Harry smiled, because he knew Franklin had no idea that he had spent the whole night piecing together some facts that at first seemed meaningless, but when put together, created a whole new twist in the case. “What is your relationship with Miss Amanda Johnson?” Harry looked Franklin in the eye, waiting for him to take the bait.
“I don’t understand what you mean. She’s Jennifer’s roommate.”
“I know she is Miss James' roommate. I am asking: what is your relationship with her.” Harry kept his eyes fixed on Franklin.
“We’re friends,” Franklin answered after some hesitation.
“What type of friends?”
“I don’t understand what you mean. We are normal friends,” Franklin replied nervously.
“By ‘normal friends,’ do you mean you and Amanda are lovers?”
Franklin’s expression changed upon hearing the question. “No. We are not lovers. She’s Jennifer’s friend for crying out loud,” he replied with a weak voice.
“I thought you would say that.” Harry brought out two pictures from his jacket and pushed them towards Franklin.
Franklin looked at the pictures and sweat began to form on his forehead. He began to stammer something inaudible. The pictures were those of him and Amanda kissing two days ago.
“That doesn’t look like normal friendship to me.”
Franklin stared at the pictures with a shocked expression. He wanted to say something, but the words stuck in his throat like a lump.
“How long have you and Amanda been lovers?” Harry’s question brought Franklin back to reality. “I suppose it was before your girlfriend was killed?”
“Yes,” Franklin answered, defeated.
“And was Jennifer aware that you were cheating on her with her roommate?”
“No. She wasn’t aware.”
“The night Jennifer was murdered, she came to your apartment. What happened that night?”
Franklin acted like he was trying to recall what happened that night. He could remember perfectly well what had happened that night, and he had omitted it during his first interview with Harry. And he had no intention of mentioning it this time either. “I can’t remember. She came and left in a hurry.”
Harry recalled that Catherine said Jennifer appeared to be crying when they met on the night Jennifer was murdered. Jennifer had left Franklin’s apartment before meeting with Catherine. So she must have been crying because of something that happened at Franklin’s apartment. Harry guessed that Jennifer had caught Franklin and Amanda together, and she had left the apartment in tears. Harry knew Franklin was hiding something aside from his affair with Amanda, and he was bent on finding out what it was.
“I think you can remember what happened because Jennifer left your apartment in tears,” Harry said, firmly.
Franklin stayed silent.
“I think Jennifer caught you and Amanda together, and she left your apartment in tears,” Harry said. “Was that why you and Amanda killed Jennifer? To keep your affair a secret?”
Franklin became agitated. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he replied loudly.
Harry had interrogated hardened criminals who have mastered the art of defiance. He could spot when a person was hiding something, and he could see it now in Franklin. Harry was certain that Franklin was no hardened criminal, and it would only take the right amount of threats and placation to get him to talk.
“I’m sure you know what I’m talking about,” Harry replied with a smile. “The night Jennifer was murdered, you attended a party, right?”
“Yeah, I attended a party with some friends.”
“Was Amanda at this party with you?”
“Yes, she was at the party with me.”
“Did Amanda leave the party at some point and returned wearing different clothes?”
Franklin became silent. He was contemplating if answering the question would land him in trouble. “I want a lawyer.”
Franklin’s request for a lawyer strengthened Harry’s belief that Franklin was hiding something. Harry knew that all he had to do now was to convince Franklin to talk. “Why do you need a lawyer if you have nothing to hide?” Harry asked calmly. “Let me give you a piece of advice. I think you’re a decent young man, and you have all your life in front of you. If you tell me what you know, I may be able to help you.”
Franklin hesitated to speak, and Harry could see the fear in his eyes. Franklin knows something about Jennifer’s murder that no one knows, and Harry was determined to uncover what it was. Harry knew he had to assure Franklin that it was in his best interests to talk.
Harry leaned closer to Franklin and said, “I know you’re hiding something. And I think you’re trying to protect Amanda. If you tell me what you know, I may be able to help you. But if you refuse to talk, I will still find out the truth. And then you’ll wish you had answered my questions.”
