zeppelin sat in front of the investigator , a look of guilt plastered across his face . the question of if he was guilty or not was up to debate , wasn't it ? no . . . of course not . he hadn't done anything wrong . he hadn't done anything wrong all those years ago and nothing had changed . . . or had it ? the male never being one to hide his emotions all too well when it really came down to it . the nerves were clear , not exactly the mask zeppelin wanted to wear on that specific day . then again , how was anyone supposed to stay level headed after that message ? everything seemed to happen back to back . one moment he was bending over backwards for a faceless person behind a keyboard or phone . and now here he was feeling as if he was bending over backwards for a ghost behind a screen . ⏤ feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders . he played with his fingers as he sat in that chair . eyes going from downcast to looking up before quickly falling back to his fingers . if people didn't know how anxiety ridden zeppelin was . . . they'd probably think there was something extremely off about him . . . then again , maybe there was ?
the silence that filled the room was finally met with the first question . ( 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐑'𝐒 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 ? ) it was an easy enough question . . . if zeppelin hadn't been living on a mountain of small and not so small lies since that godforsaken night . the age old question everyone was faced with when that mountain of lies became too large and tangled . . . when it had finally became a web of terror . this was his black widow moment . . . the moment he was taken out . the life and blood clearly sucked from his features as he started to question what he'd said all those years ago . for a mama's boy he really wasn't great at listening to her age old advice of telling the truth was always the best policy . ❛ home . . . ❜ a lie . . . he wasn't home . . . he'd never said he was home . eyes closed for a moment before a small breath escaped his lips and hazel eyes fell back on the investigator in front of him . ❛ sorry , i'm just a little . . . i was at an end of the year party . wanted to have fun with all my friends before everyone went their separate ways , like any teenager . ❜ feeling his heart pick up in pace . zeppelin wasn't the smartest person in the world but he knew that he was making a fool of himself . . . as seemingly , always .
that didn't stop the questions , onto the next . how someone could sit across from him and not feel the same dread and doom . simply doing their job , asking what needed to be asked and jotting down their notes . . . meanwhile zeppelin felt as if his world was crumbling around him . just as he'd felt all those years ago when he was questioned the first time . ( 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐒𝐀𝐖 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐑 ? ) a tricky one . . . zeppelin rolling through the scrolls in his own brain . . . what had he said ? what lie had he spat out ten years ago ? you'd think he'd have every lie memorized to a tee . . . but truthfully . . . zeppelin never thought he'd be here again . ❛ at the party , we . . . we were close but we really didn't hang around the same crowd . ❜ zeppelin lied through his teeth , they'd never been close . . . but in a desperate attempt to save his and his friends secrets . . . he let himself fly a little too close to the sun in order to do whatever idiotic thing he felt would help . lie after lie after lie after lie . . . ❛ really wish i would've seen him more but a party that big . . . you get a little lost in the crowd . ❜ zeppelin continued .
( 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐑 ? ) eyes focused back on the man in front of him , as if he'd finally kicked into gear . zeppelin seemed to calm in a sense . a less paranoid look on his face and a more . . . tired look took it's place . a moment of feeling completely out of his body , watching himself from below as he answered the questions . wanting nothing more than to disassociate with the entire thing . his brain working overtime to string together everything he was feeling and thinking to the point where the motor seemingly went out . what was real ? what was fake ? what was the truth ? what was a lie ? ❛ friends . . . best . ❜ was all he said , another lie as he was dismissed and stood up . the only words flashing in his head like an alarm was GUILTY . . . no . . . no , no , no . . . he wasn't guilty . . . he hadn't done anything wrong . . . of course not . he repeated once again as he gave a weak smile and nod to the man before turning around and leaving . feeling even less settled than he had ten years prior .
where were you on the night of christopher wilder's disappearance?
"you want me to tell you something that happened ten years ago? i can barely remember what i ate yesterday for breakfast. i can't even function on my own anymore. i'm still living with my fucking dad because of that night." which was true, she just numbed herself into thinking that she would never had to go through this again and yet, here she was. "what would happen to me if my answers aren't the same as before? are you going to assume it was me because my answers changed? because i left things out? all i can tell you is that i was drunk like any normal teenager and something tragic happened to a friend of mine."
when was the last time you saw christopher?
