– Why did you do it Annalee?
The media was in a frenzy, every each paper and article for the past few weeks covering the story. But truth be told, when it came down to it, he had a hunch nobody really knew her story. Sure there were records of her service, a good street cop, no family members alive, none they knew of, of course, but plenty of memorable mentions in the LAPD chronicles. Her colleagues described her as always being polite and involved in her service, but other than that she kept to herself.
She kept silent for over 4 weeks now since they’ve discovered the bodies. Or so he was told. He’d seen the photos of her victims. Nasty business he thought. Gruesome smiles were carved into their faces, their mouths sewn with fishing thread. The autopsy files revealed nothing more. The theory was she used Rohypnol with all her victims. They didn’t show any signs of struggle, and she sure as hell could not overpower a man twice her height with ease. Her last victim was a month old. A teenager, about his daughter’s age. The entire case was a shit show, and they had nothing on her, except the photos she hid in her locker room. He didn’t know what to make of that. Was she that balssy? Or just insane?
Annalee was questioned countless hours by LAPD and finally FBI stepped in. Nothing got through her. She refused talking to her appointed lawyer who tried his best to help her get ready for the upcoming process. She even refused her free call.
So, in all fairness, he wondered what exactly was he doing here and how was it that now he was across the table questioning her.
She looked at him with empty eyes and gave a resigned sigh.
Raising the cup of tea she was was holding in her hands, steam still rising over the plastic edge, she emptied it in one big gulp.
Her hair was tied in a messy knot over her head, curls spilling all over the place. The skin on her lips was cracked and reddish, like she’d been chewing at them a lot. She was wearing the standard orange uniform, and she’d been moved to a special unit, kept away for everyone’s safety.
She pondered for so long staring at the bottom of the cup, that he wondered if she would ever engage in a conversation.
Readjusting his slippery glasses for what felt like a hundred time, he shifted impatient in his chair. Readying himself to engage in another questioning tirade, she opened first with a croaky sound that startled him for a heartbeat.
– Before we get to the answer you are looking for, we need to go to the beginning of it all. It will not change the outcome and the things I’ve done. I am not looking for an absolution. I do not regret the choices I’ve made. But I need you to understand that someone had to do it. And for the longest time, the Annalee that’s sitting in front of you was as happy and hopeful about life as one could be being dealt with some shitty life choices.
She leaned over the table to look him square in the eyes. A vein throbbed alarmed on his right temple, but he stood still.
– Don’t worry Teddy, we’ll get to the bottom of this – she gave him a sympathetic smile, that did not reach her eyes.
At his 50 years old and 20+ years experience on the force, Edward Donovan prided himself with not being shocked by much anymore. He’d seen his fair share of gruesome crimes and dealt with despicable lowlifes. But hearing that name again, he felt all the blood drain from his face. His stomach lurched and the sudden feeling that his world would come crushing down and he had no control whatsoever, made it hard to breathe.
No one. Not a single person in his carefully crafted life called him Teddy anymore.
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