Because He Lies
And in the wake of it all, she was caught in the middle. "You can start any time you want." Said a soft-spoken male voice. He took a puff off of his fat cigar and blew it out. The smoke rose high above his premature gray hair which was thinning, much to his disapproval. He looked older for his age but that was one of the many disadvantages that came with the job. "Miss..", his voice filled the silence except for the recording tape player set in the middle of the gray table. The winding of the tape as it continued to record the silence and his voice trying to get her to talk, made it impossible to think. "Miss. Spears'?" He got her attention this time. Her blonde hair which hung down over her puffy eyes, shown that she had been crying for quiet some time, jerked back and fourth as she lifted her head to her name. "Nobody's called me that in years." She coughed out a laugh but was quick to stop. It just hurt too bad. Pain shot through her tender lungs as her caramel eyes filled with tears. She mustn't cry. "Is this a bad time?" He had asked. His voice was filled with worry, worry that she wouldn't talk, that she wouldn't put away the madman who had done this to her. The anger filled him even more to think that she had let it happen. How could such a woman let such a man do this to her? His gray eyes wandered over to the big glass mirror that was on the wall. He looked at it as if he could see through it. He could. His partner, Mac, and their boss, Mr. Ed, were on the other side. He could only imagine what they where thinking. "Mr.." She struggled with the name even though he had told her countless times before. Gray eyes filled with wonder and worry found her caramel of fear and hurt and without a word spoken, he knew. He knew why she kept quiet, why she kept all her feelings and emotions inside. She was an actor playing her part and even if she was beaten to her last breath, she would never speak the name of her attacker and he knew. "Martin. Mark Martin, no relation." He let a smile pry its way to dance on his lips. Even if she had no idea who he was talking about, he still loved to say it and he always would. "Miss. Spears', we need a statement. Without it, he walks." Caramel eyes locked into the mirror on the other side of the room. She knew the words to say to make them leave her alone and all she had to do was say his name. She knew and he knew. "Mr. Martin, you sound as if you have other things better to do than to sit here and question me." A grin that had stared at him countless times through the magazines put a million thoughts into his head. This was a joke. She was playing with him and by god, if he wasn't beginning to like it. "Just paperwork." He smiled at her. The grin that was once on those pink lips disappeared as fast as it had come. "Why won't you tell us." She batted her long pretty lashes at him. "A hint." He was desperate; desperate to find the madman who did this so he could lock him up and make sure he never did it again. "Please, Britney." Her reaction did not please him at all. Fear filled her eyes and tears were forced back as caramel eyes daring them to spill. Was it the phrase; his tone that had scared her. She would not look at him anymore and he could see that this was going nowhere. Just before he gave the look to the mirror to call it off, she spoke. Her voice shook and trembled and was a little hard to understand, but she spoke. "He lies". "Who lies?" Was this a clue? Was it a male? "He lies." She started to rock herself. Martin had to think quick, she looked like she was going into some state of shock. "He lies," She repeated. "Who lies, Britney?" The sound of her name stopped her from rocking but the tears she had held in for so long spilled out of her bruised eyes. She was close, so close. It was right there. Did she not know the name? Was it a stranger? A crazed fan? Who lies dammit! The summer had come and gone as Florida was preparing for fall. Parents were getting ready to enroll their children in school, some for the first time, as the tourist season came to an end. This was her favorite part of the year. When the leaves turned dark colors of purple, green, brown, and yellow. She pressed her hand against the bus window yearning to be outside as the big wheels came to a stop at a red light. Outside, she saw three small children playing in a pile of leaves their father had gathered just hours before. The joy on their faces and the laughter in their hearts brought tears to her eyes. She now knew what she missed. Her childhood. Upon reaching her destination, Britney let out a heavy sigh. Bored with the press conferences promoting her newest album, Some have it all, she stared off into the small crowd of fans who were allowed to sit in. One caught her eye. He was strikingly handsome with a strong jaw line, broad shoulders, monstrous arms, powerful hands, and tender blue eyes. His hair shown it had been colored blonder because of the dark roots as he styled it with a long spiky look. After the conference, she was allowed to talk to the group of fans and this pleased her. "He told me he loved me." Did she have a boyfriend? He wondered. Martin had read the papers and any real account of a boyfriend was Justin Timberlake, but that was over 5 years ago. Had they gotten back together? She awoke to the pain of something tight against her wrist. She pulled at it, causing it to pull back only tighter. Upon looking around, Britney saw that she was in an awkward position being tied to every available corner. “It’s for your own good,” she briefly heard him mumble. It was then she realized she’d been drugged. "Was it Justin?" The name shot fear into her already stressed brain. It wasn't the reaction Martin was looking for, but it would do. "Justin Timberlake. Was he the one who did this to you?" Martin knew she had to speak his name. Pain shot through her arms and legs as Britney awoke. Her eyes found it hard to adjust to the dim light. Cloth had been draped covering all available sources of light. She tried to speak but found her mouth was dry with blood. “I didn’t mean it. I’m so sorry,” She heard him apologize. Looking into his eyes she realized who it was that attacked her. Trying to scream and move to get out of the way only caused her more harm. With a swift kick to her stomach Britney doubled over. Then, everything went black. All hopes and cheers were quickly pushed aside when she said, "No." Who in the hell was it then? Martin was determined to find out. "I don't know who he is." She rose to her feet as did Martin. "Miss. Spears'," Her soft but harsh words cut him off. "I know my rights and I told you, I don't know who he is. Now if you will please excuse me, I have a meeting with my lawyer in about an hour." With a quick sway of her slim hips, Britney walked out of the interrogation room and out of the police department never revealing the name of her attacker, keeping it locked up as she had been, forever. |