AllFreeNovel
Share Us
* * *
A taped interview was what I expected, but two days later, I find myself walking into a studio three hours away from home to appear live on the Wake Up Indy morning show. Live TV. I’m terrified.
A smiling intern accompanies me as soon as I arrive. He takes me to a dressing room to have my makeup done and then shows me where to wait in the green room. I clasp my hands together to stop myself from picking at my nails. What I’d give to have Tori here beside me now. Doing this alone is hard, and I even considered calling my parents, but I haven’t told them yet about Alden. Maybe I should have but after Tori’s reaction, I can’t bear to have another person that I love think I’m crazy.
The intern returns to fetch me, and I follow him to the small area where two chairs face each other. There’s no in-studio audience, thank goodness. Knowing that every word I say is going to be broadcast and then torn apart on social media is intimidating enough.
The host is Sally Greene, a thin, perky, raven-haired woman with a quick smile. After introducing herself and sitting across from me, she advises me not to worry or think about the cameras. There’s no certain direction I need to look or anything.
Her smile expands. “We’re just going to chat.”
I’m not naïve or stupid. I know how this works and that the questions she asks are likely to be aimed at sensationalizing things as much as possible or getting me to react in a dramatic fashion. I’m going to be careful and think about my answers.
A man counts down and gives the signal that the cameras are on. My entire body tightens up and I take a deep breath through my nose while Sally speaks to the viewers.
“We’ve been bringing you updates on the hunt for Oliver Stokes, a man charged with multiple counts of murder, including that of his twin brother, Alden Stokes. Our guest today is Ella Booth, the fiancé of the late Alden. Welcome, Ella.”
“Thank you.” At least my voice is steady. I can do this. For Alden and myself.
“Let’s begin with the question that everyone wants to ask. Do you know the whereabouts of Oliver Stokes?”
“Yes, I do, but not in the way you’re inferring. While I understand why the public is invested in our situation, the false theories and stories being passed around online are doing untold damage to both of us. That’s why I wanted to come here today and explain what has actually happened.” This interview is only due to be six minutes long. I have to get to the point and make sure I say what I came to say.
“Do you understand you could be arrested for withholding his location from authorities? Does that not concern you?”
“I’m not withholding anything. Oliver Stokes is located at Springhill Cemetery. When the robbery took place, the brothers were mistakenly confused for each other. The doctors and everyone thought that Oliver was the surviving twin and Alden had passed. With the amnesia he suffered, it wasn’t until his memories began returning that we realized the horrible mistake. Oliver is dead. Alden is alive and certainly had no involvement in committing the robbery or murders. He hasn’t been accused or charged but is being pursued because of a mistaken identity.”
I’ve caught her off guard, but her eyes light up with excitement. “That’s an extraordinary claim. You believe your fiancé is alive?”
“It’s not a belief. It’s the truth. He recounted things to me only he would know.”
She blinks and leans forward. “That must’ve come as such a shock to you.”
“That’s an understatement. It was a very difficult thing to accept, that I hadn’t recognized him during the months of his recovery, but he has a traumatic brain injury. It took time for his personality to reappear and for his memories to return. Getting him back…” My voice wavers and I swallow. “Was like a miracle. But things have only gotten harder. In addition to trying to prove to the authorities that he’s not guilty of anything, we’ve had to deal with constant public scrutiny and accusations against us. A post online suggested Oliver and I had killed my fiancé so we could be together. Once that went viral, everything fell apart for both of us.”
The look of sympathy on her face is as fake as a plastic plant. “Have the authorities been made aware that they may be pursuing the wrong man?”
“Yes, I’ve told the detective in charge of the case, and Alden’s lawyer is working to find a way to prove his identity. DNA isn’t an option with identical twins and their dental records were lost by an irresponsible clinic.”
“Do you know Alden’s whereabouts?”
Nice try. It’s clear she doesn’t believe a word I’m saying. “No. I haven’t heard from him since he ran.” Our time is running out. “I just wanted a chance to tell our side of what’s happening and ask the public to please reserve judgement for the time being. We’re dealing with a nightmare. All the hateful phone calls, protesting outside our businesses, and even showing up at my home is only making things worse. My photography studio has already been closed down since December because of safety issues to my clients. We may have to close Alden’s business as well if we can’t provide customers with a safe environment. We’re losing everything over something horrible that happened to us, not something perpetrated by us. All we want to do is find a way to physically prove that Alden is not Oliver and get back to our lives.”
Sally nods, and despite her empathetic tone, I see the glint in her eye as she says, “It must be hard not to be able to contact Oliver and be left to deal with all that on your own.”
“Alden,” I correct through gritted teeth.
Her smile is instant and bright. “Alden, of course, my apologies. Do you think that turning himself in would be the best choice when it comes to your safety, especially considering your condition?”
Her question freezes me in place. She can’t know I’m pregnant. Tori and Paul are the only ones who know, and they’d never spread a rumor, whether we’re speaking or not. “Condition?”
“Is he not aware you’re pregnant?”
My stomach drops to my feet. How the hell does she even know? The cameras are on me, and I don’t know what to say. It takes everything in me to resist the urge to hit this bitch in her face for what she just did. Instead, I count to five and answer the former question.
“No, I don’t think turning himself in would affect my safety one way or the other.”
Maybe it’s my glare trying to cut her in half or the fact we’ve run out of time, but she doesn’t pursue it any further. Instead, she beams for the camera, thanks me for the interview, and talks directly to the viewers.
