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"Sorry, what costume? I don't understand a word you're saying," I stated flatly.
The officer pulled out another photograph and I recognized it instantly.
It was of the mascot entering the office building.
Since it wasn't taken elsewhere, I figured that they had no concrete evidence to support their claim that I had rented the costume.
The employee did not get a clear look at my face since he had the costume on. His boss wouldn't have seen me as well since the staff asked for his permission over the phone. He took off his costume quickly and couldn't wait to get rid of me. I paid the deposit without leaving my contact since the amount was much more than what the costume was worth.
"You're denying our claim then? We do not have evidence since the cameras only keep the recordings for a month and we were a little too late. But what about this?" The officer placed another photograph on the table.
It was of me exiting the building with my handbag and my head lowered.
"What's with these two photos? Is it in the same place?" I pretended not to understand.
"I'm sure you'd know better.
"I don't get it," I insisted.
"We've checked through the monitors. This is of you exiting, but we didn't see any of you entering. Same goes for the mascot. There's only a clip of him entering but not exiting. Or can you explain how you popped out of nowhere? We can first talk about the mascot. He left a fake name, contact number, and ID with the security but still managed to get in. Why? Because he reported w.a.n.g Xiaomei's name. Can you explain the connection between these two photos? Did you hide the costume in your handbag?"
"I don't get it, " I repeated.
"You don't? How, then, do you explain your appearance at the office and w.a.n.g Xiaomei's death shortly after? The autopsy doesn't match up with the alleged cause of death, and you're the suspect."
"No, no, no! I mean, why me?" I asked, picking up the photograph and folding it.
One of them grabbed my hand but I showed no sign of stopping.
"Why are you touching me?" I questioned.
"There's no use tearing it up, Mr. Chalk. We have copies and this is not our only evidence. If you think it's all that we have, go ahead, I won't stop you."
I folded the photograph three times, including all the corners, before putting it beside my face.
"Look carefully. Do we look alike? I don't even know where this is so why are you saying that it's me?"
"Are you saying that's not you?"
"Didn't you say that w.a.n.g Xiaomei committed suicide? Why has it become a criminal case? And why am I the suspect? We don't even look alike!" I argued, putting the photo closer to my face.
They looked at me in silence.
"Can you magnify the photo? I can't even see his face properly, why are you so sure it's me? I suspect you're just trying to malign me of murder because you can't solve the case," I shouted righteously.
"Don't be agitated, Mr. Chalk. We're only investigating and not accusing. Just explain to us nicely so we can clear your name."
"Are you really helping and not attacking?" I spat.
"The case is three months overdue. It is true that we have nothing concrete, which is why we're finally s.h.i.+fting the focus onto you."
"So you suspect that I murdered her? It's been so long but you have nothing? Are you even investigating properly? Stop framing me!"
"We're not obliged to answer your strange questions. We just need your help with one last problem. It is stated in the repair workshop's records that your boot lining was missing. Why is that so? Please correct your att.i.tude and answer us."
"Then what's going to happen to me after? Do I get to leave or are you just going to lock me up no matter what my answers are?"
"We can't detain you for more than 72 hours, so we'll crack the case as quickly as possible."
"What will happen after that? Will I be thrown in jail? I've been following the news for many years. So many people had been locked up, only to be released with an apology years later. Is that my impending fate?" I asked.
"You'll be released from custody so you can go home and wait for a sentence. We won't treat an innocent man unjustly so don't worry."
"I know I'm innocent but it seems that you two disagree," I stated.
"There's no need to go there. Please tell us what happened to your boot lining."
"A tire busted during the collision so I had to get the jack to replace it with a spare one. Got dirty in the process so I threw it. That's it. I threw it in the dump. It's been three months so don't bother finding it."
They exchanged looks and one whispered to the other, "Do we continue?"
"Sort the testimony and line it against his wife's."
The latter said, "Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Chalk. We'll process the information so please bear with us."
They got up and sent me back to the holding cell.
It was now my wife's time to perform.
She was probably sitting in another interrogation room, and I could only hope for the best.
