Meanwhile, the interrogation room at the police station was all harsh, blinding lights.


    Reese sat in a metal chair, squinting at the re overhead.


    Across from her, a detective slid a statement across the table, his voice serious.


    "We know you went into Mr. Ratcliff''s hospital room before he lost consciousness. There are witnesses who saw you stay there for a while."


    He leaned in, eyes sharp. "You should just tell the truth. Did you mess with Mr. Ratcliff''s oxygen line?"


    Reese looked up, calm and steady. "I didn''t touch the oxygen line. I didn''t hurt Mr. Ratcliff. I''m not answering anything else until mywyer gets here.


    "If you really think I did something, show me the evidence."


    She knew better than to say more. The more she talked, the more they could twist her words. The only one who could protect her now was herwyer.


    The detective kept pushing, trying to get her to slip up, but Reese just repeated, over and over, that she wanted her attorney.


    Eventually, the police gave up and stopped the questioning for now. They put her in a holding cell to wait for what came next.


    The cell was bare, just a thin metal cot and a single chair.


    Reese sat down and closed her eyes, but her mind wouldn''t stop reying everything that had happened these past few days.


    Mr. Ratcliff in aa. Robbie twisting the truth. Sebastian closing in, not letting up. Jane refusing to back off.


    She rubbed her forehead, but even with all that, there was no regret in her heart.


    She had no idea how much time had passed before the door finally opened. A police officer appeared, his tone softer now.


    "Mrs. Ratcliff, you have a visitor."


    Reese opened her eyes and looked through the bars, surprised by the person standing there. "Hank? Why are you here?"


    He took in her pale face and messy clothes, something like sadness flickering in his eyes before his usual scolding tone kicked in.


    "Why, Reese? Something this big happens, and you don''t even call me?


    "I only heard about it from a friend. Were you just never going to tell us?


    "I''m your family. If I didn''te to bail you


    to how were you nning Did you want to set


    here forever?"


    Reese nced at him, her voice cool. "Would it have made a difference if I did call you?"


    "When Mom died, when I was at my lowest, you pped me at her funeral and med me for her death.


    "When Sofia used me, you didn''t even ask what happened. You just took her side.


    "You''ve never trusted me. You''ve never helped me. So why would Ie to you now?


    "Hank, you really want to bring up the past?"


    Hank''s frustration grew at her coldness. When she mentioned their mom, he got angry.


    "Mom wouldn''t have died if it wasn''t


    for you! You were crying and


    screaming in the car. That''s what


    caused the ident. Dad and both heard it on the dash cam content


    "Dad got sick from the stress. All I did was p you once, and you can''t let it go?"


    "Just because the dash cam picked


    something up you think that''s the


    truth? Reese gave a bitte eyes meeting his with a hint of


    mockery.


    "You really don''t get it, do you? These days, it''s so easy to fake an audio file."