Where the Heat receded

處暑 [6] / [7]

"Okay, so what else can you tell me about the physical abuse in particular? Is there anyone who can testify on your behalf that could attest to your injuries?"

She looked at him square in the eyes, and asked,

"Don't you believe me? You think I'm lying?"

"No," he responded.

"I didn't say that, and I'm not in any way suggesting that you are being untruthful. But you'll need to prove this in the courtroom, and having someone else beside yourself as a witness would strengthen your case. These charges are serious."

She got up, and walked towards the door.

"Where are you going?"

Alexander asked, concerned.

"I need some air," she said,

"In fact, why don't we do this another day?"

Alexander was feeling a little impatient,

"It would be best if we got this over with."

Without looking at him, she walked towards the door, and, opening it, turned towards him, and responded.

"I'll be in touch. I just need to gather my thoughts. After all, I've been through a traumatic experience."

With that, she was gone, leaving Alexander alone in the interrogation room. If Alexander didn't know better, he'd have thought he saw the shadow of a grin on her face as she departed. Alexander was annoyed that he would have to see her again someday. He felt as if his brains were being squeezed out of his skull.

He sat just where he had been, neatening up the documents pertaining to Violet. He read them out again. The more he read her testimony, the more it seemed ambiguous. He remembered a middle aged woman, who had suffered half of her life from her husband's continuous and habitual assaults. Her testimony was too simple, devoid of concrete details, so that it was hard to trust.

Eventually, her victim came forward and told the truth, despite everyone's doubt about the credibility of her testimony. Even if testimony given seems false, there's always the sliver of a chance that it's genuine, and sometimes the opposite is even true.

He was confused and sick of this situation he found himself in with Violet. He looked at his watch. It was past 10 p.m. Cynthia was waiting for him when he entered the house.

"Hey,"

Cynthia greeted him.

"She refused to say more, just left,"

he said flatly.

"Will she come again for questioning?"

"If not, I will just have to drill down deeper to understand what she said. Not more than that."

Alexander explained to her what Violet told him while she tried to call for Alexander to come home. She threatened him with their night together. He deliberately decided to omit this part from the discussion. Cynthia rubbed her eyes, evidently tired, while she listened to him.