Chapter 3 - The Interrogation Room
The precinct was cold, smelling of stale coffee and industrial floor cleaner.
Emily sat wrapped in a thin grey blanket, holding a paper cup of water with both hands.
Her mother sat right beside her, her arm wrapped tightly around Emily’s shoulders.
Across the metal table sat Detective Miller, a seasoned investigator with sharp eyes and a gentle demeanor toward victims.
"You did incredibly well today, Emily," Detective Miller said softly, clicking his pen.
"Standing your ground against adults in positions of power is not easy."
Emily took a small sip of water, her trembling hands finally beginning to steady.
"He stood right behind me last week," Emily recalled, staring blankly at the metal table.
"Nathan. He told me he needed to evaluate my checkout speed."
"But he wasn't watching your speed, was he?" the detective asked.
"No," Emily shook her head.
"He was memorizing my new register login code."
In the next room, separated by a thick cinderblock wall, a completely different scene was unfolding.
Nathan was sweating profusely, slamming his cuffed hands against the table.
"I want a lawyer!" Nathan barked at the two detectives questioning him.
"You don't have a shred of solid proof that I initiated those transfers!"
The senior detective slid a manila folder across the table.
He opened it, revealing glossy photographs of Nathan’s secret bank statements.
"We don't just have proof, Mr. Brooks," the detective smiled grimly.
"We have an offshore account in your name that just received forty thousand dollars in liquidated retail funds."
Nathan’s jaw dropped.
"And we also have the confession of your accomplice," the detective added, tapping the file.
"Rebecca Hayes sang like a canary."
"She told us everything about your offshore gambling debts."
"She told us how you promised her a twenty percent cut to act as the physical mule in the store."
Nathan slumped forward, burying his face in his hands as his entire world collapsed.
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He had gambled away his life savings, and now he had gambled away his freedom.
And he had lost.
