Chapter 4 I Didn't Do It

Shenell's POV

At the police station, I was walked into the interrogation room and asked to sit in the dimly lit room while I waited for Detective Harris. I didn't know who detective Harris was but I was certain he's probably the one in charge of this case.

I couldn't stop the thoughts from flooding in—thoughts of what Vincent did to me last night, how he made me feel like a woman again, and the way he filled me up at the bar.

Surprisingly, I wasn't much bothered about Charlie's death, all I care about right now to for this goddamn detectives to see the truth in this, and fucking allow me to go, because I didn't kill my ex-husband.

After a few minutes of sitting at the centre of the cold, damp interrogation room with barely a bright bulb, Detective Harris finally strolled into the room, his expression unreadable.

I adjusted myself on the chair as he took the seat opposite me, “Mrs. Shenell, how are you feeling today?” He asked with a soft smile.

I frowned as I looked at him. I was shocked and confused about his question. I didn’t understand why he was asking how I felt. It didn’t make sense to me. Why would he care about my feelings? He was a detective, not my friend. People like him don’t usually care, so his question felt strange and out of place.

But even with that confusion, a small part of me felt a little relieved. I was glad that he was not the same officer who had arrested me at the hotel. That man had been cold and harsh, like he had already decided I was guilty before I even said a word. If it was him sitting in front of me now, I knew I wouldn’t have any chance to explain myself. He would have pushed me straight into a cell without listening.

This detective was different.

As I sat there and looked at him, I started to notice the way he watched me. His eyes were calm, not angry or full of judgment. He wasn’t rushing me or trying to scare me. He just waited, like he actually wanted to hear what I had to say. It made me feel a little less afraid, even though my situation was still very bad.

I held onto that small feeling of hope. Maybe this man would listen. Maybe he would give me a chance to explain everything. Maybe he would believe that I didn’t do this. I didn’t know for sure, but for the first time since everything started, I felt like I might have a small chance to prove that I was innocent.

After taking a long sigh, I finally leaned in and said, “I…I'm fine…”

“Shenell, do you want to tell us what happened last night?” Detective Harris continued, his voice was calm and surprisingly soothing, he wasn't as harsh as the first cop earlier from the hotel

I sniffed my nose and started to play with my finger tips, “Umm…I came back home around 6pm, and found my husband making love to his secretary in the living room. I was furious, but he didn't care about my feelings and he said he doesn't want me anymore. He paid me off to sign our divorce papers and I did sign them.” I paused and searched the detective's eyes for a sign that he might be following me.

“What happened afterwards?” Harris leaned forward.

I swallowed hard, feeling almost too embarrassed about telling him what Vincent and I did at the bar.

Detective Harris noticed my uneasiness so he placed his hand gently on mine, “You can talk to me, Shenell. I promise if whatever you're saying turns out to be true, then you'll get the justice that you deserve, I just need you to tell me everything and be as truthful as possible.” He mumbled softly, squeezing my hand gently into his palms.

I blinked sharply and nodded my head softly, “I took the money and the cheque Charlie gave me, then I left the house…” I wasn't done speaking when Detective Harris interrupted me.

“Are you saying you left your husband behind with the woman you claim he's cheating with?”

“Zoey! Her name is Zoey, she's his secretary at one of his companies.” I bawled, my emotions creeping into my voice.

Harris nodded sharply and gave me a sign to proceed with my narration.

“I stumbled into a bar, and had enough shots to make me forget my pain. But I'd nowhere to go, I've nobody, no family, no friends.” Tears gathered in my eyes, but I managed to swallow it without letting it out.

I lowered my head and explained to Detective Harris how I got entangled with the bartender and how he volunteered to check into a hotel with me.

“What else happened?” Harris probed further.

I hissed softly, “We fucked, okay? We fucked, yeah we did it! Are you fine now? Isn't that what you want to hear me say?” I screamed, tears were finally streaming down my eyes now.

“You had sex with a man you met just yesterday?” Harris seemed disgusted.

I eyed him, “You've no idea what it feels like to be humiliated just the way Charlie did to me.” I shrieked, my entire body trembled as I spoke.

“Are you sure about everything you just said, Shenell?” Harris asked with a raised eyebrow.

I nodded sharply, “Yes, please…we can go to the bar, Vincent works there, he'll testify to this. We were together all through the night. Please I didn't kill anybody.” I cried.

Harris's expression suddenly dropped, he scratched his eyebrows softly while twisting his pen around his fingers.

Something seemed wrong and I could sense the uneasiness and change in his behavior, “Please, you've to believe, I would never kill nobody.” I begged with desperation in my voice.

“I believe you, Shenell. But your stories…are not making sense. My colleague just went to the bar you claimed you were at last night, but there wasn't anybody named Vincent that works there. In fact, this bar you're talking about has been shut down since four years ago.” Detective Harris mumbled, still scratching his brows with his fingertips.

“What, no, no…I swear, I was there! Vincent works there too, he helped me, he made me feel good, he also told me he loved me.” I couldn't believe I was saying all of this, but I still couldn't help the fact that I'm helpless right now.

“Shenell, you also said, you and Vincent checked into the hotel together, right?” Harris asked with a calm curious tone.

I blinked sharply, “Yes, he paid for the suite we stayed in…he used his credit card to pay for it, please go ahead and ask the receptionist, she'll testify to that.” I begged again.

Harris let out a sharp exhale, and I immediately knew something was wrong.

“Shenell, the receptionist at the hotel said you walked into the hotel with no man. She said you were alone, and you paid for the room with your own credit card.” Harris explained with an uneasy expression.

My mouth fell open, but no words could come out. I didn't even know when I let out a bitter laugh.

“Shenell, you can tell me the truth, okay? I promise we'll make your sentence light. If you tell the truth, the law will be easy on you, okay? Just tell me, Shenell, you killed Charlie Carter, didn't you?” Harris's voice echoed in my head and it was like I was going crazy. It felt like I was losing my mind.

I watched as Harris's mouth moved, forming words into sentences, but I could barely hear one word he was saying. I was long gone, I can't believe somebody will go this far to get rid of all my witnesses.

“Shenell, are you listening to me?” Harris asked calmly.

I still didn't utter a word, I only stared at his lips as they moved in unison with his words.

“Shenell, say something.” He added, still calm and gentle.

My lips parted slightly, but just as I was about to talk, the door suddenly slammed open and Mrs Carter, my mother-in-law stormed in. “You bastard, you killed my son, I swear I'll seek a legal way to kill you.” My mother-in-law growled as she stormed forward with her hands lifted high ready to strike or hit me, but as she was about to pounce on me, Detective Harris blocked her way, “Excuse me, Ma'am, you can't be here.” Harris warned and the security guard immediately came forward to drag Mrs Carter out.

I lowered my head disappointedly, crying all my eyes out.

“Shenell, can I tell you something?” Harris mumbled softly as he went back to take his seat just opposite me.

I nodded my head softly in affirmative.

“My sister's name was Shenell, she died last year during childbirth. She was my favorite, she was all I've got, she was the only family I've left. But she died.” Detective Harris's voice suddenly dropped low, he lifted his head up at me and we instantly locked eyes.

He sniffed his nose and continued, “So you see, I'm taking it easy on you because you're bearing my sister's name. But your mother-in-law would not take it easy on you. You've to tell me the truth, so you'll be under the law's protection, just reveal yourself, Shenell and tell us the truth.” Harris tried to convince me, but I was already telling him the truth. Who will ever believe

me that I was telling the truth already?

My eyes narrowed into his eyes, but I could only murmur, “I swear I didn't do it.” I bawled silently sobbing the life out of my eyes