"funny enough, i didn't see him much that night. i just remember him talking to me about his brother and then going off being chris. we had made plans to go to brunch the next day because he didn't think a party was the best place to have that kind of talk."
what was your relationship with christopher?
"besides being one of my best friend's brother? we didn't really have one," well, no exactly true. dion knew that whatever they had it was forming into him being like a brother to her too. someone who warned her about who she should be careful with.
noah enters the interrogation room and settles into the hard chair . the sterile environment , the investigator’s stare , the annoying buzz of the lights above — it all makes her uneasy . she feels as though they are about to dissect her , to take her apart piece by piece . but that’s the price you pay for being involved in a teenager’s disappearance , isn’t it ? a decade may have passed since that night , but the past has a way of catching up . no matter how much noah insists she had nothing to do with it ( the dare box , christopher wilder ) the truth is , it’s eating her away — this weight pressing down on her shoulders , this constant reminder that she can't outrun her past .
the investigator’s voice finally slices through the silence ( WHERE WERE YOU ON THE NIGHT OF CHRISTOPHER WILDER’S DISAPPEARANCE ? ) it’s a simple question , really . and noah’s always had a solid alibi : stella . the only issue ? noah’s memory of that night has a few blanks . not a full blackout — she remembers shots , trying to outdrink stella , laughing , dancing , beer pong , flip cup . but … at some point , everything gets a little fuzzy . was she with stella the whole night ? was drinking all she really did ? did she go to the lake to watch chris’ dare ? each missing detail feels like a potential downfall . another downfall . a threat to her career she can’t afford . so noah sticks to what she knows , scoffing defensively before answering , “ with stella . we were celebrating the end of the year , and naturally there was a party . so , yeah , lots of drinking , a little dancing , some drinking games ... honestly , it’s all a bit hazy . it happened a decade ago . we were teenagers . but i was with her … the whole time . ”
the investigator’s pen scratches across the notepad in silent judgment , the sound like nails on a chalkboard to noah , grating on her nerves . she feels hyper - aware — of herself , of the musty smell of the room , of the buzzing fluorescent lights , even of the investigator’s eyes on her ( WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW CHRISTOPHER ? ) and noah sighs , her mind rifling through fragmented recollections . “ fuck , i don’t know . earlier that day ? i dropped by to see kai , his brother — my ex , one of my best friends , and christopher answered the door . we didn’t really talk , though . i wasn’t there for him . after that , i went on to the party and i don’t think i saw him again . ”
the investigator leans forward , gaze sharp and unwavering , locked onto noah’s face ( WHAT WAS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRISTOPHER ? ) and with a defiant tilt of her chin , she lets out a derisive snort . “ nonexistent , ” says , lips curling into a sardonic smile that does little to hide the disdain she held for christopher wilder . “ we weren’t friends . we didn’t talk . ran different circles , had different interests . you know those people you see around sometimes , maybe they’ll nod as you walk by , try to flash a smile , hoping for some kind of reaction ? but you don’t even register their presence ? that was christopher to me . he was just … forgettable . background noise . ” offers a dismissive shrug . “ sure , i knew of him . knew his family , sat across from him at a couple dinners . he was kai’s brother , and that’s the most interesting thing i can say about him . ”
flashes of defiance tempt the investigator to push further , but for now , the interview is over . with that , pen is set down , a strained ‘ thank you ’ escapes their lips , and a handshake later , she is free to go .
being questioned by the police ten years later wasn't exactly on the agenda . then again , when had kai ever went by a schedule or agenda ? ( it wasn't exactly his style . ) that being said , this whole thing felt ridiculous . it all felt like a complete waste of time . what difference would it make to gather them all up like sheep and ask bullshit questions that would more than likely get them nowhere . of course , kai didn't know what the questioning entailed but he couldn't imagine it being anything but a waste . there being multiple reasons as to why kai wanted nothing to do with the police's sudden interest in a case that they'd been so seemingly lazy with . . . his thoughts on the police had only gotten worse the moment his family had to deal with them and his view on cops had never been great . classic teen rebellion caused the male to end up sitting in the back of cop cars time and time again but dealing with them in this setting . . . it was somehow worse . dealing with the half assed answers and obvious secrets they were trying to keep from his family . . . it was extremely frustrating . even if kai did know what happened to chris . . . or at least , he knew more than he was letting on . but it was all more reason to be pissed in kai's view . how could all thes dumbass kids keep such a huge secret and not one cop ever caught on ? it was meant to be their job . . . at the end of the day , everyone was a fucking idiot , it seemed . again , it could've just been kai's negative view of everything and anything . his complete lack of hope or genuineness in anyone . it made it practically impossible for him to stop and see anything without this shit stained lenses .
