“Koch,” the officer supplies.
“Ah, yes. Officer Koch,” Mr. Ayala acknowledges. “While I’m aware Ms. Russo isn’t under arrest, it would be prudent that she has adequate representation.” He turns to me, his expression softening. “Cecilia, it’s just a precaution. Your parents want to make sure you're protected and that your rights are respected throughout this process.”
That’s uh, nice.
Officer Koch doesn’t agree, judging by his sigh. “Very well,” he says. “Is anyone else joining us today?”
“This is everyone,” Dad says.
He nods. “Alright then, we’ll begin.”
Taking a deep breath, I steel myself for what I know will be a difficult conversation.
“In your own words, can you explain the events of yesterday afternoon, starting with the moment you arrived at the PacNorth campus pool?”
Opening my mouth, I answer his questions, doing my best to block out the tear-stained expression on my mother’s face as she processes my words. I try to keep my emotions in a box as I recount yesterday’s events.
How Austin grabbed me by the hair and held me underwater when tried to come up for air. That I hadn’t even known he was there until it was too late.
I mentioned Gregory Chambers and Parker Benson. How I saw them during the brief moments I was able to get some air. I stick close to the facts, leaving out what I was feeling. The terrified thoughts that’d run through my head.
And then I get to the moment help arrived. I tell him about being pulled out of the pool. About the guys saving me. I gloss over Gabriel beating Austin to a pulp, telling the officer I was too focused on catching my breath after being rescued to know what was going on around me. Gabriel and the others will have their own questions to answer. I won’t let my words contradict their story in any way.
“And what reason would Mr. Holt have for attacking you the way he did?”
I shake my head. “I don't know.”
“Is it possible that you may have inadvertently provoked?—”
“I’d like to remind you, Officer Koch, that my client, Ms. Russo, was attacked. She is the victim here, not the aggressor. To suggest otherwise, that she provoked her attacker in some way, is inappropriate and beyond uncalled for.”
“I didn’t mean—” Officer Koch clears his throat. “My apologies. I was only asking if there was something else that occurred prior to the assault that might help to explain why Austin Holt attacked you? We’re trying to uncover the young man’s motive for the assault and are experiencing some … difficulty.”
“I didn’t do anything,” I tell him. “I never did anything to Austin. Nothing to justify—” I wave a hand through the air. “All this.”
“Are you sure?” he pushes. “Have you had any prior altercations with him, or either of the other two men involved?”
Chewing my bottom lip, I hesitate. “Nothing related to?—”
He cuts me off. “Austin’s family has implied that you’re fixated on ruining their son’s reputation. They claim false allegations have been made?—”
“Stop!” I tell him. My heart pounds a rapid staccato in my chest. How does he know? He shouldn’t— No one else is supposed to know about that night.
My eyes snap to my parents, but all I see is confusion etched across their faces.
“I’m not trying to ruin Austin’s life,” I tell him. “I’ve never made false allegations against him.”
He flips through his notebook. “I have it here that allegations were made to PacNorth University’s?—”
“It wasn’t false,” I cut him off, my chest heaving.
Thankfully, Mr. Ayala interjects. “I’d like a moment alone with my client.”
“That won’t be—” Officer Koch begins, but Mr. Ayala doesn’t let him finish.
“I’ll have to insist.” He pushes to his feet. “Ms. Russo, would you join me?”
Numbly, I follow him past our living room and down the hallway into my father’s study.
