Monday, May 8th, 2024 | 10:00am

It was a warm May day but it started out rather cold for Hannah Smith. She sat once more in the interrogation room, about to be interviewed by Tony and Tino Bertelli. She dreaded it. She hadn't slept in 3 days and her eyes had black circles and were very tired looking. She hadn't hardly eaten either. It was a time of despair and anguish in her life. Hannah wished she wasn't a part of this. Sitting with Hannah in the interrogation room was her lawyer, Laverne Richmond and Hannah's live-in boyfriend, Jacob Donovan.

"Now remember, neither of you answer any questions that you're not comfortable with. You have a RIGHT to not answer what you don't want to", Laverne Richmond reminded them like a mother would remind her child. Her hair was up in a braided bun, and her work dresses were always professional looking but long at the same time long. She often reminded people of an old, southern, mother that took care of a lot of kids.

"Yes ma'am ", Hannah answered, her eyes filling with tears. She wasn't sure how much more she could take of the interrogations and accusations.

"Don't worry honey," Laverne said rubbing her hand in Hannah's arm. "I've known these boys for a while now. They're good people. We'll get you out of this."

"How?" Hannah asked, tears falling from her eyes.

"We'll just have to show them they're wrong," Laverne said with a smile. She was a precious woman. She had studied law for a while as she was currently in her 50's. Her deep southern roots would often show as she shown considerable love to her clients.

"Don't worry, if either of these guys talks down to you, I'll take care of them", Hannah's boyfriend Jacob warned her.

"Don't you dare", Hannah demanded," you'll end up in jail for hitting an officer. That's the last thing we need."

As the Bertelli brothers entered the room, Laverne made sure she was prepared. She knew these guys from working with them on cases when they were trainees. She knew that they were honest, hardworking, and okay to be shown when they were in the wrong.

"Hello Mrs Richmond," Tony said with a slight smile while he was trying to keep professional. It was always good for them to see Laverne. She was like a second mother to them with they were trainees. It was hard to not give her a big hug and tell he how much they missed her. But it was not time for that at the moment. That would have to be done later.

"Hello. Hope you two have been well," Laverne answered.

"Pretty well." Tino answered. "So, let's get to business. We would like to talk to Jacob in private for some questioning."

"Jacob looked at both of the Bertelli brothers, then to Hannah and Laverne, his dark blue eyes piercing with anger. What would they want to ask him? If he knew that Hannah had murdered Jade? If that was it, he would surely lose it.

Laverne looked to Jade, then over to Tony and Tino. "Okay, you can do that," she said calmly. "But I would like to consider all evidence with one or both of you. I need to know why you think my client is guilty."

"That can be arranged," Tino answered, quietly excited to talk to Laverne again.

Tony's perspective:

Jacob Donovan sat silent in the small interrogation room, his arms folded and looking like he dreaded every second of this. His tall, thin frame sat bored as he leaned back in his chair. Tony only wished that Jacob was going to be easier than this to get answers out of.

"So, Jacob. I can call you Jacob, right? You don't go by another name?" Tony was the kind of detective that learned to make friends with enemy. If you want your subject to give answers, you make yourself someone they want to tell.

"No, Jacob's fine," he answered, his deep voice being in slight monotone.

"Good. And you can call me Tony. I'm not one of those stuck-up-better-call-me-sir-type of detective."

"That's good to know," Jacob said unfolding his arms. Tony could tell he was making him more comfortable.

Tony laidback in his chair with his phone out for notes, appearing easy to talk to. "So, tell me, how long have you and Hannah been together?"

"We started dating 5 months ago and we've lived together 3 months."

"So, it's safe to say you know her some?" Tony asked.

"Yeah, I know her pretty well," Jacob answered.

"Well if you live with her then you would know if she owned a gun, right?"

Jacob stopped to think about that question. He knew Tony was trying to get incriminating answers, and he wasn't about to say anything that would incriminate Hannah. "Yeah of course. And I can tell you that neither of us own a gun."

"Jacob, you do know that me and Tino searched your place when you were out?"

"Yes, I know that. Hannah told me you would. I'm fine with it."

"Well, we found a gun under the mattress that you both sleep on."

Jacob scrunched his eyebrows. "That's impossible."

"Where was Hannah at when Jade was murdered?"

Jacob stared at Tony with hatred. "I know what you're doing. But I can assure you that Hannah was asleep with me in bed."

Tony leaned forward, placing his big, masculine, hands on the table. "Jacob, I'm not implying anything. I'm just trying to get some answers. Are you honestly telling me that you have no idea how that gun got under that mattress?"

"Yes, I can", Jacob said in aggravation. "I've never had a gun, and neither has Hannah. And to tell you the truth, me and Hannah are both a little spooked that a gun could be placed in our home, under our bed, without our knowledge. Are you sure that you or your brother didn't plant it there?"

                                                                 Tino's perspective:

Laverne sat alone, waiting on Tino to walk into the room. She was determined talk to him alone and convince him of Hannah's innocence. She was going through a stack of files of statements that Hannah had made to her and to the Bertelli brothers. She pieced through the words carefully, trying to pick out a few things to discuss with Tino. She couldn't share just anything with him, after all, he had a job to do as well and could use those words against Hannah later. No, she had to pick out just the right things.

"Hello Laverne," Tino said entering the room cheerfully. "It's been too long.""

"Yes, it has Valentino", she said with a wide smile. "And you need to listen to me: My client is innocent."

Toni sat down, trying to go about the conversation in a non argumentative way. "Tell me what makes you say that."

"Because she is. She says so. All you have to do is look into her eyes and you can tell she's innocent."

Tino gently chuckled. "Laverne, there are plenty of cold-blooded killers that cry tears. They do it out of manipulation. And besides, there's concrete evidence that shows Hannah is the murderer."

"I would like you to show me that evidence ", Laverne responded in a matter of fact-way.

"Well, the note that was left at the crime scene is almost completely identical to Hannah's writing. And me and Tino searched her house. We found a gun stuffed under her mattress. And I just got a call this morning: the bullet found in Jade's apartment matched the gun we found."

Laverne looked at Tino for a moment, trying to decide how to convince him of Hannah's innocence. "I know you and your brother are new to the investigating field. But one thing you need to learn is that sometimes you have to believe the person that said they didn't do the crime. Unless there is reasonable doubt. And what you have just told me isn't reasonable doubt."

"Then what is considered to be reasonable doubt?" Tino asked, raising his eyebrows.

"DNA, a confession, anything that is solid. What you have on Hannah Smith, that is not solid. You and your brother would do good to listen to me."

Tino wanted to side with Laverne. He never wanted to go against her. It practically broke his heart. But he knew he had to do what he felt was right. "I'm sorry Laverne, we can't do that."

Laverne knew she couldn't blame him. He had to follow what he thought. If he didn't do that, he wouldn't even be a good investigator. But she also knew that Hannah Smith was innocent. "When I talked to Hannah, she told me she was innocent. Now there are people that say their innocent, and people that mean it. After you've been doing this as long as I have, you learn the difference."

"We are doing DNA," Tino pointed out.

Laverne laughed. "Well, I'm very glad there is DNA to do. Because I'm convincing Hannah that you and your brother are kind boys. And when you find out that I'm right, well, you'll need me."