❛ i'll stand , ❜ kai answered when being offered the seat in front of the officer . it being clear as day that kai didn't want anything to do with the situation . he didn't want anything to do with the cops , with the interview . . . he didn't want anything to do with the disappearance of christopher wilder . something that the brother wanted complete wiped from his memory . . . from his life . the countless times he caught himself wishing that he'd never had a brother in the first place . that he'd never had a family at all . the cop simply nodded , eyes glancing down at his clipboard before asking the first question on his mini list of questions that had to be asked .
( 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐑'𝐒 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 ? )
unable ot help the way his eyes practically rolled behind his head . kai shook his head . feeling as though he was being proven correct . that this whole thing was a load of crap . nothing about it feeling sustainable . lips pressed together , the male choosing to play into his own sarcasm . a clear sign , a sign that he wanted the cop sitting in front of him to understand , he wasn't taking anything he was asking him or anything about the situation seriously . ❛ hmm , great question . it's not like you have a recording of each and every one of our interviews from ten years ago that you can go back and look at . ❜ crossing his arms over his chest , kai narrowed his eyes at the officer . ❛ are you gonna keep asking me questions you already have the answer to ? or are you actually gonna ask me something that might help you guys with this investigation ? just asking to prepare myself . ❜ letting the pause and silence fill the room , kai let out a laugh that sounded more like a scoff than anything else as the cop told him to just answer the question . the faster he answered , the faster he could get out of there . a true statement but this cop obviously didn't know kai practically lived off his own stubbornness and rage . ❛ right , so you're gonna waste my time , great . ❜ uncrossing his arms , kai finally took a seat . the unamused nature as he relaxed back into the chair just as clear as the sarcasm and disinterest kai was giving off . ❛ i don't know , officer . i'd go back and check what i said ten years ago but i'm pretty sure i was at a party with my friends but you already know that , don't you ? ❜
as if the cop was used to different people expressing their frustrations , he didn't react all that much . asking the next question , checking things off his list .
( 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐒𝐀𝐖 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐑 ? )
the annoyance was boiling and bubbling under the surface for kai . wanting to take out all his anger , guilt and hurt out on this random cop that he hardly even knew . on a man that was just trying to do his job . doing what he was probably told to do from whatever higher ups . not that that stopped kai from targeting the poor guy as enemy number one in that given moment . ❛ fine , i'll play along . ❜ sitting back even more in his seat . kai raised his legs up and crossed them as they relaxed against the table in between himself and the officer . ❛ the last time i saw mr. christopher wilder , another great question , johnny law . ❜ kai said , motioning a finger at the cop . the most he'd ever said chris' name in the span of years . ❛ pretty sure i saw him at home and you should probably jot this part down but we got into it before we both went off to dante's party . bet you can do a world of wonders with that information . ❜ he continued , pulling his feet off the desk as he leaned forward , arms pressed against the surface of the table . ❛ go ahead , take your time to get all that down . ❜
instead of entertaining kai , giving the male something the fuel off of . the cop moved onto the next question . again , probably experienced when it came to handling people that weren't exactly the easiest people to deal with . people that didn't want to corporate with them . something that was more than likely a lot more common than anything else .
