Chapter 2: De Vega's Interrogation

As I scan the documents in my hand, I could feel Maria's piercing gaze upon me. The situation is not fun for both of us. I know she knows something about the killings around the area. But some things holding her back. What could it be?

"Can we get over this now? My nagging boss will be not happy about this". Maria scoffed aggravatingly. 

" look, I know you don't like it in here and I know how stressful it is to be blamed as a suspect for a crime. But can you please cooperate with u-.."

"How many times will I tell you that I know nothing! It's just a coincidence that I know these people and it's just all acquaintances!"

Maria cut me off before I even finished my sentence. She's being defensive and I could feel it because of the way she plays with her ring, shaking voice, and constant shifting gaze all across the room. 

"Hey I know you're sick and tired of this interview and so did! You don't need to shout ms. De Vega"

" For the hundredth time miss Jane, it's Anne"

I wonder why she doesn't like to be called by her real name. So I asked her politely.

"Can I ask you something? Why don't you want to be called by your real name, Anne? bI means you don't have to answer it, I'm just curious"

Maria looked me in the eye with her golden-brown eyes. "Maria was the name my family gave me ever since. I just don't want to hear it even my last name. I don't want to be associated with that family. I don't want to remember them."

Sadness echoed in her voice as she talks about her family. She seems like a cold-hearted person but she's not. I glanced into her melancholic eyes that were furious a while ago. She was a different person when talking about her family.

" I didn't mean to open old wounds, Anne I'm sorry. I would like to ask some more questions if that's ok with you?"  

"Does it looks like I have a choice? I'm already here!" She replied with a sarcastic tone

"Okay, seems like you're ready. Do you have any idea who the killer is?" 

Maria clenched her fists trying to hold back her rage against me.

"What kind of question is that?! Of course, I don't know!"

She's getting frustrated every second spending in this room. I could not get any information out of her.

The Interrogation was interrupted when Nick Valentine busted into the room.

"Another man has been killed" 

Jane and Nick scurried on the way to the Crime scene together with Maria. 

We got to the crime scene and it was horrific. Yellow tape all over the perimeter, flashing blue and red lights, and buzzing noise from the busy cops checking out the crime scene. 

And there it was, the corpse sitting in the middle of the scene, surrounded by a pool of blood. Beside it was an Axe, soaked with the crimson blood of the helpless prey. I carefully lifted the white sheet cover and revealing the cold body of a young man in his 20's. Eyes wide and lifeless must've died with great shock. Poor soul, I gently closed his eyes and cover the cold body again.

As I searched the crime scene I stumbled across something. It was a doll covered with blood 

I carefully picked it up ( while wearing protective gloves of course) and placed it in a ziplock bag.

"Guess what I found", I shouted

Nick hurried in my direction 

" was it a god damn doll?" 

I nodded while giving him the evidence.

We've been working with this case for like 4 months and still got no trace of the killer.

My disappointment grew tremendously as the thoughts crowded every inch of my head.

"We will catch that bastard sooner or later," Nick declared while giving me a cup of hot coffee. 

I took the cup from his hand and thanked him with a slightly worried smile. 

"That's all folks! Let's head outta here!"

The Head Officer exclaimed. As we packed up and got into the vehicle and leave, sick and tired of the continuous murdering in the city. It's 10 in the evening, who expects a murder case that early??

" I knew him"

Maria spoke softly. Her troubled eyes meet mine as she waits for my response. As soon as we get back to the police department, new questions formed in my head. We have no choice but to ask Maria again about the incident. She's not the killer because she was in the interrogation room with me since the report. 

"I'm afraid you're coming home late tonight Anne. I got some more questions for you I hope you're ready for it".  

I gave her a cup of hot coffee that she quickly acknowledges and took a sip. It's 11in the evening and still have no clue who the killer was.

I quickly sat down at the table in front of Maria and started asking questions.

" Hey, I know you're not the killer. We just need answers, Anne."

I reassured her and try to calm her down. I know I have said this a thousand times but I know, she knows something, I can feel it in my guts.

"Thank you for your kind words, Jane. But I have no clue."

This interview was getting frustrated. I stormed out of the interrogation room and sat down on my desk to think. 

"Maybe you should send her home. It's getting late and you should probably get some rest".

Nick said to me as he organized the paper works on his desk.

" We can continue this tomorrow you know? We should probably go home. We're the only ones left here in the building"

"You should've gone home Nick, you don't have to wait for me."

I'm glad he stayed with me throughout the night. 

"Nah I'd rather stay with you in case you did something stupid, I'm here to help."

I rolled my eyes and chuckled.

"Thank you, Nick"

I went into the interrogation room and sat down in front of Maria once again.

"We will continue this tomorrow. We will be picking you up at your apartment at 3 pm "

"I will be at work."

"Then we will be picking you up at Ross' shop"

Maria Sighed got up and walked out of the facility. 

I went to Nick's desk and gently pat him on the shoulders

"You ready to go, partner?"

"Yeah, sure! It's way past my bedtime you know!"

Nick pouted as he got up on his seat. I laughed at his sleepy face as we walk out of the building.

Nick dropped me off at the apartment. I thanked him and went inside to rest.