'Are the handcuffs really necessary?'

Jess turned to watch her grumbling sister be escorted into the police station with a stiff-looking officer at her side.

'Ash?'

'Jesse,' Ash said with relief. 'Are you okay?'

'Not handcuffed at least,' she said, showing off her wrists.

'Move on,' the officer pushed Ash's shoulder, but she resisted.

'Jesse, don't worry about anything. Just answer their questions, and I'll get us out of here.'

'Stop talking,' barked the officer.

'Don't let them bully you,' Ash shouted as she was led towards the holding pen and out of sight.

'Come on,' the officer at her side said, being gentler with her than they had been with her sister.

The officer sat her down in the interrogation room and cuffed her to the table. She didn't resist, but nor was she happy. She was being treated like a criminal with no evidence that she'd done something wrong. The officers had said she was wanted for questioning over Charity's disappearance, but it felt like she was actually on trial.

'Would you like some water?' the officer barked out.

'No thank you,' she said curtly. 'But I would like to know what's going on.'

'You've been brought her for questioning-'

'Last time I checked, people who are brought in for questioning aren't usually handcuffed to the table.'

'They are, if deemed, a threat to our officers' safety.'

Jess rolled her eyes. 'Of course, because I'd be quaking in my boots if I saw myself coming.'

'Now look here, girlie.' The officer advanced on her but stopped short as the door opened behind him.

'That'll be all Officer Thomas,' the Deputy said.

The officer threw her a murderous look before stalking away.

'You and your sister just seem to make friends everywhere you go,' the Sheriff said, his eyes narrowing on Jess.

'My sister is the friendly one,' Jess replied.

'I can tell you now, neither of you will find any friends here if you don't start telling the truth, understand?'

Jess worked hard not to look at the Deputy who sat in silence reading through a file. He was the closest thing to an ally that she and her sister had. But how long could that last? Especially if the man's job ended up on the line.

'Do you understand?' the Sheriff repeated.

'Crystal.'

His moustache bristled at her answer. He reminded her of an overstuffed walrus. His belly draped over his belt, and his beefy arms seemed to stick out of his body like he'd been sown together by an enthusiastic child repairing their favourite toy. His watery eyes were small compared to his chubby cheeks and double chin, but they watched her like a hawk, barely blinking.

'What is your relationship with Charity Artridge?' he asked, taking a seat and placing his large hands on his belly.

'She's my housemate.'

'And how long have you known her?'

'About two years. She transferred to the same sorority as I did in her first year.'

'Phi Phi Cappa,' the Deputy clarified.

'That's correct.'

'And would you say your relationship was a good one?' the Sheriff asked, his beady eyes boring into hers.

'She was an average housemate. Always left the kitchen clean, kept her room neat.'

'Yes, yes. But how was your relationship with her personally?'

'I'm not really sure what you mean.'

The Sheriff held out his hand and the Deputy dutifully handed him a piece of paper, which seemed to give the older man immense pleasure.

'I have a statement here from one Laura Deleon. She states that your relationship with Charity could be described as rocky.' The Deputy passed him another four pages of paper. 'Mira Wlison states that you and Charity were known to disagree. Dominique de Silva went as far to say that she witnessed you often have blazing disagreements. Care to explain what it is you were arguing over?'

Jess unfurled her fingers and laid them flat on the table. The cold table was soothing on her overheated palms. She feared that she'd clenched her fists that hard that her nails had pierced the skin.

'Charity could often be difficult,' she admitted.

'And your housemates said the same thing about you.'

'About me?' Jess frowned.

'Secretive. Would never accept help. Cagey about her past.' The Sheriff read out before pinning her with his eyes. 'Just a few choice words your housemates had to say about you.'

Jess worked hard to keep the pain off her face. Although her housemates had said much the same to her, to know that they'd spoken to the police about her was crushing. To hear it read so bluntly from a pair of lips dripping with disdain made the whole thing that much harder to bear.

'Have any thoughts on what they had to say?' The Sheriff baited her.

'They're entitled to their opinion,' she said gruffly.

'That they are, Miss Hawthorne. As we are entitled to ours. Would you like to know what I think?'

'Considering you know nothing about me, I would say your opinion on me would be entirely circumstantial.'

The Sheriff flushed and cleared his throat. The Deputy shuffled his papers, but Jess could tell he was hiding a smile.

'I've read your file. Traumatic childhood. Mother died in an asylum. You and your sister bounced around after that. There's a few run-ins with the police on your file. Some underaged drinking.'

'I'm sure there's a number of teenagers here who've had a few run-ins with the police,' dismissed Jess.

'But not one that was known to have heated arguments with our missing person.'

'Arguments is a stretch,' she said.

'And what would describe them as?' he demanded.

'Discussions?'

'And what were these "discussions" about?' the Deputy interjected before the Sheriff could respond.

'My virtue.'

The Sheriff seemed to swell in front of her. 'Take this seriously.'

'You asked, and I answered. I fail to see how that's me not taking things seriously.'

'Can you elaborate on your statement?' The Deputy asked hastily, glancing at his still blustering boss.

'Charity was quite conscious of a few of our lifestyle choices. And if given the opportunity, would lecture on their inappropriateness.'

'And those choices would be?' The Deputy scribbled a few notes before giving her his full attention.

'Sex before marriage was her usual lecture. Though atheism was a close second.'

The Deputy tapped his pen against his chin. 'Given the subjects, was it only you who she lectured?'

Jess snorted. 'Hardly. Charity went into full lecture mode any time someone brought a partner home.'

'So many of your housemates would have had similar experiences with her?'

'Definitely.'

'None of them noted this when questioned,' the Sheriff said, finally finding his voice.