( 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐑 ? )
that right there , that question was all kai needed to lose his mind . all he needed to clench onto and drag to the forefront . something about that question causing the male to completely lose any composure he had . . . which wasn't much of any . really , he couldn't even use his own sarcasm to hide the pure frustrations he felt . the genuine anger that was boiling beneath . ❛ you can't be fucking serious , ❜ another scoff as he stood back up . practically slamming the chair into the table as he pushed it in . if he wouldn't be arrested right then and there and didn't have at least the smallest sliver of self control , he would've punched his fist into the wall . ❛ you guys are a fucking joke . ❜ a look of complete disgust on the brunettes face as his eyebrows furrowed together . ❛ he was my fucking brother , does that answer your bullshit question ? are you done wasting all our time ? maybe go out there and try and figure out who's leaving damn evidence ten years later around , yeah ? stop with the useless questions and get out there . whatever happened to my brother isn't gonna get solved by asking this shit . figuring out how evidence is coming out of fucking nowhere might be a better place to set your sights . ❜ the cop stayed seated and silent , as if waiting for kai to stop ranting and raging . kai clearly didn't have an insight to what the cops where dealing with or doing . they could've been doing all they could but that didn't stop kai's negative view of them and own issues with everything going on . ❛ you guys are fucking useless ! there's something fucking going on in this town but you're all fucking deadbeats . sitting on your fucking thumbs while there's someone out there strategically placing evidence right in front of your fucking faces . ❜ perhaps the anger kai was expressing was more directed at himself . feeling as if the lack of control they all had over whatever was happening was almost unbearable . ❛ i'm fucking done . . . ❜
maybe it was a sense of detachment ? or feeling desensitized by the whole situation ? then again , it could've been a bit of both ? luciana had grown up her entire life with everything around her crumbling down . her family was dysfunctional at best and traumatizing at worst . everyone pushing down or throwing a smile on their faces and acting like the whole world wasn't on fire was quite normal for the saphira's . so perhaps , there was something about all of this that wasn't processing for the girl . simply just more weight that was getting placed on her shoulders . ( more things for her to just grin and bear it about . ) that being said , as well as luciana was when it came to letting things roll of her shoulders when it was harder to deal with . . . it really was just a defense mechanism . luciana falling more on the spectrum of someone that was very sensitive to things . that would eventually let everything eat away at her . but she was also the type that would ignore and avoid , in her own way . sometimes without even realizing she was doing it . feeling as though she genuinely didn't feel anything about it . that she was desensitized to it . until , there was a day where she'd explode and everything would come out in a much uglier fashion . something that most didn't witness when experiencing the company of luciana who was sure to put off the most perfect and beautiful package she could muster up .
luciana smiled when she took a seat across from the police officer . a gentle greeting as she brushed at the fabric of her skirt , straightening herself out . she'd always been taught that you use your elegance and beauty in any given situation . something that the girl probably took to heart much more than was healthy for anyone . a sense of discredit and disrespect to herself but alas , she was who she was . not that it really mattered as the first question was shot out at her . the officer more than likely trying to get his job done as quickly as possible . with all the people he had to interview , it made sense .
( 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐑'𝐒 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 ? )
a slight hum as she began to think back to that night . it was funny actually , the way she'd blocked most of it out of her mind . it feeling like any other memory that happened from so long ago . any old memory that had no real weight to it . that didn't burn into her brain like it had for most . was that the actual case ? it could've been . . . or maybe . . . maybe she genuinely was this disconnected from the entire thing . mentally checked out of it . ❛ there was this end of the year party and i remember i had to go , it was a must . ❜ she began , as if she was at a sleepover and gossiping with the girls about a story that had happened . ❛ i thought the guy throwing it was cute . even though i'm pretty sure he had a girlfriend and i'd never go for a guy that's taken but it didn't hurt to go and get a glimpse . classic teenage girl stuff , you know what i mean ? ❜ she continued before her shoulders came up and down , softly . ❛ i ended up leaving early . my brother had to go to some party of his own and he was my ride . so i had to do with a couple hours before he came and got me and dropped me back off at home . i remember being so upset i had to leave early . ❜
the same composure luciana had before . sitting with her leg crossed over the other and her skirt perfectly placed like she'd been posed for a professional shoot . an evenness to her voice that was either calming or far too calming . but if her parents had brought her up for or to do anything . it was to be composed in any situation . to never let the saphira name look less than or weak .
