Chapter 6

• Meanwhile… Patrick sat in his office.
• His expression was unreadable, but his eyes were sharp.
• His assistant stood in front of him. “Everything is moving fast,” the assistant said. “The case is already public.”
• Patrick did not look surprised. “Of course it is,” he said. “They want to bury her before she can speak.”
• The assistant nodded. “What do you want to do?”
• Patrick finally looked up, his gaze was cold. “Prepare a legal team.”
• The assistant hesitated. “That might not be enough.”
• Patrick’s expression did not change. “It doesn’t have to be,” he said, there was something dangerous in his tone. “Find out who that hotel staff member was,” he continued. “The one who gave her the drink. And keep watching Helena.”
• The assistant nodded again, and then left.
• Patrick leaned back in his chair, his mind was already moving ahead. “If this was a game,” he thought, then he was ready to play.
• ……
• Back at the station….
• Julie was granted a phone call time.
• Her hands shook as she held the phone.
• She dialed Sophie first, the call rang. Then connected.
• “What do you want?” Sophie’s voice came, cold and unfamiliar.
• Julie blinked. “Sophie… I need you,” she said quickly. “I’m at the police station…”
• “And?” Sophie cut in.
• Julie paused. “I… I need help,” she said.
• There was a short silence.
• Then Sophie laughed softly, like she didn’t care. “You’re serious?” she asked.
• Julie’s heart dropped. “Sophie…”
• “I saw everything,” Sophie continued. “It’s all over already.”
• Julie felt her chest tighten. “That’s not what happened….”
• “I don’t care,” Sophie said, her voice turned sharper as she continued. “I don’t want to be involved with someone like you.”
• Julie’s grip on the phone weakened. “Someone like me…?” she repeated.
• “A liar, a criminal, whatever you are,” Sophie replied.
• Julie’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m innocent…”
• “That’s your problem,” Sophie said cutting her off.
• Then the line went dead.
• Julie stared at the phone, her hands slowly dropped.
• That was it, the last person she thought would stand by her was gone.
• She swallowed hard, her chest felt empty.
• She looked at the phone again, there was one name left, it was Patrick.
• Her finger hovered for a moment, then she pressed call.
• The phone rang once, then he answered.
• “Yes,” he said, his voice was calm.
• Julie closed her eyes. “I’m at the station,” she said quietly.
• “I know,” he replied.
• She opened her eyes. “You… know?”
• “Yes.”
• There was a short pause, then she whispered. “I’m scared.”
• There was silence on the other end. “I’ll handle it,” Patrick said.
• Julie held the phone tighter. “Don’t let them do this to me,” she said, her voice broke.
• “They won’t,” Patrick replied.
• Julie took a slow breath, and for the first time since everything started, she felt some small hope.
• …..
• After the phone call, Julie was taken to the holding cell.
• It was cold, not just in temperature, but in feeling.
• Julie sat on the narrow bench, her hands resting on her lap. The handcuffs was removed, but her wrists still felt heavy, as if the weight had not left.
• She stared at the floor.
• Time moved too slowly here, every second felt stretched.
• She pulled her arms closer to herself, trying to feel safe. But there was no safety here, only waiting for something she could not control.
• She couldn’t get her mind to quiet down. It kept replaying everything over and over.
• Each memory felt sharper and hurt more than before.
• She pressed her hands together and whispered. “I didn’t do anything…”
• But even to her own ears, the words sounded weak, like they had no power and they could not change anything.
• ….
• A loud sound pulled her from her thoughts.
• The cell door opened, an officer stood there.
• “Julie Williams,” he called.
• She looked up slowly, her body felt stiff as she stood.
• “Come.”
• She followed him without asking questions, there was no point.
• They walked through a long hallway, the lights were bright. It made everything feel exposed.
• They stopped in front of a room.
• “Inside…”
• Julie stepped in. It was a small interrogation room, it had a table, and two chairs. Nothing else.
• “Sit,” the officer said.
• She obeyed, her fingers curled slightly against the edge of the table.
• A few moments later, another officer entered. He sat across from her.
• He opened a file, and then looked at her. “You understand your situation?” he asked.
• Julie nodded slowly. “Yes.”
• “Good,” he said, but his tone did not sound good, it sounded like the end of her.
• “We have statements from witnesses,” he continued. “And video evidence.”
• Julie’s heart skipped. “Video…?” she repeated.
• “Yes,” the officer nodded.
• He slid a tablet across the table. “Watch.”
• Her hands hesitated before picking it up.
• Her fingers trembled slightly, as she pressed play.
• The video showed the hotel room. Her room. She saw herself on screen. She looked confused and tried to speak. Then Helena came in and attacked her.
• Julie’s breathing quickened.
• Then she saw the pushing moment, and Helena falling.
• The angle made it look worse, much worse, like she had done it on purpose.
• Julie shook her head. “That’s not what happened…” she said quickly
• “That’s what it shows,” the officer replied.
• Her chest tightened. “It’s edited,” she said. “Or… or something is missing.”
• The officer leaned back. “Is it?”
• Julie looked at him.
• “You were aware?” he asked.
• She opened her mouth, then closed it. “No, she was not fully aware,” she thought and that was the problem.
• Everything felt like a trap.
• “Mr. Sam Parker also filed a report,” the officer added.
• Julie felt anger rise. “What did he say?”
• “That you drugged him.”
• Julie’s eyes widened. “That’s a lie!,” she shouted, her voice echoed in the room. “He was there too! He knows what happened!”
• The officer’s expression did not change. “He claims he doesn’t remember anything,” he said.
• Julie let out a short, broken laugh. “Of course, of course he would say that,” she thought.
• “This is all planned…” she whispered.
• The officer leaned forward slightly. “Do you have proof?”
• Julie froze.
• No, she did not. And that was the problem, she had nothing, no evidence, no support, nothing.
• The silence stretched.
• Then the officer closed the file.
• “You will be transferred to court soon,” he said.
• Julie’s heart started racing. “So soon…?” she said.
• He stood up. “Yes,” he replied.
• And just like that, the case was moving forward, too fast.