'We will, of course, investigate these claims,' the Deputy explained.

'If asked, my housemates will tell you the same thing; Charity has a very black and white view. If she found you lacking compared to her moral compass, then she would tell you.' Jess weighed her words carefully before she said them. She had to keep reminding herself that as far as the police were concerned, Charity was still just missing.

'But that still doesn't explain these.' The Sheriff pulled out pages from the file in front of him and arranged them for her to see.

Despite being forewarned about Charity's subject manner, Jess couldn't help but stare wide eyed at the sight of herself etched in black pencil.

And the images kept piling up. Somewhere just portraits of Jess' face. Others were full body, showing Jess doing various things like talking with housemates, washing dishes or sat studying. The detail was precise, unnervingly so, but it was the words that had been almost carved into the paper that disturbed her the most.

She picked up an image and traced the word 'liar'. The images were only copies, but she could still imagine Charity inscribing the image. She could physically see the pressure her housemate would have applied as she wrote the words, in a few places she'd even torn through the paper.

'Have you ever seen these before?' the Deputy asked.

'I didn't even know Charity could draw,' she mumbled, pulling more images towards herself.

'Just answer the question,' the Sheriff snapped.

Jess' eyes tightened. 'No. I've never seen these before.'

'It seems you and Miss Artridge had a different relationship compared with the rest of your housemates.'

Jess would have given anything to refute the Sheriff's words, but the evidence was laid out for her to see. There were no images of their housemates, not even Laura, who had gone out of her way to aggravate Charity.

Jess shifted the image and flinched at the sight of her pained face staring back at her. It was a close up drawing of her face, but not as it had ever been. Dark liquid fell from her eyes and pooled above her lip. Some of her teeth were missing, along with large chunks of her hair. And her face was littered with boils.

'Care to comment, Miss Hawthorne?' The Sheriff sat back looking smug.

Jess opened and closed her mouth, but nothing came out. She had no answers. She had no idea why Charity would draw such a grotesque image. And it wasn't the only one. She spotted another three. One showed her body contorted into a position of great pain as if Charity had drawn her having a seizure.

'Finally without comment,' the Sheriff stated as though Jess' stunned silence was what he'd been waiting for.

The door opened, making his smile dip. A well-manicured woman strutted in, her shoes echoing off the cement floor. A harassed-looking officer arrived a few seconds after her.

'Thomas, what is the meaning of this? I'm trying to conduct an interrogation here,' the Sheriff demanded.

'You're the Sheriff?' the woman asked with a not-so-subtle glance up and down.

'And you are?'

'Miss Violetina, Miss Hawthorne's lawyer.' She held out her hand, ignoring Jess' confused face.

The Sheriff just looked at her outstretched hand before finally shaking it.

'There's no need for representation. This is a simple matter,' he said.

'And yet my client is handcuffed to a table, being shown images that I assume you'll be relying on in court.'

The Sheriff's lips clamped shut, and he flushed an ugly purple.

'I thought so. Unless you wish to charge my client with anything, then I will be advising her to answer 'no comment' to any and all further questions.' Miss Violetina sat down and placed one leg over the other as she waited for the Sheriff's move.

'I'm sure you can see that your client could have useful information regarding our case. We just wish to receive the information in order to establish facts,' the Deputy said politely.

'Of course, I understand,' Miss Violetina said smartly, 'but I also have a right to protect my client. Should you wish to set up another interview, we would be more than happy to oblige.'

The Sheriff swiped her offered card, practically ripping it from her fingers. 'Thomas, release Miss Hawthorne.'

'Thank you, Sheriff.' Miss Violetina rose and escorted Jess from the room. When Jess went to speak, she shook her head. 'Just wait,' she whispered.

'I'll be right back,' she said loudly to the officer at reception before heading out with Jess in tow.

'I'm sorry, but who are you?' Jess demanded. 'Since the last time I checked, I don't have a lawyer.'

'You sister made the right move and reached out to your father.'

'You work for my dad?' interrupted Jess.

Miss Violetina just looked at her before walking towards the car park. 'Of course. He explained about your family's...abilities.'

'You know about that?'

'It's my job to represent you and keep you out of court. I need to know everything in order to be able to do my job,' she said in way of answering.

'Now, I need to get back and ascertain what they are planning with your sister. My partner, unfortunately, won't be here until the morning, so for now, it's just me. Will you be okay with waiting in the car?'

'Jess.' They both turned to see the Deputy heading in their direction.

'Deputy,' Miss Violentina greeted him.

'They're already bringing Ash in for questioning.'

Miss Violetnina pinched the bridge of her nose. 'I'd better head inside.'

'I'd be happy to take Jess home. Call it a police apology for interrogating her without her representation present.'

'Considering she didn't know she had representation, I would say your apology isn't needed. But I would appreciate it if you could see her home safely.'

'Understood.'

'I'm trusting you here, Deputy. Ash seems to think you're worthy of it, but if I find that you continue to question my client without me there-'

'I can assure you that will not happen,' he vowed.

She watched his face for an awkward moment, before placing her bag further up her shoulder.

'Very well. We will meet again, Deputy.' And then she strode back to the station without a second glance.

'Let's get you out of here, Jess.' The Deputy held out his passenger door, and she slid into the seat.

'I'm not going back to the sorority.'

The Deputy nodded. 'Where should I take you?'

For a moment, the question threw her. Where else could she go? Her best friend had practically thrown her to the mercy of the police. Her housemates clearly didn't care. She doubted they'd ever speak to her now she'd been officially questioned over Charity's disappearance. And then there was Daryl. He'd be in the never speak to her again category.

'Can you take me to Tabitha's?'

He fell silent but started heading towards her house, leaving her to stare at the station, wondering what was happening with Ash.