping anymore."
"M." K almost warned, "You have to come back sometime, you're the boss here."
M paused, "Later."
K sighed.
"Far, resume recording." He said, as he entered the room.
"Afternoon."
Susanna looked up, her face stained with tears.
"How are you doing?" He asked.
"Yer a wee sleazy bast--" She was cut off by K.
"I take that as a no." He muttered, "We've enough evidence to bring your case to the Crown office."
Susanna remained silent.
"If you help us catch the gang, we might be able to help you get a shorter sentence or immunity." K took a look at the file.
"What do yer want?" Susanna raised an eyebrow, and K flicked through the folder.
"You are still under your rights to remain silent, you don't have to answer any questions you don't want to, but this may harm your defense in court. Do you understand?"
Susanna nodded.
"Do you want a solicitor?"
"No."
There was a silence.
"Example 1a." K flipped the folder around, "Can you tell me what this is?"
"It's an envelope."
"It's got your name on it. Can you tell me why?" K asked.
"Because it's for me?"
K nodded and flipped to the next page of the file.
"Example 1b." He gestured towards the page subconsciously. "£3000. Why is this addressed to you?"
"I…" She paused, "They offered me money if I stayed away from their business."