Chill After Night Falls

XVIII 白露 [1] / [4]

Cynthia took charge of interviewing Ed the next day. According to regulations, they reported to the superior authority that an officer had been accused of sexual assault and battery. Internal Afffairs stared paying attention to Ed, given that such serious allegations were levied against an active-duty officer. But that attention was still fairly muted, because the suspicions surrounding him had yet to be deemed truthful beyond doubt.

Ed, who was called into the interrogation room by Cynthia, looking miserable and tired, sat down before her. He kept sighing after sitting in the chair, which happened to be the very chair Violet sat on. The questioning soon began, and, as they expected, he denied all that Violet said against him. He insisted that he was falsely accused by Violet.

"This is unfair. Yes, we did fight often, that is true. But I never beat or hurt her. What's more, it's her who beat and slapped me!"

He denied his assault of Violet.

"I drove her out of my house. You know why? Let me say this. I saw this with my own eyes, straightforwardly, that she was sleeping with my roommate on my bed in my room, you understand me? Not only once, but several times. You should know that everything that comes out of her mouth is bullshit.”

"Does your roommate know about how the relationship progressed between you and Violet?"

"He worked at a factory, so we were home at different times. When I was home, he was working. So I don't think he knew anything."

"Can he answer some questions if I ask him to sit for an interview?"

"I'm not sure. He left the house when I uncovered their affair. I don't know where or how he is now."

Cynthia inspected the roommate's information from Ed, since the roommate could be the only witness for them to rely on. She found several videos in Ed's phone that were consistent with Violet's statements. It seemed obvious that these videos were consensual, with Violet smiling and appearing eager to be filmed.

"She is insisting that you threatened her by claiming that you'd spread those videos online whenever you fought together."

"Never. Spread what? You can see, I am also in the videos. Why would I leak something so private? It's absurd."

"Is there anybody who can provide testimony on the nature of your relationship?"

"Not really. I didn't say much about her. I told Alexander before I drove her out."