Katerina Pov
I can’t tell if I’ve been conscious the entire time or if I’m experiencing a memory lapse. I hear voices and see movements, but I struggle to process what’s happening. There’s a blur moving over my face.
“Katerina!” I start to hear the words and finally manage to stare at Mr. Thorne in front of me.
My heart pounds against my chest like a wild beast desperate to break free. The accusation hangs in the air like a thick cloud of poison, choking the life out of me. A shiver runs down my spine, and I find myself trembling uncontrollably. How can this be happening? How can they accuse me of such a heinous crime? And what the hell is going on?
“All this started since you and your wife involved me in your sick mind games, and I can see that this was your end game,” I say.
“What are you talking about?” Cara asks turning towards Mr. Thorne, confused.
“I am also confused, like everybody else,” Mr. Thorne says.
“Yet here you are insinuating that I had something to do with Oliver’s accident,” I fire back.
“We’re not insinuating; it’s the overwhelming evidence pointing at you,” Cara speaks, and there’s a knock on the door. I see Mr. Thorne give a weird stare, and I swivel my head to see two gentlemen walk in.
Cara stands to meet them, and I’m just confused about how my morning is turning out.
“Hello, Detective Watson?” Cara greets them, and the mention of Watson is enough for me to put two and two together why they’re here.
I turn to Mr. Thorne, hoping he’ll save me from this mess I have no idea about. He looks away as he stands to greet the men too.
“Miss Katerina?” the one Cara called Watson walks to me.
I take a deep breath and turn to meet him. I look into the eyes of Mr. Thorne, who once knew me, once trusted me, and I see fear mirrored in his gaze. Fear of the unknown, fear of what I might be capable of. It’s as if I’ve become a stranger overnight, transformed into a monster in his eyes.
“Mr. Thorne…” My voice comes out as a plead.
“Go with these men, and I will join you,” Mr. Thorne says.
“I have done nothing,” I insist.
“And that will be your statement, and the police will do their work,” Mr. Thorne speaks.
“Cara?” I turn to her, begging for mercy and room to present my case.
“Oliver is my brother, and I don’t take lightly any threat presented to those that I care about,” she steps aside as the police help me to my feet.
I stand, and my head hangs low, ashamed to face the people around me.
“Don’t handcuff her!” Mr. Thorne half yells when the police try to. Cara glares at him, confused.
I follow the men outside Mr. Thorne’s office. As we walk out of the building, I’m met with skeptical glances, whispers of doubt that ripple through the crowd like a contagious disease. The weight of their suspicion presses down on my shoulders, threatening to crush me beneath its unbearable burden.
I regret again. I should never have gotten involved with these people.
I’m on my feet as soon as I see Cassandra. Contrary to Mr. Thorne assuring he would come to the police station and be with me, he never shows up. I’m left with just one last option, and that is to call Cassandra or my father. I call them both.
“Why are you here?” Cassandra asks.
“I am being accused of sabotaging Oliver’s car,” I state.
Her eyes widen. “What? How?” she says. “Wait, I will talk with the detective. We are close,” she adds, and I watch her walk to his office.
I sigh. It’s a nightmare. Or maybe this is my punishment for being Karma and punishing those men.
When I look up again, I’m surprised to see my father. I called him but didn’t think he would care to come. He looks around frantically as he rests his weight on his walking stick.
I rush in his direction, feeling a sense of relief. Even when everything is working against me, he’s always ready to be there in his own flawed way. It’s like when my mother left, he was there.
“Father,” I say his name slowly, and he finally catches a glimpse of me. For the first time ever in my life, I embrace him. He’s surprised, and I won’t blame him if he pushes me away, but instead he puts his free arm around me.
“You were right, I am a mess,” I say.
He says nothing as the hug comes to an end.
“Katerina, I have spoken with the detective, and they will do everything to prove your innocence,” I turn to Cassandra, and I see Watson at a distance looking at us.
When I was brought here, they took my statement and released me on bond. I don’t know who paid, but I’m glad to have my freedom.
“This is my father, Cassandra,” I introduce them, and my father gives a wary look before greeting her.
“Call me if you need me,” Cassandra says, and I bid her goodbye.
I follow my father to his car, and his driver opens the door for us.
“What have you involved yourself with? I know that woman,” my father says once we’re seated.
“You do?” I ask.
“Yes, she once came to my office looking for our services, and the way she was talking was enough not to trust her,” he says.
My father runs a successful logistic company, and I’m surprised at what Cassandra would have wanted to transport.
My head hurts just thinking about the present situation and unanswered questions. “Will it be okay if I stay with you?” I ask.
“I haven’t been a good father, and someone helped me see that. I want to make up for that, and I will be glad if you do stay with us,” he says.
It feels like a dream hearing those words, and amidst the chaos that surrounds me, I find comfort in his words.
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