“Take it. It will help with the swelling.”
“My arm’s fine.”
“Agreed. I’m talking about your ribs. Have you ever had bruised ribs before?”
Something flickered behind her eyes. It was my first red flag.
“Take the pills and eat the donut if you’d like. I’ll wait.”
“I’m gluten free.”
I paused, leaned back. “What’s the thing about gluten, Miss Harper?”
Her lips parted, considering her answer. Then, with a heaved breath, she rolled her eyes and grabbed the two pills on the table. “Fine. I’ll take the pills.”
“You’ll thank me in the morning. Now, let’s get down to business. It’s my understanding you’ve waived your right to have an attorney present, correct?”
“That’s correct.”
“It’s not smart.”
She deadpanned.
“Why? Why waive the right?”
“Because I have the utmost faith in Berry Springs PD’s ability to determine innocence.” Another deadpan.
I grunted. “Let’s begin, then.” I hit the red button on the recorder and recited all the mandatory stuff, reminding her of her rights, then got into the questions.
“Can you please state your full name for the record?”
“Sunny Anise Harper.” Her voice still held that controlled confidence but less of the punch. A rasp that I hadn’t heard earlier suggested the beginning of an adrenaline crash from killing someone. I knew that feeling all too well myself.
“Age?”
“Twenty-eight.”
I cringed. A baby. Compared to me, anyway.
“Tell me what happened tonight, Miss Harper.”
“I was attacked.”
“Are you saying what happened was done in self-defense?” I needed that one on the record. A hundred bucks would buy my beer for the month.
“Yes,” she said.
“Do you know your attacker?”
“No.”
“Not a friend? An acquaintance? A boyfriend?”
“I’ve never seen the guy before in my life.”
“Okay. Tell me exactly what happened.”
Her shoulders squared and she licked her lips, drawing my attention to the swollen split at the end. Again, did I do that?