Franklin remained quiet for some time. The thought of answering Harry’s questions made him sacred for himself and Amanda. But he also knew he had little choice because if he refused to talk, Harry might figure out what happened the night of the murder, and then he would be arrested.
Franklin gave into Harry’s pressure and confirmed that Jennifer came to his apartment the night she was murdered, and that she caught him and Amanda together. It was true Jennifer had left his apartment in tears.
Franklin also told Harry how Amanda had left the party at some point before midnight. Franklin said that Amanda had told him she wanted to check on Jennifer – it was hours since Jennifer had caught them together, Amanda said. Maybe Jennifer had calmed down and they could talk? Franklin said he told her it was a bad idea, but Amanda insisted and left. Franklin told Harry that Amanda returned an hour later wearing a change of clothes. The next day, he heard Jennifer was dead.
“I asked Amanda if she killed Jennifer, but she said she didn’t.” Franklin began to cry. “I didn’t want her to hurt Jennifer. I didn’t ask her to hurt Jennifer.”
Harry brought out a handkerchief and offered it to Franklin. “Tell me, Franklin, do you think Amanda killed Jennifer?” Harry asked, slowly emphasizing every word.
“I don’t think so. Amanda couldn’t do something like that. She just couldn’t.” Franklin paused and wiped his tears. “I don’t know.”
Detective Harry Rogers looked at the fear in Franklin’s eyes. He could tell that Franklin had shared everything he knew. Harry asked him to call Amanda and ask where she was and tell her that she should wait for him there. Franklin called Amanda, and she told him she was in her room. Harry told Franklin he was free to go, but Franklin shouldn’t leave town because he might need to talk to him again.
Detective Harry Rogers knocked on the door of the room where he had found Jennifer’s bloodied body one month ago. Solving the case had led Harry to different suspects, and now it has led him right back to the room where it all started. Amanda Johnson opened the door and found Harry standing outside her door. Harry looked at Amanda’s face for a brief moment. The look on her face showed neither fear nor confusion, only sadness.
“Amanda Johnson, please come with me me to the station to answer some questions on the murder of Jennifer James.”
Amanda didn’t argue with Harry. She didn’t ask any questions. She simply locked her room and followed Harry.
CHAPTER 9
Detective Harry Rogers sat opposite Amanda Johnson in the interrogation room of the Fifth Precinct of the New York Police Department. It was just five days since he had sat opposite Catherine Underwood and her lawyer in the same room. Then, Harry, the Police Chief and the prosecutors had concluded that they had found Jennifer's killer. The evidence against Catherine Underwood was sufficient to convince anyone that she had committed the crime, and it was upon the evidence that the prosecutors filed a murder charge against Catherine Underwood.
Harry had thought his job was over until he received the dean's call four days ago. Investigating Jennifer's murder was like a labyrinth, and al
l the turns had led Harry back to the very first person he interviewed. Chance and evidence led Harry to Amanda, who sat quietly facing him.
Harry looked at Amanda, and he could tell she had killed Jennifer. All he wanted to know was why she did it. The motive. He had put together the facts, and he had no doubt that Amanda had murdered her roommate. Harry recalled that in his first interview with Amanda, she had deliberately mentioned Jennifer's academic advisor, and it was she who had pointed him in the direction of Professor Smith. Amanda mentioned the professor because she wanted to make him a suspect, which she had succeeded in doing. Amanda had also lied that she went to her friend’s room to prepare before going to the party. Instead, Amanda had gone to Franklin's apartment, and it was from Franklin's apartment that they had both left for the party. Harry also remembered that Amanda had mentioned that she met Franklin at the party. This was supposed to be her alibi. She had gone back to her hostel, and something happened that left Jennifer dead. Amanda's clothes were probably stained with Jennifer's blood, so she had to change before returning to the party. Amanda had returned the early the next morning and called for help, claiming she had found Jennifer in a pool of blood.
