Randy took me into the station's interrogation room, leaving me in my cuffs and sitting me on one of the most uncomfortable chairs you could imagine. The only thing in this room was a metal table that had been bolted to the floor and two steal chairs. My cuffs clinked against the long steel bar bolted on top of the table. Securing me in place. I've always fantasized about being handcuffed. In a different setting of course, but damn these things bite the more I move. It both excited and scared me, to the point of confusion. So I sat there still as can be, waiting for what comes next.

It felt like forever, the clock ticking away. Almost an hour had past when my mother came bursting through the door. Behind her was my father along with a man in a suit. A dark brown suit, with a tan shirt, accompanied by a striped tie. With glasses and a terrible over comb. He was carrying a briefcase in his left hand. A look of disdain plastered on his face.

When Sheriff Randy came in, closing the door behind him, he hadn't even made it an inch into the room before my mother lashed at him.

"Why is she here!? She has done nothing wrong!" Her voice was strong, protective like a mother bear. When my father joined in.

"What's the reason for this Randy?" He quipped, thinking this was a joke.

The man that was accompanying my parents, who must have been our lawyer, finally decided to speak.

"The room, Officer." This man wasn't messing around, he had a very in your face attitude. Definitely a lawyer.

Randy huffed, glaring at the comb-over, just before swiftly turning around and leaving. That's when my mother embraced me from behind. My father asking the lawyer what we should do now? And my wrist started stinging from the sudden impact of my mother's love.

"Ouch." I hissed. Not to my mother but more to the air. It wasn't her fault, but now I was definitely going to have a bruise.

"What's wrong?" She asked worry stretching from her eyes to her lips.

"The cuffs," I muttered, looking at them. "They hurt," I whispered, not liking the situation. I was so confused. Why me?

My mother gently rubbed my back as the lawyer sat in the chair before me. Setting his briefcase on the table, creating a small click sound that echoed.

"Rose, tell me what happened." He was calm and ready for my answer. So, I began to explain what I was doing when Randy arrested me. Ending with the fact Randy hadn't said one word to me other than my Miranda warning.

"Ok, here's how this is going to go." He stated, pointed a finger at me. "You are going to say nothing, unless I tell you, you can speak. Got it?" My eyes grew just a little, shaking my head 'yes'. Then he turned to my parents, gesturing with his hand once again. "You two, ask away."

He stood heading to the door opening it for Randy to step in. It was a moment or two before Randy even came in to view. He must have been sitting in his office down the hall. My lawyer stood beside me while Randy sat down, placing his hands on the table. Eyeing only me. He looked intimidating, to say the least. I wanted to cry like a baby, but I knew that would get me nowhere.

Randy's hands went to his belt, the sound of keys clinking. He took my hands, gently unlocking the cuffs, freeing my delicate wrists. Randy was handling me with care and it seemed odd, out of place from his demeanor. A sigh in relief, wringing my wrist to ease the ache.

"We found new evidence linking Rose to Sage's death. A strand of hair hidden in the black tarp that held her body." He was calm, looking as if he had won.

"Hair? She found the body! And almost died because of it! Of course her hair would be in the tarp!" My mother was fuming. She was taking no prisoners I tell you. A women scorned.

"If that's what you are using to charge Rose. I will take this to a judge in the morning. You have zero proof my client killed Sage." The lawyer fired back.

I just looked like a lost puppy. I was told to keep my mouth shut and that's what I was going to do.

"Well, your clients DNA was also under her finger nails." He spat, clenching his jaw.

"Could all be explained from when she found her." The lawyer stated, sounding deadly. He looked like a goof but man was he good.

"How did you get Roses DNA?" My father asked, baffled.

"The hospital." Randy said curtly. He's eyes shot daggers into my own.

Don't say a word.

"You telling me, it was exact identical match to my clients DNA. One hundred percent." My lawyer bantered.

In an instant Randy's eyes went straight to him. His jaw clenching even tighter, revealing the muscle of his bite.

"Enough to connect Rose." He bit.

My lawyer stood quiet for a moment, processing.

"Unless it's one hundred percent, we will be taking our leave. That DNA could belong to anyone in her family." He sternly stared. Not budging an inch.

"You should be ashamed of yourself." My mother sassed. Gripping my shoulders and glaring at the sheriff.

"Jumping the gun, Randy." My father sounding displeased.

Randy's fists clenched tight, the whites of his knuckles showing. He was not liking my parents at the moment.

"Fine." He growled. Looking directly at me. "Where were you on Monday, August 19th?" He eyed me, looking back and forth. Undecided on which eye to focus on.

I thought for a second, that was the last week of summer. The Monday before the school year started. Was that the estimated time frame she was killed in? I looked to my lawyer, silently asking if I could answer.

"Go ahead."

"I was at home." I started. "Enjoying a good book while sitting in my room. Had dinner with my parents, then when to bed." I stated the facts.

"All day?" Randy questioned, raising his brow.

"All day." I was reading the Divergent series. Good books! Love Veronica Roth.

"Who was home with you?" Randy questioned once more.

"I was home." My mother corroborated. That was a lie though, she was at work. So was dad. I was home alone until they came home.

Randy sucked his tongue to the roof of his mouth, creating a rush of air, sounding like a click. My father, hummed, unimpressed by Randy's attitude.

"I will be checking into that Amber," Randy stated. Standing from his chair and heading to the door. "Rose, however, will be here. In the morning, waiting for you. Mr. Dunkin." He gruffly spoke. Shutting the door behind him.

"I have to stay the night?" I whimpered to my parents.

"NO!" Shouted. Pleading with Mr. Dunkin.

"I will have her out first thing in the morning. Six o' clock." He stated expressionlessly. When he turned to me, showing sympathy. "Think of it as a sleepover. I will see you in the morning."

He began to walkout, my mother following him. My father standing beside me. The look of heartbreak flashing through his eyes. He was about to leave his innocent baby girl in a shit hole. I could see so much pain when he embraced me. Engulfing me with a huge bear hug. Unwilling to let go until another officer came in to take me to my cell.

"This is wrong." My father spat as the officer grabbed my arm.

"This is wrong." He said much louder. When I turned around, I saw my father's fist connect with the officer's jaw. Disorienting him, until he finally succumb to the blow, falling unconscious. My father just assaulted an officer. Randy came barging into the room, fuming with rage. Slamming my father against the table, cuffing his hands behind his back. Randy read him his Miranda rights, while the lawyer noted everything.

He smiled to me and I smiled back, knowing what my father had just done.

"I will see you both in the morning." He bided, ushering my mother out before her temper could lead her exactly where we were.

Randy shoved my father, dragging me behind. When we came to two cells, next to one another, Randy threw me in the first one, then uncuffed my father pushing him into the next. My dad was the greatest. He was going to spend the night in jail with me so I wouldn't be afraid, so I wouldn't be alone. He truly was an amazing man.

"Night, Rose Bud." He cooed through the wall that was blocking him from my sight.

"Sweet dreams, Dad." I smiled, filled with joy at how amazing he is. "Love you." I whispered, laying down on the padded bed.

"Love you too." He said back just before I fell asleep.

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Hey y'all! Thanks for reading thus far! I know I'm throwing y'all for a loop! But trust me it's all going to be a crazy ending once the truth comes out! Hope it shocks y'all to the bone! I gave a few more clues away in this chapter! Pay attention 😉

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