Jay jays POV 𖨆𖨆𖨆
I should've gone home an hour ago.
But I was still here, staring at the same notes like they were gonna magically fix themselves.
They didn't.
The timelines were still off.
The statements still didn't match.
And that one detail—
The phone.
Still wrong.
I stood up, grabbing my folder, and stepped into the hallway.
A door opened.
I looked up.
Keifer stepped out of one of the interview rooms.
Angelo was right behind him.
"You're free to go for now," Angelo said. "Don't leave town."
Keifer nodded. "Wasn't planning to."
Then he looked at me.
Of course he did.
"…Keifer," I said.
Angelo glanced at me, then at him. "Keep it quick."
I gave a small nod.
He walked off, leaving us alone.
I didn't waste time.
"I need to ask you something."
Keifer leaned against the wall like he had nowhere else to be.
"About the case?" he asked.
"When else do I talk to you?"
That almost made him smile.
"You said you went back inside the mansion to get your phone."
"I did."
"But your phone never left the driveway."
There.
A pause.
Short—but it was there.
His eyes flickered for a second.
"You've been checking up on me?" he asked.
"I'm doing my job."
"Right."
He didn't rush. Didn't panic.
That alone was annoying.
"Then explain it."
He pushed himself off the wall, standing properly now.
"Maybe I was wrong. It was a long night."
"That's your explanation?"
"For now."
I let out a small breath through my nose.
"That doesn't help you."
"Maybe I'm not trying to help myself."
I stared at him.
"…You expect me to believe that?"
He didn't answer.
Just looked at me.
Like he was trying to figure something out.
"Jay."
I didn't even think.
"That's ate Jay to you."
The words came out sharp.
Immediate.
Automatic.
For a second, he looked caught off guard.
Good.
A small smile tugged at his lips after.
"…Ate Jay," he repeated.
I ignored that.
"You don't get to act casual," I continued. "Not when your story doesn't match the evidence."
His expression shifted slightly.
Not nervous.
Just… focused.
"You don't trust me," he said.
Not a question.
"I don't trust anyone," I replied.
His gaze dropped for a second.
Then back to me.
"…That's not what it looks like."
I stepped closer this time.
If he was gonna play that game, I wasn't backing off.
"Then maybe you should stop giving me reasons not to."
Silence.
For a moment, neither of us moved.
Then I stepped back.
"We're done here."
I turned to leave.
"Ate Jay."
I paused.
I shouldn't have.
"If you already think I'm lying," he said, "why are you still asking me questions?"
I exhaled quietly.
Not turning around.
"…Because I want facts," I paused,
Then, softer..
"Not excuses."
I walked away without waiting for a response.
And this time—
I didn't look back.
Target comments:
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