ONE
ERIN
Seven years ago
The sound of sirens screaming in the distance causes me to drop the kitchen knife I’m holding in my shaking hands.Thank God, they’re on their way.
I glance down at him on the ground. I’m fairly certain he’s dead. He’s silent and still and a thick pool of dark red blood is collecting next to his body.
Not quite so brave now, huh?
I feel a momentary sense of relief, which makes me feel bad because I think I’ve just killed someone. The police are surely going to arrest me, and I’m terrified, but no one ever tells you that bravery feels a lot like fear, and so I just have to hold my nerve. They will understand once I explain it was self-defence and that I did it to protect Samantha.
‘Step back!’ The sudden shrill command of the female officer’s voice causes me to spin round.
‘Thank God you’re here… I?—’
‘Erin? Erin Santos?’
‘Yes.’
‘OK, Erin, I want you to stay where you are. Place both your hands behind your head, where I can see them. Now, slowly step towards me…’
I do as I’m told. I’ve no need to object. We’re on the same side.
I glance at the discarded knife on the ground, hear the slamming of car doors and heavy, purposeful footsteps as more officers approach.
Where is Samantha?Moments earlier she’d been right here, next to me, but now I can’t see her. She must’ve gone to get help.
I don’t resist or object as they snap the cuffs on me, though they feel tight around my wrists and the cold metal bites into my skin.
‘I’m the one who called you,’ I say as they pull me towards the patrol car and bundle me into the back seat. I’ve never been inside a police car before.
It smells funny.
‘Is he dead?’
The officer doesn’t answer me.
‘Erin Santos, I’m arresting you on suspicion of murder. You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence. Do you understand?’
‘But I didn’t mean to kill him…’ The words sound shrill as they sputter from my lips. ‘He came at her,at us,with a knife!’
‘OK, Erin, keep calm now,’ the officer says, gently but firmly. ‘I want you to take a deep breath in, OK? In and out, OK, Erin?In and out.’
‘At least now she is safe and he can’t hurt her anymore.’
The female officer glances at me in the rear-view mirror.
‘Hurt who, Erin?’
What does she mean, hurtwho?
‘There’s no one else here. Officers have checked and there’s no other female present at the scene, it’s just you and the victim.’
‘My friend!’ I shriek. ‘She was just here… the blonde woman, Ari’s fiancée, she’ll need to come to the station too, she can tell you everything! Her name’s Samantha Valentine, and if I hadn’t done what I did then she’d be dead by now – we both would.’
The officer narrows her eyes at me in the mirror.