The only thing Harry didn't know was how Amanda had planted the murder weapon in Professor Smith's apartment. And most importantly, why did she do it? Why did Amanda kill Jennifer?
Detective Harry Rogers felt sorry for Amanda despite the heinousness of the crime she committed. When he first interviewed her, she had asked him in tears if he thought she killed Jennifer. Harry had looked at her, and he hadn't thought she could take life in cold blood. Even now that the evidence suggested that Amanda had killed Jennifer, Harry still could not believe the young lady sitting in front of him was capable of murder. Harry didn't see the need to take the hard road in his interrogation. Amanda looks defeated in her seat. He knew that all he had to do was ask her to tell him everything.
"Amanda, I know you lied to me about your movements the night Jennifer was murdered. I know about your affair with Franklin. I know that Jennifer saw you at Franklin's apartment the night she was murdered." Harry paused because Amanda had started crying. "I know you lied about not returning to your room until 5 AM. And I know you lied when you said that you and Jennifer hadn't had any argument before her death."
Amanda had begun to cry so muchHarry left the room and returned with tissues and a cup of water. Harry handed Amanda the tissue paper and placed the cup of water in front of her. He returned to his seat and watched Jennifer as she wiped her tears.
"I know you deliberately made Professor Smith a suspect because you were aware of Jennifer's closeness with him. And I know it was you who planted the knife at his home, even though I don't know how you did that." Harry paused a minute to allow Amanda to gather herself. "Amanda, I just want you to tell me the truth. Why did you kill Jennifer?"
Amanda's tears began to flow again upon hearing Harry's question, "It was an accident," she said.
"I need you to tell me everything that happened. I want you to tell me the truth. I know you're not a bad person, and if you tell me the truth, I might be able to help you." Harry reached for Amanda's hand and patted it.
Amanda went on to tell Harry how what started as lending a friendly ear to Franklin when he was having issues with Jennifer turned into a secret love affair. Amanda told Harry that she never intended to start an affair with Franklin, but she gave into Franklin's pressure. She had intended to break things off because she didn't want to betray Jennifer. But when she noticed that Jennifer always acted like she was not interested in the relationship, Amanda began to feel like she wasn't betraying Jennifer after all. And after some time she fell in love with Franklin. Amanda told Harry that Franklin had promised her that he would break up with Jennifer.
Harry had been right that Jennifer had seen her at Franklin's apartment. She had gone to his apartment before they both left for the party. Jennifer told her she was going to see her academic advisor, so she never expected Jennifer to walk in on her and Franklin having sex. Jennifer had seen them and left the apartment in a rage.
Amanda told Harry how she and Franklin went to the party, but all through the party she was upset about Jennifer. At around 11 PM, she told Franklin that she wanted to check on Jennifer and apologize to her. Franklin tried to convince her not to leave, but she insisted.
She had gone to the room and met Jennifer, who was working on her computer. She tried to explain what happened, but Jennifer was angry and wasn't ready to talk to her. Jennifer started yelling at her and calling her names. Amanda said Jennifer told her that she knew Amanda had always been jealous of her, that Amanda would never be as smart and successful as her.
"She said very hurtful things to me. I didn't want to hurt her, but I was angry." Amanda's eyes were red from crying, and she had used half the packet of tissues. "Jennifer provoked me with her words, but I didn't reply. It was when she slapped me and called me a psycho that I got angry." Amanda started sobbing again, and Harry left the room and came back with a jug of water. Harry refilled her cup and placed the jug next to the cup.
"So what happened when she slapped you and called you a psycho?" Harry asked her.
"I got angry and slapped her. Then we started fighting, and I took a knife and stabbed her." Amanda began sobbing loudly. "I didn't mean to hurt her. It was all an accident."
"After you stabbed her, what did you do?" Harry asked
"I was scared and didn't know what to do. Jennifer was bleeding so fast, and before I could get my senses back, she had passed out."
"Why didn't you call for help?"