( 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐒𝐀𝐖 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐑 ? )
it was odd thinking of someone that had been gone for so long . . . it was even odder that there was this new evidence being found . that a boy that all she wanted was to notice her all those years ago was now just a distant memory . someone that became a lot more than just another boy that never really saw luciana despite her trying . now he was this thing that kept everyone she'd known in high school linked . and yet , here she was unable to truly connect herself to the situation . it didn't matter that she was now part of all of this . that she knew about the dares and that she knew about the pact they all took a part of . it was like she had told herself the person then was a completely different person from who she was today . they weren't connected . like they were different entities altogether . ❛ the day before , at school . he let me borrow his pencil . ❜
( 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐑 ? )
there wasn't much to say about her relationship to chris . like stated before , chris didn't really notice her . she tried , she thought he was cute and sweet . . . like any boy that crossed her path , there was a part of her that daydreamed about how maybe this random boy was the one . that maybe that'd be the boy that'd finally sweep her up and save her or let her save them . . . luciana's romantic daydreams being full of delusion and far more issues than anything else . but that's all it was . nothing came of her little crush and she was enthralled with the next . ❛ sadly . . . we didn't really have one . he seemed sweet and he was always kind but we just knew each other in passing . ❜ with that , the interview was seemingly over .
there was something about history that vivian loved . she loved that history kept people alive long after their deaths , and she loved the people who fondly shared their history even more . the history that the police called her into the station to share . . . now that was something she was not fond of . vivian loved history , but she forgot that no matter how fascinating the stories are , it will always be riddled with pain and suffering as well . vivian almost felt like a deposed queen as she walked down the halls of the police station and she couldn't help but wonder if the feeling she felt at the bottom of her stomach was anything like walking to the guillotine . vivian felt seventeen again once she sat down in that room , the prolonged silence eating away at the frays of her nerves with every second that passed .
thankfully , a detective entered the room moments before vivian faltered beneath the pressure of her memories . this was going to be difficult , picking at a wound that refused to heal , but she figured it was for the best . it was the very least she could do to help find chris after everything that happened . after everything she held in . once brief pleasantries were exchanged , the detective smiled , though it didn't quite reach the wrinkled edges of his eyes . it was the kind of smile that told her he just wanted to get to the bottom of things . he flipped open his notebook and looked at her , his impossibly large frame leaning on the table . " now that i have read you your rights . . . would you like to continue ? " vivian nodded , much to the pleasure of the detective who clicked on his pen . " miss costello , where were you on the night of christopher wilder's disappearance ? " vivian slowly ingested the question , played with it word for word , before she could taste the answer on her tongue . she had heard this question before , and for a moment , she was back in 2014 , staring at the detective with the same somber look she had back then . " that night , i snuck out of my house when my parents were asleep to go to a party . i believe it was hosted by dante and elise . i wasn't supposed to be there . . . but chris was so convincing about all the fun i would have , that i decided i would just . . . go . it was around nine thirty when i arrived . i spent time the whole night hanging out with my friends . we played a few games , talked about school . . . you know , typical teenage stuff . "
her dark eyes focused on the detective as he wrote her answer on the notepad , the low hum of the air conditioner drowning out the soft pop of her fingers as she forcibly bent them from the subtle stress that ate away at her body . once he finished writing , the detective looked up at vivian , and opened his mouth to continue . " when was the last time you saw christopher ? " the question felt like a knife to her guilty consciousness and all vivian could do was take the pain in silence . when was the last time she saw chris ? really saw him ? she remembers the conversation they had before he left his house , she remembered the way his laughter brought life to the party , and she remembers the splashing of the water when he lunged into the lake , never to resurface again . what was appropriate to share when all she wanted to do was help ? vivian wasn't so sure about anything anymore . . . " a group of us gathered at the lake after the party . " she began , small hands squeezing together underneath the table as though to remind herself you're going to be okay . "i last saw chris there . he hung out with me around the bonfire for a little bit . he was telling the most ridiculous scary stories . . . but everyone ate them up . " at the time , vivian only laughed at the absurdity of his stories . . . unknowing of the fact that the scariest of them all would unfold not even an hour later . she shook her head at the memory , fondness painting a small smile that fought to make its appearance . how could she not smile at the way he tried to use the flickering flames as a means to dramatize every word he spun ? that was chris , so undeniably warm , so undeniably himself . " he eventually left to hang out with his other friends . . . so that was the last time i saw him . at the lake , near the bonfire . i didn't see much of him following that interaction but that was normal . chris was . . . really popular , after all . " except that wasn't the entire truth , now was it ? she remembered much more . . . much , much more , but that was a thread she couldn't pull at without a heavy price to pay .
