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"GoodMy name is Detective Inspector Bartrum; I’m with the homicide division You are Maisie Preston, correct?" he asked, raising one eyebrow

I nodded, willing my voice to hen I spoke "Yes," I confirmed

"Okay, Maisie, I just want to ask you a few questions to help with our investigation Because we’re conducting these questions on school pre in on the up hisa loud slurp of his coffee

"Okay" I nodded in understanding, wanting this over with already

He nodded, looking down at his notepad and flipping over a page before looking up at me "Did you know Sandy Watson well?" he asked

"U," I answered

He sucked his teeth with his tongue, just looking atThe silence stretched on and on, and I cringed under his intense gaze "I’ve been informed of an incident between you and the deceased that happened yesterdayWould you please tell roaned inwardly "We had a fight in the hallway She said so that upset me and I reacted badly I’m sorry about that, I shouldn’t have done it," I ad at un yesterday and assus and poisoned Chester when I no that it wasn’t even her

He picked up his pen and wrote soible; he would probably have trouble reading his notes again later "What was the argument about?" he asked

I sighed, closingto ask this infor these weird phone calls, threatening notes, that kind of thing Then, two days ago, so I’ve reported it to the police; DI Neeson is the lead officer onit, so I confronted her about it and we ended up fighting But I later learned that it wasn’t her anyway because she was so was poisoned"

Principal Bennett sat forward in her chair, her eyes concerned "Oh, Maisie, why didn’t you come to me and tell nalling for Principal Bennett to be quiet "DI Neeson you say?" he asked, scribbling her name on his pad I nodded in confirht that say you actually told Miss Watson that you’d kill her if she cahtened uiltily "I think so It was all so fired up and stuff I can’t reh; it’s just so that caing him with ed, not having an answer "I don’t know It just ca stuff at each other I don’t really re up his coffee and regarding me over the ri down he cocked his head to the side "This is just routine questioning at this ti to everyone that had direct contact with Sandy yesterday, trying to piece together her last day" His eyes bore intoany lies out withoutI was incredibly intimidated by the way he looked at me; it didn’t feel like these were just routine questions

I chaffedmy eyes up to the clock on the wall I’d already been in here for almost ten minutes; everyone else had been out within five so far Was that a bad sign?

"Where were you between the hours of nine and eleven last night?" he asked suddenly

"At home," I answered quickly

He nodded "And people were there with you? Parents, siblings?" he asked, leaning back in his chair

I nodded "My brother was downstairs, and also my, um, boyfriend, well, kind of ex-boyfriend, he caht," I stu what to class Luke as anymore

Inspector Bartrum raised both eyebrows at that "What time did your boyfriend, kind of ex-boyfriend, coht," I lied "I snuck hiht" There, it was done; the lie was told Now I should be allowed to leave and he would stop looking ateyes

A sht? I’ that the parents don’t know that they boyfriend slash ex stayed over?" he inquired