"I was scared that I would be blamed for the murder." Amanda stood up, walked to a corner of the room, and sat on the floor. "I loved Jennifer. I never meant to hurt Jennifer. It was a mistake."
Harry left his seat and went to sit next to Amanda, "Amanda, why did you get so angry when Jennifer called you a psycho?”
Amanda sat with her knees up, and her face buried into her knees. "Because Jennifer knew about my mental condition."
"What is your mental condition?" Harry asked
"Jennifer knows that I'm Bipolar," Amanda replied without raising her head.
Harry got up and returned with the tissue paper and handed it to Amanda, "Do you use any medication for your condition?"
"I used to, but I stopped."
"Were you on your medication the night of the incident?" Harry asked
"No. " Amanda replied
"Why did you stop using your medication?"
"Because it made me feel abnormal. It made me feel like I was not a normal person, and I wanted to feel like a normal person".
Detective Harry Rogers left the interrogation room. He wanted to give Amanda a break. She had cried for the most part of the interview, and he knew her head must be hurting.
Harry returned to the interrogation room thirty minutes later, with some tablets and sandwiches. Amanda was still sitting on the floor. Harry sat next to her and placed the sandwiches in front of her. He helped her refill her glass and gave her the tablets. Amanda accepted the tablets and nodded her gratitude. She attempted to smile at him, but she couldn't feel her face.
Harry sat quietly next to her as she took a few bites of the sandwiches before taking the tablets. Harry allowed her to rest for some minutes before asking his next question. "Why did you frame Professor Smith for the murder?"
"I didn't want to be a suspect. I was scared of going to jail, and I know that Jennifer was close to her academic advisor, so it wouldn't be hard to pin her murder on him."
"How did you know where Professor Smith lived? You would have had to know that in order to plant the knife," said Harry.
"I went with Jennifer once to his house. He invited her to Thanksgiving."
Harry thought that as much as he felt sorry for Amanda, the fact that she had attempted to frame an innocent man was something he found reprehensible. "Framing an innocent man is a terrible thing to do, Amanda. Why would you do that?"
&n
bsp; Amanda began to cry again "I thought… if somebody else wasn't arrested as a suspect, Franklin would believe I did kill Jennifer. I already lost Jennifer, and Franklin was the only person I have left. I didn't want to lose him too."
"What do you mean by Franklin is the only person you have left?" Harry asked with keen interest.
Harry's question led him to discover that Amanda was an only child. An orphan. Her mother died when she was four years old, and she didn't even know her father. Amanda was raised by her grandmother, who died when she was in her final year in High School. Amanda only had a few distant relations, and she didn't even know if they still existed. Amanda had been able to secure a sporting scholarship to New York University. Jennifer and Franklin were the only friends Amanda had, and now she only had Franklin left. And when Franklin learned that Amanda was responsible for Jennifer's death, she would have no one.
Amanda's story saddened Harry, who sat quietly beside her. They sat quietly in the corner of the room. Neither of them seemed capable of moving. After sitting quietly for close to thirty minutes, Harry collected the leftover sandwiches and left the interrogation room. Outside he met the Police Chief and the prosecutors, all of whom had also been listening to the interrogation. Harry nodded as he walked past them. He threw the leftover sandwiches inside a dustbin and left the office.
CHAPTER 10
Detective Harry Rogers stood by the glass panes in his condo and stared at the beautiful view of the city. He had not been able to get Amanda's story out of his mind. Harry knew Amanda Johnson's life hadn't been an easy one, but she has been able to weather the storm in a society that offers little help. Or none.
Harry knew there was absolutely no way that Amanda could afford the services of a decent lawyer who might be able to appeal to the conscience of the jury. Amanda would be assigned a lawyer who might be skilled enough to get the jury to see that the circumstances that led to Jennifer's death were mostly out of Amanda's control, just like most events that have shaped her life. But it wouldn’t be enough to save her from a life in prison.
The Orphan (Sword and Lead Book 4) Page 3