vivian felt a knot as thick as rope form around her throat as she thought about chris , and no matter how much she swallowed the little saliva she could produce , it was nowhere near enough to make the feelings go away . the detective slowly nodded as he slowly tapped his fingers on the metal of the table and all vivian could focus on the deafening tap tap tap that reverberated in her ears . " miss costello , what was your relationship to christopher ? " out of all the questions , this one had to be the easiest , but it was its simplicity that made it so hard . " he was my next door neighbor . we lived next to each other basically . . . our whole lives . " vivian let out a shaky breath as her eyes began to pool with tears , fists impossibly white , trembling . " more than that , he was like my brother . . . one of my closest friends . " vivian looked at the detective as a tear trickled down her cheek , embarrassment sweeping through her features once she realized she was crying . " i'm sorry . . . " for the tears , for the dishonesty , for everything . was she apologizing to the detective , to chris , or to herself ? the lines blurred as she swiped at her face . " is there anything else i can do to help ? " vivian offered with a small twinge of hope , and all the man could do was shake his head in a quick no before snapping his notebook shut , indicating the interview was over . vivian knew , however, that this whole ordeal was nowhere near over and there was nothing she could realistically do to help . " thank you for your time , miss costello . for what its worth , every bit of information helps us bring peace and justice to christopher and his family . " vivian could only nod as the man stood up to escort her out the room . before the door clicked behind her , she heard a quick , " have a good rest of your day . "
As she settles into the seat, Cat is smiling, exchanging pleasantries with the officer. She isn't nervous, this is nothing new, and as her entire life as proof, confidence is key. The new evidence is nothing more than an annoyance, hindering her ability to leave this God forsaken town once again.
"Where were you on the night of Christopher Wilder's disappearance?"
"I was at the end of the year party," she answers honestly, though she pretends to give a moment of thought, as if she is pulling from a hazy memory now, rather than sprinkling fibs into her alibi. "It was sort of a last second decision to show up. I couldn't stay late, I had volunteer work in the morning and my parents hated when I got home after even eight o'clock... but all of my friends were going, so I went for an hour or two before heading home."
A nod. "When was the last time you saw Christopher?"
"The last time I saw Christopher," she repeats, her lips pursed, recalling what she had told everyone that asked years ago. "I believe it was a day or two before. I don't remember speaking to him at the party. It must have been at school."
It was partially true. She hadn't spoken to him at the party. But she had seen him.
"What was your relationship with Christopher?"
She pulls out her best sympathetic smile now. "I didn't know him very well, we only really talked in passing. I've always been closer to his brother. Kai is a dear friend of mine." Cat pauses, shakes her head. "I really hope we can finally find the truth, for his sake."
A blatant lie this time, but he seems to believe it, matching her smile as he pushes his chair out and offers his hand to shake. "Thank you, Catalina. You're free to go. We'll be in touch if we have any more questions."
"No, thank you," she takes his hand in hers, "I only wish I could be more help."
"Where were you on the night of Christopher Wilder's disappearance?"
He supposes he shouldn't be surprised to find himself here after all this time, but Hollis had — wrongfully — assumed all that was going to come to light, had. Or maybe that was just hope. Hope had never gotten him very far.
The man's eyes bore into Hollis as the silence drags on, and he tries not to come off as too nervous as he responds. "I was with my brother." Not a lie, he recalls the story he told back when it happened, what he had told his brother to say. It wasn't a lie. He was not a good liar. There were just... truths withheld. "We were at the party," he continues, "I mean, I think pretty much everyone was. It was supposed to be a fun night." Until everything had went south.
"When was the last time you saw Christopher?"
Hollis clears his throat, shifts in his seat, then questions if the movement makes him look like he's hiding something. He is hiding something, isn't he? "That night, sir. The night he... went missing. I didn't talk to him much, I just said hey." His eyes fall to his hands, clasped in his lap. Does avoiding eye contact make him look guilty? Shit. "I regret that now."
Among other things.
Something is written down, a pause that seems to drag on too long before the next question is spoken. "What was your relationship with Christopher?"
"Uh, we... we were friends. Not... super close, you know, but more than acquaintances, I'd like to think. We worked on the school paper together. He was a pretty solid guy." He forces his eyes up, completely honest as he softly states, "I miss him."
Preparing himself for the next question, but it doesn't come. The man dismisses him, lets him know he'll be contacted if there's anything else, and then he's walking away, a sad guilt noticeable in his expression to anyone that looks hard enough. Just like he walked away from the scene of the crime.
