I don’t have a fancy task bar yet so this is just gonna go under the cut
“Joanna Masen, that’s M-A-S-E-N not O-N” Joanna knew they had to ask these questions but already she could feel irritation starting to build; these people knew who she was. She’d practically grown up around the station because of her dad not to mention why she was here now.
“I’m 52.” She couldn’t understand why this was necessary and she had to bite back a huff.
Where do you currently work?
“I own Masen’s Bar with my husband we have for almost twenty-five years.” Joanna could tell them the very day they’d opened the bar if that’s what they wanted. The bar wasn’t the classiest establishment but everyone knew it.
How long have you lived in Lakeview?
“Oh for gods sake you already kno-”
“Ma’am, we understand your frustration but you need to answer the question.” One of the officers quickly interrupted as the other avoided eye contact, clearly uncomfortable at having to ask her this.
“....I’ve lived here my whole life. Left for college when I was 18, came back at 22 and have barely left since.”
What was your connection to Jack Masen?
It was like any irritation quickly slipped away, replaced instead by tears she frantically blinked back. “He is my son. We adopted him when he was little.”
What was your connection to Mary Beth Stanton?
“She was Jack’s girlfriend and em, she worked the bar for us. A bit of extra income for her studies.” Joanna murmured swallowing thickly as she tried to keep herself calm.
Where were you on April 7th, 2021 between 10 pm and midnight?
“I-I don’t know. I think I was working. Wednesday we usually try and do a stock take before the weekend. It’s easier to do it at night after the majority of people have gone home... I was home by the time the police called to ask me to come to the hospital to identify him but I don’t know what time that was.” She could remember every detail of that phone call, but the evening before it, and even the drive afterwards, was just a blur.
Do you have anyone who can corroborate that statement?
“Not really, stock take is a one person job and I prefer to do it. My colleagues would have seen me going in and out of the back room, maybe the patrons.” Joanna sniffled slightly. “My husband was at work when I was at home... I had to collect him,” There was no way that Joanna could have stopped the hitch in her voice now nor the tears that followed as she inevitably remembered having to try and explain to him why they needed to go to the hospital.
Did you see anyone heading out towards Route 9 on April 7th?
“No, I didn’t even know Jack was out there.”
Do you know anyone that might have had a motive to hurt Jack Masen and/or Mary Beth Stanton?
“No, no they were good kids. They were just kids.”
Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?
“No, I’ve already been over this. I’ve already said everything I just want to get my daughter and go home.”
