“I need to speak to you about a murder that happened here twenty-five years ago. You were the lead detective.”
“Okay.” His brows furrow. “Have a seat. Which case?”
“Renee Fields.”
His face pales at the mention of her name.
“Who are you?” he asks.
“Apparently, I’m the daughter who witnessed my mother kill my father.”
“Katherine?” His head cocks.
“Yes.”
“I’ll be damned.” He shakes his head. “You have grown up into a beautiful woman. How are you?”
“Not good, detective. I need you to tell me what happened that night.”
“Why?”
“Because the Yearns adopted me, and I just found out. They never told me who I really was or that I was adopted. My entire life, they led me to believe that I was their biological daughter. I have no memory of this woman named Renee, nor that I witnessed a murder. All I’m asking for is some answers so I can move on with my life.”
“I found you crouched in the living room corner when I walked into the house. Your mother was sitting upright on the couch and told me to ensure you were taken care of. I contacted the social worker, who took you to the Yearns’ that night. I had just made detective; it was my first homicide case as the lead. I didn’t know what to make of it at the time. The look on your face frightened me, and a part of me hoped you would recover. I kept in touch with the Yearns, and after they decided to adopt you as their own, they moved to Richmond. They wanted you away from Chester and all the bad memories here. They gave you a new life, Katherine.”
“And I’m grateful to them for that, but they also lied to me my entire life.”
“Did you express how you felt when they told you?”
“They didn’t tell me. They were killed in a car accident a year before I graduated from law school.”
“Oh gee, Katherine. I’m sorry. I had no idea. If they didn’t tell you, who did?”
It wasn’t any of his concern, and I wasn’t about to tell him anything. I was only here to get information. So, I deflected the question and steered the conversation back to its original purpose.
“What else did Renee say when you interrogated her?” I ask.
He inhales sharply and leans back in his chair. He then picks up a pen from his desk and taps it against the metal edge.
“She said all men who cheat on their girlfriends or wives need to be punished for their sins. She told me that God told her to punish him. Your mother was a very sick woman.”
“She wasn’t my mother,” I say, looking out the precinct window. “Did she say anything else?”
“Not really. She just wanted to make sure you were cared for because she knew she would be spending the rest of her life in prison. I guess it got to be too much for her, though.”
“Thank you, Detective Song.” I stand from my chair and extend my hand. He places his hand in mine and gently shakes it. As I begin to walk away, he calls my name.
“Katherine?”
“Yeah?” I turn and face him.
“I’m happy you don’t remember anything about that night. The Yearns did right by keeping what happened and who you were from you. No child would be able to escape those memories.”
“Was anyone else there that night?” I ask. “I mean, in the house when you arrived?”
“No. It was only you, your mom, and your dad. Why?”
“Just curious.” I walk away and leave the precinct.
