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“India, I believe that you didn’t hurt Rachel”

“How can you believe it when I don’t even believe it?” she asks frantically “And they don’t believe it either — your Agency friends and that detective Why else have they left guards outsidebecause they think I‘m a killer!”

“Maybe DI Zael’s,” I adency officer is here to protect you To protect you, India From the man that did this to you You have to try and remember who it was”

“But I’ht have been ht voice, her face twisted with horror and grief, tears pouring down her cheeks “What if it was me?”

I take hold of both of her hands and they are tre violently “Why would you kill her?” I ask earnestly “Can you give me even one reason why you would want to kill her?”

She shakes her head vehemently “I would never hurt Rachel Never But I don’t knohat I did I don’t know What if I’m a monster and I don’t know?”

A noise in the hallway draws her attention and she looks towards the door, her eyes wide as if she thinks soaze fixes on it She stiffens

I turn towards it, and through the glass I see a young ency officer is blocking his way The youngto push the officer aside He looks through the glass and sees India on the bed He raps the glass, calling her name

India’s heart raterapidly Her face is pale She is shaking The Agency officer seizes hold of the young man and hustles hi

“Who was that?” I ask “Do you know him?”

“It’s Charlie,” she says

Her boyfriend She had wanted to see him She’d said they were happy But now that he was here she was horrified And scared

I go over to the door and I pull the blinds down over thein case Charlie comes back

“Don’t worry The officers won’t let him in”

She nods anxiously Her fingers are twisting in her lap again